LOT RR Auction  /  RR Auction Quality Autograph Auction 383 and Ame...  / 

1626

George Washington

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:25,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
George Washington

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:2012 Feb 15 @ 18:00 (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
Beautiful and highly desirable ALS signed “Go: Washington,” one page, 8 x 8.75, September 11, 1799. Letter to William Thornton Esquire. In full: “The 20th of this month when Mr. Blagden would require an advance of a thousand dollars -being near at hand- and Mr. Peter affording a good and safe opportunity to remit it, I enclose for this purpose, a check on the Bank of Alexandria to that amount. Mr. Peter informs me that his brother _______ has ironmongry of a good quality which he wants to dispose of, and would sell cheap. I pray you therefore to inform Mr. Blagden of this circumstance, request him to examine it, and if of the kind & quality he requires it to be had on good terms to supply himself therefrom and at the hand of the invoice to draw upon me for the amount, which shall be immediately paid. With great esteem and regard, I am Dear Sir Your Most Obed. 'Serv.'” In fine, clean condition, with intersecting mailing folds, one passing through a single letter of signature, well-done professional repair to paper loss along left edge, and a uniform shade of light toning.

Accompanied by three-inch long strip of burgundy velvet from Washington’s cloak, originally acquired as part of a larger swatch offered at the February 5, 2010, auction of the Tobias Lear family; and several strands of Washington’s hair, simply matted and affixed to an 8.5 x 11 photocopied presentation sheet with an image of Washington and bearing a printed signature of Charles Hamilton stating that the hair was probably first owned by Martha Washington’s granddaughter.

When Washington signed the 1790 Congressional Act establishing the District of Columbia to mark the birth of the Federal City, Washington, DC, it touched off a spurt of land speculation from which the president also hoped to realize a profit. He placed Dr. William Thornton, the architect of the US Capitol, to oversee the construction of the Federal City but in the late 1790s, the project fell into financial debt and the venture ended in bankruptcy.

Despite the new city's reputation as a bad investment, local landowners convinced Washington that investing in the construction of rental housing for Congressional members could be profitable. The general provided substantial financing to fund the project and again turned to Thornton who supervised the work of George Blagden, the leading building contractor for Federal City. The doctor also enlisted the help of Thomas Peter, husband of Martha Washington's granddaughter Martha Park Custis. Washington himself purchased several lots including lot #4, and in square 642 between B and C streets where he built residences. It's not known whether or not Washington recovered his investment. His concern had turned from a personal investment to seeing the entire project through and by 1799 the city was ready to serve as the seat of government, but Washington died before its inauguration in 1800. A highly desirable Washington letter concerning the building of Federal City.
Sign In to Bookmark Lot