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Eli Whitney

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:4,000.00 - 4,500.00 USD
Eli Whitney

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Auction Date:2017 Mar 08 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Important American inventor (1765–1825) remembered for developing the cotton gin. Rare ALS, one page, 8 x 9, July 16, 1823. Letter to Secretary of War John C. Calhoun regarding a contract for muskets, in full: "Voucher for a further delivery of 500 muskets, will be found herewith inclosed, whereupon be pleased to direct a remittance of six thousand five hundred dollars." In very good to fine condition, with small areas of paper loss and splitting along folds reinforced with archival tape on the reverse, and docketing on the back lightly showing through. On the verge of bankruptcy thanks to litigation concerning his cotton gin invention, Whitney turned to the manufacture of muskets in the late 1790s in hopes of turning a profit. He received a government contract in 1798 to deliver 10,000–15,000 muskets by 1800, but failed to fill the order until 1809. However, Whitney was a champion of interchangeable parts and, demonstrating an improved production process, was able to secure a second contract for 15,000 arms in 1812. Arms manufacture would become Whitney's primary business for the rest of his life. An outstanding letter connecting one of America's greatest early inventors to the development of the US Army.