Textile Inventor Pliny Earle Writes About His Famous Invention of Cotton Cards: "... Send You 21 Boxes Cards to be Shipped... We Probably Shall Have Quantity of Cards for Charleston In All This Month... "

ALS. An American inventor, Earle perfected cotton and wool cards. One of the problems Samuel Slater had with cotton manufacturing is procuring cards for the raw materials. In 1785, Earle became connected with Edmund Snow in the manufacture of hand cards for carding cotton and wool, and in 1786 he established himself in the business. He was able to perfect the cards, allowing the American textile industry to grow. ALS. 1pp. 7 ¼" x 11 ¼". Leicester. 2nd Mo. 5th 1807. An autograph letter signed "Pliny Earle & Brothers" to "Williams & Ballard" in Providence. Earle penned: "We hereby acknowledge your friendly & very polite information of the intention of the ship Rolla for Charleston and presuming you are convinced as owner herewith send you 21 Boxes Cards to be shipped to Pearce & Tillinghast. If however sd Vessel is not in your employ if you do not wish the trouble of the Cards you will please to direct our Teamsters to E.D. Pearce & Co. requesting them to have them immediately shipped. We likewise send you 7 Boxes no Cotton Cards which you will please to Store for the present, on each of sd Boxes is Wrote Philadelphia & at present we are expecting to ship them to that market via New York. We probably shall have a quantity of cards for Charleston in all this Month, should a vessel offer your information by Letter will very much oblige us... ". The letter is in good condition with some light chipping, a repaired seal tear, a horizontal tape stain, and some professional repairs to the verso. An outstanding letter from the dawn of the American Industrial Revolution