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Auction: 313 - Numismatic Collector's Series - Ft. Worth, TX
Lot: 1500

Trumbull, John Second pair of ALS "Jno Trumbull," 1 page and 2 pages, 4to, New York, April 4 and September 24, 1832. He writes Daniel Wadsworth in the first to send him his catalog, and "all those at New Haven or Hartford, who are disposed to take any interest in my proposal, will have a fair opportunity of judging how far it deserves attention. I have so nearly completed a second picture for the Hartford branch of the project, that will be in the Exhibition..." In the second, he recalls that Wadsworth advised him "to Consent that a Copy of my Print of the Declaration of Independence should be engraved, & publisehed in a small elegant volume for Mr Huntington of your city. I gave my consent, conditioned that it should be engraved IN THE BEST STYLE, that the Impressions should be bound with the proposed Annual, AND SOLD IN NO OTHER WAY...Mr Huntington has played me a most vile yankee trick; firs, the plate was engraved by men unknown to me as artists, MOST CONTEMPTIBLY: and now I am told that Mr Huntington has ceded the plate to the Engravers Messrs Illman & Pitbrow, and they are printing & selling impressions...Now my dear Sir this is a base violation of my Copy right" and has caused difficulty in selling prints from a much better plate in Trumbull´s possession. Both worn at right edge, especially the earlier letter, but fully legible and VG. An engraving of Trumbull´s Declaration of Independence - done in the best style! - is featured on the back of the $2 bill. [2]

Sold for
$2,500