2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/21/2024
(PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON) (1751-1836), Founding Father who served as the 4th President of the United States (1809 to 1817); hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. December 1st (c.1819 or earlier) Federal Period, President James Madison Dinner Invitation, original, Partly-Printed, not signed, no date, measuring about 4.5" x 3", Very Fine or better. Formally printed with its design in script, from a Hand-Engraved Copper Plate on a tan Cardstock, fully completed with manuscript text in bold dark ink. This Invitation reads, in full: "The President requests the favor of Baron Stackelberg's Company at dinner, on Friday next, 1 of December at 5 O'Clock. / The favor of an answer is requested". Baron Stackelberg was the Swedish Charge d'Affaires at Washington in 1819, it is possible they met earlier, here Madison refers to himself as "President". Provenance: From the James Madison papers, offered for sale in 1894 by E. B. Sterling (Edward Boker Sterling), 1851-1925, a stamp, coin and autograph dealer of Trenton, NJ. A far more simple typeset printed dinner invitation sold at auction for $717 in a 2022 Americana auction. This current example was printed from a Hand-Engraved Copper Plate, not typeset, and is far more ornate in its presentation. Includes the original paper folder for this item indicating an asking price of $1.00, with Sterling's hand-stamp remains barely visible at bottom. Rare. (2 Items)
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