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Washington Death, Ulter Gazette, 1800, Early Reprint [181296]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Paper Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
Washington Death, Ulter Gazette, 1800, Early Reprint  [181296]
UNCLAIMED MERCHANDISE: In the event that a successful bidder has paid in full for their merchandise but fails to settle outstanding shipping invoices or make arrangements for merchandise pickup within 60 days, HWAC reserves the right to declare the merchandise forfeited. This forfeiture will result in the merchandise becoming the property of HWAC and the successful bidder shall have no claim to or rights over the forfeited merchandise.
Very early reprint of the famous Ulster County Gazette announcement of George Washington's death. While the family who has owned this paper for about 200 years thought it was original (and it comes with a copy of a family note written about 1910), there have been a number of articles published within the past 50-plus years describing what is, and what isn't, a real copy of the Ulster County Gazette. This newspaper was so important at the time that reproductions in a number of forms were made almost immediately. As the Father of our Country, Washington had immense popularity. Everyone wanted to read about his life and death, and newspapers were in short supply in 1800, with very few presses and even less money available to print them. The Ulster County Gazette published this special edition after Washington's death, but only two original copies survive. The numerous "reprints" are really not true copies - we had no photographic process, and every newspaper printer did not have the same type fonts, edge borders and so forth. Thus all of the "copies" are composed slightly differently. It is impossible to date them, but this paper may be from circa 1860 or before. It is in a frame that was made from wood from an Olympia Washington building about 1909, according to the family papers. The paper is accompanied by an excellent article by Ray Baker Harris discussing the original and the various copies. A second piece in the lot is an early copper plate engraving of Washington in full figure in his office by Gilbert Stuart, O.Pelton Lithographer, and published by Gordon Bill of Springfield Mass. 18.5 x 26.5" , water stain lower right corner, foxing left sideline. Date not shown, possibly circa late 1830s to 1850s. Pelton was a well known bank note lithographer..