LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Feb Grand Format Book & Manuscript #682  / 

56092

Robert C. Winthrop Autograph Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:95.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Robert C. Winthrop Autograph Letter Signed
<B>Robert C. Winthrop Autograph Letter Signed </B></I> "<I>Rob. C. Winthrop</B></I>".<B> </B></I>Two pages, 8.25" x 10", Boston, October 9, 1849 to J. P. Boyd concerning an imposter claiming to be the brother of Winthrop, Speaker of the House: "<I>...I have no brother by the name of John C. Winthrop, nor have I any brother</B></I> [illeg.] <I>than myself; nor have I any brother who is, at this moment, or who has been, for many months past, out of the limits of Massachusetts. The person who you describe must be an imposter & ought to be exposed forthwith. I most deeply regret that he should have made such unworthy use of my name, & trust sincerely that his character will have been discovered in season to prevent his doing serious mischief in any quarter. I rec'd a Telegraphic Despatch from Mr. </B></I>[Henry]<I> Clay more than a week ago, to which I replied, through the same marvelous</B></I> [sic] <I>agency; -- If the wires were not false to their trust, Mr. Clay must have learned the imposition which had been practiced upon him, almost as soon as your letter was dated. - Since then, I have rec'd a letter from Mr. Young of Cincinnati, on the same subject, to which I returned an answer without delay. Might it not be well to stop the career of this person, by putting a word of caution into one of your Papers? The very words with which your letter commences would be enough. 'A young gentleman, calling himself J. C. Winthrop, & claiming to be a brother of Speaker Winthrop, a member of the Suffolk Bar, & a former Student in the office of Hon Rufus Choate, has been enjoying the hospitalities of our Citizens for some days. It is now ascertained that he is an imposter, & the public are cautioned against him.' Anything of this sort, would answer the purpose, if there be danger of his continuing his fraudulent course.</B></I>" A superb letter concerning a case of 'identity theft' as well as a good early reference to the use of a telegraph. Note Winthrop's wonderment and uncertainty toward the new technology that had only come into regular use in 1846. <BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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