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1777-Dated, JOHN FITCH Signed Document Inventor, Granted First Steamship Patent
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles / Autographs
Start Price:3,500.00 USD
Estimated At:5,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
SOLD
4,500.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2017 Oct 21 @ 09:40UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Autographs
“John Fitch” Signed Document Granted First U.S. Patent For The Steamboat “...bound unto the Honourable John Hancock Esqr. President of the Continental Congress...”
JOHN FITCH (1743-1798). Famous American Clockmaker, Brassworker, Silversmith and Credited as the Inventor, Granted the First Official Patent in 1791 for a Steam Powered Ship in the United States.
October 10, 1777-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Partly-Printed Document Signed, “John Fitch” and “Eleazer Carey” at Windham, Connecticut, Choice Very Fine. It measures 12” x 7” with its two wax and paper .75” Seals intact, completed in brown ink upon fine quality laid period paper. Old collection number paper tag in the upper right corner appears easily removable. This Exceedingly Rare form of Document is an official agreement to Substitute Servitude in the American Army for a large monetary debt. Fully transcribed it reads:
“Know all MEN by these PRESENTS, That we John Fitch and Eleazer Carey -- Both of Windham in the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut -- are holden and stand bound unto the Honourable John Hancock Esqr. President of the Continental Congress, or his Successor in Office, The sum of five thousand Dollars --To which Payment well and truly to be made and done, We the said John Fitch & Eleazer Carey do bind ourselves, our Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, firmly by these Presents. Signed with our Hand, and sealed with our Seals: Dated at Windham October the Tenth - Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy seven - -
The Condition of this OBLIGATION is such, That if the above-bounden John Fitch - shall well and truly execute the Office and Trust of an ASSISTANT COMMISSARY of ISSUES, in the American Army, according to the Resolutions of Congress, regulating that Department; then this present Obligation to be void and of none Effect, but in Default thereof, shall stand, remain and abide in full Force, Strength, Power and Virtue”
Signed at lower right “John Fitch” and “Eleazer Carey” each with a small wax and paper seal. At lower left, “Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of ‘Vinc Eldermin’ and ‘Joseph Baker.’” Reverse side Docket reads, “John Fitch & Eleazer Carey’s Bond October 10, 1777”
Countersigned by the witnesses Vinc Eldermin and Joseph Baker. Usual folds, even toning; overall very nice having no separations or repairs. An exceedingly rare and unusual historical Revolutionary War Document, mentioning being “...bound unto John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress” being the first of this form we have encountered. Extraordinary!
On August 26, 1791, John Fitch was Granted a United States Patent for the Steamboat. Four years earlier, on August 22, 1787, John Fitch demonstrated the first successful steamboat, launching a forty-five-foot craft on the Delaware River in the presence of delegates from the Constitutional Convention.
John Fitch (1743-1798) built the First recorded Steam Powered Ship in the United States, in 1786. The first successful trial run of his steamboat was made on the Delaware River on August 22, 1787, in the presence of Delegates from the Constitutional Convention.
John Fitch was Granted a Patent on August 26, 1791, after a battle with James Rumsey, who had created a similar invention. Fitch’s idea would be turned profitable by Robert Fulton, decades later. In the autumn of 1777, Fitch sold beer and tobacco to the British, an act that caused General George Washington to greatly despised him for his facilitating the British.
Auction Location:
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Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| CST |
8.25% |
California |
| SST |
8.75% |
San Diego County |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
25% |
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Early American History Auctions - Terms & Conditions of Sale
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BIDDER EXPRESSLY WAIVES AND RELEASES, AND FOREVER DISCHARGES EAHA FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, RIGHTS, DEMANDS AND CAUSE(S) OF ACTIONS AND SUIT(S), OF WHATEVER KIND OR NATURE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIM(S) BASED UPON AUCTIONEER'S NEGLIGENCE, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY OR WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, WHICH BIDDER MAY CLAIM TO HAVE WITH RESPECT TO AND/OR ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CHALLENGE TO ANY MERCHANDISE PURCHASED AT THE AUCTION, THE AUCTION PROCEDURES, OR THE PURCHASE OF ANY LOT(S); IT BEING THE INTENTION THAT THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AS A BAR TO EACH AND EVERY CLAIM, DEMAND, CAUSE OF ACTION AND/OR SUIT OR CONTROVERSY THAT MAY ARISE HEREUNDER OR BE RELATED TO THE AUCTION
ALL BIDDER(S) BY SUBMITTING A BID IN ANY FASHION, SIGNED OR UNSIGNED, IN THE AUCTION KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OTHERWISE CONFERRED UPON THE BIDDER BY LAW OR BY THE PROVISION(S) OF SECTION 1542 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE, WHICH READS IN FULL AS FOLLOWS:
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r. The term "Lot(s)" shall mean the article(s) comprising the Merchandise offered for sale at the Auction.
s. The term "Low Estimate" shall mean the low range of the sale price that a Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction.
t. The term "Merchandise" shall mean personal property described in the Catalog and offered for sale by Lot at the Auction.
u. The term "Purchaser" shall mean the successful Bidder at the Auction on the Auction Date.
v. The term "Purchaser's Premium" shall mean the commission that is automatically charged by "EAHA" to each successful Bidder at the Auction in a sum equal to twenty percent (20%) of the "Hammer Price" or twenty-five percent (25%) of the "Hammer Price" if bids are placed through a third party firm including Invaluable, LiveAuctioneers and iCollector.
w. The term "Reserve" is a confidential price below which the Auctioneer will not sell a given Lot, and/or will re-purchase on behalf of the Consignor or EAHA.
x. The term "Settlement Date" shall mean a time forty-five (45) days after the Auction Date.