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Noah Webster

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Noah Webster

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Auction Date:2017 Jul 12 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Author and lexicographer (1758-1843) who published the first comprehensive dictionary of American English. ALS signed “N. Webster, j'nr,” 6.25 x 7.75, April 10, 1791. Letter to Mr. Blakeley, in part: "I wrote to you some weeks ago relative to procuring me a sum of money, & have rec'd no answer. I wish to know what you have done or can do, as soon as possible. If I can not obtain a loan, I must enter into a negotiation for the sale of the remainder of my copyright. If Mr. Watson discovers any reluctance in the business, do not press him—I will make any sacrifice, before I will accept any thing from that good man, which shall interfere with his business or interests. But my plans this summer require that I be very soon informed what you can do." Mounted and framed with a portrait of Webster bearing a preprinted signature to an overall size of 13 x 19.5. In very good condition, with small areas of paper loss to edges, and light scattered staining (some of which affects the signature area). Accompanied by a letter of provenance, in part: "I was given this as a present in 1959. It was given to me from two brothers who owned Comuskey Antiques in Utica, NY." Now holding an honored place in the history of American English—as well as being a treasured tool of writers and term paper-writing students—Webster's first dictionary only sold 2,500 copies. He was forced to mortgage his home in order to publish a second edition in 1840-1841, resulting in a life plagued with ceaseless debt.