James Watt

Watt, James

Erfinder und Mechaniker (1736-1819). Autograph letter signed. Heathfield. 4to. 1 p., auf einem Doppelblatt. Umseitig adressiert, mit Siegelrest.
$ 5,811 / 5.600 € (93820)

To his employee John Mosley, to whom he gives instructions before a trip to Wales: "[.] We intend setting for Tenby tomorrow or if anything should happen to retard us [.] on Tuesday morning from which day you will please direct our newspaper to be addressed to the post office Tenby, Pembrokeshire. I send by daytime wagon a small box directed to J. Jackson Esq., Newman Street, care of the firm which is to be with you until he sends for it, he being now absent [.] but if you should not hear from him within a fortnight or 3 weeks [.] send a note to him saying the box is with you.

It contains some drawings he made of me when in town returned with observations upon time. Charge the carriage to my account & please send the enclosed letter with the box. Mrs. Watt continues to mend of her affects of hay fever & blister and [.] stiffness and pain as her neck suffers better - I shall write to you soon after we arrive at Tenby [.]" - In 1800, James Watt had handed over his business to his sons James and Gregory and retired to his house Heathfield in Handsworth, Birmingham, where he continued to work on further inventions. - Watt had been married to Anne MacGregor since 1775. His first wife, Margaret Miller, died in 1773 during the birth of their sixth child. - In 1775, the industrial magnate Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) and James Watt founded the company Boulton & Watt to manufacture and distribute the steam engines invented by Watt. The firm gained worldwide renown and was continued by the descendants of the two founders for over 120 years. John Mosley (1758-1832) was a close associate of James Watt. He was an employee of the London bank of William and Charlotte Matthews, whose clients included Boulton & Watt. After the death of the couple, Boulton and James Watt's sons founded their own bank in 1802, M. R. Boulton, J. Watt & Co. They took over the premises and employees of Matthews, including Mosley, who worked there until his death in 1832. - Parts of the extensive archives of Boulton & Watt and the bank M. R. Boulton, J. Watt & Co. were handed over to the city of Birmingham, including parts of the correspondence between John Mosley and James Watt between 1804 and Watt's death in 1819. - Our letter is recorded in the letter copybook created by Watt as No. 681. - Folded, with a seal remnant and a small seal tear (without loss of text)..

buy now

Watt, James

Erfinder (1736-1819). Autograph letter signed. Heathfield. 1 S. 4to.
$ 5,189 / 5.000 € (94467)

To Franklin Lewis, responding to a matter concerning the farms and properties of Watts' and referring the matter to his son who, as indicated, now oversees the matter, 4to, (restored tear on left edge, pinprick hole above sentiment, not affecting text, else fine). James Watt is best known for his groundbreaking and fundamental improvement/invention of the steam engine and a harbinger of the Industrial Revolution.

buy now