Two Blank Books with Pictorial Covers; 1859 Inventory of Their Machine
by AYARS, Benjamin and Robert
(NORFOLK PRINTED BLANK BOOK) AYARS, Benjamin and Robert. Two Blank Books wi Pictorial Covers; 1859 Inventory of Their Machine Shop and Iron Foundry and t Record of an 1862 Venue or Auction Sale. (New Jersey?; Philadelphia?; Virginia?): January 1, 1859 and November 6, 186 8vo. Two nineteenth century printed blank books in pictorial wrappers. (9) leaves; (9) leaves with loose leaves laid in (In all 31 manuscript pages). Interesting pair of manuscripts recording the 1859 inventory of the machine shop, tools, and stock of iron founders Benjamin and Robert Ayars and the proceeds of an 1862 auction sale by them. The manuscripts are recorded in tw separate blank books. The first was published by J.R. Hathaway, "The Cheap B Store," In Norfolk, Virginia; a wood engraving on its cover depicts a harvest scene. The second book was issued by Leary, Getz & Co., Booksellers of Philadelphia. Its pictorial wrappers show a three-quarter page view of their shop (on the front cover) and includes three pages listing books published by the firm. The Ayars' 1859 inventory is arranged under several headings including "amoun of B & R Ayars Jany 1st 1859," "in machine shop," "Stock at B Ayars Shops and foundry," "Downstairs," "Jan 1st 1859 The amount of Machinery and Tools belonging to B & R Ayars in the firm," and "Belongs to Foundry." The 1862 auction sale manuscript briefly notes "[t]he conditions of the venue and lists Benjamin and Robert Ayars as executors. In tabular form, the sale record notes the article sold, the buyer and the price paid. The items sold appear to indicate that this was a farm sale and includes a number of iron objects such as swingletrees, log bolsters, plouchs, chains, harrows, etc. T total purchases of each buyer are tabulated and loose sheets laid in record payments received by the Ayars and monies spent by them. One entry appears t record the $8.00 cost of the auctioneer: "C[ash]. paid out Andrew Kringle[?] crying venue." Headings are in ink, individual citations are in pencil. Loo in bindings; wear and separation to latter wrappers, else good. 39695. (Inventory #: 39695)