235. Webster, Noah. Autograph letter signed (“N. Webster”), 1 page (9.75 x 7.75 in.; 198 x 252 mm), New Haven, 3 January 1830, to The Honorable Samuel Hubbard; integral address leaf, docketed.

On copyright infringement of his school textbooks.

Webster writes in full: I suppose the papers to be used in the suit of Henry Hudson against the trespasses on his right in Lee, to be in the possession of his counsel in Boston, of whom I understand you are one. The publishers of my Spelling Book in Albany care about commencing a suit or two against trespasses in their district, & write to me for my affidavit on Two Points, viz–the newspaper in which the record of the book in the Clerks office in 1817 was published, & the date of my assignment of the right, in That Year to Hudson & Goodwin. These facts are not within my recollection–but you can easily ascertain them by inspection of my papers, & upon your statement of the facts, I should make the affidavit. If you will be good enough to examine & give me the facts, you will much oblige the gentleman & your Obed[iant] Servant N Webster.

A significant letter penned by the “Father of the American Copyright.” Webster played an important role in the formation of copyright. In fact, the first copyright laws in America, both state and federal, came about as a direct result of Webster’s efforts. Shortly after Webster wrote the present letter, he travelled to Washington D.C. to lobby for a revision of the old copyright law which was successfully revised on 3 February 1831. $4,000 - $6,000