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GEORGE WASHINGTON (American, 1732-1799) 1ST PRESIDENT OF THE U.S

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:18,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
GEORGE WASHINGTON (American, 1732-1799) 1ST PRESIDENT OF THE U.S
Framed autograph 2-1/2 page letter addressed to “Tobias Lear” (Secretary to the President) dated Philadelphia, 21st March 1796. Signed “G. Washington”. The letter references the potential sale of land and whether Washington would be advised to do such. The following is a transcript of the letter: My dear Sir, Your letter of the 14th Inst. did not get to my hands until Saturday. Mine dated the 13th acknowledging the receipt of your favors of the 26th. Ulto. & 2d. inst. must I presume have been received in due coarse of the Post, and therefore to repeat the contents of it is unnecessary.A Mr. Summers of Alexandria is very desirous of purchasing my vacant lot in that Town; - and having been told that nothing short of a high price would induce me to sell it, makes the offer contained in the enclosed letter. Whether this offer is high or otherwise, depends upon comparison, the means of doing which is not within my reach, but thro’ the medium of another, & therefore I give you the trouble of making some inquiry in the matter at any time when you are in Alexandria. I have no wish to part with the lot unless I can do it upon advantageous terms; and can dispose of the money in a more productive manner. I had thoughts of building on it, but this would be attended with trouble and perhaps a good deal of imposition as it could not be properly attended to in the execution of the work. And besides workman’s wages, and materials are very high at this time. A thought has run through my mind (since I began this letter) whether, as I have a prospect from the high price of flour, of raising five or six thousand dollars from the same of it; it might not be eligible with that sum & the sale of the vacant lot (to Summers) to make the purchase suggested in one of your former letter to me? If that property is in an eligible p[lace (and I wish to know where it lies) or whether or not if it would bring ten p. Cent on the purchase money, it would certainly be more immediately advantageous to me than to let a part of the sum, necessary to command it, lay dead in a vacant lot, which when built on, would only be to let. Mr. Dandridge’s ansr to Mr. Summer’s enclosed, is left open for your perusal and may be delivered to him or not, at any time you may fine it convenient. As the Post hour is at hand and I have many letters to close, & prepare for the mail, I hardly know what I have written, or whether you will be able fully to comprehend my meaning. My love in which Mrs. Washington units is presented to Fanny & the children, and I am Dear Sir.Your Affecte. Servt.Literature: Published in Fitzpatrick, ed., THE WRITING OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, Vol. 34, pp 503-504. The sale of land discussed in this letter is referred to in a March 21st letter to Summers from Bartholomew Dandridge in the Toner Transcripts Collection, Library of Congress. Dandridge writes that the President declined his offer of $3,000 for the lot in question, and referred him to Tobias Lear “for any further information or negotiation respecting the same. PROVENANCE: Skinner, Inc. Sale No. 1434 Item No. 135 3/21/92. Presently housed in a gilt molded wood frame with linen matte having two cutout windows. Crisp, clear text with nice signature. PROVENANCE: Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Stanwood Schmidt of Eureka, CA. CONDITION: Very good. 9-95995