[SLAVERY] 1703 Massachusetts Liquor License

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Day 2: Early & Historic Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Oct 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-10-10 09:00:00 2025-10-10 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: Early & Historic Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-early-historic-americana-19250
Day one of Fleischer's 2025 Fall Premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  Manuscript document. Signed by Clerk John Cary (1645-1721). Bristol, [Massachusetts], 13 April 1703. 1 page, 7 x 8 3/8 in. Docketed to verso

   

  A very early Common Inn and Spiritous Liquor License for Benjamin Carpenter (1658-1727), proprietor of an inn "commonly known by the Carpenter Arms Sign." Penned during the American colonial era during the reign of Queen Anne. The license prohibits any form of gaming or gambling, specifying that it "shall not permit suffer to have any playing of dice, card tables, quoits, loggotts, shuffleboard, ninepins, billiards, bowlows, or other unlawfull [sic] game or games in his said house, yard, garden [or] backside".

   

  Most notably, the document specifies against serving alcohol along both race and class lines: "Nor shall sell any strong drink wine or liquors to any apprentices, servants, Indians or Negroes nor suffer to remain in his house any person or persons there tipping." 

   

  A very early American tavern document. 

   

  [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

  Condition

  Request Condition Report

  Short separation along old folds. Very minor toning. Period ink spots.

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