Daniel Webster
Franklin, New Hampshire, August 9, 1851
Daniel Webster Buys Furniture! Lengthy ALS With Bonus FF
ALS

A 2pp autograph letter signed by then U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster (1782-1852) as "Danl Webster" on the second page, along with an additional 3pp manuscript in his hand, for a combined total of five pages. August 9, 1851. Franklin, New Hampshire. On pale blue paper, one loose leaf and one bifold. Expected light wear including flattened transmittal folds and minor water spots, else near fine and very legible. 4.5" x 7." Accompanied by its original transmittal envelope free franked by Webster as "Danl Webster" in the postage section, and engrossed by him as "Charles Hutchins Esq / near the Phoenix, / Concord." Bearing the remnants of an embossed red wax seal verso; some soiling and wax loss, else good. 4.75" x 2.75." Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Daniel Webster sent this letter to Charles Hutchins of Concord, New Hampshire, a probable storekeeper or merchant. Concord was located some 20 miles to the southeast of Webster's home at Franklin. In the letter, Webster directed Hutchins to help his housekeeper, Sarah Lineth, obtain the items on Webster's shopping list - mostly bed and kitchen linen. Webster had multiple homesteads, but it is likely that he was furnishing The Elms (also known as the Daniel Webster Family Home), the estate in West Franklin that he had inherited from his father in 1829.

Webster wrote in part:

"I send down to Concord Sarah Lineth, our house keeper, to buy some articles of furniture, for this house. I give her $50 - but very likely that will not be enough. She has a list of things wanted; but may think of something else. I wish you to furnish her with whatever she requires; + if she needs any articles, which you happen not to have, pray get them for her - Please pay all the Bills, + let me know the amt.

Yours truly

Danl Webster

Chs Hutchins Esq.

Wanted for Sarahs [sic] Room
1 small feather bed
1 pair cotton sheets, or cotton to make them -
1 small blanket
1 small counterpane

For Mane [sic] Room -
cotton for sheets -
small counterpane

For South West room
1 large, but not very heavy hair mattress - 1 Bolster, + two good pillows, with linen for pillow cases.

& same for N. West room - For the use of the large beds, linen for 4 pairs sheets
2 pair large light blankets, for large beds
2 good sized table clothes
1 dozen table napkins - or line to make them
Cloth (?) for 1 dozen kitchen towels -
linen for 1 dozen towels
1/2 bushel dry white beens [sic]
2 pair large woolen socks -."

Daniel Webster died just a little over one year later, in October 1852. He was one of the most revered politicians, lawyers, writers, and orators of his day. The Dartmouth College graduate represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress before serving as 14th and 19th U.S. Secretary of State under the Harrison, Tyler, and Fillmore administrations. Webster?s influence was secured during the 1830s, when he represented the Northern voice of the so-called ?Great Triumvirate?, along with Western mouthpiece and Kentucky senator Henry Clay and Southern spokesman and South Carolina senator John C. Calhoun.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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4.75" x 2.75"
Comes with a signed and sealed Certificate of Authenticity from the Heritage Collectors' Society, Inc. (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) dated February 22, 1999.