Receipt Book of Attorney John Gardner Campbell, 1848-1859.
An Interesting Receipt Book from a Pennsylvania Attorney [Manuscript]. Campbell, John Gardner [1812-1859]. Receipt Book [Spine Title]. York County, Pennsylvania, 1848-1859. Content to first 118 ff. of 140 hand-numbered leaves. Oblong octavo (5" x 7-1/2"; 12.6 x 19 cm). Contemporary reverse calf, stamped frames to boards, lettering pieces (reading "Receipt Book" and "JG Campbell") and fillets to spine, tooling to board edges, edges of text block colored blue. Manuscript text parallel to spine on ruled paper, entries mostly in single neat hand with autograph signatures of recipients, additional receipts or notes on scraps of paper laid-in or pinned onto 3 leaves. Light rubbing to exterior, hinges cracked and somewhat tender, juvenile signature of Hortense Head to rear free endpaper and some later pencil markings (by her or a relative? to f. 118). Light toning to text leaves, internally clean. A well-preserved item. $1,250. * This receipt book provides interesting professional and personal insights into the life of a Pennsylvania attorney in the mid-nineteenth century. Campbell lived in York County, Pennsylvania his whole life. He studied law under his uncle (and, perhaps, namesake) John Gardner [1790-1840] and was admitted to the bar in May 1836. He "possessed business capacity as well as legal talent and became identified with a number of local enterprises and institutions in the management of which he exhibited eminent ability as a financier" (Trimmer). These included the York County Mutual Insurance Company and a local bank. He also served as an editor for the People's Advocate, a York newspaper. The receipt book begins on January 4, 1848. At the time Campbell was clearly involved in a number of cases, and the book contains many court-related financial transactions. Payments for judgements range from a few hundred dollars to almost four thousand dollars in December 1848. Campbell also records his expenses, such as the cost of printing documents. Many entries relate to his life outside of his legal practice. A few early entries show that he paid taxes on behalf of his father, James Campbell. He subscribed to a newspaper, bought insurance and paid turnpike tolls and office rent. He frequently audited estates, receiving payments tied to various legal and trust matters including $22.86 in connection with a lunacy ca.
Price: $1,250.00
Book number 84946