Beschreibung:

COLT, SAMUEL. Autograph letter signed ("SamlColt") to D[udley] Seldin, Washington, D.C., 26 February 1839. 1 3/4 pages, 4to, 253 x 203mm. (9 7/8 x 8 in.), two tiny chips at margins, otherwise in very good condition. Boldly signed. COLT TRYS TO SELL HIS REVOLUTIONARY REVOLVER TO THE GOVERNMENT The inventor of the revolver reports on his exhibition of his new guns in Washington: "...By referring to my last letter to Dr. Zebriskey you will lirn [ sic ] what engagement I have made for this week which notwithstanding your letter I feel it my duty to fill, & therefor I am prevented [from] shipping you the Carbin [ sic ] by the next transportation...& as it is my deturmination [ sic ] to return to New York as soon as possible after...the exebitions [ sic ] of my arms...I will also retain until that time the other goods I have. & then carry them with my baggage in the passenger cars...which will enable you to receive them as soon or sonner [ sic ] then if I were to ship them this day..." As a postscript, Colt explains that his "engagements" are "with some Officers, one day after tomorrow with the Secretary of War & one on Sunday with some members of Congress." Samuel Colt (1814-1862) had invented the revolver and in 1836 patented "the first practical revolving fire-arm"; a plant to manufacture it was established but while the new mechanism "was accepted by individuals, Colt was unsuccessful in persuading the army and navy to adopt it" and Colt's business failed in 1842 (DAB). The design was later accepted by the armed forces and by the 1850s he had established an enormous armory at Hartford, Connecticut which made extensive use of assembly line techniques and interchangeable parts.