Josiah Bartett’s leather bound hardcover financial accounting and log book, measuring 6.75 x 16.5 and weighing an impressive ten pounds. The book contains over 1000 entries of accounts and financial information, some in Bartlett’s hand, and is signed throughout by Bartlett approximately 30 times. The ledger begins around 1778 and goes through 1816, taken over by his son after Josiah’s passing in 1795, with 790 pages of figures written while Bartlett was alive, with his last entry dated April 27, 1795. Many of the entries in those almost 800 pages are in the hand of Bartlett. One dated November 19, 1794, reads, “The Stephen Lad & Josiah Bartlett received and said Lad agrees to deliver to said Bartlett six bushels of Indian corn at his mill to balance all accounts between them. Witness our hands,” and signed by Lad and Bartlett. Another entry, reads, “Josiah Bartett & Jacob Foot Ballanced all accounts between them by note of hand. Witness our hands,” and signed by Jacob Foot and Josiah Bartlett. Back pastedown bears an affixed conversion table in an unknown hand. Book is housed in a custom-made clamshell box. In good condition, with interior pages lightly toned, damp stained and wrinkled, as well as a few chips to fore-edges and several contemporary pencil notations. Leather covers and spine are well worn, with scattered surface loss, chips, edge and corner wear, and moderate surface scratches. The book also retains a moderate musty odor.
This behemoth volume provides the reader with an amazing glimpse into the life of the patriot Bartlett—the second man, after John Hancock, to sign the Declaration of Independence. A physician and statesman, Bartlett would later become chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court in 1788, and the Granite State’s governor from 1790 to 1794—periods that overlap with this financial accounting. The existence of this lengthy volume and its availability to private hands is impressive, considering the comparative lack of material from other Declaration signers. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$50.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
