[Rarebooks] FS: Important Samuel Morse Letter on the telegraph

[Charles Agvent]

One of many fine Spring New Arrivals posted on our web site
http://www.erols.com/agvent

MORSE,  Samuel F. B. AUTOGRAPHED LETTER SIGNED  (ALS)  mentioning
the   laying  of  the  first   significant  North  American  submarine
telegraph   cable.  Poughkeepsie:  17  July   1855.  A  fine  one-page
AUTOGRAPH  LETTER SIGNED to B. B. Minor. An important letter  touching
as  it  does  on  two significant events in the  life  of  Morse,  the
controversy  of his "Defense," and the laying of the first significant
North  American  submarine telegraph cable. From 1852  onwards  Morese
had  to  contend with allegations against the priority he claimed  for
the  invention  of  the   electro-magnetic  telegraph,  including  the
accusation  of Dr. Charles Jackson who said he had provided uncredited
information  to  Morse  while fellow passengers on a ship.  Morse  was
deeply  preoccupied  by  the  slur  on  his  good  name.  Among  other
initiatives  he solicited eye witness accounts from other  passengers,
including  the  one discussed at length in this letter. Morse was  the
Electrician  for  the company that was the initiator of  the  Atlantic
Cable,  and  this  letter shows that this was not merely  an  honorary
position.  He  set  off for Newfoundland about two  weeks  after  this
letter.  The  Newfoundland  to Nova Scotia cable referred  to  in  the
letter  failed in 1855 but was successfully completed in the summer of
1856.  By  linking the Newfoundland edn of the Atlantic Cable to  Nova
Scotia,  news  could be transmitted to the United States via the  Nova
Scotia  telegraph  line and its U.S. connections. In  another  letter,
Morse  claimed  that  this Cape Ray to Cape Breton  cable,  "about  60
miles  submarine  telegraph" as described in the present  letter,  was
the  first  substantial submarine cable to be laid. About  175  words,
SIGNED  as "Sam. F. B. Morse." Normal creases from folding. Fine  with
superb content.                                               $5000.00

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CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
Voice/Fax: 610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
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