Letter signed by Founding Fathers could get $1M at auction
A Rare Letter Signed by Three U.S. Founding Fathers to be Auctioned
A rare letter signed by three of the U.S. Founding Fathers of the United States is set to go on sale, with expectations of fetching up to US$1 million when it goes under the hammer next week.
The letter, bearing the signatures of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, is addressed to the “Envoy Extraordinary of the King of the Two Sicilies” and seeks negotiations for a treaty of amity and commerce, as stated by Bonhams, the auction house handling the sale.
Described as “an important expression of the emerging American policy of free trade,” the letter is believed to be the only available example of a letter signed by all three Founding Fathers who were instrumental in the Declaration of Independence.
Dating back to 1784, the letter was written at a crucial time for America, post-independence, when the future success of the new nation was uncertain.
In 1784, Congress tasked Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson with establishing treaties with 20 other nations to strengthen America’s global position.
Bonhams notes that these treaties of ‘Amity and Commerce’ were crucial in reshaping international politics, setting the foundation for a trade-based system before the enactment of the Federal Constitution.
Bidding for the letter will commence at $550,000, with expectations of reaching up to $1 million at the auction scheduled for Nov. 12.
Historical Items Linked to Founding Fathers in High Demand
Objects and artifacts associated with the founding fathers often attract significant interest at auctions, drawing in substantial bids.
In 2017, manuscripts, personal letters, and various documents from Alexander Hamilton’s desk were sold for a total of $2.6 million at Sotheby’s in New York.
Additionally, history enthusiasts will have the opportunity to bid on other historic items, such as a lock of George Washington’s hair, at an upcoming sale organized by New York-based Guernsey’s auction house on November 22.
