Description:

John Armstrong
Paris, France, ca. June [1805]
J. Armstrong Scarce Signed Louisiana Purchase Bill of Exchange
PPDS
A rare Louisiana Purchase-related Bill of Exchange signed at lower right by John Armstrong as "John Armstrong", 1p, 7.25" x 5.25", Paris, France, June [1805]. Endorsements at verso. Burnt at right edge which affects a few letters of printed and manuscript text and only the "g" of Armstrong's signature. Age toning and discoloration, with blue ink stains at verso showing through to recto. Expected folds and creases. A few scattered pinholes. Else in good condition, this document remains a rare survival, as only a few are known.

Bill of Exchange No. 409 authorizes payment to Joseph Russell in the amount of 16,191 francs, 33 centimes "in pursuance of a liquidation by the Government of France..." Besides being very uncommon, these bills of exchange illustrate one of the oddest aspects of the Louisiana Purchase: the United States ended up paying its own citizens for French-caused wartime damage! This was because a portion of the Louisiana Purchase was financed by the United States assuming French debts owed to U.S. citizens. These French debts were almost always indemnities for lost or damaged vessels, cargo, and crew commandeered by French privateers during the Quasi-War with France (July 1798-September 1800).

Signed on April 30, 1803 between France and the United States, terms of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty stipulated that a portion of the $15 million price would be paid via acquisition of French debt owed to American citizens, primarily for recompense of seized ships. Bills of exchange regarding the Louisiana Purchase are extremely rare, with 'An Illustrated History of U.S. Loans' published in 1988 documenting only a handful of surviving pieces.

John Armstrong (1758-1843) was an American soldier, diplomat and statesman who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, U.S. Senator from New York, and United States Secretary of War under President James Madison. After early education in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Armstrong studied at the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. He left Princeton in 1775 to join the fight in the Revolutionary War. After the war, he returned home to Carlisle and became an Original Member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati. Armstrong was United States Minister to France from 1804 to 1810.

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: 7.25" x 5.25"
  • Medium: PPDS

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