SOG-UK-L Archives

From: Peter D Rogers <>
Subject: [SOG] Letter copies.
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 16:32:45 -0400

At times I think that I could be officially described as brain dead...Why
when offering an answer on the matter of 19th.Cent copying of letters did I
not think to look at the "Definitive" reference work ?

On consulting the Oxford English Dictionary the following references
appear:-

1813 Jas. Watt & Co. Direct. for using Patent Copying Machine 6 A bottle of
*copying ink.
1803 A. Ellicott in C. V. Mathews Life & Lett. (1908) 209, I have enclosed
a copy of this letter taken in 15 seconds, by which you will see the value
of a *copying machine.
1813 Jas. Watt & Co. Direct. for using Patent Copying Machine 6 To prepare
the *Copying Paper.

1785 Jefferson Let. in Writ. (1894) V. 110 Have you a *copying press? If
not, you should get one.

The latter must be the first advert for Xerox ! The James Watt reference is
the one that I feel that you are looking for.

Hope that this helps
Peter Rogers.

This thread:

• [SOG] Letter copies. by Peter D Rogers <>