8404

George Washington Signed Free Frank

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:8,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
George Washington Signed Free Frank

Bidding Over

The auction is over for this lot.
The auctioneer wasn't accepting online bids for this lot.

Contact the auctioneer for information on the auction results.

Search for other lots to bid on...
Auction Date:2019 Oct 31 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : 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
Extremely desirable Revolutionary War–era free-franked address panel, 6.75 x 3.5, addressed in another hand to "Colonel Daniel Brod[head]" at "Fort P[itt]," and beautifully franked in the lower left, "G:o Washington." Marked "Public Serv[ice]" in the upper left, and annotated vertically on the left side in ink, "Rec'd 7th Oct'r by Mr. Postlewaite." In very good to fine condition, with intersecting folds, light overall soiling, and scratching to the top of the frame. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder.

Colonel Daniel Brodhead IV was an important military officer during the American Revolution who earned Washington's respect for his leadership early on in the war, which included the defense of Philadelphia in 1777 and the winter at Valley Forge. From his headquarters at Fort Pitt, Brodhead directed numerous raids against hostile native tribes, often leading the expeditions personally. This free frank addressed to Brodhead by Washington likely dates to circa 1780, at which time the two were corresponding about the supply shortage at the fort. Washington would ultimately order Brodhead's removal from command at Fort Pitt in 1781, over concerns about mishandling supplies and money. The "Postlewaite" referenced in the annotation is presumably Capt. Samuel Postlethwaite, who served as Fort Pitt's deputy quartermaster from October 1777 to December 1782.