16

Jefferson, Thomas

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:0.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Jefferson, Thomas
Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) 3rd President of the United States (1801-1809); author of the Declaration of Independence. Printed Document Signed "Th: Jefferson" as Secretary of State, 1 p. both sides plus integral leaf with docket, 16 x 9¾ in., March 23, 1792. An Act passed during the first session of the Second Congress (which began on October 24, 1791), "to provide for the settlement of the Claims of Widows and Orphans barred by the limitations heretofore established and to regulate the Claims to Invalid Pensions." Among other provisions, the Act suspended earlier resolutions from 1785 and 1787 "so far as they have barred, or may be construed to bar the claims of the widow or orphans of any officer of the late army, to the seven years half pay of such officer…." and extended pensions to wounded and disabled veterans for their lifetimes or the length of their disability. The Act also provides for district court judges to hear all claims and, upon proof of service and/or disability, provide that proof to the Secretary of War for inclusion on the list of pensions.

Separate broadside printings of laws like this one (known as "slip laws") are uncommon and important, as they were specially printed in small numbers for official government distribution and were usually the earliest printed versions of that law. In June 1789, the First Congress ordered "that within ten days of passage of any law, 22 copies [two for each of the states which had at that point ratified the Constitution] of it should be logged with the Pesident," who would send two copies to the governor of each state. There were two "states" of each slip law: 26 "duly autheticated" copies [once Rhode Island and North Carolina ratified the Constitution] printed for the President for distribution to governors, and copies on ordinary paper for distribution to the members of Congress. This copy, bearing the printed statement "Deposited among the Rolls in the Office of the Secretary of State" above Jefferson's signature, is one of the 26 copies printed for the President. The Act has also been signed in type at the conclusion by House Speaker Jonathan Trumbull and Vice President John Adams, and similarly approved by George Washington. The document has been archivally encapsulated in Mylar and housed in a custom cloth clamshell presentation case. Light horizontal storage folds, one just touching the bottom edge of the signature; otherwise, very fine, bright, fresh condition. Handsome and scarce.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.

Our item number 154276