James Watt Letter-Copying Press, c. 1800

With two crank-turned brass barrels, in mahogany case with brass straps and handles, dimensions 19 x 11 ¾ x 4 ½ in. - Note: On 14th February 1780, James Watt, inventor of the large steam engine, was granted a patent no. 1244 for his first duplicating machine. His invention grew out of the needs of his own business as he had permanent correspondence with his partner Matthew Boulton while traveling between London and Cornwall. James Watt was too often frustrated when he received Boulton's answers to his own written questions after an absence of several weeks as he had no copy of the original correspondence. - The portable box, built by T. Clarke, Exeter Exchange, London, contained a writing pad in the upper part for preparing the documents and a compartment underneath for the so-called "damping box" used to moisten the copy paper. - Watt’s invention achieved success on both sides of the Atlantic. By the early 1780s, notable Americans, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, were reportedly making use of the press.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)