Partly-printed DS as president, signed “Jas Monroe,” three pages, 11.5 x 15, March 14, 1817. Patent issued to “John Pitman a Citizen of the United States hath alleged that he has invented a new and useful improvement in the manufacturing of Rope Yarn; being an Improvement upon the Machine called the effeminate Ropery for spinning rope Yarn invented by him & patented on the 24th Day of December 1799. Which improvement he states has not been known or used before his application; hath affirmed that he does verily believe that he is the true inventor or discoverer of the said improvement; hath paid into the treasury of the United States the sum of thirty dollars, delivered a receipt for the same, and presented a petition to the Secretary of State, signifying a desire of obtaining an exclusive property in the said improvement, and praying that a patent may be granted for that purpose.” Signed at the conclusion of the first page by Monroe and countersigned by acting Secretary of State Richard Rush. Following two pages bear a lengthy handwritten description of the improvement, beginning: “For the manufacture of rope yard, make a frame three feet six inches long…” The signed first page is in fine condition, with previous intersecting storage folds, one through a single letter of signature, minor paper loss to bottom edge, and some light scattered soiling. The remaining two pages are very good, with moderate staining to both sides on page two. The white wafer seal on the first page is crisp and intact and all three pages are still bound by the original red ribbon.
Pitman was a Revolutionary War veteran who later became a traveling minister, preaching primarily in the northern states. Eventually settling in Rhode Island and become a Baptist minister, Pitman also indulged himself by manufacturing rope and twine for local ship merchants, leading him to develop a new method for creating rope yarn. Pitman dubbed this invention the “effeminate ropery for spinning rope yarn” because he used female workers to make the yarn. He constructed, marketed, and sold his machines throughout the northeastern United States as well as in other states as distant as Louisiana for as much as $350 each. An interesting patent which aided the post-Revolutionary War shipping industry. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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