Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 30

Manuscript and Collectibles Auction

Colonial Americana

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1126		1716 Letter From A Connecticut Man In Barbados. June 19, 1716 letter written from Barbados by F. Thomas Bidwell to his wife (Prudence), 1 p. 10½ x 6 in. He writes that he "Cannot Sell ye Vessel to advantage and She is a coming Home again with five or Six hundred pounds worth of Goods and I hope to be att home my Self in September….Remain (in all respects) your true and loving Husband till Death.…." Bidwell died Sept. 17, 1716, on his way home, and was buried at sea. The Bidwells were from Hartford, Connecticut. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $201
Lot 1127		1755 PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Printed By Benjamin Franklin. November 6, 1755 newspaper printed by Benjamin Franklin, 4pp., 15 1/8 x 9¾ in. Page 3 has an announcement for the upcoming publication of "Poor Richard's Almanack for 1756," to be "sold by the Printers hereof." Three inside columns have a report on the French and Indian War: During the Battle of Lake George, New York, American William Johnson, who was building Ft. William Henry with 3,500 Colonials and 400 Indians, defeated Baron Dieskau. Ads include "To be Sold, A likely Negroe wench…" and five ship woodcuts. This paper does not include the supplement advertising sheet that contained the Franklin imprint name. Light toning, minor foxing; and minor chipping at lower right corner. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1128		1789 Document Certifying That A Woman Is A Good Christian. Autograph document signed by Philip Curtis, pastor of the Church of Christ in Sharon, Massachusetts, October 5, 1789, 4 x 7¼ in. Certifying that Mary Swift "is a Member of the Chh: of Christ in Sharon & while she lived with us, Behaved like a Christian Professor…." The certificate was provided for Mrs. Swift, who was moving from the community, to take with her "where God in his providence shall cast her Lot." Uneven top edge and overall toning. Boldly written. Estimated Value $100 - 150. Ex: Stuart Goldman Collection. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $144
Lot 1129		Andros, Sir Edmund (1647-1714) Colonial governor of New England, New York, and Virginia. Manuscript Document Signed ("Andros") as Governor of New England, Boston, December 14, 1687, 1 pg. oblong folio. A military commission appointing Edward Tyng Lieutenant Colonel and placing him in command of the province of Sagadahoc from 1688 to 1689 (the boundaries of Massachusetts at that time included present-day Maine and Nova Scotia). The vellum document is soiled and toned and has an old repair on the left side, where it was stitched together. A document signed by Andros is so rare it is not even listed in Sanders. Andros' despotic behavior precipitated his arrest and imprisonment by the people of Boston in 1689. He was sent to England but charges were not pressed and in 1692, he was appointed governor of Virginia (1692-98), where he died. The document is attractively matted and framed with an image of Andros and biographies of Andros and Tyng. Overall size is 15 x 23 in. Extremely rare. Estimated Value $900 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $870
Lot 1130		Astor, John Jacob (1763-1848) Fur trader and financier; invested heavily in New York City real estate, the Mississippi Valley and the upper Missouri. At the time of his death, he was the wealthiest man in America. Autograph Letter Signed, New York, May 27, 1805, 1 p. folded quarto sheet with integral address leaf. To Peter Smith in Utica (New York) acknowledging receipt of $1,000 and regretting that Mr. Smith has been ill. He adds, "I have been unwell for several weeks but I am getting Better. Mrs. Astor is also unwell…." Red circular New York postmark. A rare John Jacob Astor autorgraph letter. Fine condition. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1131		Draft of William Penn's 1701 Charter for the City of Philadelphia. A unique scribe's copy of what was to become the 1701 City of Philadelphia Charter, given to the city by William Penn. Dated "the twenty fifth day of Eighth Ano Domini thirteenth year of the reign of King William over England and the 21 of my government" and signed "William Penn" in the hand of the scribe. The document is folded and measures 7½ x 12 in., with writing on both sides; it unfolds upward to show double-sided writing. Likely written by James Logan, Penn's personal friend and secretary for almost 50 years. In scalloped, calligraphic form, in dark brown ink, missing large sections of the central passages, with multiple edge tears, file folds, overall toning, and scattering spotting; however, the text does form a complete beginning and end. Each page has been photographed separately (the pages are attached) so that the entire draft can be viewed. When this draft is compared with the actual city charter (which measures 3 x 4 feet), a few slight word changes are found in the text, which should be of interest to the scholar. A facsimile of a photograph of the 1701 City Charter, taken in 1895, accompanies this lot. It contrasts with the condition of the actual charter today, which was donated to the city in the 1950s in deplorable condition, barely legible and in pieces (in a shoebox!), and in no way resembling the 1895 photograph. Penn arrived in Philadelphia for his second and final visit in December 1699. He would leave in November 1701, being forced to return to England to refute a move by the Crown to seize Penn's land in America. Before leaving, Penn decided to grant a full charter to the inhabitants of Philadelphia for self rule: the charter of October 25, 1701. In Memorial History of the City of Philadelphia (1895, Vol I.), John Russell Young notes: "The essential act by which Philadelphia took on an independent rank and dignity was performed in the last days of the Governor's stay. He signed the Charter for the City on the 25th of October, appointing Edward Shippen, Mayor, Thomas Story, Recorder, Thomas Farmer Sherriff, and Robert Ashten Town Clerk and Chief of the Courts." There wasn't another city charter until 1775. This rare and unique draft document is part of Philadelphia's founding history. Estimated Value $12,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $20,125
Lot 1132		New York City, 1801 and 1802. A collection of 14 documents for building a wharf (warff) and a dock on the wharf in New York City in 1801 and 1802. All but two documents are receipts signed by Andrew Ten Eyck, acknowledging receipt of payments from Thomas Ten Eyck. One says "New York Island"; the remainder are datelined New York. Another receipt is for "Riding 25 Loads Dirt," and a sheet of payments shows the total coming to $3,922.50. Most of the receipts are about 2 or 3 in. by 7½ in. Very good. Estimated Value $200 - 300. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold