independence

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN —  AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OVERSEES THE INDUCTION OF EDWARD PENNINGTON, A LEADING PHILADELPHIA QUAKER MERCHANT, WHO WILL FIND HIMSELF HELD PRISONER DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FOR HIS REFUSAL TO SUPPORT THE WAR AGAINST BRITAIN

FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN.  (1706-1790) Founding Father of the United States, author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, statesman, and diplomat.  Scarce Partially-Printed Document Signed, “B. Franklin,” as President of The American Philosophical Society. One page, large oblong folio. Philadelphia. January 20, 1780. 

CHARLES CARROLL OF CARROLLTON  — AN ATTRACTIVE LETTER OF THE LONGEST LIVED SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,   —  VOICING HIS CONCERNS ABOUT GETTING HIS TOBACCO CROP TO MARKET

CARROLL, CHARLES [OF CARROLLTON].  (1737-1832).  American patriot and Signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Attractive Autograph Letter Signed, “Ch. Carroll of Carrollton”.  Two full pages, small quarto.  Baltimore, May 2-3, 1823. 

‘BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS’  — 

AN OUTSTANDING BENJAMIN FRANKLIN LETTER OF THE HIGHEST HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE —  “I AM SORRY LORD CHATHAM’S MOTION FOR A CESSATION OF ARMS, WAS NOT AGREED TO. EVERY THING SEEMS TO BE REJECTED BY YOUR MAD POLITICIANS THAT WOULD LEAD TO HEALING THE BREACH;  AND EVERY THING DONE THAT CAN TEND TO MAKE IT EVERLASTING”

FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN. (1706-1790). ) Founding Father of the United States, author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, statesman, and diplomat. Highly Important Autograph Letter Signed, ”Your most obedt humble Servant, B. Franklin”. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON   —  AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONERY ARMY DECLARES:

“I HAVE TURNED MY THOUGHTS … TOWARDS CARRYING ON AN EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS OF THE SIX NATIONS ….”

“THE KIND OF WAR NECESSARY TO BE CARRIED ON AGAINST THE SAVAGES FOR THE MORE EFFECTUAL SECURITY OF OUR FRONTIER”.

WASHINGTON, GEORGE.  (1732-1799).  First President of the United States (1789-1797).  Exceptional War-dated, Manuscript Letter Signed, “G. Washington”, as Commander of the Continental forces. “Headquarters, Middle Brook, March 2, 1779.”  Two full legal folio pages, [in the hand of Tench Tilghman].   To Brigadier General Porter. 

EXCEEDINGLY RARE AUTOGRAPH DOCUMENT SIGNED BY DR. JOSEPH WARREN WHO WAS KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL IN 1775  —  ADDITIONALLY SIGNED BY HIS BROTHER,  DR. JOHN WARREN

SENDING HIS BILL FOR MEDICINES AND HIS ATTENDANCE IN THE MASSACHUSETTS PROVINCIAL CONGRESS FROM MAY 1772 TO JANUARY 1773

An exceedingly-rare Autograph Document Signed, “Joseph Warren Dr” in the third person, in the body of the document.  One page, oblong octavo. Lightly silked for preservation, else very fine condition. No place, [Boston], January 1773.  Additionally docketed on the verso by his brother JOHN WARREN.  (1753-1815)

JOHN HANCOCK  —  A 1765 LOTTERY TICKET FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FANEUIL HALL

ISSUED TO EDWARD PROCTOR, WHO LEAD A GROUP OF MEN ON THE NIGHT OF THE ‘BOSTON TEA PARTY’ TO DUMP INTO THE SEA THE TEA CHESTS SECURED ABOARD THE ‘DARTMOUTH’ WHILE SHE LAY MOORED AT GRIFFIN’S WARF IN BOSTON HARBOR.   BOLDLY SIGNED BY PROCTOR ON THE VERSO AND STRONGLY SIGNED BY HANCOCK ON THE RECTO —   A SIMPLY SUPERB, AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE, COMBINATION OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOT SIGNATURES

HANCOCK, JOHN (1737-1793)   President of the Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation; Governor of Massachusetts; first Signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Scarce Partly-printed “Faneuil-Hall LOTTERY, No. Five” ticket, boldly signed “John Hancock”, at the lower center right.

SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE — SAMUEL ADAMS — AS GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS

ADAMS, SAMUEL. (1722-1803). American patriot and Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Partially-Printed Document Signed, ”Samuel Adams”, as Governor of Massachusetts. One page, oblong folio. Boston. September 8, 1796. Countersigned by John Avery, as secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.