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George Washington Signed Book: 'The Gleaner'

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:80,000.00 - 100,000.00 USD
George Washington Signed Book: 'The Gleaner'

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Auction Date:2020 May 21 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, 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
Extraordinary signed book from George Washington's personal library: The Gleaner, Vol. I, by Constantia [Judith Sargent Murray]. First edition. Boston: I. Thomas and E. T. Andrews, 1798. Hardcover bound in contemporary sheep with morocco labels and gilt rules on the spine, 4.5 x 7, 348 pages. Boldly signed on the title page in ink with his ownership signature, "Go: Washington." Autographic condition: fine, with very faint overall foxing to the signed page, and a closely trimmed top edge. Book condition: VG/None, with a "Library of Lawrence E. Miller" blindstamp to a rear page. Loosely laid in are several early 20th century newspaper clippings covering the disposition of George Washington's personal library upon his death, and later sales of books from it.

Published as a three-volume set in 1798, The Gleaner comprises a diverse selection of Judith Sargent Murray’s essays and plays, and established her as a leading American author and intellectual of the late 18th century. Noted as an early champion of feminism, Murray advocated for women's equality, education, and economic independence. Her essays also spoke about the new republic, citizenship, public virtue, philanthropy, and peace between peoples. The Gleaner was issued to 759 subscribers, among them George and Martha Washington, John Adams, Henry Knox, and John Hancock. It is significant that Washington owned and read this book, as he and Murray were both popular advocates of democratic ideals.

Murray was an ardent admirer of President Washington, evidenced in both her writings and letters. He is referenced in the present volume, as "Washington" and "the retiring Chief," in the introductory dedication to President John Adams: "That America has looked up to you, Sir, as her second hope, is a truth which carries in its bosom a panegyric upon your virtues more impressive, than if an angel had pronounced your eulogy; and while our fervid benedictions must ever follow the retiring Chief, whose guardian care conducted our benighted footsteps over paths untried and perilous, to a brilliant morning, the refulgent dawn of which is regarded as the harbinger of a glorious meridian, we hail with ardent expectancy his patriotic successor, who, like another Elisha, clothed in the sacred vestments of authority, inherits a full proportion of that spirit, which rested upon him, who, emancipating his country from unwarrantable usurpations, will ever be recognised as her Deliverer: Thus, in the same moment that to the name of Washington, respectful gratitude, bending over the unperishing record of his illustrious acts, establishes in the Columbian bosom her eternal monuments; we exult in an Adams, whose transcendent talents, and whose vigilance, are fully adequate to the emergencies and the dangers of a free government."

Similarly, in The Gleaner’s essay no. LXXVII (‘Predominating traits in the character of a real hero,’ published in Vol. III, not present), she sings her praises of Washington's inauguration: ‘In the annals of America, the 30th of April, 1789, must ever be considered as a prominent epoch; for on that day, her beloved Washington received the investiture, which cloathed him with all the authority that freemen could consent to delegate. See where he stands! an object of the highest veneration to his admiring countrymen—traits of affectionate and respected gratitude are impressed on every countenance...every tongue proclaims the hero, as the father, the deliverer, and the illustrious protector of his country.’

The National Archives has published portions of the correspondence between Murray and Washington concerning The Gleaner. She sent his set to Mount Vernon on March 29, 1798, hoping that ‘the Gleaner may possibly occupy a proportion of those moments of relaxation from more important contemplations’ and promising that Martha’s set was soon to follow. Having not received a reply, she wrote to Washington again on May 28th, expressing effusive praise for him while inquiring whether or not he and Martha had received the books. George Washington replied on June 4th, explaining that he had not received her first letter until the end of May. He happily continued: ‘The Books—which were received in very good order, and have been read with very great pleasure—came at the times, and in the manner you directed, and are entitled to my best thanks. This acknowledgment would have been made at an earlier period had I not waited expecting to be advised, to whom, or how, I should make payment (having forgot the terms of the Subscription) & request now to be informed.’ Murray replied that two dollars were ‘all that remain due upon the two copies of the Gleaner (best paper, and binding,) forwarded to Mount Vernon.’

As a rare book read and signed by George Washington, written by an early feminist and ardent upholder of patriotic ideals, this is a museum-quality piece of early American history.