Description:

California Gold Rush
n.p., August 4, 1913
CA Gold Rush Document Signed by Anne Augusta Slauson Merritt, Self-Proclaimed Last Living Witness To 1st CA Gold Deposit at U.S. Mint, Philadelphia
Signed print
A fascinating print related to the California Gold Rush, signed at its conclusion by Anne Augusta Slauson Merritt (attr. 1832-1917), the self-proclaimed last living witness to the first deposit of California Gold Rush funds made at the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia in August 1849. Merritt has signed her original manuscript account, here printed, at bottom as: "Anne Augusta Slauson Merritt / August 4th 1913." Framed behind glass in its original mahogany veneer and gilt-trimmed frame. Not examined out of the frame. Exhibiting expected wear including toning and isolated surface loss and edge chipping to the frame. A former collector has pen-inscribed the frame backing. Else near fine. The sight size of the signed document is 11.25" x 10.25" while the overall frame size is 12.25" x 11.275" x .75."

Anne Augusta Slauson Merritt wrote this affidavit entitled "The First Gold Taken to the United States Mint from California." In it, Merritt describes how she had accompanied her brother, Albert Slauson (1812-1892), an employee of a New York City-based wholesale grocery concern named Snyder, Reed & Company, to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia in August 1849. The pair was carrying what they thought was the first batch of California Gold Rush-mined money, later assayed at a value of $8,000, which had been a payment from California in exchange for a shipment of flour.

The document reads in part:

"…This was The First Gold brought from the Mines to New York, and The First Gold taken to the Mint from the Mines…

My brother, Albert Slauson, a member of the firm of Snydem, Reed & Company, and I, took a steamboat that started from the front of the store of the Company at about noon. We had dinner on the boat, during which the purser took charge of the bag containing the gold. This was the only time it was out of sight of my brother or myself until we reached the Mint. When we got to Perth Amboy, we took the train for Camden, and reached Philadelphia late in the afternoon… The regulations in regard to permitting hackmen on the boat were very strict; but Brother assured the man that he should not be arrested or troubled in any way if he would come and get the bag. Of course he did not know the contents…

My adventure as a-carrier-of-gold was ended.

I am the only one living who went with the first lot of gold to the Mint from California…"

Anne Augusta Slauson Merritt (often known as just Augusta) was probably born (her birth date is disputed) in Norton Hill, Greene County, New York to parents Nathaniel and Hannah (Griffen) Slauson. She was a Daughter of the American Revolution by way of paternal grandfather Major Ebenezer Slauson. She married Richard Fish Merritt in 1857. She outlived her fellow "carrier-of-gold" brother Albert by at least 20 years.

There are at least two rival claims for gold-delivering primacy. David Carter delivered gold from San Francisco via the isthmus to the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia in December 1848. Lieutenant Lucien Loeser was immediately dispatched by the military governor of California Territory after the Sutter's Mill discovery to Washington, D.C. and then Philadelphia to assay some of the first available gold specimens. Loeser's delivery led to the production of the first limited edition batch of gold Quarter Eagles ($2.50 denomination) marked with a "Cal." abbreviation in 1848.

Although there is some controversy concerning Merritt's claim that the California gold shipment she helped escort was the first to reach the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, what is not in doubt is that she was one of the very first people, and to our knowledge the only woman, to be involved in such an exciting event.

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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  • Dimensions: framed:
  • Medium: Signed print

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