172

John Hancock

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:8,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
John Hancock

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Auction Date:2014 Dec 10 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, 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
Boldly penned Revolutionary War-dated ALS, one page, 6.75 x 9, October 5, 1780. Letter to John Brown Esq. In full: “The weather proves so exceedingly bad, & the boats so very cold that I am confident the Gentlemen would rather be incommoded by going to the castle this Day, I shall therefore hope for the pleasure of your & the other Gentlemen's company on the Island some more agreeable day next week. I am to request the favor of you & the other Gentlemen of your board to dine with me this Day at my house at half past 1 o'clock—Your compliance & communicating this to your colleagues will much oblige.” Intersecting mailing folds (one through a single letter of signature), scattered mild toning (mostly to edges), some stray ink flecks, and mild show-through from red wax seal on reverse, otherwise fine condition. Hancock is more than likely referring to Castle Island, where Fort Castle William guarded Boston Harbor off South Boston. It is no surprise that he would forego a trip anywhere on the day in question as the 1780 Atlantic hurricane season was extraordinarily destructive. Three different hurricanes, all in October, each caused at least 1,000 deaths. Three weeks after writing this letter, the weather had cleared, and at the first meeting of the General Court on October 25, 1780, Hancock took his constitutional oath of office as the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Attractively and boldly penned, and highly presentable, this is as pristine a one-page, war-dated Hancock ALS as you could hope to find.