$1,260
Estimate: $400 - $600
The Alexander Hamilton Collection of John E. Herzog
Auction: October 25, 2021 11:00:00 AM EDT
Tobias Lear writes to Alexander Hamilton on behalf of President George Washington
(Philadelphia, ca. 1789-92). One sheet folded to make four pages, 9 x 7 in. (229 x 178 mm). Autograph letter, signed by Lear, as Secretary to President George Washington, written to Alexander Hamilton, as first Secretary of the Treasury: "The President sees no objection to com-/plying with the wish of the Supervisor of/Massachusetts to come to Philadelphia on/his private business, if there is no proba-/bility of the public service being injured/by his absence from his district..." Addressed on verso to "Col. Hamilton"; docketed on verso, possibly in Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Tench Coxe's hand: "Tobias Lear Esq/Sec, to the President/For Mr Coxe." Separated along center fold; creasing from original folds; some edges chipping; separations along creases; three small separations along left side, possibly from a previous mount; small later printed portrait of Hamilton mounted to letter, not affecting MS.
Spink-Smythe, Nov 2, 1999, lot 386