Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 76

Manuscript Sale

American Revolutionary War

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 89		Burr, Aaron (1756-1836) Revolutionary War officer; Vice president of the U.S. (1801-05); killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. Partly-printed document signed ("A. Burr"), 7½ x 2¾ in., New York, July 18, 1800. Being a check drawn on the Cashier of the Manhattan Company and paid to W B Post for twenty dollars. Decorative border; slash cancellations, one of which very faintly touches Burr's signature. The check is affixed at upper corners to cardstock. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $480
Lot 90		Dearborn, Henry and Melvill, Thomas. Partly-printed document signed ("H Dearborn") as Collector of the Port of Boston, and ("Thos Melville") as Naval-Officer, one page, on laid, watermarked paper, 13¼ x 8¼ in., Boston, April 5, 1815. Permission is granted to the sloop Belle, Hezekiah Osborn, Master, to proceed from the port of Boston to the Port of New York, having sworn that all duties had been paid. The cargo consisted of iron, sheet wire, copper, "nales," hemp, etc. Famed statesman and general Henry Dearborn (1751-1829) served heroically in both the Revolution and the War of 1812. Melvill (1751-1832) was a leader of the Boston Tea Party and grandfather of author Herman Melville. Some darkening to docket, else very good. Estimated Value $250 - 350 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 91		Extracts From the Votes and Proceedings of the American Continental Congress. Held at Philadelphia, on the fifth of September, 1774. Containing the Bill of Rights, a List of Grievances, Occasional Resolves, the Association, an Address to the People of Great-Britain, and a Memorial to the Inhabitants of the British-American Colonies. Published by order of the Congress. Philadelphia: Printed. Hartford: Re-printed by Eben. Watson, near the Great-Bridge. 48 pp, 5½ x 8½ in. Condition about good. Toning and scattered foxing throughout, pages unevenly cut, some ink blotches in lower blank border of several pages; dampstain on last four pages do not affect legibility. Bound by a previous owner with notations on cover for his library. The rights delineated by the Continental Congress on Sept. 5, 1774 became the foundation of the Declaration of Independence. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500 From the family of a gentleman collector who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $600
Lot 92		Franklin, Benjamin. Partial autograph letter signed ("B. Franklin"), one page, 7½ x 3¾ in. (docket in hand of 19th century editor Jared Sparks gives place and date as London, May 7, 1774). Over 60 words in Franklin's hand to his wife Deborah: "We daily expect vessels from Philadelphia, which will bring me I hope good News from you, and a little more of the history of our Grandsons, of whom I long to hear, & whom I long to See, as well as to be once more with you by our own Fireside. I am ever, my dear Debby, your affectionate Husband B. Franklin. Love to all the Baches. " Franklin never saw Debby again. She died December 19th. Benjamin and Deborah's only surviving child was Sally, who married Richard Bache and had eight children with him. Benjamin also had an illegitimate son, William, who was acknowledged and raised in the Franklin household and who was the last colonial governor of New Jersey. Father and son became estranged over the American Revolution; Franklin never forgave his son for being a Loyalist. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Yale University), shows this letter as the third last letter Franklin wrote to Deborah before her death on Dec. 19, 1774. From 1757, when Franklin traveled to London as a representative of the Pennsylvania Assembly, until Deborah's death, they were apart most of the time because Deborah's fear of sea travel prevented her from travelling abroad. They did not see each other for the last nine years of her life, but they corresponded extensively throughout the years they were apart. It is of interest that The Papers of Benjamin Franklin does not have the content of this portion of Franklin's letter to Deborah. Jared Sparks, who was the editor of the writings of George Washington and pioneer collector of autographs pertaining to the American Revolution, was known for clipping signatures from documents and cutting historical letters and documents into pieces, which he gave to autograph seekers. The most egregious example is Washington's undelivered first inaugural speech, which Sparks cut into fragments and gave away as examples of George Washington's writing. We assume his reasoning was the same in fragmenting this letter of Franklin's, this being the major and signed portion of the letter. The year 1774 was a dangerous and tumultuous year for Franklin. He was declared a "perfect enigma" to the British ministry which believed that he "possessed the coveted secret" regarding "the intentions of the defiant colonists." Additionally, there was the Hutchinson Papers brouhaha. Under the threat of arrest and a possible trial, Franklin returned to Philadelphia in May 1775. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and was involved in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. When he was sent to France in 1776 as one of three commissioners, his fame as an internationally acclaimed scientist preceded him and his simple dress and demeanor added to his popularity. Ever the consumate diplomat, Franklin was primarily responsible for the financial and military aid given by France to America and without which the fledgling United States would not have won the war. Estimated Value $14,000 - 18,000 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 93		Gilman, Nicholas (1755-1814) Soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, delegate to the Continental Congress, and signer of the U.S. Constitution, representing New Hampshire; member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the first four Congresses; U.S. senator (1804-1814). Scarce autograph check signed ("Nich: Gilman"), 7¾ x 2¾ in., Bank of Columbia, Nov. 10, 1808. Payment of $100 to Mr. S. Wilson or bearer. Mounting traces on verso, else fine. On orders of General Washington, Gilman accounted for British prisoners taken at Yorktown. Estimated Value $700 - 900 Purchased from Robert Batchelder in 1995. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $870
Lot 94		Hancock, John (1737-93) First Signer of the Declaration of Independence; President of the Continental (1775-77); Governor of Massachusetts (1780-80, 1787-93). Beautiful example of the classic Hancock signature on portion of document with seal of Massacusetts, 4 x 5 in. (Boston, between 1780-93). Tastefully triple-matted with antique aquatint portrait. Overall toning; darker at left, uneven margin. An attractive presentation. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 95		Hancock, John. Autograph document signed while Governor, written on verso of a promissory note, 9 x 4½ in. (Boston), Sept. 28, 1789. In full: "The principal of the within Note, & the Endorsements Settled in Acco[un]tt with Mr. Willm. Bernard, Sept. 28th, 1789. John Hancock." Fine; some show-through from recto, but beautiful, bold signature. Matted with a souvenir print of the Declaration of Independence, an engraving of Hancock, and three other small items, and framed to an overall size of 31 x 27¼ in. Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000 Purchased from Joe Rubinfine by the late husband of the consignor. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,845
Lot 96		Hopkinson, Francis (1737-1791) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey; he was instrumental in designing the first American flag. Partly-printed document signed "F: Hopkinson" as Treasurer of Loans for the Continental Loan Office, Mar. 24, 1780. A promissory note to pay to "Samuel Barrett or Order, Twelve Dollars, in Sixty Livres Tournois, for Interest due on Money borrowed by the United States." Countersigned by Nathiel Appleton, Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office in the state of Massachusetts Bay. Twice endorsed on the verso, the second one being for an Amsterdam merchant. Printed on laid, watermarked paper. Toned, some ink erosion and marginal chips, but boldly signed. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 97		Lafayette, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834). French aristocrat, statesman and soldier; major general in the American Revolutionary War and close friend of George Washington; commander-in-chief of the French national guard; lifelong proponent of human rights and liberty. Letter signed "Lafayette" as president of the Polish Committee, one page, 8 x 10¼ in., in French, Paris, Feb. 12, 1831. To the Notaries of Paris and of the Departments soliciting funds in support of the Poles. Fine condition; light toning. Lafayette writes that the Poles had been "constant friends of France," that they had spilled so much blood for the French in their national wars and had been deceived by the promises of despotism and by the coalition Congress. The Poles had made the heroic resolution, in the most dangerous situation, to follow the French example and to recover their rights. Lafayette supported freedom everywhere, including Poland's uprising against the Russian Empire. He gave speeches in the Chamber of Deputies, gave financial support, hid Polish patriots at his estate and became a founding member of the Polish Committee, but by October 1831, the Polish uprising was crushed by the Russians. Estimated Value $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,169
Lot 98		McKean, Thomas (1734-1817) Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation; President of the Continental Congress (July-Nov. 1781). Partly-printed document signed as Governor of Pennsylvania, vellum, 20½ x 11¼ in., Philadelphia, June 4, 1806. A land grant in Dauphin County of a tract of land called Crooked Creek to a man named Christian Rock. Some toning and minor foxing, but an attractive document. Estimated Value $300 - 400 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 99		Mifflin, Thomas (1744-1800) President of the Continental Congress; aide-de-camp to George Washington; general in the American Revolution; member of the Constitutional Convention; Governor of Pennsylvania. Partly-printed document signed "Tho Mifflin" as Governor of Pennsylvania, vellum, 15½ x 12½ in. (Philadelphia), Mar. 13, 1794. Granting land in Northampton County to Andrew Douglass. Some age toning to vellum; translucent area down one vertical affects some text. Mifflin's signature is large with slight fading to first two letters. Matted and framed to an overall size of 23 x 29 in. Estimated Value $300 - 500 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 100		Prototype of American Ship's Paper. British ship's paper signed by four ministers, vellum, 11 x 18½, with a large engraving at the top. This paper had to be carried by the British ship named to show on demand to Barbary Coast pirates who would otherwise seize the ship and take its passengers captive. The United States would use the British ship's paper as a prototype when the need arose to issue its own. Matted and framed to an overall size of 16 x 24½ in. Operating from ports in North Africa, the Barbary pirates are thought to have captured as many as 1.5 million people as slaves from the 16th to 19th century, They primarily raided coastal towns in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal, but also in the British Isles, the Netherlands and as far away as Iceland. They took their captives to markets in North Africa and sold them, giving a percentage of the profits to the rulers of the Barbary Coast. Captives from wealthy families had the opportunity of being ransomed but most captives never saw home again (Cervantes, author of Don Quijote, was captured but eventually ransomed). By paying tribute (blackmail), European powers insured that their merchant ships could pass through the Mediterranean without being seized. Until the American Revolution, American ships were protected by the British fleet; in 1778, a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the French specifically mentioned protection from the Barbary States, but after 1783, America had to deal with the problem on its own. Against the advice of Thomas Jefferson, the United States decided to pay tribute and developed a ship's paper based on the British prototype. The issue was finally resolved in 1815 after naval victories by Commodores William Bainbridge and Stephen Decatur led to treaties ending all tribute payments by the United States. Estimated Value $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $357
Lot 101		State of New Hampshire Broadside, 1781. Broadside, 12¼ x 7½ in. New Hampshire broadside, addressed to the selectmen of Seabrook, dated at Exeter, April 5, 1781, and signed in print by M. Weare, President, and E. Thompson, Secretary. The broadside calls for the different towns and districts of the state to choose delegates to "meet in Convention for the Purpose of forming and laying a permanent Plan or System of Government, for the future Happiness and well-bing of the good People of this State." Overall toning and light foxing; tear in blank top right margin and top right edge is uneven. Evans 17250. Framed to 14½ x 19¼ in. Not viewed out of frame. In 1776, New Hampshire became the first of the thirteen colonies to adopt a constitution and create an independent commonwealth government. That constitution, however, limited the ability of many New Hampshire citizens to participate in the selection of their representatives, and one of the purposes of the 1781 convention was to address this issue. The convention was contentious, lasting over two years; the constitution was rejected four times before finally being approved and put into effect in June 1784. The New Hampshire constitution expanded suffrage and included a bill of rights. It was one of the earliest documents establishing the republican form of government and influenced the members of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $892
Lot 102		[American Revolution] Over 50 Documents. Archive of over 50 Revolutionary War-era documents, in various formats, on various subjects, and signed by numerous people, some prominent and some not. Overall very good condition. Includes, in small part: William Stephens (judge appointed by Jefferson to the U.S. District Court) 1804 ALS to Joseph Clay; Nathaniel Pendleton (aide to Nathanael Greene in the Southern campaigns and served as a second to Alexander Hamilton in his duel with Aaron Burr), ALS, 1817 to Archibalk McIntyre; Jedediah Huntington (Rev War general who repulsed the raid on Danbury and served on the courts-martial of Charles Lee and Major Andre), ALS, 1808, inlaid; Nathaniel Peabody (patriot and militia general who served in the Rhode Island expedition, a delegate to the Continental Congress and a representative of New Hampshire in Rev War conferences), ADS, 1787; Gouverneur Morris (member of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention, signer of the Constitution and creator of the terms "dollar" and "cent"), ALS, 1838; Caleb Cushing (lawyer and diplomat, opened China to American trade and arbitrated the "Alabama" claims), ALS, 1833, with two ADS sight drafts dated 1770 and 1780; George M. Dallas (VP of the US), ALS, 1837, badly eroded at right edge; Samuel Elbert (politician from Georgia, promoted to colonel in the Continental Army), the bottom right corner (only) of a partly-printed DS, n.p., n.d.; Jacob Morris (aide to Generals Charles Lee and Sullivan), ALS, 1793, to Philip Van Rensselaer. Other documents are signed by Joseph Blackwell (Lt. in the 3rd Va. Regt.), Jacob Read (major in SC volunteers, Federalist member of the Senate), legal ADS, 1788; Ward Chipman (Tory, Gov. of New Brunswick) ALS, 1817; Thompson J. Skinner (Mass. senator), ALS 1784; William Tilghman (loyalist, later became a Supreme Court justice), DS, 1817; Rufus Putnam (officer in French and Indian War, general in Continental Army, and Chief of Engineers of the Works of NY), DS, 1797; Benjamin Walker (aide-de-camp to Baron von Steuben and George Washington), ADS, 1788. With cut signatures of Richard Rush, Albert Gallatin, Oliver Ellsworth, and a dozen signatures of Rev War soldiers. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500 Ex Goodspeed's of Boston. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $2,160
Lot 103		[American Revolution] Receipts to Hire Men for the Continental Army. Five manuscript documents signed by a committee of the town of Holden (Mass) to hire men "to reinforce the Continental Army….", three dated July 5, 1779 and two dated June 26, 1780. Each document is a promissory note issued to different creditors. Some toning and soiling, two with tape reinforcment on verso and one with fold splits. In 1779, the state of Massachusetts demanded that the town of Holden furnish five men for Continental service of nine months. In 1780, ten men were required, with no duration of service mentioned. Estimated Value $600 - 800 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $480