Josiah Wedgwood A Letter to a Respectable Proprietor of the ...

Estimate

£300 - £500

Josiah Wedgwood A Letter to a Respectable Proprietor of the Navigation from The Trent to The Mersey 'In Answer, At His Request, to the Assertions in a Letter signed An Old Proprietor, and Dated March 19, 1785,' pp.32 booklet, string bound, lacks any form of wraps etc, folded with some very small nibbles to front and rear, lightly toned, no sign of imprint and dated to rear 30th April, 1785, Great George Street. An extremely scarce work by the Potter to Her Majesty, slavery abolitionist, author and Industrialist. This work is a primary source of Wedgwood's industrialism in action. Addressed to and debating the concerns of the unnamed Old Proprietor, Wedgwood objects to an earlier letter...'the Old Proprietor had either signed his real name, or else, that he had taken his stand behind a bush sufficiently close to have hidden him from my view'. Using his objections as an opportunity to highlight the economic benefits, including enhanced market access, lower transportation costs, and overall economic growth for the region. Notably, it includes a list of individuals seeking redress and '....with heart-felt pleasure, not only that these gentlemen are among my friends, but that it will be the pride of my life to merit and preserve their friendship'. A fascinating document rarely seen on the open market.