Lot 412

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Description:

Nathaniel Hawthorne Salem Customs Doc Signed 5 Months After "Mosses From An Old Manse" Was Published

A customs document boldly signed by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), as "Nath. Hawthorne / Surv" in violet ink at lower left. November 9, 1846. [Salem, Massachusetts.] The partly printed and partly manuscript document is also counter-signed by Ephraim F. Miller, Salem's Deputy Collector from 1843-1849, as "Ephrm F. Miller Dep"; and by Naval Officer John D. Howard. Expected wear including even toning, horizontal folds, and minor foxing, else near fine. The sight size of the document is 8.5" x 6.625." Matted and framed behind UF-3 plexiglass, and not examined out of the frame. The frame bears two paper labels from Goodspeed's Book Shop, Inc. (Boston, Massachusetts) verso. Isolated areas of gilt loss to the frame, else very good, measuring 14.625" x 13.25" x .875" overall.

The document confirms that customs duties have been paid on an inventory of 20,147 dry hides, 80 dry hides, and 120 dry hides from Montevideo, Uruguay, contained in the Bark "Huntress," G. Upton master. (The duties were almost certainly paid by James Upton (1813-1879), the celebrated Salem merchant.) The nineteenth-century Uruguayan economy heavily relied on livestock to provide dried meat, wool, leather, and animal skin exports to American, Caribbean, South American, and European markets. We can assume that the hides itemized here probably belonged to cattle or sheep.

Nathaniel Hawthorne signed this document in his official capacity as Surveyor for the District of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts. Hawthorne's administrative job at the Salem Customs House from April 1846 to June 1849 permitted him to earn a living wage while continuing to write. Just five months earlier, in early June 1846, Hawthorne published his short story collection called "Mosses from an Old Manse."

Hawthorne's dismissal from his post as Salem Custom House Surveyor and Inspector in 1849 was politically motivated. Enraged, Hawthorne made sure to include several pointed references to his unjust firing in the preface of his first major mature novel, "The Scarlet Letter, A Romance," published in 1850.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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February 1, 2023 11:00 AM EST
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