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224

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:20,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson

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Auction Date:2010 Dec 08 @ 19:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, 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
Scarce and desirable partly-printed double-signed DS, signed twice as president, “Go: Washington,” and twice “Th: Jefferson” as secretary of state, one page both sides, 10 x 15.5, February 12, 1794. Three language ship’s paper, with Dutch and English on one side, and English and French on the reverse, issued to “Elijah Atwood, master and commander of the sloop called Lark of the town Hadden…lying at present in the port of Charleston and bound for St. Croix and laden with Linens, Shoes…Raisins, Candles, Soap, Rice, Flour, Butter, Beef, Oznaburgs, Boards, Stores of Cheese that after this sloop has been visited and before sailing he shall make oath before the proper officer, that the said Sloop belongs to one or more of the citizens of the United States of America, the act whereof shall be put at the end of the presents; and likewise that he will keep and cause to be kept by his crew on board, the marine ordinances and regulations, and enter into the proper office a list signed and witnessed, containing the names and sirnames, the places of birth, and the abode of the crew of this Sloop, and all who shall embark on board her.” Signed on each side, “Go: Washington,” and “Th: Jefferson.” Framed so both sides may be viewed, to an overall size of 17.5 x 23.5. Intersecting folds, a couple lightly affecting both of Washington’s signatures, a couple light circular areas of toning from the red wax seal, one over last couple letters of one of Jefferson’s signatures, and some light creases and wrinkles, otherwise fine condition. Both white wafer seals are worn, but intact, and the document retains much of its original red wax seal.

Astonishingly rare in such a multi-signed format, this early variant three-language ship’s paper was endorsed four separate times—twice each by President Washington and Secretary of State (and future president) Jefferson. The paper itself would have provided proof of the nationality of the ship's owner if the vessel was stopped by a foreign power—an enormously important fact during this period as Washington proclaimed US neutrality between France and England. Significant more than 200 years ago on a practical level, today the page serves as an unbelievably magical document with an outstanding double-pairing of the earliest presidential signatures! It is worth noting that this particular format was the first format used for ship’s paper and lasted less than a year until the standard three language format was devised.
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