A collection of eight pieces of the correspondence of Thomas Jefferson, ranging from a one-page note concerning payment to the contractor hired to build a greenhouse at Monticello to a letter discussing the Lewis and Clark expedition, was offered for auction by Sotheby's in New York June 20th.
The papers were sold as part of a larger sale of fine books and manuscripts with an emphasis on Americana, Selby Kiffer senior vice president of books and manuscripts for the auction house said.
The letters, which fetched between $2,700 and $48,000 were sold anonymously to private American collectors he said.
The letters offer a valuable look into the diplomatic history of the young nation, History Prof. J.C.A. Stagg said.
"They're all talking about the significance of the United States working out its neutrality in an age of war," said Stagg. "They keep constantly bumping up against problems which threaten to involve them in war."
The documents repeatedly refer to United States' ambition to remain neutral in the face of European conflict, as in a 1793 letter to a French diplomat warning him that French Privateers' attempts to bring British ships into American waters to have their cargo's distributed would result in "submission to such prosecutions and punishments as the laws may prescribe may prescribe for the case."
Additionally, the letters show the difficulties inherent in implementing federalism in the new country, Stagg said.
"[The letters] also show that it's a problem of working out the jurisdiction between Federal and State governments," Stagg said.
The situation described in a letter dated July 12, 1792 from then Secretary of State Jefferson to the United States Attorney General Edmund Randolph, in which Jefferson directs Randolph to inform state governments that their agents must act in accordance with international standards of diplomatic immunity reveals a post constitutional shift in power from state to national governments, Stagg said.
"I suspect the real significance of this is indicated by its happening shortly after the adoption of the constitution," he said.
Jefferson's task "was to get Americans to understand the implications of federalism for diplomacy" Stagg added.
While the papers presented at last weeks auction are illuminating, they are not particularly rare, said Kiffer.
"Since the year 2000 roughly 45 letters [authored by Jefferson] have sold at auction of varying degrees of importance and value," he said.
For a collector who wants only an example of Jefferson's signature, the availability is even greater, he added.
"Signed items are less valuable but still collectible," he said.
Though several of the letters failed to sell, including a lengthy letter describing the Lewis and Clark expedition that was expected to bring $400,000-$600,000, Kiffer said it was not indicative of a lessened interest in Jefferson artifacts, noting that a similar letter sold in December of 2002 for $1,439,500 setting a new auction record for any American presidential letter.
Read More
Honor Committee to host annual international student outreach event
By Lexie Stadler | YesterdayWill Hancock, vice chair for the undergraduate community and third-year College student, has led planning for the outreach event, which will host informal student discussions on academic integrity.
School of Engineering and Applied Science hosts third annual Engineering Expo
By Lauren Seeliger | YesterdayPart of a long slate of annual Family Weekend programming, the expo was organized to highlight undergraduate research.
University Launches Public Safety and Justice Center
By Lidia Zur Muhlen | YesterdayThe programs that are part of the center include a Master of Public Safety degree, as well as dual credit programs with the FBI National Academy, FBI Elevate and National Criminal Justice Command College.
