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JARED SPARKS Cut Signature Harvard University President G. Washington Biographer

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:120.00 USD Estimated At:180.00 - 240.00 USD
JARED SPARKS Cut Signature Harvard University President G. Washington Biographer
Autographs
Harvard University President Jared Sparks Cut Signature
JARED SPARKS (1789-1866). President of Harvard University (1849-1853), Biographer of George Washington, also edited The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, 12 vol. (1829-1830) and 25 volumes of The Library of American Biography (1834-1848).
Cut Signature on clean wove period paper, “it, you will oblige Yours truly J. Sparks.” measuring 4.25” x 2”, mounted on a 5” x 2.75” brown paper to highlight, Choice Very Fine. No date or place, some old mounting remnants on unseen blank reverse. Boldly written in rich deep brown bearing a large impressive vivid signature “J. Sparks” measuring 2” long.
JARED SPARKS (1789-1866). American publisher and editor of the North American Review, biographer Jared Sparks served as President of Harvard College from 1849-1853. Educated at Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard College, Sparks served as Minister of the First Independent Church (Unitarian) from 1819 to 1823.

From then until 1830, under his ownership and editorship, the North American Review became the arbiter of literature in New England. He was appointed the first professor of Secular History at Harvard. He was the author of biographies of Benjamin Franklin, Gouverneur Morris and George Washington. Many original writings of Washington were given to Sparks to keep after he finished his biography including Washington's first Inaugural address which was never used; the first President wrote another one. Sparks cut up the first inaugural address and gave them to collectors, identifying each piece as "Washington's handwriting."

Sparks also edited The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, 12 vol. (1829-1830) and 25 volumes of The Library of American Biography (1834-1848).