[MATAGORDA PROPRIETORS]. Partly printed document accomplished in manuscript. A land deed signed by two of the proprietors, both Old Three Hundreds, Ira Ingram and Elias Wightman. [San Felipe de Austin: Printed by G.B. Cotten, 1830 or early 1831].

1 page, oblong 8vo, annotated verso, lightly browned, old creasing, a few tiny chips. Provenance: Acquired Dorothy Sloan (11 December 2009, Sale 22, lot 383).

"Town of Matagorda, April 4th, 1831. This Certifies, That, at the sale of In and Out-Lots in said town, held on the date hereof—Daniel D.D. Baker became the highest bidder for Lots No. 5 & 6, in Block No. 2 & Tier No. 4 in the Colorado front of said town…". Ingram, the first alcalde of Matagorda, and Wightman, surveyor and partner of Stephen F. Austin in the founding of Matagorda, signed the original deed, as did Daniel D. D. Baker, who attempted to found the town of Preston on the lot. Ownership records the transfer of one lot to Hamilton Cook, who was from an Old Three Hundred family.

FIRST PRINTING of a broadside relating to early printing in Texas. According to Streeter (locating only one copy): This certificate is in effect a form for a deed. It and the entry No. 18.2 were not available for [earlier] inclusion with the other early forms. Mr. John C. Wyllie, Librarian of the University of Virginia and a recognized authority on type, has examined the photostats of these two forms for me and reports that they were undoubtedly printed on the press Godwin B. Cotten had set up at San Felipe in the fall of 1829. The date of printing was probably 1830 or early 1831. From the manuscript records, formerly in my collection and now at Yale, of meetings of 'Proprietors of the town of Matagorda' held on August 1 and 2, 1830, and on January 28, 1831, it appears (records of the January 28, 1831, meeting) that Stephen F. Austin held a quarter interest or two shares in the partnership or association known as 'Proprietors of the town of Matagorda,' and Ira Ingram a three-eighths interest, with Seth Ingram, H.H. League, and Elias Wightman each holding a one-eighth interest, and that what is referred to in the Minutes as the 'constitution' of the Proprietors was adopted on July 8, 1830. ...The 'Out' lots of the 'In and Out' lots referred to in the certificate were the lots not included in the laid-out blocks making up the center of the town" (Streeter Texas 18.1).

Property from the Collection of Dr. Brant Mittler