347

THOMAS JEFFERSON An excellent collection of no less than 36 individual items, comprising of more...

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
THOMAS JEFFERSON An excellent collection of no less than 36 individual items, comprising of more...
THOMAS JEFFERSON An excellent collection of no less than 36 individual items, comprising of more than 70 pages of manuscript material, representing the political, scientific and agricultural thoughts of Thomas Jefferson and his son-in-law Thomas Mann Randolph (1768-1828). Dating mostly from the first 3 or 4 years of Randolph's marriage to Jefferson's daughter Martha, it exhibits a particularly strong connection to Jefferson. The Randolphs actually lived at Monticello in those years, and Jefferson's influence in scientific and agricultural matters is clearly visible. Although the vast majority of the items are in the hand of Randolph, it is likely that some pieces are actually the products of Jefferson's thoughts, as Randolph occasionally acted as Jefferson's private secretary. The collection includes 2 pieces completely in the hand of Jefferson, signed with initials, orders for goods from James Leitch, a Charlotteville storekeeper, 1820 & 1821. A small sampling of other items include: a plan of Varina (docketed "Varina: View of buildings"), Randloph's 950 acre plantation on the James River, which he received from his father upon his marriage, encumbered by mortgages, with Jefferson often being called upon to assist with advice or loans; lists of trees and shrubs, using Linnaeum names, as Randolph was a noted naturalist; weather records from 1791-93, adopted to a format developed by Jefferson, noting "indexes of climate" like the flowering of plants and the arrival of birds and insects; agricultural memoranda, many dealing with crop rotation and advocating new progressive husbandry; a letter (1792) to the editor of the "Patriote Francois", in the guise of a letter from an American in Amsterdam to the French National Assembly, attempting to disassociate the American people from the anti-Republican views expressed by Gouveneur Morris, whose appointment as Minister to France had been confirmed in January, 1792; letter to the editor of an unidentified newspaper, in response to "A Virginian's" defense of the President (Washington), noting that the President has deviated from his former path and was showing too much attachment to British and monarchical principles; a resolution in defense of the Constitution, full of fervor, probably dating from the summer of 1793, during the political uproar and newspaper war caused by Citizen Genet's stint as France's Minister to the United States. A fascinating look at everyday life at the noted home of Thomas Jefferson, where knowledge, ideas and ideals were valued commodities. Overall very nice condition. $20,000-30,000