RICHARD J. GATLING - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED 08/17/1898 - HFSID 259196

RICHARD JORDAN GATLING
Gatling signed this piece of paper "Yours Truly" in New York in 1896. The signature is mounted to an album leaf and is accompanied by several newspaper clippings about Gatling, including remnants of his obituary.
Autograph Sentiment signed: "Yours Truly,/R.J.Gatling/New York/Augt. 17th, 1896", 3¾x2¾ signature mounted on 5x6¾ album leaf. This signature is accompanied by remnants of a newspaper photo and obituary of Gatling and, on verso, a This Day in History feature about Gatling's being granted a patent for the Gatling gun. Accompanied by: a second unsigned album leaf about the Gatling tomb at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. Richard J. Gatling (1818-1903) was an American inventor best known for inventing the rapid-fire Gatling gun, the first practical machine gun. By the 1850s, Gatling had become wealthy from agricultural inventions such as machines for sowing rice and wheat. He patented the Gatling gun in 1862, the year The Gatling Gun Company was founded in Indianapolis. The Gatling Gun Company moved to Hartford in 1874 when he struck a deal with the Colt Patent and Firearms Company of Hartford to manufacture the device, by then in great demand by the U.S. Navy and Army for various purposes. Gatling moved to Hartford with his family that year, and stayed until his company was officially merged with Colt in 1897, at which time he moved to New York City. Newsprint remnants do not touch signature. Lightly toned, discolored and rippled. Staple holes in left edge. Signature and album leaf have irregular edges. Top edge is ragged with light tears. Otherwise, fine condition.