Antique Pennsylvania Ephemera
Eighteenth Century
October 31st, 1785
Slave Sale Invoice,
York Town, Pennsylvania
A legal debt called in.
Crawford for the use of Moore versus Fulton
I do hereby certify that I seized and took in Execution a Negro woman Nam'd Family, the property of James Fulton and after due and legal Notice given exposed her to public Sale at the Court House in York Town, I struck her off to John Spangler for the sum of twenty five pounds, fifteen shillings. He being the highest bidder...
William Bailey, Sheriff.
We enter this week's auction with a display of ephemera centered in York County, Penna. This piece a foreshadow.
Philadelphia Map
John Hills, Surveyor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1808 - 41" x 40"
John Hills was in military service to England during the American Revolution. His inauspicous behavior forced him out, then back in again as his cartography skills were outstanding. It is estimated he completed three dozen maps of the colonies for the English officers. When the war ended, he remained in the United States. His talents then caught the attention of prominent Americans such as George Washington. Upon settling in Philadelphia he enjoyed a prosperous business. In 1797, Hills published a detailed map of Philadelphia, his work helping to define the city for its inhabitants. Then in 1808 he published his Ten-Mile Radius map covering the outer regions of the city. He died in March that year.
York County Map
Plat map on parchment.
Late 18th/early 19th century
28" x 23"
This map features a section of the county showing metes and bounds including latitude and longitude. Distances are also included. At this period York County's major landowners included John Campbell and Abraham Burkholdt, the two prominent on this map. The center features Meadow Place complete with a clover field, an orchard, and Barn Hill. Above is a region called Pidgeon Hill. The map is a plat or cadastral map drawn specifically for communities and/or townships. Their detail includes north, south, west, east direction. They also highlight ownership and usage. Meadow Place and Pidgeon Hill are designated areas. Material attached to back for stability and stretched on wood strips.
The Pennsylvania Magazine
Illustrated is October, 1775. Also a second edition in auction - May, 1775
The Pennsylvania Magazine was published in Philadelphia between 1775 and 1776. The publication is noted for one of its editors, Thomas Paine, father of the essay Common Sense. He edited from February 1775 to May 1776. The magazines were the only Revolution periodicals printed in the colonies in 1775. But their importance takes another step. Editions contain battle maps.
October, 1775 foldout llustration. A Map of the Present Seat of War on the Borders of Canada. Scale of English Miles. Map stretches from Fort Ticonderoga north to the St. Lawrence River above Montreal.
War of 1812 map
Published by Willliam McCarty, Philadelphia, 1814
A New Improved Map of the Seat of War, includes A Table of Population within ten states.
Little is recorded regarding William McCarty's life. He is remembered in history as a co-writer of an 1816 published atlas on the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars with a gentleman named Davis. The engraver of those maps was James Yeager. This particular map covering the War of 1812 was engraved by D. Haines, sc. He worked with Philadelphia cartographers including S. Augustus Mitchell. His career spanned the first half of the nineteenth century.
Hampton Spengler Fraktur
...in his hand in the year 1829.
Pennsylvania German & English
Please be a Child, And Obay to your Parents orders if they give you A good advise. And love your good Maker inparticular. 7½ x 6"
B. Bramell Handcolored Print
Published, 572 North Second Street, Philadelphia
Benjamin Bramell (1794-1851) publisher and bookseller at this address in the early 19th century. Examples from this early location are rare. His work focused on children's stories and Reward of Merits. This is Papy's Darling. 6¾" x 5½". In period frame.
Henry Clay (1777-1851) Letter
Addressed to John Gardner, Esq.
York, Pennsylvania, 11 August 1833.
Maj. Fishel was one of the 502 deaths in 1833 at the hands of cholera. I read your letter of the 27th Aug regarding the Estate of Maj. Fishel, who recently died of the Pestilence in Lexington. From June 1st to August 1st. cholera ravaged the population. Young and old. Rich and poor. Free and enslaved. Records are complete to the loss.
Postmarked letter also includes the wax seal used by Henry Clay.
Letter written from Ashland, the plantation of US Senator and Representative Henry Clay, answering John's query into the death of Maj. [Michael] Fischel. The value of the estate is discussed. If the slaves or any of them should be emancipated by the Heirs, a corresponding deduction would have to be made from the Estate...I am respectully...H. Clay.
More to come....
