Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A rare early Confederate government document, being, "AN ACT. Recognizing the existence of war between the United States and the Confederate States; and considering letters of marque, prizes and prize goods." [Montgomery, Ala.], approved May 6, 1861, signed in type by HOWELL COBB, as president of the Confederate Congress and JEFFERSON DAVIS, as president of the Confederacy, reading, in very small part: "...earnest efforts [have been] made by this Government to establish friendly relations between the Government of the United States and the Confederate States, to settle all questions of disagreement between the two Governments…[but] the refusal of the Government of the United States to hold any intercourse with the commissioners appointed by this Government for the purpose…aforesaid…by the acts and means, war exists between the Confederate States and the Government of the United States…therefore…the President of the Confederate States is hereby authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the Confederate Sates to meet the war thus commenced…he Government of the Confederate States will pay to the cruiser...twenty per centum on the value of each and every vessel of war belonging to the enemy, that may be sunk or destroyed...payable in eight per cent. bonds of the Confederate States…that is any person who may have invented or may hereafter invent any new kind of armed vessel, or floating battery, or defence, shall deposit a plan of the same...in the navy department...[which] shall entitle such inventor....exclusive enjoyment of the rights and privileges conferred by this act, reserving however, to the Government, in all cases, the right of using such invention...". A rare printing on blue stationery, not to be confused with the many single page summaries of this act dated May 21, 1861. Historical sales research indicates that this document has not appeared in the marketplace for nearly fifty years while in recent years the single page summary has. Near fine.
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