Description:

Thomas Jefferson ALS "Peace will grow out of the existing negotiations"

An insightful 1p autograph letter boldly signed by former 3rd U.S. President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) as "Th: Jefferson" at center, written using one of Jefferson's greatest inventions, the polygraph. Monticello, dated February 23, 1814. With flattened folds and light toning throughout, along with some contemporary ink stains. There are some separations at the folds and small edge tears. The mounting residue is present at the top edge on verso. 7.75" x 9.75." With a PSA LOA.

Jefferson was writing to his commission merchant, Patrick Gibson (ca. 1775–1827), an English tradesman who had immigrated to Richmond, Virginia in 1797, regarding the sale and purchase of goods during the War of 1812. Jefferson inquires about the prices of flour, corn, and other crops, hoping that sales might stabilize with when "peace will grow out of the existing negotiations."

In full:

"I must ask the favor of you to send me an hundred Dollars by the return of post, in small bills. We have been told here that flour has risen with you to 5 3/4 D but I know not how truly. Would not wish the sale of mine to be lost for a quarter dollar of difference. For altho' I think peace will grow out of the existing negotiations, it will not be in time to dispose of the crop now on hand, and I see no other prospect offering the hope of a fair price. My corn purchases are now at hand on the 1st of Mar. I shall have to draw on you for 200 D. and in April & May about the same seems will become due. Accept assurances of my great esteem and respect."

Letters written by Jefferson using polygraph are very, very scarce and we have only seen a few on the market in the last 40+ years. The polygraph operated by attaching a second pen at a prescribed distance away from the pen that Jefferson wrote with himself, thus enabling him to make an identical copy of the letter on a separate sheet of paper. (Please see the attached photo of a period polygraph included just for reference.) Letters written via polygraph are essentially written by Jefferson, because his hand movements made the exact same impressions on the extra sheet of paper. They are virtually indistinguishable from letters directly written by Jefferson, and look exactly the same as if they were not done by this method. One important factor suggests that this is a letter Jefferson executed by polygraph: the presence of Jefferson's docket verso, indicating it was a filed letter. Thus, we know that this copy of the letter was destined solely for Jefferson's records.

Upon establishing his own firm in Richmond, Gibson entered into a partnership with Jefferson's cousin, George Jefferson, becoming Gibson & Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson frequently employed the firm to handle his Richmond commissions from 1797 until 1820, and after George Jefferson’s death in July 1812, Gibson became one of Jefferson's most prolific correspondents.

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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