This section is from the book "Handbook Of The Law Of Contracts", by Wm. L. Clark, Jr.. Also available from Amazon: Handbook of the law of contracts.
Offers of this character cannot result in contract obligation until they are accepted by an ascertained person by performing the services. Before the services are rendered, there is merely an offer, which may be revoked.19 An acceptance by performance of the services after the offer has been withdrawn does not bind the proposer,20 and it even seems that ignorance of the withdrawal makes no difference, if the withdrawal was as publicly made as the offer.21 If no time is stated within which the offer is to remain open, it will lapse after the expiration of a reasonable time; that is, performance of the service, to constitute an acceptance, must be within a reasonable time after the making of the offer or the last publication thereof.22
of it, see Ex parte Asiatic Banking Corp., 2 Ch. App. 391. See "Contracts," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) § 11; Cent. Dig. §§ 112-118.
17 Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke-Bali Co., [1892] 2 Q. B. 484. 4 Rep. 176; Id.. [1893] 1 Q. B. 256. So, where a person invites architects to submit designs, stating that all who submit plans shall receive a certain sum. and that the one whose plans are the best shall be engaged as architect, he becomes bound to pay the sum specified to all who submit plans, and, if he adjudges one of the plans the best, to make that architect the architect of the building. Walsh v. Association, 16 Mo. App. 502; Id., 90 Mo. 459, 2 S. W. 842. See "Contracts," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) § 17; Cent. Dig. §§ 112-118.
18 Reif v. Paige, 55 Wis. 496, 13 N. W. 473, 42 Am. Rep. 731. And see Hayden v. Souger, 56 Ind. 42, 26 Am. Rep. 1. See "Rewards," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) §§ 3-7; Cent. Dig. §§ 3-7.
19 Harson v. Pike. 16 Ind. 140; Freeman v. City of Boston, 5 Mete. (Mass.) 56; Cummings v. Gann, 52 Pa. 484. See "Contracts," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) § 19; Cent. Dig. §§ 57-60.
20 Shuey v. United States, 92 U. S. 73, 23 L. Ed 697; Biggers v. Owen. 79 Ga. 658, 5 S. E. 193. See "Contracts," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) § 19; Cent. Dig. §§ 51-60.
21 Shuey v. United States, 92 U. S. 73, 23 L. Ed. 697. See "Contracts," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) § 19; Cent. Dig. §§ 57-60.
22 Loring v. City of Boston, 7 Mete. (Mass.) 409 (holding 3 years and 8 months more than a reasonable time); Mitchell v. Abbott, 86 Me. 338, 29 Atl 1118. 25 L. R. A. 503, 41 Am. St. Rep. 559 (holding 12 years more than
 
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