LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Signature Texana Auction #661  / 

56094

[CIRCULAR] Pierpont & White Advertisement; 1839

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Paper Start Price:2,300.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
[CIRCULAR] Pierpont & White Advertisement; 1839
<B>[Circular]</B></I> <B>Pierpont & White Advertisement.</B></I> [New York] March 28, 1839. Four-page folder printed on first [3] pages, 8" x 12.75". An interesting and enjoyable read in which William Pierpont extols the virtues of Texas, encouraging his readers to join him in settling the new Republic and taking care to mention his mercantile operation, Pierpont & White, in the process.<BR><BR>Pierpont moved to Texas in 1835 or 1836. He served in the Shelby County House of the Second Congress (1837-38), moving to Houston shortly thereafter, where, in partnership with John White of New York City, he operated a mercantile business with a New York City branch. (There is no mention of White in the <I>Handbook of Texas</B></I>, but on January 19, 1839 the Third Congress granted him two certificates, each for one league and one labor of land, in return for unspecified services.) Pierpont offered an extensive assortment of dry goods in his Houston store and also sold supplies to the Texas Navy in 1838 and 1839. The partnership with White was dissolved in December of 1839, and Pierpont returned to community service by serving as one of three members of the Houston City School Committee. <BR><BR>This circular was printed ten months prior to the closing of the Houston Pierpont & White store. It reads, in part: "<I>A more beautiful country than Texas, is not to be found on the globe... The county abounds in coal... Nature's store house perpetually full... everything seems to combine to afford to the farmer, the mechanic and the capitalist assurance of quick and large returns such as no age or country has ever before offered. The commerce of Texas is daily increasing. There are now twelve or fourteen Steam-Boats plying in her water... The population of Texas is now more than one hundred thousand, and increasing beyond the most sanguine expectations of its friends.</B></I>" A wonderful panegyric on Texas, its resources and future, and an advertisement for the firm of Pierpont and White, land agents and commission merchants. Housed in a navy half-calf case with navy cloth boards, raised rails and gilt lettering on spine. Spotless and perfect; very fine. <I>From the collection of Darrel Brown.</B></I><BR><BR><B>Reference:</B></I> Streeter 1358.1<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Books & Catalogs (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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