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JEFFERSON SIGNS AMERICA'S FIRST FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW. JEFFERSON, THOMAS. 1743-1826. Printed Broadside Document Signed ("Th: Jefferson/ Secy of State") being the act creating the first American Copyright law, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning...," image 1
JEFFERSON SIGNS AMERICA'S FIRST FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW. JEFFERSON, THOMAS. 1743-1826. Printed Broadside Document Signed ("Th: Jefferson/ Secy of State") being the act creating the first American Copyright law, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning...," image 2
Americana
Lot 21

JEFFERSON SIGNS AMERICA'S FIRST FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW.
JEFFERSON, THOMAS. 1743-1826.
Printed Broadside Document Signed ("Th: Jefferson/ Secy of State") being the act creating the first American Copyright law, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning...,"

Amended
25 October 2022, 10:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$201,975 inc. premium

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JEFFERSON SIGNS AMERICA'S FIRST FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW.

JEFFERSON, THOMAS. 1743-1826. Printed Broadside Document Signed ("Th: Jefferson/ Secy of State") being the act creating the first American Copyright law, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning...," 2 pp recto and verso, folio (320 x 180 mm), "Approved, May the 31st, 1790," [New York, Printed by Francis Childs and John Swaine], signed in type by George Washington, and in ink by Jefferson at end, with annotation "True Copy," old folds with minor staining.

JEFFERSON SIGNS AMERICA'S FIRST COPYRIGHT LAW IN 1790, THE FOUNDATION FOR 230 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND MODERN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW.
Although the notion of copyright law was written into the Constitution, this 1790 law "for the encouragement of learning" would create the legal framework for its implementation. While the law has changed many times in order to accommodate changing realities and technological advances, this 1790 law is the foundation for modern discussion of intellectual property brought on by the invention of the internet.

An incredible rarity, we trace no copy at auction in the 20th or 21st century, and Evans lists only 3 institutional copies. Early American Imprints 46038.

Saleroom notices

This is the only signed copy we trace at auction in a century; the Streeter sale had an unsigned copy in 1969.

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