Revolution

TIMOTHY PICKERING ~~   “SOME GENTLEMEN ACT AS IF THEY THOUGHT A LARGE STANDING ARMY, IN TIME OF PEACE, NECESSARY FOR THE DIGNITY OF OUR MAGNIFICENT EMPIRE.  BUT THE REAL DIGNITY OF A NATION CONSISTS IN THE WISDOM OF ITS RULERS, AND THE VIRTUE AND HAPPINESS OF THE PEOPLE”.

PICKERING, TIMOTHY. (1745 – 1829) American statesman and politician; Secretary of State under Presidents George Washington and John Adams (1795-1800); Secretary of War (1795); Post Master General (1791-1795); strong proponent of Great Britain, and after a quarrel with President John Adams over Adams’ plan to make peace with France, Pickering was dismissed from office in May 1800; Pickering challenged Jefferson’s Embargo Act and held several conferences with the special British envoy George Rose and proposed the creation of a pro-British party in New England, which placed him in violation of the Logan Act, for which he was censured.  Exceptional Autograph Letter Signed, “T. Pickering”.  4 very full pages, quarto. 

STATE OF CONNECTICUT PAY ORDER FOR SERVICE IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION PAYABLE IN GOLD OR SILVER

COLT, PETER.  (1744-1824) American Revolutionary War Patriot; friend of Alexander Hamilton;  Governor of the ‘Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures’; grandfather of Samuel Colt; Commanded one of Arron Burr’s expeditions to Canada.  Partly-printed Connecticut Treasury-Office Pay Order Signed, “Peter Colt” as Treasurer of Connecticut.  [June 1, 1782].

JAMES MONROE  ~~  WRITES TO HIS FELLOW REPUBLICANS,  AS THE WAR OF 1812 APPROACHES

MONROE, JAMES. (1758-1831). Fifth President (1817-1825). Autograph Letter Signed, “Most sincerely your friend Jas. Monroe.” One very full page, quarto. Richmond, May 4, 1809.

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. 

“AS COMMANDER OF THE EXPEDITION,  IT WAS MY DUTY TO BRING FORWARD THE WORK OF THE OFFICERS COMPOSING THE EXPEDITION, NOT AS WORKS OF ART SUCH AS YOURS, BUT AS BEING DESCRIPTIVE OF THE COUNTRY…”

CHESNEY, FRANCIS RAWDON .  (1789-1872).  British General, soldier and explorer of the Euphrates River whose expedition proved the practicability of the Euphrates route to India.  Two, relatively rare, Autograph Letters Signed, “F.R. Chesney”.  Four full pages total, quarto.

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.

JAMES MONROE WRITES A DEMAND ORDER ~~  DRAWN ON THE BANK OF THE METROPOLIS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $200

MONROE, JAMES. (1758-1831). Fifth President of the United States. Autograph Document Signed, ”Jas Monroe”, as Secretary of State under James Madison. One page oblong narrow octavo [7 x 2½ inches] [Washington], April 18, 1814. Small missing piece at bottom border, unobtrusive cancellations to the signature, as commonly done in the time period.