[HISTOIRE, MARIAGE POUR TOUS, ACTUALITÉ] - CHARPENTIER (Bertrand), CHAPIN (Stéphane) -Livre Rare Book
Letter from Joseph Carpenter Future Publisher of the Western Spy to Philadelphia Publisher Mathew Cary Asking for Assistance in Opening A Publishing House in Cincinnati 1797
1797List2527Cincinnati 1797. Cincinnati 27th June 1797. Folded stampless letter 12 ½ x 6 ½ inches. Some tape repairs and tearing at folds fair to good but legible. With twenty five cent manuscript rate on cover. Good. Joseph Carpenter 1774-1814 was born in Massachusetts and emigrated to Cincinnati in the Northwest Territory eventually publishing the first regularly printed journal in the city the “Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette†which he first published in 1799. The journal had 1200 subscribers at the time of Carpenter’s death in 1814. He held several posts in the city including Coroner and commanded a company of militia in the War of 1812 eventually dying due to exposure to extreme cold in a march from Fort Meigs to Urbana in 1814. <br /> <br /> Offered here is a significant letter from Carpenter to Irish-American publisher Mathew Cary in May of 1797 asking for Cary’s assistance in the opening of a stationary shop and printing press roughly two years before he would eventually publish the first issue of Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette. Carpenter writes to Cary <br /> <br /> “The probability is that I should in a short time be able to pay you Sir as my prospect is very good. There will be an edition of the Laws of the territory to print soon. If I get an office I shall have the job; otherwise it will be . to Freeman & Son. Mr. McCullagh seems to incline to . in the business however should you Sir make it convenient to assist me I have friends who would help me to pay part of it. If I had a small assortment of Books & Stationery they would fill very well. I would thank you if you would write me respecting the matter as soon as convenient. I am very anxious to know if I am to do anything in this country. If I cannot succeed in getting an office I intend to go to my father’s. I however hope for the best.â€<br /> <br /> The first book printed in Cincinnati was William Maxwell’s edition of In 1796 The Laws of the Territory of the United States North-West of the Ohio published a year earlier. <br /> <br /> Overall the letter should be of interest to scholars of American territorial printing history and is also philatelically significant as an early postmark originating from the Northwest Territory. <br /> <br /> Full transcription follows:<br /> <br /> We have no Book or Stationery Store in this town. Could I be so fortunate as to procure a small office & a small assortment of Books & Stationery I should be in a fair way for making a very handsome living. I have advised a number of gentlemen of the town respecting it assure me they think it would answer a very good purpose they also assure me of all the support in their power. Some of them have offered to assist me in getting in an office. <br /> <br /> Having no other friend to write to but yourself in Philadelphia I beg you would pardon the liberty I take in writing you on this occasion The distance from my friends puts it out of their power to assist me; if this should be in your power to assist me in getting an office without embarrassing yourself you would confer an obligation on your humble servant that time never could wear off. The probability is that I should in a short time be able to pay you Sir as my prospect is very good. There will be an edition of the Laws of the territory to print soon. If I get an office I shall have the job; otherwise it will be . to Freeman & Son. Mr. McCullagh seems to incline to . in the business however should you Sir make it convenient to assist me I have friends who would help me to pay part of it. If I had a small assortment of Books & Stationery they would fill very well. I would thank you if you would write me respecting the matter as soon as convenient. I am very anxious to know if I am to do anything in this country. If I cannot succeed in getting an office I intend to go to my father’s. I however hope for the best. <br /> <br /> I saw Mr. McCullagh yesterday. He is well carries on business very briskly. He desired to be remembered to you. <br /> <br /> I am Sir with respect your most obedient and humble Servant <br /> Joseph Carpenter jun.<br /> <br /> to M. Cary. unknown
Auger Down Books · États-Unis2 500,00 $US≈ 2 115,25 €
