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James Madison Letter Signed Twice...
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Description
James Madison Letter Signed Twice "James Madison." One page, 8" x 10", Washington, D.C.; February 8, 1804. A highly important letter, with a second franking signature by Madison as Secretary of State, regarding a change in payment terms for the Louisiana Purchase. Addressed to James Sheafe, former Federalist Senator from New Hampshire, who, with other Federalists of New England, briefly considered secession from the United States due to the loss of northern power following the Louisiana Purchase. Letter reads in full:"Sir, In answer to your letter of the 13th ult. I have to inform you, that instructions have been transmitted to Paris calculated to promote a modification, if possible, of the Convention of the 30th of April last, so as to divide the sum payable under it more equally among the claims, than may happen from its operation in its present form." Signed at the conclusion of the letter, with Madison's additional free franked signature on second leaf, serving as an address panel. The letter is housed in a custom clamshell case with marbled boards, one-fifth leather and gilt tooling on spine with raised bands.
When James Monroe and Robert Livingston were dispatched to Paris for negotiations to purchase New Orleans, they were authorized by President Thomas Jefferson to pay $10 million for the city. They quickly agreed, however, to Napoleon's offer for not only New Orleans, but also an 828,000 square mile territory, for the sum of $15 million. The land extended up into Canada and doubled the size of the United States. The United States put a down payment of $3 million in gold, with the remaining $2 million to be financed in bonds. Sheafe's interest in the purchase likely came from the desire to void it as a valid Treaty.
Condition: Flattened mail folds, with tape repairs along the spine and folds on verso. Some separations still occur at folds. Light toning and foxing. Some paper loss at top of address panel from where the seal was broken.
Auction Info
2020 April 22 Historical Manuscripts Signature Auction - Dallas #6223 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2020
22nd
Wednesday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
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