Lot 386

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Description:

George Washington ALS Written from Mt. Vernon on the Eve of Retirement, Addressed to Rev War Veteran in Shepherdstown, WV (Which had Once Unsuccessfully Lobbied to Become the New Federal Capital)

A 1p autograph letter signed by 1st U.S. President George Washington (1732-1799) as "Go Washington" in the lower right corner. Written at Mount Vernon, Washington's home in northeastern Virginia, on October 12, 1796. The letter is handsomely displayed in a floating mount below a color print of Washington holding a sword and surrounded by books after the original painting by Alonzo Chappel. Further ornamented with two engraved name plates. Overall toning. Water stains along the bottom mostly affect "obedient Servt" but the signature is dark, legible, and more than acceptable. Matted and framed behind glass. Not examined out of the frame. The sight size of the document is 7.375" x 6" while the overall framed size is 15.75" x 23.75" x 1.375." Provenance information is included and further discussed below.

This exact letter is included among digitized records of Washington's correspondence accessible via the National Archives Founders Online collection. There, we learn that Washington addressed this letter to one Joseph Swearingen (also known as Joseph Van Swearingen) (1754-1821), a Revolutionary War veteran living in "Shepherds Town," today's Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Washington wrote in full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

"Mount Vernon 12th Oct 1796

Gentlemen,

I give you the trouble of communicating the answer (here with sent) to the address from the Inhabitants of Shepherds Town and its vicinity. - I pray you, at the sametime, to accept my thanks for the obliging and (for me) flattering matter, in which you have expressed their Sentiments. - With esteem & regard

I am Gentlemen

Your obedient Servt

Go Washington."

From the same source, we also know that Washington originally enclosed a second letter within the packet destined for Swearingen (not included here), thanking the townspeople for their well-wishes on the eve of his retirement. In part: "Equally persuaded am I that no inconvenience will result from my retreat to the walks of private life…" (An entire transcript of that enclosure is included within the provenance materials.)

In October 1796, George Washington was eagerly anticipating his retirement from presidential duties. Indeed, he had not wanted to serve a second term in 1792, and everyone agreed he deserved a rest from the rigors of public life. Washington's decision not to run for a third term established the two-term limit for presidential terms, and also the tradition of achieving a peaceful transfer of political power. James Madison as early as 1792, and later Alexander Hamilton, each helped Washington write a Farewell Address to the American people. It was published in advance of Washington's official retirement in March 1797, in David Claypoole's Pennsylvania daily newspaper the "American Daily Advertiser" on September 19, 1796. The announcement of Washington's retirement, then, had inspired the "flattering" missive sent by Shepherdstown inhabitants.

Shepherdstown and nearby Sharpsburg, located in the eastern panhandle of modern day West Virginia, had unsuccessfully lobbied to become the site of the nation's future capital in just a few years earlier, after President Washington and Congress had announced their search for a new seat of government in 1790. The Shepherdstown area was in a desirable, centralized location on the Potomac River, and was also near Washington's landholdings and home at Charles Town. Philadelphia was ultimately chosen to serve as the capital for a 10-year-term.

President Washington's correspondent Joseph Swearingen was a Virginia militiaman who eventually attained the rank of Captain. His substantial military service--accounts vary as to how long he served--made him eligible to receive a Revolutionary War veteran's land grant in 1783, according to the National Conservation Training Center website affiliated with the Shepherdstown branch of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Provenance

The lot comes with supporting documentation including:

1. A transcript of the second letter originally enclosed with our framed letter.

2. A Certificate of Authenticity, No. 6156, signed by John Reznikoff of University Archives dated December 7, 2004.

3. Original catalog descriptions of the piece.

4. A receipt dated November 30, 2004 showing that this piece was purchased for $15,000.

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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