THE HARBOTTLE DORR COLLECTION OF ANNOTATED MASSACHUSETTS NEWSPAPERS, VOLUME 4, 1772-1776.

THE HARBOTTLE DORR COLLECTION OF ANNOTATED MASSACHUSETTS NEWSPAPERS, VOLUME 4, 1772-1776. Starting on January 7, 1765 in the middle of the Stamp Act controversy, Boston shopkeeper, Harbottle Dorr took the current issue of the Boston Evening Post and commented on its contents in the margins. Every week thereafter, for 12 years, he accumulated the papers totaling an astonishing 3,280 pages in four volumes. We are selling volume IV of a four volume set, the first three being housed at the Massachusetts Historical Society. This volume having a 70+ page hand written index cross referencing the articles and events. It is an amazing and unique look at the Revolutionary Era in New England. The volume contains the July 18, 1776 issue of the printing of the Declaration of Independence. One of the most historical collections of Revolutionary period Boston newspapers to come to the market. 1265 numbered pages in this 4-1/2″ thick bound volume. The newspapers represented are: Boston Gazette & Country Journal; The Boston Evening Post; The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Post-Boy and The Advertiser; The Massachusetts Gazette and The Boston Weekly News-Letter; The Essex Gazette; The New-England Chronicle or The Essex Gazette; The New England Chronicle; The Continental Journal & Weekly Advertiser. Mr. Dorr, on the first page, presents, in his hand, introduction as follows: “This vol. has a very deformed body, but a beautiful soul. N.B. On reviewing this volume, I find some words in the margins, & index misspelt, which I hope whoever peruses will excuse especially as some of them were wrote at my shop amidst my business, when I had no leisure to be exact.” and “…I have thought it worth while to collect them, “tho” at considerable expense, and VERY GREAT TROUBLE, in hopes that in future, they may be of some service, towards forming a POLITICAL history of this country, during the shameful and abandoned administration of George the Third’s despotic ministry.”. Followed by a 70 page hand written index. Attached to the back of the index is a folded invoice/order dated 1773 for the months of October, November and December from Mr. Joshua Pico to William Bant indicating at the bottom “By an order in full for the above from the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.” additionally signed “Edward Dowse”. The first newspaper being The Boston Gazette & Country Journal, No. 874 Monday, January 6, 1772 and ending with The Continental Journal & Weekly Advertiser, No. XXXI Thursday, December 26, 1776. As part of the numbered pages, after the newspapers, tipped into the binding are four booklets (which are also annotated), each commemorating “The Bloody Tragedy of March 5, 1770” “An Oration Delivered March 5, 1772 by Dr. Joseph Warren”; also the 1773 Oration given by Dr. Benjamin Church; the 1774 Oration given by John Hancock and the 1775 Oration given by Dr. Joseph Warren. Also tipped in the back is a booklet “The Votes and Proceedings of the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in town meeting assembled”, November 20, 1772. John Hancock being chosen moderator. Printed by Edes and Gill, Boston. A booklet titled “Letters” dated “Boston 18th June, 1768”. A booklet “To the People of Great Britain from the Delegates Philadelphia September 5, 1774”. The last being “Strictures” on a pamphlet titled “A Friendly Address” printed New York, 1775. Notable Pages Include: Page 971, July 18, 1776, Declaration of Independence, (The Continental Journal & Weekly Advertiser) Page 919, April 22, 1776, Articles of the United Colonies, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) Page 697, March 20, 1775, An advertisement of Harbottle Dorr, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) Page 627, December 12, 1774, A letter from John Hancock, The Proceedings of the American Continental Congress, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) Page 295, May 24, 1773, Two glued in political satire cartoons, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) Page 171, October 26, 1772, An article which Harbottle Dorr has signed as being the author, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) A truly extraordinary & unique opportunity. This run of newspapers printed during the most critical years of the formation of our independence provides a very special and comprehensive insight into the day to day happenings. In addition, Mr. Dorr’s extensive and intimate comments are a true reflection of the “man on the street”. Boston was one of the hearts of the rebel movement and Dorr’s shop generated a daily flow of Boston residents who not only did business with Dorr but continually shared their feelings and opinions on the matters of the day which, in part, are surly reflected here in Dorr’s commentary. A most important historical American document. Dorr’s collection of annotated newspapers, to our knowledge, are the only documents of this type from this period known to exist! SIZE: 16-1/2” x 10-1/4” x 4-1/2”. PROVENANCE: Bangor Museum and Center for History, Maine. CONDITION: Top cover & first two pages loose, the pages in remarkably very good condition with very little losses or staining. It must be noted that there are spots where annotations are on pieces of paper that have been glued in. The binding is “as is” but all in all, a remarkable state of preservation. 9-22422 (150,000-300,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3060	$345,000.00	THE HARBOTTLE DORR COLLECTION OF ANNOTATED MASSACHUSETTS NEWSPAPERS, VOLUME 4, 1772-1776. Starting on January 7, 1765 in the middle of the Stamp Act controversy, Boston shopkeeper, Harbottle Dorr took the current issue of the Boston Evening Post and commented on its contents in the margins. Every week thereafter, for 12 years, he accumulated the papers totaling an astonishing 3,280 pages in four volumes. We are selling volume IV of a four volume set, the first three being housed at the Massachusetts Historical Society. This volume having a 70+ page hand written index cross referencing the articles and events. It is an amazing and unique look at the Revolutionary Era in New England. The volume contains the July 18, 1776 issue of the printing of the Declaration of Independence. One of the most historical collections of Revolutionary period Boston newspapers to come to the market. 1265 numbered pages in this 4-1/2″ thick bound volume. The newspapers represented are: Boston Gazette & Country Journal; The Boston Evening Post; The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Post-Boy and The Advertiser; The Massachusetts Gazette and The Boston Weekly News-Letter; The Essex Gazette; The New-England Chronicle or The Essex Gazette; The New England Chronicle; The Continental Journal & Weekly Advertiser. Mr. Dorr, on the first page, presents, in his hand, introduction as follows: “This vol. has a very deformed body, but a beautiful soul. N.B. On reviewing this volume, I find some words in the margins, & index misspelt, which I hope whoever peruses will excuse especially as some of them were wrote at my shop amidst my business, when I had no leisure to be exact.” and “…I have thought it worth while to collect them, “tho” at considerable expense, and VERY GREAT TROUBLE, in hopes that in future, they may be of some service, towards forming a POLITICAL history of this country, during the shameful and abandoned administration of George the Third’s despotic ministry.”. Followed by a 70 page hand written index. Attached to the back of the index is a folded invoice/order dated 1773 for the months of October, November and December from Mr. Joshua Pico to William Bant indicating at the bottom “By an order in full for the above from the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.” additionally signed “Edward Dowse”. The first newspaper being The Boston Gazette & Country Journal, No. 874 Monday, January 6, 1772 and ending with The Continental Journal & Weekly Advertiser, No. XXXI Thursday, December 26, 1776. As part of the numbered pages, after the newspapers, tipped into the binding are four booklets (which are also annotated), each commemorating “The Bloody Tragedy of March 5, 1770” “An Oration Delivered March 5, 1772 by Dr. Joseph Warren”; also the 1773 Oration given by Dr. Benjamin Church; the 1774 Oration given by John Hancock and the 1775 Oration given by Dr. Joseph Warren. Also tipped in the back is a booklet “The Votes and Proceedings of the Freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in town meeting assembled”, November 20, 1772. John Hancock being chosen moderator. Printed by Edes and Gill, Boston. A booklet titled “Letters” dated “Boston 18th June, 1768”. A booklet “To the People of Great Britain from the Delegates Philadelphia September 5, 1774”. The last being “Strictures” on a pamphlet titled “A Friendly Address” printed New York, 1775. Notable Pages Include: Page 971, July 18, 1776, Declaration of Independence, (The Continental Journal & Weekly Advertiser) Page 919, April 22, 1776, Articles of the United Colonies, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) Page 697, March 20, 1775, An advertisement of Harbottle Dorr, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) Page 627, December 12, 1774, A letter from John Hancock, The Proceedings of the American Continental Congress, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) Page 295, May 24, 1773, Two glued in political satire cartoons, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) Page 171, October 26, 1772, An article which Harbottle Dorr has signed as being the author, (The Boston Gazette & Country Journal) A truly extraordinary & unique opportunity. This run of newspapers printed during the most critical years of the formation of our independence provides a very special and comprehensive insight into the day to day happenings. In addition, Mr. Dorr’s extensive and intimate comments are a true reflection of the “man on the street”. Boston was one of the hearts of the rebel movement and Dorr’s shop generated a daily flow of Boston residents who not only did business with Dorr but continually shared their feelings and opinions on the matters of the day which, in part, are surly reflected here in Dorr’s commentary. A most important historical American document. Dorr’s collection of annotated newspapers, to our knowledge, are the only documents of this type from this period known to exist! SIZE: 16-1/2” x 10-1/4” x 4-1/2”. PROVENANCE: Bangor Museum and Center for History, Maine. CONDITION: Top cover & first two pages loose, the pages in remarkably very good condition with very little losses or staining. It must be noted that there are spots where annotations are on pieces of paper that have been glued in. The binding is “as is” but all in all, a remarkable state of preservation. 9-22422 (150,000-300,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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