[Americana] [Canada] Belcher, Jonathan, and John Collier, and William Nesbitt. Manuscript Document, signed

"An Event so important and interesting to the liberties of Mankind": The British Colony of Nova Scotia Congratulates King George III on the Birth of Future King George IV

Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 28, 1763. One sheet folded to make four pages, 12 1/4 x 8 in. (311 x 203 mm). One-page manuscript document, signed by Jonathan Belcher as Lieutenant Governor, John Collier as Speaker for the Council, and William Nesbitt as Speaker for the Assembly, of the Province of Nova Scotia, congratulating King George III on "the Birth of a Prince Royal and Heir Apparent...an Event so important and interesting to the liberties of Mankind." Dated and amended in another hand at bottom left; docketed on verso. Creasing from old folds, short separations along central horizontal fold; wear and chipping in top edge; scattered spotting to recto, upper portion of verso toned and soiled.

Faint traces of the word "May" appear in manuscript under "April" in the date at bottom. The month of May conforms to Canadian government archives, which records Belcher sending this to the Secretary of State on May 29. See Brymner, Douglas, Report on Canadian Archives, p. 242 (Ottawa, 1893).

Less than two months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris that ended the French and Indian War, and only six months before the Royal Proclamation of 1763 that would redefine Canada's borders lay the seeds for future discontent with the British colonies to the south, the British colony of Nova Scotia sends this declaration of congratulations to King George III upon the news of the birth of his son, heir, and future king, George IV. The "Prince Royal" was born on August 12, 1762, and it had taken some time for the news to reach Nova Scotia, and then for the legislature to issue their congratulations.

The document is signed from the newly-created capital Halifax by the Lieutenant Governor Jonathan Belcher (1710-1776), the son of the eponymous Governor of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New Jersey. As the first formally-trained law officer in Nova Scotia, Belcher established the Supreme Court and promoted an English-style legal system. He is credited with drafting the laws passed by Nova Scotia's first and subsequent legislators. He held the post of Governor from November 1761 until September 1763.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance

From the collection of Justin G. Schiller

Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

[email protected]267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

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[Americana] [Canada] Belcher, Jonathan, and John Collier, and William Nesbitt. Manuscript Document, signed

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