LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Oct: The Luhrs Collection #9675  / 

61107

1781 Charles Pettit ALS to George Washington

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:160.00 USD Estimated At:275.00 - 500.00 USD
1781 Charles Pettit ALS to George Washington
<B>1781 Charles Pettit Letter to George Washington Concerning Spurs.</B></I> Two pages, 7.75” x 12.75”, Philadelphia, February 9, 1781, to “<I>His Excellency Genl. Washington</B></I>”. A most fascinating letter written by Pettit in his capacity of Assistant Quartermaster General, in which he bills Washington for “<I>spurs, hair-powder and blacking ball</B></I>”. Pettit goes to some length in describing his quest for finding the appropriate type of spurs for Washington: “<I>I took some pains to enquire amongst the Gentlemen of fashion, for the reigning taste of the day, but with less success than I expected, as I could not find any standard for it, nor that their ideas agreed with each other.</B></I>” Pettit then goes to some pains to apprise the General of the various exchange rates for money which he paid for the spurs: “<I>The price fixed was 1,100 dollars old money or an equivalent in new emissions at 75, which is the established exchange, but in Silver I found ten dollars would be accepted, I therefore paid it in silver, as the difference exceeded the received opinion of the real depreciation of paper money, which is about 100 of old money for one in silver, or 100 in new money for 75 specie…I take the liberty of mentioning these particulars for your Excellency's information as to the real state of paper money.</B></I>” The paper is generally toned and bears traces of old fold creases, else a fine, legible letter. <I>From the collection of Henry E. Luhrs.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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