Lot 277
Franklin, Benjamin and John Penn. Document signed ("B Franklin, Speaker") as Speaker of the Assembly, and ("John Penn") as Governor of Pennsylvania, 27 pages, 12½ x 7 5/8 in., Sept, 22, 1764. Also signed by Joseph Shippen, Jr. as Secretary of Pennsylvania. "A Supplement to the Act entitled An Act for erecting a Light House at the Mouth of the Bay of Delaware at or near Cape Henlopen, and for placing and fixing Buoys in the said Bay & River Delaware." Ribbon which bound the pages is missing. Beautifully-penned pages are written on laid watermarked paper, which are toned with minor stains. Page 1, signed by John Penn (1729-1795) who was grandson of Pennsylvania founder William Penn and the last governor of colonial Pennsylvania (1763-71 and 1773-76), has scattered stains and chipping. Page 27, signed by Franklin, has a partial split at lower fold and numerous edge chips, not affecting Franklin's wonderful, bold signature. Accompanied by a 7½ x 5½ in. engraving of Franklin in his coon-skin hat, an image much loved by the French, with French title: "Born in Boston, in New England January 17, 1706"; in 1790, the French National Assembly declared three days of mourning when news of Franklin's death arrived. Franklin was one of America's leading founding fathers, Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, as well as an inventor, a politician, and a diplomat.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 8,000.
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| Realized $13,125 |
