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Rhode Island: William Ellery

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
Rhode Island: William Ellery

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Auction Date:2017 Jan 11 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : 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
Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Rhode Island and early abolitionist who served as chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court (1727–1820). ALS signed “Wm Ellery Coll,” one page, 6.25 x 8, February 27, 1797. Letter to District Attorney Ray Greene, in full: “Sea Letters and passports are signed by the President. Quere: Whether I can with propriety issue any of them under the signature of George Washington dated after the fourth of March; or, in other words, whether such documents ceased to be valid with his ceasing to be President. You are desired to answer this question as soon as possible.” Addressed on the second integral page in another hand. In very good condition, with intersecting folds, several lightly passing through signature, scattered toning, and slight paper loss and pencil notations to reverse of second page. The young United States would observe its first transition of power under the Constitution on March 4, 1797, when the freely elected John Adams replaced George Washington as president. Without precedent or tradition, this called into question various procedural aspects of government that had not yet been tested—including, in this case, the issue of official documents.