Lafayette Marquis

"Genl Lafayette" Rare Calling Card, Louisiana Purchase Related, Ex-Christie's

A calling card inscribed "Genl Lafayette", referring to Revolutionary War hero Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834). Probably dating from Lafayette's triumphant 1824-25 visit to the United States. Also handwritten "Mrs. Lewis" verso, almost certainly referring to America Lawson Lewis (1778-1830), the wife of former Louisiana land commissioner and prominent judge Joshua Lewis (1772-1833). Provenance: Ex-Christie's -> Descendants of Alonzo J. Tullock, a noted Kansas autograph collector of Louisiana Purchase material -> Armand Hawkins, a New Orleans antique dealer -> Descendants of Lieutenant Governor of Upper Louisiana Charles Auguste Delassus (more information below).

The diminutive cream colored card is decorated with an ornate textured guilloche type pattern of concentric dots. Isolated age darkening and expected wear, else near fine. 3.125" x 1.625". Accompanied by an envelope inscribed "Calling card of Gen'l Lafayette and Miss [sic] Lewis"; the partly torn envelope flap is printed "A.J. Tullock, Leavenworth, Kas."

Lafayette, an idealistic, independently wealthy French teenager, aided the Patriots during the American Revolution. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Rhode Island and in the Yorktown campaign, and was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. During his time in the thirteen colonies, Lafayette befriended George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. Lafayette used his aristocratic French connections to advance the American cause in France. In the 1780s, back in France, Lafayette championed republicanism and helped draft the foundational Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.

Thus, when Lafayette returned to the United States in 1824-25, it was not only as a Revolutionary War hero and veteran, but as a living republican ideologue. He embarked for the United States for its 50th anniversary at the request of President James Monroe and the U.S. Congress. During Lafayette's 16-month visit, he toured all 24 states, and was the object of innumerable celebrations, dedications, and even a burgeoning commemorative souvenir market. His itinerary shows that he visited New Orleans between April 8-15, 1825, when it is likely that this calling card was produced.

In New Orleans, Lafayette would have rubbed elbows with one of the city's influential judges, Joshua Lewis. Virginia-born, Joshua Lewis was raised in Kentucky, where he served as a public prosecutor and state congressman. Lewis was originally believed to have been one of three commissioners--along with Edward Livingstone and James Brown--sent by President Jefferson to New Orleans to take possession of Louisianan lands following the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. It was not until 1805, however, that Lewis was appointed Louisiana land commissioner.

Between 1806 and his death in 1833, Lewis served as a state judge, first as one of three Superior Court judges in the Orleans Territory until 1812, and then as a district judge following Louisianan statehood. As a militia captain, Lewis fought in the Battle of New Orleans (1814-1815). He was narrowly defeated as state governor in 1816. Lewis's role in solidifying the terms of the historic Louisiana Purchase--as well as regulating its formative Americanized civil society--cannot be over-stated.

The Louisiana Purchase, initiated by an offer from Napoleon Bonaparte, doubled the territorial limits of the United States. In 1804, Congress designated the territory below the 33rd parallel (today the northern boundary of Louisiana) as the Territory of Orleans, while the lands northward became (temporarily) a district of the Indiana Territory then governed by a young William Henry Harrison. Correspondence between Harrison and Charles Auguste Delassus, then the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Louisiana, was once the centerpiece of Tullock's collection.

Provenance

Ex-Christie's, from the collection of Alonzo J. Tullock (1854-1904), a civil engineer from Leavenworth, Kansas. Tullock received his civil engineering degree from the University of Michigan in 1876 and oversaw the construction of some of the Midwest's most important bridges, railroad crossings, and wharves during the 1880s-90s. Later, as the owner of the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Works, Tullock supervised the construction of the wharf at Tampico, Mexico for use by the Mexican Central Railway.

Tullock devoted himself to self-improvement and philanthropy. He successfully solicited donations from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, leading to the erection of the Leavenworth Public Library (now Carnegie Arts Center) in 1900. In addition, Tullock loved autograph and rare book collecting. In a tribute published in the Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Volume 31, Issues 3-4 (March 1905), the editor wrote: "During a busy and studious life, Mr. Tullock accumulated a large and valuable library in which are many rare books, and especially many volumes relating to the Louisiana Purchase, within which territory was located the city chosen for his home." (p. 332-333). Another contemporary publication, the Journal of the Western Society of Engineers, Volume X (January-December 1905), described Tullock's "particular attention to the acquisition of books and papers relating to the Louisiana Purchase and his collection of these, diligently pursued for years, was unique." (p. 553).

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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