[Rarebooks] FS: Superb Samuel Morse Telegraph Letter
Charles Agvent
chagvent at ptd.net
Thu Jul 15 19:31:07 EDT 2010
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 Morse 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 end 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.
$5,000.00
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