Description:

Harrison William 1773 - 1841 Midway through the shortest Presidential Administration in American history, William Henry Harrison signs an extremely rare U.S. Marshal's appointment as President, one of only two known extant, with a dark, crisp signature - the finest example we have ever seen!

Partly-printed Document Signed "W. H. Harrison," as President, 1 page, 15.5" x 10.75" on parchment, Washington, March 15, 1841, countersigned, "Danl. Webster," as Secretary of State, appointing Clark Robinson as a U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of New York. Expected folds, extremely minor toning (mentioned only for accuracy), professionally conserved, and in superb condition.

This is the cleanest example of a Harrison Document Signed as President, and likely the finest one obtainable.

An extremely rare document signed during his short (32 day) tenure in office, which reads in part, "William Henry Harrison, President of the United States of America...Know ye, That, reposing special trust & confidence in the Integrity, Ability & diligence of Clark Robinson Do Appoint Him Marshal of the United States, in & for the Northern District of New York and do authorize & empower him to execute & fulfill the duties of that Office according to Law..."

The appointee, Clark Robinson, became notorious in January 1844 when he was exposed as the mastermind the "Pomeroy's Express Robbery." In December 1843, a locked trunk, containing over $46,000 in cash and bank notes was discovered missing from the steamboat intended to deliver it to Albany, New York. In early January, the authorities in New York City arrested the robber, a German man, who committed suicide while in custody. Meanwhile in Albany, a Syracuse hotelier, Philo Rust, who had been accused of helping plot the robbery, implicated Clark as the mastermind of the caper and was forced to forfeit his office. (Vermont Phoenix, Brattleboro, Dec. 22, 1843, 3; Boston Traveler, Jan. 16, 1844, 2; Newark Daily Advertiser, New Jersey, Jan. 8, 1844, 2; Albany Argus, Jan. 30, 1844, 4; New York Herald, Dec. 1, 1844, 3)

Extremely Rare. This is one of the finest examples of a document signed by Harrison as President we have encountered in some time. We are aware of only one other U.S. Marshal's appointment signed by Harrison as President (Sotheby's, New York, October 31, 1984, Lot 115). This item realized an incredible price of $41,250 at a time when a fine George Washington letter was selling for $3000 and a standard Lincoln commission at $600-700.

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$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000