Search Results: History from Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC

Mainz, Germany: Peter Shoeffer, 1492. Disbound. Very good. In 1492, a year before the famous Nuremburg Chronicle, the rarest of the early European "world" histories was published, the Chronicles of Saxony. Its author was a goldsmith, Konrad Botho (Conrad Bote), and it was printed in Mainz, the last work of the famous Peter Shoeffer, who had learned the craft as an apprentice with Johannes Gutenberg. Although the Cronecken begins with the creation of the world and includes a section about Noah's Ark, the work focuses on the history of Saxony and is written in low middle German. It includes illustrations of important regional cities and portraits of ruling families along with their armorial bearings. The book's two unknown woodcut illustrators are referred to as Masters H and HR. The vibrant hand-colored illustration featured on this leaf (7½" x 10½") shows the union of the house of Brunswick-Göttingen with that of Jülich-Berg through the marriage of Duke Otto I and Margareta, the daughter… Read More

Nuremberg, Germany: Anton Koberger, 1493. Disbound. Very good. The Nuremberg Chronicle was the most important of the 15th century universal histories and the most extensively illustrated book of its time. Its narrative begins with the creation and runs until the 1490s. It was written in Latin by Hartmann Schedel, a physician and humanist, on commission by two Nuremberg merchants. This Latin edition was printed in Nuremberg in 1493 by Anton Koberger. The leaf (12" x 16½"), Folio CXIX, contains seven woodcuts by Michael Wolgemut and Wilhelm Pleydenwulf and their apprentices including Albrecht Durer. The woodcuts on this leaf include Maximinus, Gordianus, Philp the father, Philipp the son, Decius, Pontion the martyr, and the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. It also includes a long list of martyrs who suffered horrible deaths. . THIS LEAF WILL BE SHIPPED SAFELY ROLLED IN A MAILING TUBE..

Paris, France: Gailot Du Pre and Michel le Noir, 1518. Disbound. Very good. La Mer des Histoires et Chroniques de France takes its title from Mare historiarum

Augsburg, Germany: Johann Schonsperger, 1519. Disbound. Very good. Die geuerlicheiten, often referred to as simply Theuerdank, was written by Emperor Maximilian I, polished by his secretary, Melchior Pfintzing, and first printed in Augsburg in 1517 by Johann Schonsperger. Trimmed along the top edge to facilitate its original binding. The book's type was designed by Vinzenz Rockner, the emperor's court secretary, and the woodcuts approved by Maximilian himself, are the work of the great woodcut artists of the time. This literary epic was conceived by Emperor Maximilian (represented in the poem by the hero, Theuerdank,) to celebrate his heroic feats in overcoming the difficulties on his journey to win his bride, Mary of Burgundy (die Kunigin Ernreich in the poem). Maximilian was largely responsible for writing the poem and had made the first drafts in 1505-08. This leaf (8" x 13"), printed in 1519 by Johann Schonsperger, was from the second edition, which was a line-by-line reprint of the first.… Read More

Westminster, England: Wynkyn de Word, 1538. Disbound. Very good. The Golden Legend, or Legenda sanctorum (Readings of the Saints) is a collection of 153 hagiographies originally compiled by Jacobus de Voragine between 1259 and 1266. It was one of the most popular texts of the Middle Ages and printed throughout Europe in more editions than the Bible. It is, in effect, an encyclopedia of the saints with its chapters organized by the date of their feast days. This leaf (approximately 7" x 10") is from the English translation, a later edition, by William Claxton printed at Westminster by Wynkyn de Worde in 1498. 47 lines of text plus headline. Double column.It is headlined "The lyfe of Saynt Edwarde kynge & cofessour." This was King Edward the Martyr who ruled from 975 to 978 when he was assassinated at the order of his stepmother, the Dowager Queen Ælfthryth. While the Golden Legend claims he was stabbed by a member of the kitchen staff, other accounts claim it was by a band of traitorous… Read More

Mainz, Germany: Johann Schoeffer, 1533. Disbound. Very good. The History of Rome, originally titled Annales, and often referred to as Ab Urbe Condita (From the Founding of the City) is a monumental history of ancient Rome, written in Latin between 27 and 9 BC by the Roman historian Titus Livius (Livy). The work covers the period from the legends concerning the arrival of Aeneas and the refugees from the fall of Troy, to the city's founding in 753 BC, the expulsion of the Kings in 509 BC, and down to Livy's own time, during the reign of the emperor Augustus. This leaf (8" x 11½") discusses the conflicts between Rome, Carthage, and Macedon during the Punic and Macedonian Wars of the Third Century BC. It is from a version published in Mainz by Johann Schoeffer in 1533. It features a large illustration titled,"Wie die statt Abydos von dem konig Philippo gewunnen und jamerlich zerstort ward ("How the city of Abydos was won by King Philippo and miserably destroyed") which showings Macedonian… Read More

Venice, Italy: Bernardo Bindoni, 1535. Disbound. Very good. Giacomo Filippo Foresti first published his Supplement at Venice in 1483. It was a popular universal chronicle of its time and reprinted several times. It mixes mythological, historical, and Christian figures and treating all on an equal footing. It contains chapters on the Sibyls, the Trojan War and other similar topics. It is noteworthy for its illustrations of many cities of the world. This leaf (8" x 11½") is from the 1535 edition printed in Vence by Bernardino Bindoni and features a woodcut depicting "Alessandria (Alexandria) Citta grandissima in Egytto (Egypt)" .

"The court . . . do adjudge ye sd John Manning to be . . . brought ought to the public place before ye City Hall, there to have his sword broken over his head & from that time be rendred uncapable of wearing a sword or serving his Maty. . .."
New York, 1846. Ribbon-bound.
This official six-page extract from the Colonial Council Minutes of New York measures 8" x 13" and is bound within a blank leaf tied with a pink ribbon. This single 1846 document combines the official 1674 record of Captain John Burroughs's surrender of the colony to the Netherlands in 1673 as well as his subsequent trial and sentencing. It is in nice shape.
In 1609, under the flag of the Dutch East India Company, Henry Hudson sailed up the river that now bears his name searching for a northwest passage to Asia. Along the way men from his ship, the Halve Maen (Half Moon), explored the region. Five years later, the Netherlands established Fort van Nassouwen, a factoring (i.e., combination fort and trading post) near present-day… Read More

Boston, 1761. Unbound. Very good. This three-page transfer of property on a bifold paper sheet measures 18" x 15" unfolded. The document is dated 30 July 1761. Payment was completed and the deed recorded at the Suffolk County Records of Deeds on 1 September 1761. In nice shape. Some storage fold splits have been neatly repaired with archival tape or tissue; one split along part of the centerfold of the first leaf has not been mended. As noted in the document, this sale transferred ownership of a "tenement" between the entrance to Fanuel Hall (Boston's central market) and the Great Town Dock of Boston. It reads in part: "Elisha Byles of Boston within the County of Suffolk . . . Sends Greeting. Know ye that said Elisha Byles for & in Consideration of ye Sum of Eight Hundred Pounds Lawfull Money . . . well & truly paid by Caleb Blanchard of Boston aforesd Shopkeeper . . . Have & by these presents Do full & absolutely Grant Bargain Sell . . . Convey & Confirm . . . All That Certain Tenement or… Read More

A separate volume continuation of Benjamin Franklin's Some account of the Pennsylvania Hospital which was published in 1754.
Philadelphia: B. Franklin, and D. Hall, 1761. String bound. This was prepared by the hospital's "committee on publication" and printed at Franklin's printing house.
The pamphlet, measuring approximately 7½" x 10", is complete but for the preliminary title leaf (provided in facsimile). It is paginated continuously with Franklin's first volume, and its pages are numbered 41-77. It is string-bound to period paper stock in the rear. Some soiling and foxing with insect predation along the right margin which does not affect the text. (See Evans' American Bibliography #7197 and Morton's The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital.)
The impetus for publishing this continuation was the realization by the hospital managers in 1759 of a pressing need to raise funds for the facility. After the situation became desperate following an unsuccessful petition to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1760,… Read More

Pensacola, Florida, 1774. Disbound. Very good. This disbound 12-page section of a letter copy book from the 16th Regiment of Foot, stationed in Pensacola, West Florida, contains eight letters and one document on eight pages; four pages are blank. The letters begin on 12 August 1774 and end on 22 September 1774. In nice shape. The letters were sent between Major Alexander Dickson, "the Commander of the Troops in West Florida," i.e.the 16th Regiment of Foot, and James Barbut, the Commissary General of Stores and War Provisions in Pensacola. The single document is a list of the spoiled provision verified by the signatures of three officers assigned to the 16th Regiment. The spoiled food consisted of "128 Barrels flour / 2 Teirces Bread / 27 Teirces Rice / 12 Barrels Pork / [and] 1 Barrel Pease". In the initial letter written on 10 August, Dickson instructs Barbut, by order of Major General Haldemand, to sell at public auction "All the provisions condemned on the 10th Instant [10 August]" and… Read More

"Rec'd four shurts & five pair Stockins at Uriah Samsons"
This one-page manuscript document measures 8" x 11". It is datelined "November 1778" and contains about thirty entries relating to items of clothing "rec'd" and "turnd in." Some light toning, soiling, and edgewear.
The clothing listed on the document includes "shurts," "stockens," and "shews." Providers included John Peekens, Samuel Nelsons, Zepheriah Briggs, Uriah Samsons, Doug Cass, Capt. Washburn, and more.
There are three statements at the bottom totaling the clothing that was collected during the month.
"The Whole of the Shurts that I have turnd in is 36
"The Whole of the Stokens that I have turnd in is 31 pair
"The Whole of the Shews that I have turnd in is 24 pair"
The reverse of the document is docketed "James Strobrige" suggesting he was the person who coordinated the effort. Online genealogical records indicate he, as well as at least four of the donors lived in or near Middleborough, Massachusetts in 1778.
In the early years of the… Read More

"Extortion and want of Virtue has taken almost possession of Every Person upon this Continent, the Enormous sums of Public money which is daily expended and the great depreciation of it will if not shortly put stop to end in our ruin. . .."
Philadelphia to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1779.
This two-page letter, datelined Philad'a 15th Feb'y 1779, was sent by Colonel Ephraim Blaine, the Commissary-General for the Middle District of the Continental Army, to Colonel John Davis, the Deputy Quartermaster General for Army's Western District who was located at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
In it, he apprises Davis of his difficulties in raising funds and obtaining supplies. He also provides a summarized status of the leaders of the Quartermaster Corps.
"Nothing material has passed since your departure from this city. Genl. Green left it the Second Morning after you. I convey'd him and Colonel Wadsworth fifteen miles, the morning he set out had some little conversation with him about the Western department, but nothing… Read More

Nine Propositions, Which contain the grounds of the Wyoming Claim, on the State of Connecticut. [probably Connecticut: circa 1790.]
This broadside measures 6" x 9.5". Light wrinkles and faint marginal toning, mostly along the top margin. It makes a strong case for Connecticut's retention of the Wyoming Valley, enumerating nine propositions, i.e., justifications.
Some of those nine justifications were:
The territory was granted to Connecticut under its colonial Charter.
The area had long fallen under Connecticut laws and administration.
Units raised in the area were considered to be Connecticut troops during the Revolutionary War.
During the Revolutionary War, Connecticut settlers in the area suffered horrendous massacres by tribes allied with the British.
Survivors of the massacres who had been driven from their homes during the Revolutionary War returned to their properties once it was again safe to do so.
Following the establishment of the Northwest Territory, Connecticut retained its claim to the… Read More

"The Tribunal declares a Good Prize the Merchandizes of the Cargo of the said Sloop Diana of Alexandria . . . and awards them to the Owners, Captain and Crew of the said French Privateer le Trepied, Captain Antoine Pellegrin. . .."
Various locations, 1798.
This archive consists of 11 documents related to the voyage, seizure, plundering, and eventual return of the Sloop Diana out of Alexandria, Virginia. The ship was captured twice by French privateers while bound for Cape Nicholas Mole, Saint-Domingue, and Port au Prince, Haiti. This was one of the incidents that led to the United States' Quasi-War with France between 1798 and 1801.
On 15 December, Captain Henry Nicoll departed Alexandria, Virginia, on the Sloop Diana with a cargo of flour, pilot bread, butter, beef, pork, onions, and spermaceti candles.
Although just "off the pitch of Cape Henry [with] the wind blowing fresh, one of his Crew, named Thophilus Townshend, fell overboard and was drowned." Nothing else out of the ordinary occurred until… Read More

"Leap for Joy . . . Dr. Warren has closed the operation upon Phoebe's unfortunate swelling."
Boston, Massachusetts to Coventry Connecticut, 1799.
This one-page stampless folded letter measures approximately 12" x 7.5". It is datelined "Boston Feby March 6. 1799." It bears a straight-line "Boston" handstamp, circled "7 / MR" Boston postmark, and a manuscript "10" rate mark. Small sealing wax tear from when the letter was opened. In nice shape. A transcript will be provided.
In this letter Abbot describes Dr. John Warren's surgery to remove a precancerous tumor from his daughter. The letter reads in part:
"My dear brother & Sister Betty . . . you will leap for joy when I inform you that this moment Dr. Warren has closed the operation upon Phebe's unfortunate swelling. The time of her suffering was as follows. 9 min'ts in cutting, 14 in taking up the blood vessels, & 22 in Sponging, airing, & dressing the wound. Her conduct, her fortitude & composure were astonishing, & unequaled says the Doctr. It… Read More

Newburyport, Massachusetts, 1802. Unbound. Very good. This partially printed shipping document dated "June 8th, 1802" measures 8" x 6¼". It is illustrated with a large capital 'S' that depicts an oceangoing ship in the background. In it, Moses Brown of Newburyport, commits to transporting rum and sugar to Amsterdam via the Brig Respect, captained by John March. In nice shape with some toning and storage folds. Of note, the document is franked with a colorless, embossed, two-part 20-cent revenue stamp (Scott # RM261a) from the Second Federal Revenue Issue, which was in use from 1 March 1801 until 30 June 1802. The first part of the stamp shows an eagle and shield and is denominated 10 cents. The second part, known as a counter stamp, shows a wreath with 13 stars; it is labeled "COM. REV. C.S." (Commissioner of Revenue Counter Stamp) and bears the denomination "X CENTS". Both parts appear along the left margin, under the S/Ship illustration. The document reads in part: "Shipped, in good order,… Read More

This stampless folded letter has no rate marking but bears a rather scarce New York City "clamshell" postmark dated "OCT/11". There is a stain at the top center of the letter, however, the address and text are quite legible. A small piece of the letter is missing, no doubt it was torn when Governor Greene hurriedly broke the wax seal to receive this update on his daughter's health.The letter reads
"I am sorry to write you that Mrs Ward lays sick with a nervous fever which is now in the 10th day - it is natural that I should be apprehensive for her safety. Our Doctors think the Symptoms yesterday and this day more favorable than when I wrote you on the 9th. / Your ever obedient Son / S Ward / 11 Octor 1802."
While serving with distinction as an officer during the American Revolution, Samuel Ward, Jr., the son of a former colonial governor of Rhode Island (Samuel Ward), married Phebe Greene, the daughter of the second state governor of Rhode Island (William Greene). After the war, Samuel and Phebe… Read More

"Concerning the Acquisition, which certainly no Nation has ever made a more important one to its Interests than the U.S. has done. Pray God its Peace and Prosperity may not be interrupted. . .."
New Orleans, 1807.
This 1807 two-page stampless folded letter, measuring 16" x 11¾" unfolded, was sent by Dr. Robert Dow, a long-time Scottish immigrant, living in New Orleans, Louisiana Territory, to John Watkinson at Middletown Connecticut. The letter was carried to New York as indicated by the annotation, "favored by Mr. Barnard" where it was placed into the mail system. It bears a circular 22 August New York postmark in red and manuscript rate marking, "12½", which at the time was the cost to send a letter between 90 and 150 miles.
In this letter, Dow expresses both admiration for the Louisiana Purchase as well as concern about potential international complications.
"Concerning the Acquisition, which certainly no Nation has ever made a more important one to its Interests than the U.S. has done. Pray God… Read More

1809. Unbound. Very good. This turned, two-page stampless folded letter, measuring 16" x 13" unfolded, was first sent by Moses Rogers, master of the steamboat Phoenix which traveled between New York Harbor and the Delaware River on the first steam-powered, ocean-going voyage in American waters between New York Harbor and the Delaware River. The letter was answered by General Jedidiah Huntington, the "Collector of the Port" in New London, Connecticut on August 30, 1809. It bears a "17" rate mark, a curved "PAID" handstamp, and an indistinct circular handstamp. It was turned, i.e., returned and addressed to Rogers "onboard the Steam boat Phanex (Phoenix), with a "17" rate mark and a manuscript postmark reading "N. London / Septr 5". (This is likely the fourth earliest known steamboat-carried letter and the first that was not carried by Robert Fulton's North River Line). In nice shape. In it, Rogers requested that Huntington issue his associate, a "sick & disabled' merchant seaman named Martin A.… Read More