Lot 5
[Barbary Pirates]. Holograph List of "Gifts". One page, Small Quarto, circa 1795, n.p. This list of "presents", ranging from precious metals to naval supplies, is believed to be in the hand of Joel Barlow, U.S. Consul to Algiers. This was an altruistic maneuver on the part of the diplomat. (1), it bought the freedom of 119 Americans held captive by the Bey of Algiers and (2), it assured a peace treaty with the three Barbary states whose pirates had been wrecking havoc on American trade in that area for some time.
Estimated Value $500 - 1,000.
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| Realized $1,093 |
