Lot 247

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

Samuel Morse "You Say You Have Also Invented a Telegraph"


Bi-fold autograph letter signed, with integral transmittal leaf addressed in the hand of Morse. Partial separations along fold intersections. Signed by Samuel Morse as "Saml. B. Morse", and dated "Washington March 24, 1846". Penned to recto of first page, balance of pages blank. Red wax seal present with corresponding small hole where the document was opened. Lovely vibrant dark ink.


Samuel Morse offers a blunt but humorous response to a competitor in the race for sophistication in the manner of telegraphy. Written less than two years after he had established the first long-distance telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore. Morse tersely responds " … you say you have also invented a Telegraph, and that you intend doing nothing in relation to it 'until I have had time to speak.'"


"You do not give me any clue to your plan, so that I am unable to speak. But as I am a Yankee I have the privilege of guessing, and also of guessing twice, if I guess wrong the first time.  I guess then your plan is a tube filled with water, which has often been the subject of our thoughts and planning's, and which has long been discarded not because it is not feasible for a certain distance but from its expense and some other inconveniences which virtually make it impracticable. Beside is it a plan calculated and thrown aside before electric telegraphs were thought of.  Now if I have guessed right you are in the vocative, if wrong why there is a chance for your life. Let us have it, for if it is new and original with you, you need no patent papers to secure to you the benefits … I have many communications on various plans from all parts of the country. None as yet can compete with the lightening"


The recipient was likely the Reverend Joseph Tracy (as shown on the address leaf, 1793-1874) who had claimed to have had developed method of using short and long pulses as a code for telegraphy, independently of Morse - and several years after the formulation of Morse's own code (see Edward L. Morse. "the Dot and Dash Alphabet", The Century Magazine, vol. 83, March 1912, pp.700-701)


A superb example with great content by Morse demonstrating the race for methods of communication.


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.


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

August 19, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000