Description:

Tench Coxe Archive Incl. FOUR Signatures, & Mentioning Sec. of Treasury Alexander Hamilton

A collection of two free franked autograph letters, one signed, and a free franked printed circular, featuring a total of four complete signatures of Tench Coxe (1755-1824) as "Tench Coxe." The three pieces in this archive date from 1792-1793. Tench Coxe served as a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress in the late 1780s, and also served as the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury between September 1789-June 1792 under 1st U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.

The lot includes:

1. A 2pp autograph letter signed as "Tench Coxe" on the top of the second page, also including an integral address leaf free franked as "Tench Coxe" at lower left, dated March 2, 1792. Expected gentle wear including folds, wax seal loss, and a strip of old adhesive running along the vertical seam, else near fine. 7.375" x 9."

The two letters in this lot were both addressed to Reverend Jedidiah Morse (1761-1826), the Congregationalist minister of a Charlestown, Massachusetts church between 1789-1820. Morse was less celebrated for his preaching as for being the father of inventor Samuel F.B. Morse, and for his series of early textbooks on American geography.

In this letter, Coxe recommended that Morse consult a "Sketch of the Country from the head of Chessapeak to the Mohawk River, which you will find useful + instructive…" He also urged Morse to review "the reports of the Secy of the Treasury + other heads of Depts" to substantiate comments about local economies. Coxe's boss Alexander Hamilton (1755/57-1804) served as 1st U.S. Secretary of the Treasury between 1789-1795.

2. A 3pp autograph letter including an integral address leaf free franked as "Tench Coxe" at lower left, undated but ca. March 1792. Light paper folds, wax seal loss, and a strip of old adhesive running along the vertical seam, else near fine. 7.375" x 9."

Coxe continued offering Morse advice about his geography textbooks, citing Morse's intention to reissue his work "American Geography" originally published in 1789. Coxe chided Morse for some disparaging editorial comments he made about certain states: "I beg leave to remark that some feelings of pain, which I am sure you did not mean to excite, have been produced in the most worthy of people in some of the states upon which you have made remarks that place their states in a less respectable or serious point of view than they merit is proper. These things are often imputed (?) to local prejudices, which you and every rational man will I am sure study to avoid…"

3. A "Treasury Department" circular letter dated August 22, 1793 regarding the prize seizure of vessels and cargoes originating from American ports, free franked by Tench Coxe as "Tench Coxe" in the postage section of the integral address leaf. Expected wear including paper folds and isolated loss corresponding to the red wax seal. A strip of old adhesive running along the vertical seam, else near fine. 7.875" x 9.125."

The circular was addressed to Samuel Russell Gerry (1750-1807), a Revolutionary War veteran and merchant who was appointed Collector of Customs of Marblehead, Massachusetts in August 1790.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

November 10, 2021 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to [bp]% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions