Partly-printed DS, two pages, signed “Th: Jefferson” as president and “James Madison” as secretary of state (also countersigned by Attorney General John Breckinridge), 11 x 14, April 1, 1806. A patent issued to “Richard Tripe, a citizen in the United States, hath alleged that he has invented a new and useful improvement in Diving Machines.” The second page contains a detailed description of the patent signed by Tripe. In good to very good condition, with Jefferson’s and Madison’s signatures light but legible, intersecting folds (light vertical folds to both Jefferson’s and Madison’s last names), toning, wrinkling, and moderately heavy soiling to edges (light soiling to both names), small corner hole to first page, and light overall irregular ink adhesion to text on second page. The white wafer seal is worn but mostly intact, and the original green ribbon holding the two pages together is present.
Tripe operated a boat-building business in Dover, New Hampshire. The “diving machine” referenced here is in fact a diving bell, which dates to the 4th century BC, though the first modern example dates to 1535. The device consists of an airtight chamber that allows one or more persons to be submerged within the airtight encasement. An interesting nautical reference, and a desirable presidential combination on a seldom-encountered patent document. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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