Premium pages left without account:

Auction archive: Lot number 267

PICKERING, TIMOTHY. Autograph letter signed in full, PARTLY IN CIPHER, to William Eaton, U.S. Consul at Tunis; "Department of State, Philadelphia," 17 January 1800. 2 pages, 4to.

Auction 09.06.1992
9 Jun 1992
Estimate
US$1,000 - US$1,500
Price realised:
US$1,500
Auction archive: Lot number 267

PICKERING, TIMOTHY. Autograph letter signed in full, PARTLY IN CIPHER, to William Eaton, U.S. Consul at Tunis; "Department of State, Philadelphia," 17 January 1800. 2 pages, 4to.

Auction 09.06.1992
9 Jun 1992
Estimate
US$1,000 - US$1,500
Price realised:
US$1,500
Beschreibung:

PICKERING, TIMOTHY. Autograph letter signed in full, PARTLY IN CIPHER, to William Eaton, U.S. Consul at Tunis; "Department of State, Philadelphia," 17 January 1800. 2 pages, 4to. A SUPERB LETTER OF STATE ON THE PAYMENT OF TRIBUTE TO THE BEY OF TUNIS Following the example of European nations, the United States made annual payments of tribute to the piratical Barbary States of Morocco, Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers in return for allowing American merchant ships unmolested access to the Mediterranean. The present letter constitutes the State Department's official instructions to Eaton regarding the specific demands for tribute from the Bey of Tunis. For reasons of secrecy, important passages of the letter are written in the numeric cipher used for State Department communications; a full transcription has been neatly written beneath the ciphered passages in a contemporary hand (Eaton's?). Ciphered passages are here rendered in italics. "I have reserved for a separate letter the President's determination on the subject of the jewels demanded by Bey of Tunis. In his letter to the President...you will see that he persists in his claim not in terms as decided as in his conversations with you . Perhaps it may yet be parried or at least reduced to one half the amount . Since you wrote, you may have ascertained what other powers as well as Spain have given in similar circumstances ...I am aware that delay is unfavourable.... I hope that he will be softened, do away with his claim, or reduce it to a small value... You will well consider how this affair may be best conducted; and act as you shall think most advantageous for the interest of the United States. It will not do to loose [lose] our peace with Tunis for the value of these presents.... doubtless the articles are set at the Jew prices ... Some articles must probably be manufactured ..., and the whole may require a year to be procured ....If he objects to the proposed delay you can answer that the President felt a confidence, that upon further reflection... in relation to the United States, he would relinquish the claim .... I suppose the Bey understands French...with a copy of the President's letter to him, in English, I send you a French translation...." Diplomatic cipher letters have become rare on the market.

Auction archive: Lot number 267
Auction:
Datum:
9 Jun 1992
Auction house:
Christie's
New York, Park Avenue
Beschreibung:

PICKERING, TIMOTHY. Autograph letter signed in full, PARTLY IN CIPHER, to William Eaton, U.S. Consul at Tunis; "Department of State, Philadelphia," 17 January 1800. 2 pages, 4to. A SUPERB LETTER OF STATE ON THE PAYMENT OF TRIBUTE TO THE BEY OF TUNIS Following the example of European nations, the United States made annual payments of tribute to the piratical Barbary States of Morocco, Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers in return for allowing American merchant ships unmolested access to the Mediterranean. The present letter constitutes the State Department's official instructions to Eaton regarding the specific demands for tribute from the Bey of Tunis. For reasons of secrecy, important passages of the letter are written in the numeric cipher used for State Department communications; a full transcription has been neatly written beneath the ciphered passages in a contemporary hand (Eaton's?). Ciphered passages are here rendered in italics. "I have reserved for a separate letter the President's determination on the subject of the jewels demanded by Bey of Tunis. In his letter to the President...you will see that he persists in his claim not in terms as decided as in his conversations with you . Perhaps it may yet be parried or at least reduced to one half the amount . Since you wrote, you may have ascertained what other powers as well as Spain have given in similar circumstances ...I am aware that delay is unfavourable.... I hope that he will be softened, do away with his claim, or reduce it to a small value... You will well consider how this affair may be best conducted; and act as you shall think most advantageous for the interest of the United States. It will not do to loose [lose] our peace with Tunis for the value of these presents.... doubtless the articles are set at the Jew prices ... Some articles must probably be manufactured ..., and the whole may require a year to be procured ....If he objects to the proposed delay you can answer that the President felt a confidence, that upon further reflection... in relation to the United States, he would relinquish the claim .... I suppose the Bey understands French...with a copy of the President's letter to him, in English, I send you a French translation...." Diplomatic cipher letters have become rare on the market.

Auction archive: Lot number 267
Auction:
Datum:
9 Jun 1992
Auction house:
Christie's
New York, Park Avenue
Try LotSearch

Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!

  • Search lots and bid
  • Price database and artist analysis
  • Alerts for your searches
Create an alert now!

Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.

Create an alert