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Sale 45
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Lot 1005
Hall, David - Original Partnershp Contracts For the Most Important Printing Establishment in the Colonies (1714-1772) Printer and bookseller. In 1743 Benjamin Franklin hired Hall, who had worked for Franklin's friend, William Strahan, in London, to assist him in his printing house. In 1748 Franklin took Hall into partnership and the enterprise became Franklin & Hall; on February 1, 1766, Franklin sold his interest in the most important printing business in the colonies to David Hall. Hall immediately took William Sellers, who had been his journeyman into the printing house, as a partner, creating the new firm of Hall & Sellers. In addition to printing all the paper money for the colony of Pennsylvania, Hall & Sellers continued the contract with the state that Franklin had negotiated, which included printing all pamphlets and official documents, and continuing Poor Richard's Almanac, started by Franklin in 1732.
Two original Manuscript Documents Signed; the first is 2pp (recto/verso), 14½" x 9¼", Philadelphia, 1766 Feb. 3, two days after Hall purchased the printing house from Benjamin Franklin, and is signed by Hall with a red wax seal; the second is 1p, 14½" x 9¼", Philadelphia, 1771 Jan. 1, signed with a small paper seal, and extends the partnership with Sellers for another five years. Some slight ink erosion and chipping; affecting a couple of words in the text; some professional strenthening at folds.
The first document reads in part: "…Articles of Agreement indented and made the Third day of February in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-six between David Hall of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania, Printer, of the one Part, and William Sellers, of the same Place, Printer, of the other Part. Whereas the said David Hall and William Sellers have determined to enter into a Copartnership, for the carrying on of the Business of Printing in the City of Philadelphia aforesaid; it is therefore covenanted, granted, and agreed by and between the said Parties to these Present, and the said David Hall and William Sellers do each of them covenant, and mutually agree, each with the other of them in Manner following…that they, the said David Hall and William Sellers, shall be partners in carrying on the Trade and Business of Printing in Philadelphia…for and during the Term of Five Years….That all charges of Types, Paper, Ink, Balls, Tympans, Wool, Oil, and other Things necessary to Printing; together with the charge of all common and necessary Repairs of the Press, and its Appurtenances; and also the charge of Rent…shall be divided into two equal Parts…That all Money received, or to be received, for Printing, or for anything done, or to be done, relating to the Business of Printing aforesaid, by the said David Hall, and William Sellers, either as Gratuity, Premium, Reward, or Salary from the Government or from others, shall be divided into two equal parts…."
The second document states that "…David Hall and William Sellers have agreed to continue the Copartnership aforesaid for and during the further Term of five Years…." Two historic documents.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
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