AN ANDREW JACKSON AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED AS PRESIDENT, REGARDING SURVEYING

ANDREW JACKSON (1767-1845). Jackson was the Seventh President.

ANS. 1pg. October 11, 1836. N.p. An autograph note signed “A.J.” as President. It concerns Major W. J. McNeill, an engineer who was engaged in surveying northwestern land for the President: “Commercial agent & corresponding secretary Major McNeil topographicol [sic] staff if not already let him be ordered to his topographicol [sic] duty on the north western frontier A.J.”. The note is in very good condition with dark writing. It is mounted to another sheet, with an unrelated letter overlapping with it, yet not obscuring any of the writing.

PRESIDENT JACKSON SIGNS A TIPPECANOE COUNTY, INDIANA LAND GRANT

ANDREW JACKSON (1767-1845). Andrew Jackson was the Seventh President.

DS.1 pg. 15 ½” x 10”. April 10, 1829. Washington, DC. A partly-printed document signed “Andrew Jackson” as President and “G.W. Graham” as Commissioner of the United States General Land Office.  The document gave land to John Baer: “…have Given and Granted, and by these presents do give and grant, unto the said John Baer and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To have and to Hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said John Baer and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony whereof, I, Andrew Jackson PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these letters to be made PATENT, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the tenth day of April in the Year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and twenty nine and of the Independence of the United States the fifty third. By the President, Andrew Jackson G.W. Graham Commissioner of the General Land Office”.  This document is a land patent, transferring land from the government to John Baer. Baer is buying 73 acres of land in Crawfordsville, Indiana, described as being located in the Southwest fraction of the East half of Section Thirty-Six, in Township twenty-three North, of Range Five West. This is issued under the Act of Congress of April 24, 1820, which regulates the sale of public lands. The document confirms that Baer made full payment for the land and grants him and his heirs full ownership. George Graham also signed this document. Graham served twice as acting United States Secretary of War and was Commissioner of the United States General Land Office under Presidents John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.  The vellum document has two vertical folds and a six-inch Jackson signature that is a little light.  The document is professionally framed.

JEFFERSON AND MADISON SIGN A COMMISSION APPOINTING THE U.S. ATTORNEY OF NEW YORK

THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826). Thomas Jefferson was the Third President.

DS. 1pg. 15” x 13”. July 19, 1803. Washington, D.C. A document signed “Th Jefferson” as President and “Jamed Madison” as Secretary of State.  The manuscript appointed Nathan Sanford to U.S. Attorney of New York. “To all who shall see these presents Greeting: Whereas the office of Attorney of the United States in and for the District of New-York is at present vacant Now Know Ye That reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Integrity, Ability and Learning of Nathan Sanford of New-York I do appoint him Attorney of the United States in and for the said District of New-York; and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfill the duties of that office according to Law; and to Have and to Hold the same together with all the powers, privileges and Emoluments thereunto of right appertaining unto him the said Nathan Sanford during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being, and until the end of the next Session of the Senate of the United States and no longer. In Testimony whereof, I have caused these Letters to be made patent and the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. Given under my Hand, at the City of Washington the Nineteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twenty Eighth. By the President Th. Jefferson James Madison Secretary of State”. This is a recess appointment, meaning Sanford was authorized to hold the office until the end of the next Senate session, at which point he would need formal confirmation. This explicitly grants Sanford the legal authority to execute all duties associated with the office of United States Attorney and receive all powers, privileges, and emoluments that come with the position. Nathan Sanford was a lawyer and politician, with this role being the start of his political career. Twenty-five years old at the time of this appointment, he held the office from 1803 to 1815. After this position, he was a senator, served as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and Chancellor of New York. This document is professionally framed and in fine condition with a large Jefferson autograph and an intact seal.

LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON DECLINING A DINNER INVITATION JUST ONE MONTH AFTER HE SURVIVED IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: “I LOVE GREATLY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A SELF MADE MAN – A SELF MADE MAN MYSELF HAVING RISEN FROM THE POSITION OF AN ALDERMAN IN MY NATIVE VILLAGE THROUGH THE VARIOUS GRADES OF STATE LEGISLATOR GOVERNOR OF MY NATIVE STATE, REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS, SENATOR, VICE PRESIDENT TO THE HUMBLE POSITION I NOW HOLD AS PRESIDENT OF A GREAT AND GLORIOUS REPUBLIC”

ANDREW JOHNSON (1808-1875). Johnson was the Seventeenth President.

Letter. 2 pg. 8” x 10”. July 28. 1868. Washington, D.C. A letter written on behalf of “A. Johnson” to “Gentlemen” declining an invitation to a banquet celebrating the birthday of a mutual friend.  As Johnson disdained handwriting, this is in the handwriting of a secretary.  In giving the reason for declining the invitation, President Johnson cites “I regret exceedingly that my labors on behalf of an imperiled constitution will deprive me of the pleasure of paying due honors to your distinguished guest”. For Johnson, going to the banquet would be gratifying since he and the guest are self-made men: “I love greatly to pay tribute to a self made man – a self made man myself having risen from the position of an alderman in my native village through the various grades of state legislator Governor of my native state, representatives in Congress, Senator, Vice President to the humble position I now hold as President of a great and glorious republic…Permit me to thank you gentlemen, for your kind invitation and the opportunity it thus affords me to pay my humble tribute to a self-man made”. Johnson then concludes the letter by returning to his theme of an imperiled country: “Believe me, that pressing official duties alone prevent me from meeting around your festive band and raising my humble voice in offering a toast to that sacred and much violated instrument, the great work of our revolution of sires, a record which we are all bound to love and obey – the Constitution”. That year, President Johnson survived removal by the United States Senate by one vote over violations of the Tenure of Office Act, the culmination of a running feud with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction and civil rights for blacks. A list of the gentlemen addressed in the letter is given on the left side of the first page. The letter is in fine condition and an excellent example of Andrew Johnson’s mindset.

ANDREW JOHNSON APPOINTS DEPUTY POSTMASTER ONE WEEK AFTER LINCOLN IS SHOT; IT IS CO-SIGNED BY AN ACTING SECRETARY OF STATE SINCE WILLIAM SEWARD WAS RECOVERING FROM HIS WOUNDS

ANDREW JOHNSON (1808-1875). Andrew Johnson was the Seventeenth President.

DS. 15 ½” x 9 ½”. 1pg. April 22, 1865. Washington, D.C. A document signed “Andrew Johnson” as President and “W. Hunter” as Acting Secretary of State.  The new President appointed Daniel A. McDonald to Deputy Postmaster in Illinois. “KNOW YE, That, reposing special trust and confidence in the Integrity, Ability, and Punctuality of Daniel A. McDonald, — I DO APPOINT Him— Deputy Postmaster, at Princeton, in the State of Illinois…Andrew Johnson W. Hunter, Acting Secretary of State”. This document was signed one week after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.  Princeton, Illinois was a significant stop on the Underground Railroad and a stronghold of the abolitionist movement. Appointing a postmaster there during the first week of Reconstruction was an attempt for Johnson to establish his authority over the post-war North and South. This document is also signed by William Hunter, the acting Secretary of State. The actual Secretary of State, William H. Seward, had been attacked by a co-conspirator of John Wilkes Booth on the same night Lincoln was shot. This document has a giant Johnson autograph, a large wax seal, folds and is professionally framed.

PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON ENDORSES A CHECK RELATED TO LOANS MADE WHEN HE WAS MILITARY GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE IN 1862; IT HAS RARE PRESIDENTIAL HANDWRITING

ANDREW JOHNSON (1808-1875).  Johnson was the Seventeenth President, becoming President upon Lincoln’s assassination in 1865.  He was also the first President impeached.

DS. 2pg. 3 3/8” x 8”. October 31, 1866. Washington, DC.  A partly printed check endorsed “Executive Mansion Nov 5^th 1866 Please pay first National Bank Andrew Johnson” on the back.  The front of the check is signed by Michael Burns, a Tennessee businessman and politician.  It is from Nashville, dated October 31, 1866, and was for the stunning amount of $14,600, payable to Dempsey Weaver.  The money was most likely for loans Johnson made when Military Governor of Tennessee in 1862.  This was signed just days before the 1866 Congressional midterm elections that affected the direction of Reconstruction.  There is a tax stamp, vignettes, a cancellation cut and light creasing.  Johnson handwritten materials as President, of any sort, is extremely rare.  While there are some Johnson Presidential checks on the market, I’ve never seen this format before.