American Autographs

A collection of 59 letters and documents signed by noted figures of the Revolution, Federalist period, and later, including Thomas Jefferson, Robert Morris, Henry Lee, Francis Marion, Albert Gallatin, John Burgoyne, Alexander Hamilton, John Quincy Adams, Horace Greeley, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, and many others, gathered together by Frederic Richardson Kirkland (1887–1961) of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.



59 letters and a few printed documents, signed, various sizes of 4to and 8vo, 92 ½ pages, all tipped on to larger sheets, many accompanied by typed transcriptions; generally fine condition with an occasional spot or minor tear.

59 letters and a few printed documents, signed, various sizes of 4to and 8vo, 92 ½ pages, all tipped on to larger sheets, many accompanied by typed transcriptions; generally fine condition with an occasional spot or minor tear.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A rich collection of American historical autographs, providing examples of unusual interest and rarity including:

United States Congress. An Act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to finish the  Light-House, on Portland-Head, in the District of Maine. [New York: Childs & Swaine, 1790].  Signed by Thomas Jefferson, as Secretary of State, New York, 10 August 1790. Printed broadside (9 7/8 x 7 3/8 in.; 250 x 187 mm). Evans 22955. Also relating to Jefferson is a broadside campaign poster for the election of 1796: "At a meeting of a number of Citizens, on Saturday Evening, at Mr. Little's school-house, the following Address was unanimously agreed upon, and ordered to be published. To the Freemen of Pennsylvania. Fellow Citizens ... Jefferson Ticket. Electors, Thomas M'Kean ..." et al. Broadside (16 ¼ x 10 ½ in.; 412 x 267 mm), [Philadelphia, 1796], expertly silked; lightly browned, two small stains in right margin, one tiny hole in text. Not in Evans.

Francis Marion (1732–1795), Brigadier General. Autograph letter, signed ("Fran. Marion"), 1 page (9 3/8 x 7 1/8 in.; 238 x 180 mm), Lenud's Ferry, 6 April 1782, to Colonel [John Faucheraud] Grimke, ordering that the confiscated property of Mrs. Blair be returned to her, with Colonel Grimke's forwarding letter on the verso to Colonel Murphy. Here the "Swamp Fox" demonstrates his reputation for the fair treatment of the local populace, upon whose property his Irregulars were forced to survive.

Robert Morris (1734–806), as Superintendent of Finance. 4 letters, signed ("Robt Morris"), 1 letter unsigned, in total 17 ½ pages, various sizes in 4to, the signed to Benjamin Franklin, the unsigned directed to the President of the Congress, Philadelphia, 8 June 1781, 30 July 1782, 27 September 1782, 30 September 1782, 13 February 1784, on the financial business of the United States including the routing of French disbursements and other European subsidies.

John Quincy Adams (1767–1848). Autograph letter, signed ("John Quincy Adams"), 1 ½ pages (10 x 8 in.; 254 x 203 mm), Washington, 28 May 1834, to John S. Welter, John Coalter, "and all the members of the Committee of Arrangements" for a festival celebrating the result of "the late Elections in Virginia," refusing their invitation to attend but discoursing at some length on the "mistaking of a right to the custody, for a right to the use of the public revenues—The latter, I take it for granted, will ere long be recognized, not as an Executive power in its nature, original or derivative, but, as a portion of the property of the People, subject to the disposal of Congress as prescribed by the Constitution" all this referring to the efforts of the Jackson administration to destroy the Second Bank of the United States, which was a major issue in the 1834 election; repaired tear entering text but without loss.

Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804). Letter, signed ("A Hamilton"), 1 page plus integral address leaf (9 ¾ x 7 7/8 in.; 248 x 200 mm), New York, 27 February 1800, to General [William] Irvine in Philadelphia, responding to a request from Irvine on behalf of his son [Callendar Irvine, superintendent of military stores in Philadelphia, a post he held with his father], for whom Hamilton writes: "I regret much his situation and hope for his restoration; well persuaded that the interest of the Service coincides in this particular with the wishes of his friends" possibly referring to Callendar's long illness.

Horace Greeley (1811–1872), as editor of the New York Tribune. Autograph letter, signed ("Horace Greeley"), 4 pages (9 7/8 x 8 in.; 252 x 212 mm), New York, 2 July 1845, to Obadiah A. Bowe, writing to his close friend from his days on the Erie Gazette, Greeley offers a rip-roaring account of his attacks on Jim Birney [of the Liberty Party which brought Abolitionism to national attention, here spelled "Briney"], commiserating with Bowe about the poor performance of Bowe's paper [the Herkimer Journal], offering news of his own success, actually using the phrase: "I mean to go West if I can ... but pecuniary trouble will probably stop me."

Others include Andrew Pickens (1795), Rutherford B. Hayes (1887), Luther Martin (1807, on the acquittal of Burr), John W. Wade (1781), Ebenezer Learned (1783), Ebenezer Huntington (1810), Baron Deane (1777), Jedidiah Morse (1796), Jonathan Trumbull (1803), and James Read (3 letters, 1776, including a report on Washington's retreat from Long Island), among many others.

A complete inventory is available upon application to the Department.