PAUL REVERE Engraved/Printed Bookplate for Isaiah Thomas Personal Library Copy

Lot 163

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Autographs, Colonial Currency, Political Americana, Historic Guns by Early American History Auctions

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Autographs, Colonial Currency, Political Amer...

By Early American History Auctions

Aug 24, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-08-24 12:00:00 2019-08-24 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Autographs, Colonial Currency, Political Americana, Historic Guns https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/early-american-history-auctions/autographs-colonial-currency-political-americana-historic-guns-4347 Historic Autographs • Colonial Currency • American Civil War Colonial Era • Revolutionary War • Political Americana • Black History Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com

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Lot Description

American Revolution
Paul Revere Engraved & Printed Copper-Plate Bookplate for Isaiah Thomas In Thomas's Personal Library Copy of "The Freemason Monitor or Illustrations of Masonry 1797"
"The Freemason Monitor or Illustrations of Masonry 1797" 1st Ed. Owned by Isaiah Thomas, Printed at Albany for Spencer and Webb, Market Street, 1797, Ex: The American Antiquarian Society where Deaccessioned (1940s), as Listed in PAUL REVERE'S ENGRAVINGS, Very Fine.
Paul Revere's Engraved & Printed Copper-Plate Bookplate for Isaiah Thomas is on the inside cover of Isaiah Thomas's personal copy of "The Freemason Monitor or Illustrations of Masonry 1797," 1st Edition. Owned by Isaiah Thomas this is an extremely rare and literally "one of a kind" of "The Freemason Monitor or Illustrations of Masonry In Two Parts By A Royal Arch Mason, K.T.-K. of M.-&c. &c., Printed at Albany (New York) for Spencer and Webb, Market Street, 1797." This scarce Book on Masonry complete contains 284 printed pages and measures 6.25" x 4" with its original leather boards.

This historic Book is from the Personal Library of the famous American Printer, Isaiah Thomas, and it includes his Personal Bookplate made by Silversmith and Revolutionary War Patriot, Paul Revere, Jr., in Boston. (Individual copies of the "Isaiah Thomas" Bookplates by Revere themselves have brought over $2,500 at auction in the past.) This Book also retains Isaiah Thomas's person notation of "75 Cts" (cents), in rich brown ink in the upper right corner by Isaiah Thomas's hand when he valued his personal library for donation (confirmed by an American Antiquarian Society archivist). The "American Antiquarian Society" red circular ink stamp is located on its title page. (The consignor personally stated to have contacted The American Antiquarian Society and they believe this book may have been deaccessioned during the 1940s because of three missing pages containing a John Locke speech, lacking pages 89-92 (noted in pencil on inside cover) and the first few pages including two blank and the frontis are stuck together but only on the extreme inner spine left side about half an inch not affecting the print. The cover is worn with some scraping to its surface, yet solid and sturdy, internal tone to the outer portions of the first and last few pages and in overall very good condition, easy to read.

In 1770, Isaiah Thomas established the "Massachusetts Spy," the first newspaper aimed at middle-class readers. While other papers were happy with 400 subscribers, the Spy had a circulation of 3,500. Thomas used the Spy to rally support for the cause of independence. Targeted by the British, he smuggled his press out of Boston to Worcester a few days before the Battle of Lexington and Concord. There, he continued publishing his newspaper. After the war, Thomas became the foremost publisher and printer in America. In 1812, he established the American Antiquarian Society.

The combination of Two such important historical figures such as Paul Revere and Isaiah Thomas, to the history of America, in addition to their Masonic history, come together in this one object. It is obviously extremely rare and unique, and it certainly would be the cornerstone of any serious collection of Freemasonry, Illuminati, Occult or Revolutionary War Era America. Any collector of Paul Revere's Engravings would be thrilled to add this Book to their collection. This Bookplate is listed and described in PAUL REVERSE'S ENGRAVINGS, by Clarence S. Brigham, American Antiquarian Society, in their 1969 2nd Edition, on page 163, further discussed and illustrated as plate 53 on pages 164 & 165 as the second (apparently preferred) plate engraved for Thomas by Revere. A rare opportunity to acquire an important piece of American and Masonic history directly and literally tied to Paul Revere and Isaiah Thomas.
Described in the classic historical reference book, "PAUL REVERE'S ENGRAVINGS" by Clarence S. Brigham, American Antiquarian Society, in their 1969, 2nd Edition, page 163 informs the reader that this design was the second plate engraved for Thomas by Revere. It reads; "This second plate, (originally) unsigned, but unquestionably engraved by Revere, with the characteristic Revere "No" at the top, does not seem to have been used to any extent. Only the copy in the American Antiquarian Society collection is known. It is the supposition, in fact the tradition, that Thomas did not relish that his (First) plate was an evident facsimile (copy from) of the plate of Gardiner Chandler, and engaged Revere to make a new one, which is described later. (Illustrated on page 165).
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