Copyright certificate for Worcester’s abridgment of Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language.

Copyright certificate for Worcester’s abridgment of Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language.

Filed with the federal district clerk of Massachusetts—jointly in the names of Noah Webster and Joseph E. Worcester—on 29 September 1829

This is Webster’s own copy of an infuriating document: a copyright jointly held with his nemesis, Worcester. The handwriting is Chauncey Goodrich’s. Not that he was a schemer, but Goodrich soon procured from Worcester a written disclaimer of any interest in the book. Then he obtained an assignment of copyright from Webster, who wanted to distance himself from the book. Because Goodrich got rich from it, an upset Webster disinherited Goodrich and his wife. 

Ex coll. Karolyne & Bryan A. Garner. HHD pp. 209–10