Winter Discovery Auction Nov 14
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/14/2013
This is the original contract Noah Webster wrote out and signed to publishers his Book The History of America which was published in 1832. Webster is considered extremely important to establish our American language and lexicon. This Contract was also signed by the publishers and his son William Greenleaf Webster, who helped his father with editing and publishing his works. The contract is in fine condition with a few small nicks and one small section on the bottom, missing which does not affect any of the signatures. Williams signature is in a location which did get affected with a stain, but still visible.
The book was published in 1832 by Durrie & Peck, New Haven who both signed this contract. Webster's History of the United States, was written in the aftermath of his now iconic An American Dictionary. Intended as the first essential classroom textbook on American history. Noah webster was an extremely important and He has been called the "Father of American Scholarship and Education". His blue-backed speller books taught five generations of American children how to spell and read, secularizing their education. According to Ellis (1979) he gave Americans "a secular catechism to the nation-state".His name became synonymous with "dictionary" in the United States, especially the modern Merriam-Webster dictionary that was first published in 1828 as An American Dictionary of the English Language.
We can not find any other handwritten and signed contracts by him that have come to market. Webster is also known for the Noah's proposed copyright bill.The first major statutory revision of U.S. copyright law, the 1831 Act was a result of intensive lobbying by Noah Webster and his agents in Congress.Webster also played a critical role lobbying individual states throughout the country during the 1780s to pass the first American copyright laws, which were expected to have distinct nationalistic implications for the infant nation.
Incredible One of A Kind Item!
Noah Webster Original Book Publishing Contract!
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