Lot 34
Constitution of the United States
Complete Constitution Signers' Set! ALL 39 Signers Represented within Remarkable Collection including Washington, Hamilton, Franklin, Madison!
A stupendous collection of autographs representing 39 of 39 Constitutional Convention signers! (40 signatures total, including Constitutional Convention Secretary William Jackson, who is usually not counted among this tally.) The collection, housed in a black archival-quality folder with transparent sleeves, consists of autographed letters signed, letters signed, and documents signed by Constitution Signers before, during, and after the signing of the U.S. Constitution, circa 1752-1835. Condition varies, with expected toning, paper folds, and isolated professional repairs, but all in generally very good to near fine. The autographs provide us with a cross-section of the personal and professional lives of the Constitution signers--before they entered the history books!
Also including a glossy color reproduction of "The Signing of the Constitution," originally painted by artist Thomas P. Rossiter (1818-1871), stamped with an Independence National Historical Park mark verso.
The U.S. Constitution was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The four-month-long convention was attended by 55 delegates from 12 of 13 states (Rhode Island did not send any). Of these delegates, only 39 signed the working draft of the Constitution.
Our collection represents all signers from Connecticut (2); Delaware (5); Georgia (2); Maryland (3); Massachusetts (2); New Hampshire (2); New Jersey (4); New York (1); North Carolina (3); Pennsylvania (8); South Carolina (4); and Virginia (3). In addition, we have an autograph letter signed by Constitutional Convention William Jackson, originally from South Carolina, but not representing any delegation at the Convention.
Signers in Alphabetical Order
Baldwin, Abraham
Bassett, Richard
Bedford, Gunning, Jr.
Blair, John
Blount, William
Brearley, David
Broom, Jacob
Butler, Pierce
Carroll, Daniel
Clymer, George
Dayton, Jonathan
Dickinson, John
Few, William
Fitzsimons, Thomas
Franklin, Benjamin
Gilman, Nicholas
Gorham, Nathaniel
Hamilton, Alexander
Ingersoll, Jared
Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas
Johnson, William Samuel
King, Rufus
Langdon, John
Livingston, William
Madison, James, Jr.
McHenry, James
Mifflin, Thomas
Morris, Gouverneur
Morris, Robert
Paterson, William
Pinckney, Charles
Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth
Read, George
Rutledge, John
Sherman, Roger
Spaight, Richard Dobbs
Washington, George
Williamson, Hugh
Wilson, James
*Also, William Jackson, Constitutional Convention Secretary
Signers in Order by State
Connecticut
William Samuel Johnson
Roger Sherman
Delaware
Richard Bassett
Gunning Bedford, Jr.
Jacob Broom
John Dickinson
George Read
Georgia
Abraham Baldwin
William Few
Maryland
Daniel Carroll
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
James McHenry
Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King
New Hampshire
Nicholas Gilman
John Langdon
New Jersey
David Brearley
Jonathan Dayton
William Livingston
William Paterson
New York
Alexander Hamilton
North Carolina
William Blount
Richard Dobbs Spaight
Hugh Williamson
Pennsylvania
George Clymer
Thomas Fitzsimons
Benjamin Franklin
Jared Ingersoll
Thomas Mifflin
Gouverneur Morris
Robert Morris
James Wilson
South Carolina
Pierce Butler
Charles Pinckney
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
John Rutledge
Virginia
John Blair
James Madison, Jr.
George Washington
*Also, William Jackson, Constitutional Convention Secretary
Below is a brief itemization of the contents of this remarkable collection:
1. Baldwin, Abraham, Georgia
Extremely rare Constitution signer. July 10, 1780 document signed regarding Chaplain Baldwin's purchase of a beaver hat, around the same time Benedict Arnold prepared to assume command of West Point.
2. Bassett, Richard, Delaware
August 30, 1771 2x signed legal document all in the hand of Bassett. Provenance: Swann Galleries, 1977
3. Bedford, Gunning, Jr., Delaware
Document signed bearing multiple dates in the 1780s (including Revolutionary War dates), regarding gold and silver payments for war debts. Includes many other notable signatories.
4. Blair, John, Virginia
February 9, 1791 autograph letter signed addressed to United States Treasurer Samuel Meredith, ordering that Dr. James Taylor be paid. Boldly inscribed and endorsed verso. Accompanied by a portrait print.
5. Blount, William, North Carolina
July 23, 1795 important document signed as Governor of the Ohio Territory. Addressed to David Henley in the War Department regarding the payment of troops "for the defensive protection of the frontiers."
6. Brearley, David, New Jersey
January 16, 1775 document signed regarding a civil court case. Accompanied by a scarce and superb partly printed $4 note in beautiful condition signed by as "D. Brearley."
7. Broom, Jacob, Delaware
Extraordinarily rare January 11, 1803 autograph letter signed addressed to Nehemiah Tilton. A superb example. Provenance: Ex Sang
8. Butler, Pierce, South Carolina
September 17, 1799 autograph letter signed from Philadelphia regarding land in South Carolina. Very attractive.
9. Carroll, Daniel, Maryland
Undated document signed, a Washington City Canal Lottery ticket, signed "Danl Carroll."
10. Clymer, George, Pennsylvania
Undated autograph letter signed addressed to his relative Henry Clymer, with interesting family content, signed as "GC" at bottom right.
11. Dayton, Jonathan, New Jersey
November 19, 1821 autograph letter signed from "Elizabeth town," New Jersey, regarding Congressional committee recommendations.
12. Dickinson, John, Delaware
November 15, 1783 partially printed document signed regarding payment for a Major in the Pennsylvania Line, co-signed by John Nicholson. Provenance: Ex Sang
13. Few, William, Georgia
1776 colonial note for one shilling and six pence signed as "WFew" at center. In extremely fine condition and mounted within Paper Money Guaranty slab. Incredibly scarce.
14. Fitzsimons, Thomas, Pennsylvania
August 2, 1798 2pp autograph letter signed regarding creditors and banking matters.
15. Franklin, Benjamin, Pennsylvania
July 20, 1786 document signed directing a commission. With an absolutely huge and perfect signature. Accompanied by a portrait print.
16. Gilman, Nicholas, New Hampshire
July 8, 1790 autograph letter signed addressed to John Sullivan and mentioning "Mr. Whipple." Accompanied by a portrait print.
17. Gorham, Nathaniel, Massachusetts
March 16, 1795 autograph letter signed regarding financial matters and the transfer of a sizable sum of $1,550.
18. Hamilton, Alexander, New York
August 14, 1784 letter signed regarding financial matters relating to Hamilton's extended family.
19. Ingersoll, Jared, Pennsylvania
October 13, 1788 attractive autograph letter signed from Philadelphia regarding legal matters. Also a September 29, 1787 autograph letter signed regarding the same. Accompanied by a portrait print.
20. Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, Maryland
May 16, 1785 autograph letter signed from Philadelphia regarding financial matters. Accompanied by a portrait print.
21. Johnson, William Samuel, Connecticut
October 24, 1788 boldly signed letter addressed to Oliver Wolcott, Jr. regarding payments to Captain Tomlinson. Accompanied by a portrait print.
22. King, Rufus, Massachusetts
January 12, 1802 important autograph letter signed from London discussing the Treaty of 1794. A superb 1p example addressed to former Secretary of State John Jay. Accompanied by a portrait print.
23. Langdon, John, New Hampshire
February 12, 1806 darkly penned autograph letter signed "relative to amendments to the Constitution of the United States, proposed by the states of Kentucky, North Carolina, and Massachusetts…" Accompanied by a portrait print.
24. Livingston, William, New Jersey
November 20, 1789 excellent partially printed folio signed document with seal appointing Nehemiah Wade. Also a fascinating 1785 victualer's bill entitled "Governor Livingstons Bill" itemizing expenditure for grog, bitters, brandy, punch, porter, port wine, etc. Accompanied by a portrait print.
25. Madison, James, Jr., Virginia
October 11, 1835 letter signed from Montpelier with fantastic content regarding the temperance issue. Accompanied by a portrait print.
26. McHenry, James, Maryland
August 1, 1797 letter signed as Secretary of War, boldly signed, with military content.
27. Mifflin, Thomas, Pennsylvania
June 9, 1797 autograph letter signed awarding a commission as Justice of the Peace. Accompanied by a portrait print.
28. Morris, Gouverneur, Pennsylvania
A fantastic addition to any collection of Morrisiana. April 3, 1787 document signed relating to a land deed in the South Bronx.
29. Morris, Robert, Pennsylvania
April 18, 1795 document signed. A North American Land Company bond issued to William Temple Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's grandson.
30. Paterson, William, New Jersey
October 1, 1796 partially printed document signed by Paterson, whose name was crossed out by his successor, Robert Howell.
31. Pinckney, Charles, South Carolina
October 13, 1791 2pp folio indenture signed by Pinckney as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of South Carolina. Also signed by other members of the Pinckney family. Provenance: Ex Luhrs, Lincoln Library, Walter Benjamin, 1950.
32. Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth, South Carolina
March 31, 1815 autograph letter signed from Pinckney Island. Fantastic content relating to the War of 1812 and the enemy's approach. Accompanied by a portrait print.
33. Read, George, Delaware
July 14, 1752 superb handwritten colonial document regarding the collection of debts signed as "George Read Clk." Accompanied by a portrait print.
34. Rutledge, John, South Carolina
November 13, 1770 partially printed document signed regarding an unresolved financial matter between two gentlemen of "Charles Town."
35. Sherman, Roger, Connecticut
October 1774 sessions document signed for the General Assembly at New Haven, also signed by fellow Connecticut delegate and Constitution signer William Samuel Johnson. Audited and bearing the date of May 13, 1776, only weeks before the Declaration of Independence.
36. Spaight, Richard Dobbs, North Carolina
December 13, 1785 letter signed agreeing to an amendment to a Bill. Accompanied by a portrait print.
37. Washington, George, Constitutional Convention President, Virginia
October 18, 1787 document signed regarding payment for work on the Potomac Company. Accompanied by a portrait print.
38. Williamson, Hugh, North Carolina
December 14, 1790 autograph letter signed. Interesting content regarding the facial characteristics of children. Provenance: Ex Swann Galleries, 1977.
39. Wilson, James, Pennsylvania
October Term 1773, document signed from Cumberland County. Also a July Term 1776 document signed from the same place. Accompanied by a portrait print.
*40. Jackson, William, Constitutional Convention Secretary
Very rare November 21, 1791 war-dated autograph letter signed from Bilbao, Spain regarding: returning to America; an incident involving an American ship firing upon a Spanish sloop; and receiving correspondence from Mr. Johnson. Mentions Declaration of Independence signer Thomas McKean.
Provenance: Ex Walter Benjamin. Accompanied by a portrait print.
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