The Cultivator, Monthly, 1836-1838 (Vols. 3 & 4), J. Buel, editor, Albany, NY

Description: The Cultivator was an important agricultural monthly periodical designed to “Improve the Soil and the Mind.” It was edited by Jesse Buel, who came up through the printing trade eventually becoming the official state printer of New York, a lucrative appointment indeed. After 1821, he shifted his focus to agricultural reform, bought a farm outside of Albany to experiment with new agricultural techniques. A Whig, Buel served in the NY State Assembly and then as common pleas court judge in Ulster County. In 1834, Buel launched The Cultivator, a journal serving a national audience with information on new techniques in husbandry and as a forum for farmers across the country to share their ideas. In 1837, the publication had a circulation of about 15,000 (self reported in March 1937). Subscriptions cost 50 cents a year (paid in advance). The Cultivator in 1836-1838 was at its peak. Buel died in 1839 and The Cultivator was soon merged with the Genesee Farmer. I bought this bound book of The Cultivator decades ago at a farm auction in Portage County, Ohio. It was stored in the attic of the old farmhouse. I’d never heard of The Cultivator (I taught Journalism History at the time) but the publication seemed well ahead of its time, as it was printed on steam presses of Packard and Van Benthaysen in Albany, offered etchings to illustrate the new techniques in machinery and husbandry, many letters from farmer “correspondents” from across the country, lists of current prices of crops and indexes to both volumes. Vol. 3 (1836-1837) is 200 pages over the 12 monthly issues (16 pages each w/extra issue) and Vol. 4 (1837-1838) is 204 pages long. Like many antebellum publications of the day, this volume has its share of problems – front cover’s marbled cover is damaged and reveals the cardboard beneath, spine is readable and back cover is in better condition. Because of its high rag content, the paper inside is in good condition without rips, tears or writing inside. There’s some mold and water damage on some of the pages. Photos illustrate the type of damage. But even that damage is forgivable in that the publication is almost 200 years old. This is a rare find when Judge Jesse Buel controlled the content of a publication committed to offering information on new ways of farming. In keeping with the philosophy of this publication and Judge Jesse Buel, I’ll be donating a portion of the proceeds of this sale to the Akron Canton (Ohio) Food Bank.

Price: 150 USD

Location: Kent, Ohio

End Time: 2025-01-17T17:37:12.000Z

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