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1834 DAVID DAVY CROCKETT Extremely Rare Handwritten Autograph Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:40,000.00 USD Estimated At:40,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
1834 DAVID DAVY CROCKETT Extremely Rare Handwritten Autograph Letter Signed
Autographs
Extremely Rare and Amazing High Quality David Crockett Autograph Letter Signed Regarding Text for His New Book
DAVID “DAVY” CROCKETT (1786-1836). American Frontiersman, Politician, killed at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
December 24, 1834-Dated, Important and Extremely Rare Autograph Letter Signed, "David Crockett," 1 page, measuring 7.25" x 10", Choice Very Fine. Handwritten from Washington City, to: "Mesrs Cary & Hart" - E.L. Carey & A. Hart, Davy Crockett's Philadelphia publishers. Davy Crockett provides 55 pages of text for his new book, proving that he, though unschooled, took an active part in contributing to his own works. Tipped to another sheet at the top margin; otherwise, in nice condition. Accompanied with an engraved portrait of Crockett. David Crockett pens (with misspellings uncorrected), in full:

"Gentlemen your favor of the 20th Inst. came safe to hand and I saw Mr. Asgood and obtained his permission agreeable to your request and here enclose his letter to you (not present) which I hope will be agreeable to your wish.

I have written and taken to Mr. [William] Clark 55 pages of my new Book. Mr. Clark sais it will do excelent for him to work upon and he sais he will make you a Book that will fill expectation. Excuse hast I am your obt servt. -- (Signed) David Crockett"

Several books have been attributed to Crockett, most notably the best-selling A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett (1834). The book referred to in this rare letter is the sequel to: “An Account of Col. Crockett's Tour to the North and down East,” which was published in 1835. It enjoyed wide success, with further editions published in 1837, 1830, 1845 and 1848. Davy Crockett took an "Extended Tour" for three weeks, April 25 - May 13 or 14, 1834, parading himself before admiring throngs in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Jersey City, Newport, Boston, Lowell, Providence and Camden, NJ. It was the blunder of his political career. Engineered by the Whigs, the tour attempted to parade Crockett before the masses, exploiting his popularity. Less than a year after the first edition of Tour appeared, Crockett was killed at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836.

David Crockett prided himself on his lack of education. He once said that correct spelling was "contrary in nature" and grammar was "nothing at all"; perhaps that is why his letters bear little resemblance to his so-called autobiographical writings, whose authorship is questioned.

This remarkable letter confirms the fact that Crockett was indeed a very bad speller. It also confirms that Crockett took an active part in contributing to his own books, with the aid of "ghost-writer" Mr. William Clark, who, in this context, may be thought of rather as an editor. William Clark (1774-1851) was a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, elected as a Whig and served from March 4, 1833 - March 3, 1837). To quote one of Crockett's biographers concerning the work and Crockett's involvement in it:

"David did not, of course, write the Tour but merely helped to collect Whig notes and newspaper clippings recording ghostwritten speeches. Another man wrote the book from these 'scissors and paste-pot' gleanings. A few portions bear his touch, but most is so inferior, so affectedly 'backwoodsie,' so fall of sham vernacular and impossible harangue (though the views expressed are the anti-Jackson Whig ones of his letters and Congressional speeches) that the Tour richly deserved the oblivion that it promptly received." (David Crockett: The Man and the Legend, by James Atkins Shackford, 1956). Crockett hoped to have the book completed by the first of January, 1835 (or early in February), and rushed to get pages to Clark for correction and editing so that the publisher could begin setting the type. There was another reason for his hurriedness; Crockett owed $300, and he hoped to be able to ask for an advance. The Tour came off the press in late March, 1835. The bold deep rich brown vivid signature “David Crockett” measures a large 2.75” long at the conclusion, making this letter excellent for display. (2 items)
In the American consciousness, Crockett has come to symbolize the intrepid backwoods scout, expert rifleman and brave soldier. Served as a scout during the Creek War of 1813-14 under the command of Andrew Jackson, then served as Justice of the Peace in Giles Councy. Elected Colonel of a militia regiment organized in his discrict.

A prodigious hunter of bears, Crockett claimed to have killed over 100 in 8 or 9 months. While living in western Tennessee, he was elected a member of the Legislature (1823-24) and subsequently ran for Congress, where he served three terms as a member of the House of Representatives from Tennessee (served 1827-31 and 1833-35). Came to national attention as "the coonskin Congressman".

Attracted by Texas' quest for independence, Crockett traveled to San Antonio, reaching there in February, 1836, where be fell in the Battle of the Alamo (March 6, 1836), though some reports indicate that he may have been one of a half dozen survivors captured by the Mexicans and then killed.