Four Piece American Statesman Archive

Lot of four items, comprises:

1) Letter Signed, "David D. Porter", 2 pp. front and verso, October 28, 1889, Washington, 4.5" x 7", to Commodore and Mrs. Nicholson, regretfully declining an invitation to their daughter's wedding.  Tape repair at center horizontal fold, else Fine.  

David Dixon Porter (1813-1891) was a United States Navy admiral and a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the U.S. Navy. Promoted as the second U.S. Navy officer ever to attain the rank of admiral, after his adoptive brother David G. Farragut, Porter helped improve the Navy as the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy after significant service in the American Civil War.  After twenty years of semi-retirement, Porter's health began to give way, as is obvious from his signature on the here offered letter. 

2) Autograph Document Signed, "W. Jackson", 1 p., February 7, 1781, n.p., 6.5" x 8", being an accounting of expenses due and paid to Jackson.  Addressed to and docketed by Major General Benjamin Lincoln.  Vertical fold, mounting remnants on verso, else Fine.

William Jackson (1759-1828) was a figure in the American Revolution, most noteworthy as the secretary to the United States Constitutional Convention. He also served with distinction in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. After the war he served as one of President George Washington's personal secretaries.

3) Manuscript Letter, 1 p. bifolium, with Clay’s closing sentiment and signature having been clipped off, March 29, 1844, Augusta, 8" x 10", to Timothy Childs. Marked “(Private)” at the top by Clay. Integral address page written in another hand.  Expected mailing folds with separation not affecting text, scattered toning, tear mark from red wax seal, else near Fine.

Henry Clay (1777-1852) was an American attorney and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the Senate and House. He was the seventh House Speaker and the ninth Secretary of State. He also helped found both the National Republican Party and the Whig Party. A democratic candidate for the presidency in 1844 running on a staunch anti-slavery campaign, Clay lost to James K. Polk in a close contest which saw the Liberty Party candidate James Birney take votes that likely would have gone to Clay.  This letter, in part: “Without speaking of States, which lie ahead of me, I will give you a brief chart of those which are behind me. We shall run our adversaries hard, if we do not beat them, in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and even Alabama. We shall lick them in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia.”

4) Autograph Letter Signed, "Jno. Bell", 1 p. bifolium, April 7, 1852, "Senate Chamber", 7.75" x 9.5", to J. B Peters.  Expected folds, minor ink smudge not affecting bold signature, mounting remnants on verso, else Fine. 

John Bell (1796-1869) was an American politician, attorney, and planter. One of Tennessee's most prominent antebellum politicians, Bell served in the House of Representatives from 1827 to 1841, and in the Senate from 1847 to 1859. He briefly served as Secretary of War during the administration of William Henry Harrison. In 1860, he ran for president as the candidate of the Constitutional Union Party, a third party which took a neutral stance on the issue of slavery and won the electoral votes of three states.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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