Lot 116: ERICSSON, JOHN

116. JOHN ERICSSON (1803-1889) American engineer and designer of the Union's Monitor and the first screw-powered vessel. A.L.S. "J. Ericsson" 3pp. 4to., [n.p.], Dec. 8, 1847 [?], to a gentleman, in part: "...I have read Mr. Cangl's [?] letter with mingled feelings of anger and merriment. Our friend always continues to please himself...wrong in trying to be very smart. I have for two years courted suggestions of improvements and in reply to the sweeping assumption that our engines are very imperfect, asked for a list of the...defects with a promise that I would most cheerfully make amendments...As for the stuff he told me when we last met that he had been so unfortunate to have got hold of a bad...English...and that ...shifte had split. I told him such an accident had never happened here...". With more technical content. A small tear at top vertical fold, light wear, otherwise very good. $200 - 300