C. 1716 - 1730 VERY EARLY AMERICAN MANUSCRIPT OF A PURITAN CHINA MERCHANT
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:5562 |
c. 1716 - 1730 VERY EARLY AMERICAN MANUSCRIPT OF A PURITAN CHINA MERCHANT
[AMERICANA MANUSCRIPT] [PURITAN MERCHANT] [DWIGHT, SETH]. Two or more manuscript receipt books in one volume, the earliest being that of merchant Seth Dwight of Boston and (later)Dedham, Massachusetts, dated 1716-1 730, the latest being that of Moses Richards of Sharon, Massachusetts in 1814, with one or two other owners between these. Oblong 12mo., 15 x 9.5 cm., A total of 29 leaves of manus...cript receipts with many blanks separating the separate books inside. Binding: contemporary sheep; worn, front board starting to separate but holding, several leaves removed from book, contemporary ownership signatures; leaves browned; still good. At least two manuscript receipt books in one, kept nearly a century apart. The earlier book, consisting of 24 pages of manuscript, likely was the property of Boston shopkeeper Seth Dwight (1673-1731/2), who specialized in the sale of China. The entries record money either lent or received by him from the early decades of the 18th century, the counter-parties being individuals from familiar Puritan families, including James Bowdoin, Thomas Cushing, Edward Bromfield, Thomas Savage, William Walker, etc. Dwight also held the post of tithing-man, though it is unlikely that any of the transactions recorded here were collections of church fines or taxes. The latter group of receipts datefrom 1814 and record monies received of Moses Richards to legatees of the estate of one Thomas Richards. Overall, a fascinating little utilitarian book from the early colonies documenting the interesting international trade in and import of china. May be returned for any reason
[AMERICANA MANUSCRIPT] [PURITAN MERCHANT] [DWIGHT, SETH]. Two or more manuscript receipt books in one volume, the earliest being that of merchant Seth Dwight of Boston and (later)Dedham, Massachusetts, dated 1716-1 730, the latest being that of Moses Richards of Sharon, Massachusetts in 1814, with one or two other owners between these. Oblong 12mo., 15 x 9.5 cm., A total of 29 leaves of manus...cript receipts with many blanks separating the separate books inside. Binding: contemporary sheep; worn, front board starting to separate but holding, several leaves removed from book, contemporary ownership signatures; leaves browned; still good. At least two manuscript receipt books in one, kept nearly a century apart. The earlier book, consisting of 24 pages of manuscript, likely was the property of Boston shopkeeper Seth Dwight (1673-1731/2), who specialized in the sale of China. The entries record money either lent or received by him from the early decades of the 18th century, the counter-parties being individuals from familiar Puritan families, including James Bowdoin, Thomas Cushing, Edward Bromfield, Thomas Savage, William Walker, etc. Dwight also held the post of tithing-man, though it is unlikely that any of the transactions recorded here were collections of church fines or taxes. The latter group of receipts datefrom 1814 and record monies received of Moses Richards to legatees of the estate of one Thomas Richards. Overall, a fascinating little utilitarian book from the early colonies documenting the interesting international trade in and import of china. May be returned for any reason
