{"product_id":"1815-united-states-letters-patent-for-improvements-in-guns-rifles-james-madison-james-monroe-harpers-ferry-virginia","title":"1815 United States Letters Patent for Improvements in Guns \u0026 Rifles – James Madison – James Monroe – Harpers Ferry, Virginia","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"3822\" data-end=\"4369\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn original \u003cstrong data-start=\"3834\" data-end=\"3866\"\u003eUnited States Letters Patent\u003c\/strong\u003e issued on \u003cstrong data-start=\"3877\" data-end=\"3898\"\u003eFebruary 25, 1815\u003c\/strong\u003e, during the administration of \u003cstrong data-start=\"3929\" data-end=\"3956\"\u003ePresident James Madison\u003c\/strong\u003e, granting \u003cstrong data-start=\"3967\" data-end=\"3986\"\u003eFrederick Oswan\u003c\/strong\u003e, a citizen of \u003cstrong data-start=\"4001\" data-end=\"4028\"\u003eHarpers Ferry, Virginia\u003c\/strong\u003e, the exclusive right for fourteen years to his \u003cstrong data-start=\"4076\" data-end=\"4128\"\u003e\"new and useful improvement in guns and rifles.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e Patent records identify Oswan's invention as a firearms improvement originating from Harpers Ferry, then home to the United States Armory and one of the nation's foremost centers of firearms innovation. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4371\" data-end=\"4742\"\u003eThe document bears the official signatures of \u003cstrong data-start=\"4417\" data-end=\"4444\"\u003ePresident James Madison\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong data-start=\"4446\" data-end=\"4481\"\u003eSecretary of State James Monroe\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong data-start=\"4487\" data-end=\"4520\"\u003eAttorney General Richard Rush\u003c\/strong\u003e, and originally carried the paper Great Seal of the United States. While the seal has suffered losses over time, the original attachment ribbon and remnants of the seal remain intact, preserving the patent's authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4744\" data-end=\"5177\"\u003eIssued immediately following the War of 1812, this patent reflects the period when the young United States was encouraging innovation in military and civilian arms manufacturing. Surviving presidential patents from the Madison administration are uncommon, and examples concerning firearms are particularly desirable because of their direct connection to early American technological development and the historic Harpers Ferry Armory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5179\" data-end=\"5389\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"5179\" data-end=\"5193\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fair overall, with expected folds, scattered staining, edge wear, and partial loss of the original paper Great Seal. The patent remains complete, highly displayable, and historically significant.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52492012126490,"sku":null,"price":17500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1465.jpg?v=1784032822","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/products\/1815-united-states-letters-patent-for-improvements-in-guns-rifles-james-madison-james-monroe-harpers-ferry-virginia","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}