Reads: “Presented by the American Association of Book Sellers to Hopkins and Seymour for the Second best Specimen of Printing 1804.” Verso reads, “Charles 5th, 3. vol.”, From 1802-1804 the first American book fairs were held semi-annually in New York and Philadelphia to encourage cooperation among publishers. The fairs marked the birth of the American publishing industry. In 1804, the gold medal went to Rober Carr of Philadelphia for a bible. This silver medal was awarded to a new edition of William Robertson's classic History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V (New York: Hopkins and Seymour, 1804)., Purchase of the Library Company with the help of Joesph Felcone, 1997.
