Premium pages left without account:

Auction archive: Lot number 114

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President . Autograph document signed ("G:Washington"), AN EARLY LAND SURVEY for Michael Sweim, consisting of some 150 words in Washington's hand, Frederick County, Virginia, 9 April 1751. 1 page, narrow folio, 368 x 154 mm. (4½ x...

Auction 05.12.1997
5 Dec 1997
Estimate
US$12,000 - US$16,000
Price realised:
US$12,650
Auction archive: Lot number 114

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President . Autograph document signed ("G:Washington"), AN EARLY LAND SURVEY for Michael Sweim, consisting of some 150 words in Washington's hand, Frederick County, Virginia, 9 April 1751. 1 page, narrow folio, 368 x 154 mm. (4½ x...

Auction 05.12.1997
5 Dec 1997
Estimate
US$12,000 - US$16,000
Price realised:
US$12,650
Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President . Autograph document signed ("G:Washington"), AN EARLY LAND SURVEY for Michael Sweim, consisting of some 150 words in Washington's hand, Frederick County, Virginia, 9 April 1751. 1 page, narrow folio, 368 x 154 mm. (4½ x 6 1/16 in.), Washington's autograph description of the plot occupying the upper half of the sheet, his neat plat of the tract drawn at bottom, the sheet evenly age-toned, discreet repairs to paper at several fold lines not significantly affecting text, verso with contemporary docket: "Michael Sweims Plat for 131 acres..." ONE OF WASHINGTON'S EARLY LAND SURVEYS, MADE AT AGE NINETEEN, AND ONE OF THE EARLIEST SURVIVING WASHINGTON MANUSCRIPTS Using surveying tools left by his father, Washington taught himself the rudiments of surveying, and probably served an informal apprenticeship to one of the local Surveyors in 1746-47. By 1748, "he had attained to the required standard of accuracy on simple assignments. Within a few weeks he was deft and soon proficient on surveys that were not unduly complicated...Surveying not only had interest and yielded a profit, but it also afforded excellent training...as George wanted to excel in surveying..., he painstakingly gave neatness and finish to surveys he made with the fullest care he knew how to display" (D.S. Freeman, George Washington , vol.1, p.197). In late January, with a formal commission from William & Mary College Washington applied for and was granted the post of Culpeper County Surveyor, his first public office. According to the George Washington Atlas , Washington's first recorded survey is dated 27 February 1748, but only a small number of early surveys as Culpeper County Surveyor are extant, in part because most of Culpeper County's pre-1775 records were destroyed, making it "impossible to ascertain the extent of George's work in the county" (Freeman, 1:234fn). Only one early survey has appeared on the market in recent decades: a survey dated 5 April 1750 for Edward Kinnison. It was sold by Walter R. Benjamin in 1953, later in the Philip D. Sang Collection and the collection of the Hon J. William Middendorf III (sale, Christie's, 17 May 1989, lot 313, now in the FORBES Magazine Collection). The present survey, about a year later, still constitutes one of the earliest obtainable Washington autographs. "Pursuant to a warrant from the Proprietor's Office to me...I have survey'd for Michael Sweim a certain tract of waste and ungranted land situate in Frederick County and bounded as follows..." A detailed description of the tract and its boundaries with reference to trees, creeks and other landmark, follows. At bottom left are the names (in Washington's hand of two who assisted in the survey: Provost Washington and High Waters.

Auction archive: Lot number 114
Auction:
Datum:
5 Dec 1997
Auction house:
Christie's
New York, Park Avenue
Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President . Autograph document signed ("G:Washington"), AN EARLY LAND SURVEY for Michael Sweim, consisting of some 150 words in Washington's hand, Frederick County, Virginia, 9 April 1751. 1 page, narrow folio, 368 x 154 mm. (4½ x 6 1/16 in.), Washington's autograph description of the plot occupying the upper half of the sheet, his neat plat of the tract drawn at bottom, the sheet evenly age-toned, discreet repairs to paper at several fold lines not significantly affecting text, verso with contemporary docket: "Michael Sweims Plat for 131 acres..." ONE OF WASHINGTON'S EARLY LAND SURVEYS, MADE AT AGE NINETEEN, AND ONE OF THE EARLIEST SURVIVING WASHINGTON MANUSCRIPTS Using surveying tools left by his father, Washington taught himself the rudiments of surveying, and probably served an informal apprenticeship to one of the local Surveyors in 1746-47. By 1748, "he had attained to the required standard of accuracy on simple assignments. Within a few weeks he was deft and soon proficient on surveys that were not unduly complicated...Surveying not only had interest and yielded a profit, but it also afforded excellent training...as George wanted to excel in surveying..., he painstakingly gave neatness and finish to surveys he made with the fullest care he knew how to display" (D.S. Freeman, George Washington , vol.1, p.197). In late January, with a formal commission from William & Mary College Washington applied for and was granted the post of Culpeper County Surveyor, his first public office. According to the George Washington Atlas , Washington's first recorded survey is dated 27 February 1748, but only a small number of early surveys as Culpeper County Surveyor are extant, in part because most of Culpeper County's pre-1775 records were destroyed, making it "impossible to ascertain the extent of George's work in the county" (Freeman, 1:234fn). Only one early survey has appeared on the market in recent decades: a survey dated 5 April 1750 for Edward Kinnison. It was sold by Walter R. Benjamin in 1953, later in the Philip D. Sang Collection and the collection of the Hon J. William Middendorf III (sale, Christie's, 17 May 1989, lot 313, now in the FORBES Magazine Collection). The present survey, about a year later, still constitutes one of the earliest obtainable Washington autographs. "Pursuant to a warrant from the Proprietor's Office to me...I have survey'd for Michael Sweim a certain tract of waste and ungranted land situate in Frederick County and bounded as follows..." A detailed description of the tract and its boundaries with reference to trees, creeks and other landmark, follows. At bottom left are the names (in Washington's hand of two who assisted in the survey: Provost Washington and High Waters.

Auction archive: Lot number 114
Auction:
Datum:
5 Dec 1997
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