LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Feb Grand Format Book & Manuscript #682  / 

56104

George Washington's "Spurious Letters" Pamphlet

Currency:USD Category:Books / Antiquarian & Collectible Start Price:220.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
George Washington's Spurious Letters Pamphlet
<B>George Washington's "Spurious Letters" Pamphlet,</B></I> 44 pp., 5" x 9", "<I>Letters From General Washington to Several of His Friends in June and July, 1776. In Which is Set Forth, an Interesting View of American Politics, at That All-Important Period</B></I>" (Philadelphia: The "Federal Press", 1795). The preface to this tidy piece of anti-Federalist propaganda states that: "<I>The following letters are, at this time, republished from a Boston Edition, now out of print, as furnishing an interesting appendix to the Official Letters of General Washington, which have lately made their appearance</B></I>." Several "letters" appearing here, primarily those addressed to Lund (a distant relation) and Martha Washington, profess serious doubts as to the Patriot cause and the American political machine. Distrust of Virginia's northern allies is also a recurring theme. At face value, the letters detract from Washington's status and, in doing so, make the American experiment itself questionable. Interestingly, these letters were cataloged as forgeries by John C. Fitzpatrick and do appear along with genuine letters in his monumental "Writings of George Washington". The first edition of this pamphlet was printed in London in 1776 and was subsequently issued in British-held portions of North America. Reprints, such as this specimen, appeared during Washington's presidency as a means to discredit him. Overall browning as expected, light foxing and chipped paper wraps. Very good condition.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Miscellaneous Collectibles, Smal (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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