I’m thrilled to find this video recording of Madame Brillon’s sonata by Filament in Philadelphia, published in June 2025. The three movements were recorded at Old Swedes Church, Philadelphia, and feature Evan Few, violin with Elena Kauffman, viola da gamba and John Walthausen, harpsichord. The composer would have been at the harpsichord, and, as in …
In response to a correspondent, let’s say S.S. writing to M.M., I’ve located the letter from A.A. regarding fire protection. This document happens to be the source of a famous Franklin phrase, An ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure, which was the subject of another recent inquiry. Franklin wrote over the pseudonym …
Two similar documents have come up for auction recently. The second document is scheduled for auction in Ittigen, Switzerland on June 28, 2025. It certifies that John Backer Church owns five shares of the North American Land Company, signed by Robert Morris on May 28, 1795. (Invaluable Announcement) The first document is also a stock …
Continue reading ‘Temple’s Stock in the North American Land Company’ »
Maybe the most wonderful item I’ve seen come up for auction has appeared, coming up in California on July 3, 2025. It is this letter, pictured above, written by Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan on July 23, 1762. The full text of Franklin’s letter, as posted on the auction site, with some spacing, is: London, …
