113

Uncommon polygraph letter

Thomas Jefferson

Mechanical copy of his letter to business partner Patrick Gibson, created as he wrote an ALS using a polygraph machine, with a few holograph corrections, docketed in holograph on verso ("Gibson & Jefferson. Dec. 22. 12").

The letter, assuring payment of a $700 promissory note to Burgess Griffin, requesting investigation into missing delivery of powder and cloth and, in a postscript, reporting that the missing delivery is found. 1 page, 4to; moderate marginal discoloration from prior matting, remnants of matting adhesive at upper and lower edges recto, folds.
 
"Monticello" [Charlottesville], 22 December 1812.

  • Notes: "I . . . find here your letter . . . notifying that my bond to Burgess Griffin for 700 D. paiable on the last day of this month was in the hands of Mr. [Temple] Gwathmey; while in Bedford, Griffin informed me it was in the hands of Mr. Carter B. Page to whom I meant to write on my return. The bond will be paid the moment I can get my flour into your hands and have it sold; this, the state of our river does not admit as yet. I saw Johnson yesterday who told me he would start as soon as there would come a tide sufficient to carry half a load; in Bedford became[?] stopped by a combination of the watermen in a demand for a price exorbitantly advanced. I directed my managers to send mine off (which was all ready for delivery) as soon as they would carry it for a dollar, which was from 33. to 50. p[er] cent more than the price of the last year; from that quarter or from this my bond in the hands of Mr. Gwathmey will be certainly paid in the course of the ensuing month; not knowing his residence I must ask the favor of you to hand on this information to him.
    "In a letter of the 1st of Oct. you were so kind as to inform me you had delivered to Johnson's boat a keg of powder & piece of cloth for me; we are apprehensive this has been by mistake to a boat owner of the same name on the other river; he will carry down your letter which may enable you to ascertain the fact. . . ."


    Although to today's ears, "polygraph" sounds like an electronic device, in the 19th century, it was the name of a purely mechanical machine used to duplicate letters. The user of such a device would grip a writing instrument fitted to an arm projecting from the machine, beside which another arm extended, so that writing on a sheet of paper on one side would recreate every movement on another sheet of paper on the other side. Jefferson employed such a device occasionally, and even helped to develop it by submitting small improvements, beginning in 1804 until his death.
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