Description:

Jefferson Davis Early Rare 1845 ALS Re: His Cotton Crops Yield

DAVIS, JEFFERSON. Autograph Letter Signed, “Jeffn. Davis”, 1p on a bifold sheet with integral address leaf, 8.5” x 10.75”, Brierfield, July 11, 1845. Docketing to verso, remnants of the red wax seal. Folds with minor paper loss at some intersections, scattered foxing, uneven toning, slight adhesive residue at edges, else near Fine condition.

Davis writes to his cotton factor in New Orleans, George E. Payne, in part, “I send you the balance of my crop being much less than expected. / The articles sent by you were entirely satisfactory and we are much obliged to you for your attention to our wants. / The rains are pushing the cotton too much to mud and as you know of all things that befall a crop that is the greatest evil.“

Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) was the first and only President of the Confederate States of America. He was a planter, politician, and soldier born in Kentucky and raised in Mississippi. Davis was heavily influenced by his oldest brother, Joseph E. Davis (1784-1870), who saw to it that he was well educated. Davis attended college in Kentucky at Transylvania before entering the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1824.

In 1845, just months before this letter was written, Davis married his second wife, Varina Howell, the young daughter of a prominent local family. The couple would have four sons and two daughters, though only their daughters lived until adulthood. That same year, Davis won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi. It was the only electoral success of his career; all his later posts would be appointed.

Brierfield Plantation was a large forced-labor cotton farm built in 1847 in Davis Bend, Mississippi, south of Vicksburg; it had previously been a part of Joseph Davis's much larger Hurricane plantation. The use of the plantation, with more than 1,000 acres, was given to Davis by his older brother, and it was here that Davis erected a large and comfortable home for his family.

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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