ADAMS, John (1735-1826). FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). JAY, John (1745-1829). Document signed ("John Adams"), ("B. Franklin"), ("John Jay"), Paris, 28 May 1783. 3 pages, folio, slight spotting along one crease, "GR" with crown and "Pro Patria" watermarks .
ADAMS, John (1735-1826). FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). JAY, John (1745-1829). Document signed ("John Adams"), ("B. Franklin"), ("John Jay"), Paris, 28 May 1783. 3 pages, folio, slight spotting along one crease, "GR" with crown and "Pro Patria" watermarks . THE RARE COMBINATION OF THE SIGNATURES OF ADAMS, FRANKLIN AND JAY ON A SENSITIVE DOCUMENT DURING FINAL TREATY TALKS WITH GREAT BRITIAN OFFICIAL AUTHORIZATION BY THE AMERICAN DELEGATION TO SEND HENRY LAURENS TO LONDON TO RAISE £100,000, "with all the Secrecy & Prudence which the delicate Circumstances of attempting to borrow Money in that Country at this period evidently requires." Ferdinand Grand, the Americans' banking representative in Paris, reported to Franklin, Adams and Jay that "the amount of the bills drawn upon him by Robert Morris Esq....so far exceeds the Amount of the Funds for their Payment, as to leave a Ballance of nearly two Millions of Livres Tournois, unprovided for. And whereas Dr. Franklin hath informed us that the Count de Vergennes has repeatedly and in the most explicit Terms assured him that no further Supplies of Money could be afforded this Year to the United States by the Court of France; and Whereas Mr Adams hath informed us that the Monies received on the American Loan in Holland will not probably be much more than competent to the Discharge of Mr. Morris's Bills...And whereas the Negociations commenced by Mr. Hartley with us, are for the present suspended, by his finding it necessary to apply for further instructions," the three chief American negotiators authorize Henry Laurens to "forthwith repair to London and there endeavour to borrow one hundred thousand Pounds Sterling...from some Individuals well disposed to America" so that "the Credit of the United States in Europe should be sustained." Laurens is cautioned to proceed "with all the Secrecy & Prudence which the delicate Circumstances of attempting to borrow Money in that Country at this period evidently requires." Morris in Philadelphia desperately needed this money to cover three-months pay for soldiers in the Continental Army. The Americans needed to keep their Army--and their finances--intact in this crucial final stage of negotiations with the British. Preliminary agreement with the British had been reached on 30 November 1782, contingent upon Britain coming to term with other belligerent powers. The Americans wanted to try and extract final concessions from London on fishing rights and Loyalist claims. So Laurens's mission was indeed of the highest delicacy. He had been imprisoned in the Tower from October 1780 until 31 December 1781, where the British held him on a charge of treason until he was at last exchanged for Lord Cornwallis. He was still negotiating this new loan in London when his American colleagues and British negotiator David Hartley signed the Definitive Treaty in Paris on 3 September 1783. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE of the three American signatories to the Treaty that won American independence from Great Britain. Only one other example has sold at auction in the last 40 years: Sotheby's New York, 26 June 1998, lot 171.
ADAMS, John (1735-1826). FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). JAY, John (1745-1829). Document signed ("John Adams"), ("B. Franklin"), ("John Jay"), Paris, 28 May 1783. 3 pages, folio, slight spotting along one crease, "GR" with crown and "Pro Patria" watermarks .
ADAMS, John (1735-1826). FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). JAY, John (1745-1829). Document signed ("John Adams"), ("B. Franklin"), ("John Jay"), Paris, 28 May 1783. 3 pages, folio, slight spotting along one crease, "GR" with crown and "Pro Patria" watermarks . THE RARE COMBINATION OF THE SIGNATURES OF ADAMS, FRANKLIN AND JAY ON A SENSITIVE DOCUMENT DURING FINAL TREATY TALKS WITH GREAT BRITIAN OFFICIAL AUTHORIZATION BY THE AMERICAN DELEGATION TO SEND HENRY LAURENS TO LONDON TO RAISE £100,000, "with all the Secrecy & Prudence which the delicate Circumstances of attempting to borrow Money in that Country at this period evidently requires." Ferdinand Grand, the Americans' banking representative in Paris, reported to Franklin, Adams and Jay that "the amount of the bills drawn upon him by Robert Morris Esq....so far exceeds the Amount of the Funds for their Payment, as to leave a Ballance of nearly two Millions of Livres Tournois, unprovided for. And whereas Dr. Franklin hath informed us that the Count de Vergennes has repeatedly and in the most explicit Terms assured him that no further Supplies of Money could be afforded this Year to the United States by the Court of France; and Whereas Mr Adams hath informed us that the Monies received on the American Loan in Holland will not probably be much more than competent to the Discharge of Mr. Morris's Bills...And whereas the Negociations commenced by Mr. Hartley with us, are for the present suspended, by his finding it necessary to apply for further instructions," the three chief American negotiators authorize Henry Laurens to "forthwith repair to London and there endeavour to borrow one hundred thousand Pounds Sterling...from some Individuals well disposed to America" so that "the Credit of the United States in Europe should be sustained." Laurens is cautioned to proceed "with all the Secrecy & Prudence which the delicate Circumstances of attempting to borrow Money in that Country at this period evidently requires." Morris in Philadelphia desperately needed this money to cover three-months pay for soldiers in the Continental Army. The Americans needed to keep their Army--and their finances--intact in this crucial final stage of negotiations with the British. Preliminary agreement with the British had been reached on 30 November 1782, contingent upon Britain coming to term with other belligerent powers. The Americans wanted to try and extract final concessions from London on fishing rights and Loyalist claims. So Laurens's mission was indeed of the highest delicacy. He had been imprisoned in the Tower from October 1780 until 31 December 1781, where the British held him on a charge of treason until he was at last exchanged for Lord Cornwallis. He was still negotiating this new loan in London when his American colleagues and British negotiator David Hartley signed the Definitive Treaty in Paris on 3 September 1783. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE of the three American signatories to the Treaty that won American independence from Great Britain. Only one other example has sold at auction in the last 40 years: Sotheby's New York, 26 June 1998, lot 171.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
