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Lot 75
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Seven years before Samuel Colt Received His Patent for a "revolving gun", the U.S. Gov't Acknowledged a Patent to Henry Rogers for a "revolving four barreled gun and improved percussion lock"
Seven years before Samuel Colt Received His Patent for a "revolving gun", the U.S. Gov't Acknowledged a Patent to Henry Rogers for a "revolving four barreled gun and improved percussion lock"
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Description:

Guns

Seven years before Samuel Colt Received His Patent for a “revolving gun”, the U.S. Gov't Acknowledged a Patent to Henry Rogers for a “revolving four barreled gun and improved percussion lock”  



On February 25, 1836, Samuel Colt received a patent for a “revolving gun” with “great rapidity in the succession of discharges, which is effected merely by drawing back the hammer and pulling the trigger.” On May 7, 1829, seven years earlier, Henry Rogers received a patent for a “revolving four barreled gun” by which “eight shots can be made in a minute.”



Comprises:



(1) Partly Printed Document Signed "Henry Rogers" and, as witnesses, “C.B. Simonson Jr.” and “J.M. Williams,” 1p, 7.75” x 13”. Pennsylvania, June 17, 1829. Completed in manuscript. On the integral sheet conjoined at the left is a printing of the Letters Patent for a “Revolving Four Barrelled Gun, and Improved Percussion Lock” signed in type by Andrew Jackson as President and M. Van Buren as Secretary of State on May 7, 1829. Minor flaws. Fine condition.



The document signed by Rogers for $1437 “lawful money of the United States, to him in hand well and truly paid … sells the patent “to Israel T. Gilson his heirs and assigns forever, the exclusive right and liberty for making, constructing, using, and vending to others, to be use, the said Gun and improved Lock, for the term of fourteen years, from the seventh day of May, 1829, in the State of Pennsylvania…”



The text of the patent at left, bearing the names of Jackson, Van Buren, and Attorney General John Macpherson Berrien, in part, “Whereas Henry Rogers, a Citizen of the United States, hath alleged that he has invented a new and useful improvement, called, a 'Revolving Four Barrelled Gun, and Improved Percussion Lock,' which improvement he states had not been known or used before his application; hath made oath that he does verily believe that he is the true inventor or discoverer of the said improvement; hath paid into the Treasury of the United States the sum of thirty dollars…THESE ARE THEREFORE to grant, according to law, to the said HENRY ROGERS, his heirs, administrators, or assigns, for the term of fourteen years, from the seventh day of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine, the full and exclusive right and liberty of making, constructing, using and vending to others to be used, the said improvement; a description whereof is given in the words of the said HENRY ROGERS himself…” Rogers had included the necessary drawings of his invention which he referred to in his description; these drawings were attached to the actual Letters Patent actually signed by Jackson, Van Buren, and Berrien.



“Be It Known that I HENRY ROGERS … invented a knew and useful improvement, called the ‘Revolving four barreled Gun, and improved percussion Lock: And that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of the said gun as invented and improved by me. – This gun is formed by four barrels, about three inches long, which may be bored in a block of brass, of, say 2 1-4 inches square, and three inches long, and then cut, or filed so as to exhibit five eights of the outside of each barrel; a round hole of about three eights of an inch diameter is then to be bored exactly parallel with, and between the barrels to admit a rod or axle to revolve on, a top view of which is represented by the drawing marked A. The fifth, or long barrel, may be of any length to suit the maker; of the same bore or caliber of one of the four short barrels, and be connected to the britch, at three inches distant, by two strong side straps of steel, equal in width to one square or one eight of the barrel (marked B) … When the whole is in good order, eight shots can be made in a minute. I have one Gun finished on the above plan...”




(2) Manuscript Letter Signed “Thos P. Jones Supert,” 1p. 7.75” x 9.5”. Department of State, Pat Office, March 10, 1829. Integral leaf addressed to “Mr Henry Rogers / Middletown, Butler County / Ohio,” free franked in upper right “Thos P. Jones” as Superintendent of the Patent Office in the Department of State. Reddish “WASHn City Mar 11” circular postmark reddish “FREE” partially on frank. Paper loss, expert mending on verso, numerous plastic tape stains over text and address on “P Jones Supert” of signature but not touching the free frank. Fair condition.



Jones writes, in full, “Your papers & Money to obtain a Patent for a four barrel Gun &c have been recd and are in order, but a model will be required to be deposited. Your patent will be issued in its regular turn. You will please to execute & return the within Bond. Yours respectfully Thos P. Jones Supert.”



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