1868 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A NOTED SALEM NEW JERSEY BOOKSELLER

On offer is an interesting, original 1868 manuscript diary handwritten by Clinton Bowen, Salem, New Jersey, book dealer [b.1839, d.1917, married Sarah E. Sharp] identified with owner's blind embossed seal "Clinton Bowen, Bookseller & Stationer, Salem, N.J." Bound in leather, 4" x 6", the diary is almost filled between January through March with legible ink entries, then sporadic with some months mostly blank and a few pages of accounting in the back. He writes of marriages, deaths, church matters, business, weather, local news, hearing Frederick Douglass lecture, arson fire making for an interesting time capsule of post Civil War New Jersey. Here are some snippets: Jan. 12 - "Went to Love feast in South St. Church. Then heard Mr. Coleman preach...Took Supper with Bro. Thomas...had Speaking by the members in Audience room, first time." Feb. 11 - "Valentines going quite briskly. Presbyterians wound up their Fair & Festival this evening with a Loggerhead Supper." March 10 - "City Elections; I attended as Clerk - Polls open at 7 O clock closed at Sunset...Very close vote in Middle Ward. Republicans a little ahead, but Democrats carried the City." March 12 - "I visited Samuel Williams this morning found him on his bed with a very bad cough but having been brought back to Religion of Christ, was quite happy." April 9 - "Lizzie Andrews & I went to hear Frederick Douglass Lecture, subject 'Self made Men." Very much pleased." April 11 - "Attended Funeral of Saml Williams" Sept. 17 - "Attempted to go to Philada. this morning, on the Cars, when above Middletown Station, Cars fun over a horse which caused the Locomotive to get off the track. I returned home....Republican Convention here today." Nov. 30 - "New house in Oak St. belonging to William Nicholson, partly burned this evening; supposed to be the work of an Incendiary." Overall VG.; Manuscript; 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, CLINTON BOWEN, BOOKSELLER, SALEM, NEW JERSEY, POST CIVIL WAR, RECONSTRUCTION ERA, FREDERICK DOUGLASS, BOOK DEALER, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, BIOGRAPHY, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, antiquité, contrat, vélin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, manuscrito, Papel,