Lot 59
Wythe, George (1726-1806) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Virginia. Autograph Letter Signed "G. Wythe" at the end and "George Wythe" in the text, 1¼ pages, n.p., Mar. 30, 1801. Neatly and clearly written at the age of 75 to Peter Tinsley: "If P T knows the note, of which a copy is inclosed, to be his brother Samuel Tinsleys handwriting and to have been subscribed by him: that his undertenent occupied the house three years, or did not resign the possession of it before expiration of that term; and that PT doth not know money, towards discharging the rent, than twelve dollars, to have been paid, will he be pleased to give to George Wythe a certificate there, for the purpose of applying to proper authority for obtaining what remains due, with interest? The certificate may be writen under a copy of the note, and sent, with this paper, to G. Wythe. 30 of march, 1801." Wythe is rare. Only three Autograph Letters Signed are listed in ABPC, one in 1989, one in 1998, and one in 2010.
In 1769, at the College of William and Mary, Wythe became America's first Professor of Law. He counted among his students Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Marshall, Henry Clay, and many other men of reknown. In 1775 Wythe was elected to attend the Continental Congress, where he served for two years, voting in favor of R.H. Lee's Resolution, and the Declaration. In 1777 he was elected Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, and in 1778, he was made one of the three Chancellors of the State of Virginia, a post that he served in for the rest of his life.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
Purchased from Robert Batchelder in 1982.
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| Realized $2,714 |
