Colonial America
Superb Paul Revere Engraved Bookplate of Perez Morton
(1784) Paul Revere Engraved Bookplate, measuring 3¾” x 2¾" (10 x 7 cm), by Paul Revere, Choice Crisp Extremely Fine.
This is an original Paul Revere Engraved Bookplate of Boston Lawyer and later Attorney General of Massachusetts, Perez Morton (1750-1837). Perez Morton was the husband of poet Sarah Wentworth Morton. A scandal involving their marriage was the subject of the First American Novel, “The Power of Sympathy” by William Hill Brown (1789), which for many years was attributed to Mrs. Morton. This Bookplate type is illustrated within the major reference work produced by the Boston Anteneum entitled, “Paul Revere’s Engravings,” 1954, by Clarence Bingham, as plate 53; not listed in Allen (American Bookplates). According to Bingham, an entry into Paul Revere’s Day Book under the date of July 12, 1784 is entered “Perez Morton Esqr. Dr. To Engraving your Arms on Copper 18(Shillings). To Printing 100 Impressions 4-6. (Total) £ 1-2-6.” Overall, this Bookplate is extremely clean, in crisp original condition, well printed upon the proper fine quality laid period paper and excellent for display. Quite rare and becoming ever more popular with collectors of authentic, original Paul Revere engravings.