Description:

Revolutionary War
Paris, France, ca. 1778-1783
Treaty of Amity & Commerce: Incredible Archive, 1778-1783, Nearly 200 Pages!
Archive

The official French printing of the first French-American treaty, "Traite d'amitié et de commerce conclu entre le Roi et les Étas-Unis de l'Amérique Septentrionale," or "Treaty of friendship and commerce concluded between the King and the United States of North America," 23pp, 8" x 10", Paris, France, February 6, 1778. Paris: De l'Imprimerie Royale, 1778. Title page with woodcut vignette of royal French arms. Folded, quired sheets, never sewn. Some creasing and wrinkling. Minor edge chipping. Age toning, more so to title and last pages. Scattered foxing. A small gouge at final page touches just a few letters, not affecting legibility. Ex-Sotheby's, 2023.

The Treaty of Amity and Commerce established formal diplomatic and commercial relations between the United States and France during the American Revolutionary War. It was signed on February 6, 1778, in Paris, by French diplomat Conrad-Alexandre Gérard (1729-1790) and American commissioners Benjamin Franklin (1707-1790), Arthur Lee (1740-1792), and Silas Deane (1738-1789). The treaty of amity and commerce, published herein, allied France and the United States in fighting the war against Great Britain. These were the first treaties negotiated by the United States, and the resulting alliance proved pivotal to American victory.

In part, translated from French: "Louis by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre: To all those who will see these present letters; Greetings. As our dear & beloved sir Conrad-Alexandre Gerard, Royal Trustee of the city of Strasbourg & Secretary of our Council of State, would have, by virtue of the full powers that we had given him for this purpose, concluded, agreed upon and signed on February 6 of this year 1778, with the gentlemen Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane & Arthur Lee, Deputies of the General Congress of the United States of North America, also provided with full powers, in good form, a Treaty of Friendship & Commerce, the content of which follows...There will be a firm, inviolable & universal peace, & a true & sincere friendship between the Most Christian King, his heirs and successors, and between the United States of America, as well as between the refugees of his Most Christian Majesty & those of the said states..."

Accompanied by a post-Revolution printing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between the Netherlands and the United States, "Tractaat van Vrundschap en Commercie tusschen haar Hoog Mogende de Staaten Generaal der Vereenigde Nederlanden, en de vereenigde Staaten van America," 35pp, 8.25" x 13.25". The Netherlands: Isaac Scheltus, 1783. Text in parallel columns of Dutch and English. Woodcut printer's device on title page; ornamental woodcut initials. Age toning and soiling, more so to title and last pages. Prior collector's pencil notations at upper right of title page. Upper blank corner torn from last leaf. Stab-sewn and laid into contemporary brown wrappers with four related fascicles similarly stab-sewn. Wrappers a little frayed at spine. Ex-Sotheby's, 2023.

The treaty with the Netherlands was signed on October 8, 1782, with the United States represented by John Adams (1735-1826). It was ratified by the Confederation Congress on January 3, 1783. With this treaty, the Netherlands became the second country, after France, to recognize the independence of the United States.

Also included is a printing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between the United States and Sweden, "Wänskaps och handels tractat emellan Hans Maj:t Konungen af Swerige och the Förente Staterne i Norra America," 43pp (unpaginated) on six sheets measuring 18" x 14.5", folded once horizontally, but not quired or cut. Printed in 1785 at the Royal Printing House in Stockholm. Text in parallel columns of Swedish and French, save for the text of the American ratification which appears in parallel columns of Swedish and English on the the final three pages. Very minor wear including light toning, separation at some folds, and a bit of slight edge curling. Faint pencil notations from a prior collector at top of title page.

The treaty was signed on April 3, 1783, in Paris, France, between the United States, represented by Benjamin Franklin (1707-1790), and the Kingdom of Sweden, represented by Swedish ambassador to the court of France, Count Gustaf Philip Creutz (1731-1785). It was ratified by Gustav III (1746-1792) at Stockholm Castle on May 23, 1783. The treaty officially established commercial relations between these two nations and was signed during the Revolutionary War. David Chambers Claypoole (1757-1849) printed a broadside of the treaty in Philadelphia in 1783, but it was not printed in Sweden until the present Stockholm edition of 1785.

Accompanying fascicles contain various extracts from the "Register der Resolutien van de Hoog Mogende Heeren Staaten Generaal der vereenigde Nederlanden," including: Extract, October 20, 1780, "Plan of a Treaty of Commerce to be entered into between their High Mightinesses the Estates of the Seven United States of Holland, and the 13 United States of North America," 48pp, 8.25" x 13", with text in parallel columns of Dutch and English; Extract, November 23, 1780, "Resolution of disapproval and condemnation of the actions of or on behalf of the Mayors of the City of Amsterdam, with regard to a negotiation with a Commissioner of the North American Congress," 8pp, 8.25" x 13"; Extract, May 21, 1782, detailing negotiations with John Adams, the text set in two columns, one of the original treaty text, the second with commentary and proposed revision, 24pp, 8" x 13"; and Extract, April 26, 1782, "A Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between their High Mightiness, the States General of the seven united Dutch Provinces, and the United States of America, namely New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia," 18pp, 8.25" x 13.25", evidently a final draft of the treaty, printed in a narrow column to allow ample margin for a reader's manuscript notes.

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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