AMERICANA, RARE: 1790-Dated, “Bickerstaff’s Boston Almanack or Federal
Calendar, for 1790, Second after Leap-Year, and Fourteenth of Independency.,”
Featuring the First and Only Jugate Image of George Washington & John Adams, Fine,
with Ownership Inscription by a Revolutionary War Soldier, John Box Brosdan
Description: Very Rare and All Original Primary Document, Almanac Format, featuring
the first known George Washington & John Adams Jugate Image Very Few Copies
Known To Exist. This exceptional survivor is an original printing of Bickerstaff's Boston
Almanack, Or, Federal Calendar, for 1790, Second After Leap-Year; and Fourteenth of
Independence, measuring 7” x 4.25” with 22 pages, with original paper wraps, thus the
almanack retains an excellent structure and is complete. The Cover Woodcut
Illustration shows George Washington as the First President and John Adams to his
right, as Vice President. The Folky portraits measuring 1.5” tall are shown hanging from
ribbons tied with bowknots beneath an arch festooned with drapery and surmounted
with the American great seal…our Heraldic Eagle and shield. Printed below reads,
"Printed by E. Russell, next Liberty-Pole: Where may be had cheap to Traveling-traders,
etc., the Bloody Register No. 4."
Page two is a poem praising General Washington, "Composed in 1782, but never
before published." As made, all its pages are stitched together with original thread. A
very important, exceedingly rare piece of period, Political Americana.
Important: Wraps display owner's signature "John Box Bronsdan". Signature is also on
page 1 of almanack
John Box Bronsdan [almanack owner]: Birth 21 May 1751 Boston, Suffolk County,
Massachusetts, Under British Rule and Occupation. Death 22 Feb 1823 Milton, Norfolk
County, Massachusetts, United States of America.
John Box Brosdan was 25 years old when the American Revolution got rolling. John
served 14 days in Capt. John Bradlees’s company under Colonel Lemuel Robinson's
Militia, Milton. The 14 days were in the defense of Boston Harbor, and he later served a
longer term which included the important Dorchester Heights Defense.
John Box Brosdan would take great pride in seeing Washington and Adams depicted
as President and Vice-President for the 1790 term. One can only imagine the thoughts
running through the mind of Brosdan, being 39 and well settled in the United States,
knowing the outcome of his contributions.
Condition: The paper wraps show wear, edge loss, and a tear about 3" long on the
cover, but have done their job well by keeping the actual 22 page almanack with just a
few excuses. The almanack cover has a small water mark, not affecting image, and a
slight margin tear. Some of the pages are light and need very good light to be readable,
but overall, this is a remarkable and rare copy. Of the very few copies known, this may
be the best extant.
Materials: Period Paper including Wraps. Writing and Signatures in Ink
Editorial: A MUST HAVE for any Serious Washington or Federal Period Collector
$2,950.00
290-82
Parker Gun Four Page Fold over Promotion and Price List, Parker Shotguns
On back page, Carlin and Fulton, Baltimore Maryland (Retailers)
July 1, 1878
(Very good condition; 8.75 by 10.25")
$535
232-291
Satirical Print, A Coat of Arms for a Stamp on Income, 1798, RARE
Lettered with title, text within, artist's name and publishing details: ‘Pub by
SW Fores, Dec. 20. 1798, No 50, Piccadilly - Folio's of Caracatures [sic] lent
out for the Evening' Date/Period: 1798
Measurement: Plate: 12.25” by 9.5”
Material: Etching on paper
Condition: Good, small paper loss at upper right margin; loss at bottom right
margin…some toning as depicted.
Additional Information: A lion with the head of William Pitt the Younger and a unicorn
with that of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount of Melville support the escutcheon framing the
vignette showing a family seated at dinner that is interrupted by a tax-collector (left). He
carries off a large pudding, a banner overhead reads, "Tax on Income", to the dismay of
husband, wife, and three children only a small slice of pudding is left on the dish… Pitt
says: "Give all thou cans't \ And let me dream the rest;" [Pope's 'Eloisa to Abelard']
Within Dundas banner: "Man wants but little here below, \ Nor wants, that little long!"
[Young's 'Night Thoughts'.] Surmounting the crest is a lean 'Fortunatus's Purse' and 'Wishing Cap'; these rest on a cushion inscribed 'Value \ Above what you are Worth \
Nothing'. Pitt and Dundas stand on a scroll reading: 'BLESSED IS HE THAT
EXPECTETH NOTHING. – FOR HE SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED’.
$295.00
110-1011
Americana, Newspaper, Connecticut Courant July 20, 1795
Description: Writer's note. As a researcher and collector of early American MSS and
printed material, I generally dismiss non-war or non-important historical American dated
newspapers, but I could not put this one down once I started reading. The entire front
page is about the May 20,21 events in the French Revolution. Being that America has
just completed an insurrection, and France attempting to copy the process, Americans
took a keen interest in the events as they happened. 1795 was near the end of the
French Revolt and focused on the formation of their new government. Anyone with an
interest in France, Democracy, the Human Condition, would find this 4 page volume
most interesting. Later in the volume there is the typical news copied from other national
gazettes, and the 4th page has a 1/2+ column on the Connecticut Manufactory Lottery
with "Now or Never" banner heading. Following the lottery write up in an advertisement
for Western Expansion with a man gathering his travelers and offering 200 acres to be
conveyed when they arrive (uh huh). Fascinating reading for an inquiring mind, history
buff.
Size: 19" x 11" or 19" x 22" when unfolded. Printed both sides, so 4 pp
Condition: Typical fraying and chipping at edges, folds, curling, some discoloration, but
fully readable copy Overall: Good++
$135.00
621-190
Newspaper: Fairfield Gazette or Independent Intelligencer
Vol 1. No. 27, Feb 1, 1787
Published by Miller, Forgue, and Bulkeley 4 pages
Description: Interesting view of early America in Fairfield, Connecticut’s first
newspaper, or at least claims to be the 1st. Content ranges from tilted editorials to
extracts of news from other printed sources. On the 4th and last page are Regimental
Orders from the Hartford Barracks, Jan 10, 1787, for Col. Humphrey's crew with details
of what troops need to wear, how they need to dress, the need for uniformity, what
badges are acceptable, regimental colors, etc. Despite the wear from use, seam
separations, and other conditions from age, this is a very interesting paper worthy of
being framed, studied, or simply read. Not researched to determine surviving copies,
but a quick internet search found just one copy in images, and this a different first year
issue.
Size: 10" x 17" H per single page. Unfolded 20" x 17" H.
Printed both sides totally 4 printed pages.
Condition: Seam separations, darkening in places, owner names:
"Jon_ Benedict" (or close to that)
$110.00
171-203
Americana: State of Connecticut Treasury Note 1780
Signed by J. Lawrence, Treasurer - SOLD
Description: Hartford, CT. June 1st, 1780, Note indicating debt by State of Conn to
(partial name obscured) Signed by J. Lawrence as Treasurer, Light foxing and toning,
Fine to VF, interest paid endorsements on back payable from 1781 until 1785 when
cancelled. (see hole in document) Rare loan document and one of the first issued
mentioning the "United States". "Payable in gold or silver coins.... after cessation of
hostilities between Great Britain and these United States."
Size: Approx 5" x 8" with a cancel hole right center size of a US Quarter
Condition: As normally found. Some toning, fold, edge trimmed, and document
cancelled. "Treasury" is script across obverse
SOLD
621-193
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![Satirical Print, A Coat of Arms for a Stamp on Income, 1798, RARE Lettered with title, text within, artist's name and publishing details: ‘Pub by SW Fores, Dec. 20. 1798, No 50, Piccadilly - Folio's of Caracatures [sic] lent out for the Evening', entire view](https://www.aaawt.com/images_comp/110-1011_1_Satirical-Print,-A-Coat-of-Arms-for-a-Stanp-on-Income,-1798.webp)
![Satirical Print, A Coat of Arms for a Stamp on Income, 1798, RARE Lettered with title, text within, artist's name and publishing details: ‘Pub by SW Fores, Dec. 20. 1798, No 50, Piccadilly - Folio's of Caracatures [sic] lent out for the Evening', detail view](https://www.aaawt.com/images_comp/110-1011_2_Satirical-Print,-A-Coat-of-Arms-for-a-Stanp-on-Income,-1798.webp)
![Satirical Print, A Coat of Arms for a Stamp on Income, 1798, RARE Lettered with title, text within, artist's name and publishing details: ‘Pub by SW Fores, Dec. 20. 1798, No 50, Piccadilly - Folio's of Caracatures [sic] lent out for the Evening', back view](https://www.aaawt.com/images_comp/110-1011_3_Satirical-Print,-A-Coat-of-Arms-for-a-Stanp-on-Income,-1798.webp)
