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New York, 1843. A holographic letter, sheet size opens to be 40 x 25.4 cm., folds down to be 13 x 7 cm., very good, wax seal [torn to open the letter], single page of text 20 x 25. 4 cm., very good, written in a bold hand Dated Dec. 9, 1843. This is a fascinating and superb piece of diplomatic history vis-à-vis the first American commercial trade treaty with China, thus stabilizing trade with China and America. This item concerns the gift to China of a working steam train model. * The letter is addressed to Gilbert Thompson, Chief Engineer of the U.S. Navy, Washington City, D.C. Forwarding a $60 claim for the model of a Steam Train Engine, made by Jabez B. Crook "to your order last summer, to be taken to China." * WHO WAS JABEZ B. CROOK: Crook was a very skilled machinist, and he produced a model Steam Train of such high quality that it was intended as a diplomatic gift to the Emperor of China, to open commercial trade with America. Crook was later known for his superb quality bamboo fishing rods and was a pioneer for his hand-crafted fishing reels. . With the new appointment of Caleb Cushing to be the Honorable U.S. ENVOY EXTRAORDIANARY TO CHINA [and former Massachusetts Congressman] Cushing wanted to impress the Chinese with America's new and technological marvels such as the telegraph, new daguerreotype photography and a model steam train engine. To that end, Cushing enlisted John R. Peters, Jr., a brilliant young engineer to accompany his diplomatic mission to China in order to "exhibit the finest fruits of American mechanical ingenuity before the Chinese." It was most likely that Peters commissioned Crook to sell the U.S. Government this steam train placing the order through Thomson, a lawyer who was the Navy's "Chief Engineer" because his father, a Justice of the Supreme court had once been a Secretary of the Navy. More research is needed about the model train and its voyage and delivery to the Chinese. * THE STEAM TRAIN: A fascinating association in that a similar if not identical steam train, telegraph and other American marvels were delivered to the Japanese in 1854 as gifts to the Japanese, all of which is well documented in the Commodore Perry Expedition. We are still researching to confirm this is the exact one made by Crook. The fact remains that a steam train was given as one of many gifts to the Japanese, and for sure, Caleb Cushing was also involved with these gifts to Japan with the opening of trade with Commodore Perry just a few years after the opening of China. See Pineau below. * Although Cushing did petition to have audience with the Emperor of China, after his arrival to Canton, this was denied, instead met with the Governor of Guandong & Guangxi who was the highest Chinese official he could muster, and said to be the emissary of the Emperor of China. The Treaty of Wanghia was signed on July 3, 1844, at Kun Iam Temple, a village in north Macau. * CONDITION: The letter is in excellent condition, with a very faint and small stain on the recto, and another on the verso which does not affect any text. There are two black stamps from "BARNUM'S CITI HOTEL, MONUMENT SQUARE BALTIMORE" on the verso, along with the addressee's address "Gilbert Thompson Esq, Chief Engineer of Navy, Washington City. D.C." Folded and red seal wax sealed, a minor bit of paper was torn [naturally] when this letter was opened. The remains of the seal closure on opposite side. No envelope as was standard for the times, but having an integral envelope, by folding and wax sealing the paper. Nice condition boldly written in wide pen. Signed by J.G. Staples the lawyer. * REFERENCES: * The Treaty of Wanghia: Roger.]: THE JAPAN EXPEDITION 1852-1855 OF COMMODORE MATTHEW CALBRAITH PERRY: see pages 173-174 last paragraph: "We have established a magnetic telegraph.we have laid down the entire railroad track sent from the United States, and put the steam engine, tender, and car in excellent practical operation, carrying round the circle many of the.
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