This small, important archive consists of::

(1) 1816. THE MASONICK MINSTREL, a Selection of Masonick Songs, Duets, Glees...Dedicated to the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons...by [David Vinton]. Published by HERMAN MANN, DEDHAM, Massachusetts, 1816.

HISTORIC COPY with the ORIGINAL BILL OF SALE SIGNED by the PRINTER / BOOKBINDER / BOOKSELLER, HERMAN MANN, mounted to the rear pastedown, and an ENGRAVED BOOKPLATE of the book's buyer, ISAAC WHITING / DEDHAM, on the front pastedown. (Isaac Whiting, b.1776 Dedham d.1866 Dedham)

LAID-IN is a 1989 TLS from bibliographer RICHARD J. WOLFE to JEROME E. ANDERSON, discussing the book, its binding and the bill of sale: "I would especially like to see the bill of sale..." Richard J. Wolfe, b.1928 d.2017, was the Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts at Harvard Medical School's Library of Medicine. Jerome E. Anderson, b.1941 d.2023, was a staff member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston.

(2) 1811. Two Court Notices of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts dated 1811. One commands the appearance of THOMAS MANN and JACOB MANN, both of Wrentham, regarding debts owed to JOHN WHITING; the other commands the appearance of JACOB MANN regarding debts owed JOHN WHITING and WIFE. Both appearances took place in DEDHAM. 4.5x6.5 and 4.5x8 inches. Printed on one side only

(3) 1810. Metal nameplate of JACOB J. MANN, c. 1810 (date based on other Joseph Mann related items in this lot).

(4) 1804. Two booklets PRINTED by H. MANN, Dedham, 1804. "Lessons for Children, Consisting of Short Catechism..." One copy has the name / place HANNAH T. BLAKE / WRENTHAM clearly written on the inside rear cover along with other of her mostly illegible handwriting.

(5) THREE BOOKS published and printed by HERMAN MANN, DEDHAM. All have the marbled paper covers that Herman Mann was noted for. TRUTH ESPOUSED, Relative to the Difficulties that Existed in the Town Of Manchester, Massachusetts...by Tyler Parsons. 1829. 96 pages. / HISTORICAL ADDRESS, Delivered Before the Citizens of the TOWN OF DEDHAM...by Samuel F. Haven. 79 pages. 1837 / THE COTTAGER'S RETURN with a Preface by the Publisher [Herman Mann]. 68 pages. 1838.

CONDITION: The items are in FAIR to POOR condition:

(1) The MASONIC MINSTREL'S covers are worn, scraped, and warping; the free endpapers, the half-title, and the frontispiece are lacking; the engraved title-page is worn with tears and edge chips; the title-page is torn into several pieces that could be carefully reconstructed; some other pages have tears, chips, missing pieces, etc; foxing and age toning throughout. Nonetheless the volume is textually complete, and is holding together. The associated LETTER FROM BIBLIOGRAPHER RICHARD WOLFE is in Very Good condition.

(2) The TWO COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS COURT ORDERS have several folds and are age toned.

(3) The METAL JACOB J. MANN NAMEPLATE is nice.

(4) The TWO 1804 BOOKLETS printed by Herman Mann with the Hannah Blake and Hannah Chickering associations are in poor condition, covers and pages mostly disbound or becoming so, toning, stains, tears, chips, etc.

(5) The three books published by Herman Mann: AN HISTORICAL ADDRESS...TOWN OF DEDHAM is in POOR condition, lacking the rear cover, front cover detached, lacking spine, several signatures and pages loose.

TRUTH ESPOUSED is in FAIR condition, the front cover is disbound but present and the rear cover is barely hanging on, internally complete with just light toning and a bit of foxing. THE CONSTANT READER is in FAIR condition, the front and rear inner hinges are split, the inner pages are slightly foxed.

NOTE: INCLUDED with this lot is a copy of RICHARD WOLFE'S book THE ROLE of the MANN FAMILY of DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS in the MARBLING OF PAPER in NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA, and in the PRINTING OF MUSIC...and Other BOOKTRADE ACTIVITIES. 1981, 1/500, NEAR FINE condition.