Heading: (California - Samuel Brannan)
Author:
Title: Two manuscript documents pertaining to a bet between Samuel Brannan and H.C. Downing on the outcome of the 1868 Presidential election, one of them signed by Brannan
Place Published: San Francisco
Publisher:
Date Published: Oct. 12 & Dec. 4, 1868
Description:

Comprises:

• Ink manuscript document laying out the terms of a bet, for $500, on who would carry California in the 1868 presidential election, U.S. Grant or Horatio Seymour. Signed by H.C. Downing twice, and by W.S. Foote for Samuel Brannan, also twice. The money was to be deposited in the Bank of California, W.C. Ralston proprietor, to be held until the outcome was known. Dated Oct. 12th, 1868. On the back of the document is a receipt signed by E. L. Sullivan, dated Dec. 4, 1868, stating he had received $1000 from W. C. Ralston. 25x20 cm (10x8").
• Ink note signed by Samuel Brannan ("S. Brannan"), and apparently in his hand as well, instructing W.C. Ralston to pay E. L. Sullivan $1,000, "being proceeds of a bet of $500 each between me and Downing," dated Dec. 4, 1868. 12.5x19.7 cm (5x7¾").

Samuel Brannan, California pioneer and printer, publisher of the first newspaper in San Francisco, large landowner in that city and elsewhere in California, and sometime Mormon prophet and preacher, was not above laying a little money down in support of his political preferences. For a straight-up bet of $500 (nearly $10,000 in today's money), he took the favorite U.S. Grant over former New York governor Horatio Seymour to be the popular choice of the voters of California. Grant won California, and Brannan won the bet, with the signed note directing banker W. C. Ralston to pay the money to Brannan's representative, E. L. Sullivan. Brannan's signatures are quite scarce, and the present example, with its entertaining, and character-revealing, connections, is extremely desirable.

Old folds, very good or better.