LOT #47168 |
Current Bid: $2,500
George Washington Printed Dinner Invitation Engrossed to Benjamin Bourne with Related Materials....
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Description
George Washington Printed Dinner Invitation Engrossed to Benjamin Bourne with Related Materials. A partially printed dinner invitation on cardstock, 4 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, engrossed in a secretarial hand to Benjamin Bourne, then serving as a member of the U. S. House of Representatives for Rhode Island. It reads, in full:"The President of the United States requests the Pleasure of Mr. Bourne (R. I.) Company to Dine, on Thursday next at 4 oClock. February 15th 1793. An answer is requested."
A pencil annotation on the verso reads, "Mrs. J. De W. Perry," presumably attributing prior ownership to the wife of Bishop James De Wolf Perry (1871-1947), who served as Bishop of Rhode Island from 1911 until his death.
We could find only two other exemplars of this printed invitation, the first being one described as a "Partly printed invitation card, accomplished in a secretarial hand" that sold at Swann Galleries in 2012 for $6000. The second example is at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon and was engrossed by President Washington. The invitation here was lifted from a ledger containing additional items all related to Rhode Island, including the letter and lottery ticket listed below.
Together with a three-page autograph letter dated January 19, 1792, from John Brown of Providence to Benjamin Bourne, discussing national politics, western land interests, and Bourne's role in Congress. Before entering federal politics, Brown was a prominent Providence merchant who founded Providence Bank, the first bank in Rhode Island, and organized the Providence South Bridge Company. In this letter, Brown urges Bourne to take decisive action against the British military occupation of U.S. territory and presses Bourne to use his influence in Congress to advance Federalist priorities, particularly the removal of British garrisons. In part:
"I wrote you some days past & urged your influence that the British should be Removed from the Territory of the United States as soone as possable, the Cursed Indian Warr is Ruennus [ruinous] and will Intirely put a stop to all Immigrations of New Settlers from Europe...I do very much fear the Directors of the Ohio Compy will not think it safe to meet you this winter...You did not anticipate your being appointed an Agent in the Ohio Business, perhaps you may blame me as much or more than aney other person for their appointment, but it was not Done to Imbarris you. I expect You'l give all preference to the Business of a Representative in Congress, only Give your Leasure Hours to the Ohio matters..."
In a lengthy postscript, Brown again emphasizes the necessity of removing British garrisons from U. S. Territories: "I cannot close this letter till I again urge in addition to what is said above Respecting the Removal of the British Garrisons clear of our Territoreys...The militia of all the adjascent Country to those Garrisons would if requested by Congress & prefaced with an Insinuation that those Garrisons were the sole cause of the Indian war, most certainly, the militia would as one move turn out & surround every British Garrison within our territoreys, & intirely prevent their havg aney further supply, till they would cappittulate & leave our Territoreys. If the President is too old or his Blood much chil'd to put him self foremost in the Removing the s'd British Garrison pray Sr...do put your Self forward in their business." With integral address panel on the verso, marked "free" at the top right.
Also included is a Rhode Island lottery ticket, "No. 4219," entitling "the Possessor to such Prize as may drawn against its Number, in a Lottery granted by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, &c. at October Session, 1785, to William West, Esq; of Scituate, for the Disposal of certain Tracts of Land, and Stock."
Condition: Invitation quite toned with very minor edgewear; pinhole at top edge; a few light stains to the verso. Lottery ticket with minor creasing and toning at right edge. Letter with occasional insect damage and loss at right edge measuring approximately 2 1/2 x 2 inches, affecting some text.
Auction Info
2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction #6328 (go to Auction Home page)
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February
26th
Thursday
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26th
Thursday
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