The Great Autograph Sale Belonging to Sir Stephen Coleridge, of London, Mr. Henry Goldsmith, of New York, Mr. Louis Anteuil, of Canada, &c.
The catalog of "The Great Autograph Sale" held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 1st, 1920, lists two items related to George Wythe.[1] The first is Thomas Jefferson's manuscript notes of a short biography of Wythe, written in 1820 for John Sanderson's Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence, published in 1823.[2]
The second listing is for a performance bond (a mutual agreement to repay a debt) dated May 20, 1766, signed by (and possibly written by) Wythe, and also bearing the signatures of Robert Carter Nicholas, colonial Treasurer of Virginia, John Blair, Thomas Nelson, Jr., William Nelson, Richard Corbin (receiver general of Virginia, 1761-1776), Robert Carter, Robert Burwell, Thomas Everard, and Dr. William Pasteur. The bond described is similar to another document with many of the same signatories from April 10, 1767.
The sale was organized by the firm of Stan V. Henkels (1854-1926), a Philadelphia auctioneer, bookseller, and cataloger, and an authority on materials relating to George Washington.[3]
Extracts, 1920
Page 102
233 Jefferson, Thomas. A. L. S. 2 pages, 4to. Monticello, Aug. 31, 1820, to John Sanderson, with address and autograph manuscript, 3 pages, 4to, entitled, "Notes for the Biography of George Wythe." A highly historical and important item. Mr. Jno. Sanderson, who published the lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, had written Mr. Jefferson for data respecting the life of Geo. Wythe, under whom Jefferson studied law, and these papers are Jefferson's polite and obliging answers. In the letter he eulogizes Wythe in the most affectionate terms, and in the manuscript notes he writes a short but most interesting biography of the man whom he venerated. I quote both the letter and note, as I feel they should he handed down to posterity. A more pleasing memento of the two great signers to the Declaration of Independence could not be had.
Page 155
458 Wythe, George. Signer of the Declaration of Independence. D. S. folio. May 20, 1766. Signed also by Robert Carter Nicholson [sic], Colonial Treasurer of Virginia; John Blair, Member of the Continental Congress; Thos⋅ Nelson, Signer of the Declaration of Independence; Wm⋅ Nelson, Richard Corbin, Robert Carter, Robert Burwell Thos⋅ Everard, and Wm⋅ Pasteur. This is the bond of Robert Carter Nicholson as Treasurer of the Colony of Virginia. The signature of Geo. Wythe is his very early small and neat signature; that of Jno. Blair is very rare. The document is very interesting as containing the signatures of two Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and a member of the Continental Congress (Jno. Blair), which is seldom met with.
See also
- Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence
- Notes for the Biography of George Wythe
- Treasurer's bond, 10 April 1767
References
- ↑ The Great Autograph Sale Belonging to Sir Stephen Coleridge, of London, Mr. Henry Goldsmith, of New York, Mr. Louis Anteuil, of Canada, &c. ... : To Be Sold Thursday Afternoon and Evening, July 1st, 1920, (Stan V. Henkels (Firm): Philadelphia: 1920).
- ↑ Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence, ed. John Sanderson (Philadelphia: R.W. Pomeroy, 1823)
- ↑ John N. Lupia, III, "Henkels, Stanisalus Vincent," Encyclopedic Dictionary of Numismatic Biographies, accessed April 25, 2018.
External links
- Read this book at the Internet Archive.
