A 1p. manuscript and letterpress ‘quit claim’ legal document concerning a property in Boston,

Lt. Governor Samuel Turell ARMSTRONG (1784-1835, printer, publisher & politician) and Charles EWER, (1790-1853, publisher and bookseller).

A 1p. manuscript and letterpress ‘quit claim’ legal document concerning a property in Boston, dated Boston, 17th November 1828, tall folio (18 ½ x 10 7/8in; 470 x 277mm). Samuel T. Armstrong and his wife Abigail Armstrong agree to sell for ‘ten dollars & other good & valuable considerations’  ‘a certain parcel or lot of land situate on Washington Street … Boston’ to ‘Charles Ewer of said City of Boston Bookseller’, additionally signed by Justice of the Peace Samuel F. McCleary, and witnessed by James H. Fearing and Mary Todd, docketed twice on the verso (including signature of registrar Henry Alline). Condition: old folds, splits to folds, one area of very minor loss (see images).

An interesting document chronicling a major moment in the life of bookseller and publisher Charles Ewer: he takes possession of the business premises on Washington Street (probably number 141) in the centre of Boston. The seller is the established bookseller and publisher Sam T. Armstrong, but his wife Abigail had enough of a legal interest to warrant the inclusion of her name and signature as well. Space was at a premium and the precise measurements are carefully recorded and the whole is cross-referenced to the ‘Plan made by S.P. Fuller dated Feb. 18th. 1826. The wording of the price paid poses more questions than it answers: this piece of prime real estate sold for just $10, with unspecified extras, described only as ‘other good & valuable considerations’. At the time of the signing of this document Armstrong was already well established as a State politician, and he went on to serve as the Lt. Governor between 1833 and 1836.