2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/21/2024
EDWARD EVERETT (1794-1865). American politician, pastor, educator, diplomat, and orator from Massachusetts, he served as U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, the 15th Governor of Massachusetts, Minister to Great Britain, and United States Secretary of State, and Harvard University President. A great American Orator remembered for the dedication ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery in 1863, where he spoke for over two hours before President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous two-minute Gettysburg Address. July 6, 1826-Dated, Important Content Autograph Letter Signed, "Edward Everett" at Charlestown (Massachusetts), 1 page, measuring about 9.75" tall x 7.75" wide, with "Free" Franked Handwritten Integral Address Panel by Everett, Choice Very Fine. The Postal Address Panel reads, in full: "Free. - Edward Everett - Dr Thomas Sewall - Washington City." and has a round red postal date-stamp "BOSTON - JUN 6 - MS", along with a docket on the outer edge panel "Hon. E. Everett - July 6 1826". Typical transmittal folds, boldly penned in rich deep brown ink and signed twice "Edward Everett" in the FREE Frank and at the conclusion of this Letter which is on clean "S & A BUTLER - US" watermarked period wove paper. A truly remarkable, original historic Letter written and signed by Edward Everett, to the noted Doctor Thomas Sewall in Washington City (DC). Here, Everett sends a reply to prior correspondence and, most importantly, notifies Dr. Sewall that President John Adams had died on July 4th, being just two days prior. As previous "Founding Fathers" and comrades in the Revolutionary War era fight for the United States' Independence from Britain, then as later political rivals, and finally aging newly rejoined friends, the Death of both President JOHN ADAMS and President THOMAS JEFFERSON was miraculously occurring on the exact same day, July 4th, 1826, being on the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE on JULY 4, 1776. This remarkable occurance is considered to be one of the most "Romantic" ends to the historic American Revolutionary generation of Founding Fathers. This Amazing Content personal Letter reads, in full: "Winter - Hill Charlestown 6. July 1826. Dear Doctor, -- I yesterday received yours (letter) of the 21st June and immediately forwarded your letters. - I am extremely happy to hear that Mr Southland has received the appointment in the Institute: a better Choice could not have been made. - The capacious (sizable) of regret at my inability to perform, which the Members of the Institute were Kind Enough to make are very gratifying to me. I hope next write to be a more assiduous Member than I have been thus. - Old President Adams died on the afternoon of July 4th; as his friends could have wished, possessed of valor to the Last. - Mrs. E. (Everett) is very well - Thank you for your kind remembrance. - Ever Yours very truly -- (Signed) Edward Everett." Dr. Thomas Sewall (1786-1845) was an American doctor, writer and academic. He gained notoriety for being convicted of "body snatching" and later went on to become a professor. In August 1812, he graduated from Harvard Medical School and began practicing medicine. In 1819, he was arrested, charged, and found guilty of multiple counts of body snatching in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Forced to leave the state, he moved to Washington City to re-establish his career. In 1825 he became a founding faculty member of the Medical Department at Columbian College (which later became George Washington University), where he became a Professor of Anatomy.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.