Description:

Benjamin Tallmadge Signed 3rd Person Promissory Note, With JSA COA

A promissory note was written in the hand of former Continental spymaster Benjamin Tallmadge (1754-1835), signed by him in the third person as "Benja. Tallmadge" on the second line of text recto. Counter-signed by the debtor John Platt and witness David Platt near the bottom. Inscribed on either side of cream-laid paper, with a revenue stamp reading "Ten Cents / Connecticut" embossed at the upper left. Docketed verso. Expected paper flaws including even toning, minor paper folds, and isolated stains or pencil inscriptions, else near fine and very legible. The paper fragment measures 7.5" x 4.375" and is currently housed in a slab measuring 8.125" x 6.25." Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from James Spence Authentication, certification number XX58151, dated June 6, 2022. Also comes with a matted display showing Tallmadge's portrait after Ezra Ames at left, and a high-quality reproduction of a September 1780 letter from George Washington mentioning Culper, Jr. of the Culper Spy Ring on the right, both printed on glossy photo paper. Measures 10" x 8."

In full:

"$400
For Value Recd. I John Platt, of Washington,
promise to pay Benja. Tallmadge of Litchfield,
four hundred Dollars, on Demand with the lawful
Interest from this 11th Day of March 1799 -
Witness my hand -
[signed] John Platt
In presence of
[signed] David Platt.

[verso]

John Platts
Note $400
March 11:1799."

Benjamin Tallmadge's debtor John Platt hailed from Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut, approximately twelve miles southwest of Litchfield, Connecticut, where Tallmadge was then town postmaster. Platt was almost certainly John Platt (1752-1833), born in Redding, Connecticut, who owned a horse tavern in Washington, Connecticut after 1792. A Platt family history states that John Platt had been taken prisoner at Fort Lee in 1776. John Platt had a son named David Platt (b. 1778), who was probably the witness to this promissory note. For more information, see Charles Platt, Jr., "Platt Genealogy in America: From the Arrival of Richard Platt in New Haven, Connecticut in 1638" (New Hope, Pennsylvania: 1963), p. 87.

Benjamin Tallmadge, who graduated from Yale University in 1773 along with classmate Nathan Hale, was commissioned an officer of the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons in Spring of 1776. Tallmadge is most closely associated with the Culper Spy Ring which operated out of southern Connecticut, Long Island, and New York City between 1778-1783. The most significant piece of military intelligence garnered by Tallmadge's agents was the revelation that Continental General Benedict Arnold was in communication with British Major John André. Tallmadge later served as the postmaster of Litchfield, Connecticut from ca. 1792-1801, and as a U.S. Congressman representing Connecticut's at-large district from 1801-1817.

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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November 2, 2022 11:00 AM EDT
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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
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$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000