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Benedict Arnold (14 January 1741 [O.S. 3 January 1740] – 14 June 1801) was an American military officer who served during the Revolutionary War. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army, rising to the rank of major general, before defecting to the British side of the conflict in 1780. General George Washington had given him his fullest trust and placed him in command of West Point, New York. Arnold planned to surrender the fort to British forces, but the plot was discovered in September 1780 and he fled to the British lines. Arnold received a commission as a brigadier general in the British Army, commanding the American Legion in the later part of the conflict. Arnold’s name quickly became a byword in the United States for treason and betrayal because he led the British army in battle against the very men whom he had once commanded.
Below is a recent realized price for a Benedict Arnold autograph. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to this amount or more for you:
Benedict Arnold Autograph. Sold for nearly $10,000.
Nate D. Sanders Auctions has sold the following similar items:
Benedict Arnold in 1780 Accused of War Profiteering, Abuse of His Powers and Then Spying for the British Unbelievably Writes: “…My character has been most cruelly and unjustly aspersed…”
Fantastic and scarce Benedict Arnold autograph letter signed “B Arnold” from Philadelphia, 20 March 1780, the year his betrayal to America was exposed. The notorious turncoat here tries to clear his name by requesting that the “good men of Delaware” have his court martial acquittal read aloud in the Delaware legislature (he writes to Delaware Governor and Declaration signer Caesar Rodney). Even though a court martial had cleared General Arnold of most charges, he was, whilst writing this letter, actively giving secrets to the British; his treason wouldn’t be fully discovered until six months later when Major Andre was captured with plans of West Point provided by Arnold. Letter reads in full: “Sir / The President of Council of the State of Philadelphia having published, & officially transmitted to the different States, sundry Resolutions of theirs, dated Philadelphia February 3, 1779, containing heavy Charges, tending to prejudice the minds of my Fellow Citizens against me previous to a trial, which with much difficulty I have at length obtained. The Justice due to my own Character (and to the Public who have been so greatly deceived) will, I trust, excuse the Liberty I take in transmitting to your Excellency the Proceedings of the Court Martial on my Trial, which I must request you will do me the Favor to lay before the Council of General Assembly, as I would wish to take off from the Minds of those Gentlemen every unfavorable Impression, which the unprecedented publication of the President of Council of Pennsylvania may have made, and to convince them that my Character has been most cruelly and unjustly aspersed. I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect / Your Excellency / Most Obedient and / very humble Servant / B Arnold”. Arnold had been publicly accused of war profiteering and abuse of his powers as an American general the previous year. He demanded a court-martial to clear his name. The trial was not held for almost a year; in the meantime he began actively negotiating and sharing secrets with the British. The precise wording of Arnold’s statement is quite clever and even honest in a sense. Arnold was keenly aware of his own guilt, so he doesn’t actually claim that he has been slandered. He only wishes to convince the good men of Delaware that he has been slandered. Arnold would be publicly rebuked by George Washington just three weeks later, but the discovery of his treachery and his defection would not come for six more months. Provenance: Birch’s Lawrence Washington sale, 21 April 1891, lot 384; Parke-Bernet’s Oliver R. Barrett sale, 30 October 1950, lot 59. Single page letter is toned and with repaired seal holes. Dark Benedict Arnold autograph. Measures 8″ x 13.25″. Near fine. Sold for $28,100.
Declaration of Independence signer Thomas Nelson letter signed, ”Thos Nelson Jr” as Brigadier General. From Williamsburg, Virginia, he writes to Brigadier General George Weedon concerning the whereabouts of Benedict Arnold and his men. Dated 14 January 1781, it reads: ”…Yesterday the enemy’s fleet passed Burwell’s Ferry, & is so far below it this morning as puts it almost beyond a doubt that they have no farther designs on this quarter…[but might] post at Portsmouth… [The militia at Nelson’s command is] fully sufficient to protect the county below between York & James Rivers from plundering parties…” Single page measures approximately 6.5” x 8.5”. Small tear near center and a small seal hole. Light toning and soiling. In very good to near fine condition. Sold for $10,541.
Richard Henry Lee Autograph Letter Signed 3 Months Before His State Hosted the Yorktown Surrender — ”…Since the country was first invaded by [Benedict] Arnold we have had a string of lookouts…”
Declaration of Independence signer, Richard Henry Lee autograph letter signed ”Richard Henry Lee” to Brigadier General George Weedon. The founding father signs a second time, after the postscript: ”R.H. Lee.” Datelined Westmoreland, Virginia, 1 August 1781, letter reads in part: ”…Since the country was first invaded by [Benedict] Arnold we have had a string of lookouts from the lower to the upper end of this county…” Lee further describes the local militia’s efforts and asks for instructions on two captured deserters. Three pages on card-style stationery measures 7.25” x 9”. Seal hole on address leaf and toning, else near fine. Sold for $5,948.
Benedict Arnold Autograph Note Signed — 1786
Revolutionary War General and defector, Benedict Arnold autograph note signed “B. Arnold” with a flourish underneath. Datelined St. Johns, 26 May 1786, Arnold requests of James Hayton: “Sir…send me by…my Servant. Fifty Pounds Currency & charge to acct. of…B. Arnold”. The most notorious American traitor, Benedict Arnold received from the British government an annual pension of 360 pounds and a lump sum of over 6,000 pounds when his plot against America was discovered in 1780. Benedict signed this note after he and his son Richard moved to Saint Johns, New Brunswick, where they speculated in land and established a business trading with the West Indies. Single page has browning to upper right corner and fading to writing. Overall in very good condition with a nice Benedict Arnold autograph. Sold for $3,670.
Benedict Arnold 1776 Document Pertaining to One of His Soldiers in the Continental Army
Document addressed to one of Benedict Armold’s soldiers. Dated 1776, document mandates pay for a man who served in the Northern Army, the branch of the Continental Army that served under Arnold’s leadership and captured Montreal the year before. Handwritten document reads in part, ”Sir, Pay to Eli Wood the Sum of Sixteen Shillings and two pence for Expence of his sickness on his return from northern army last year…charge the Colony / June 26 1776 / [signed] J Seymour”. 1pp. document measures 8.25” x 4”. Notations to verso and slightly irregular top and bottom edges. Near fine, given age. Sold for $156.
Consign your Benedict Arnold autograph at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your item to us at [email protected].
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Benedict Arnold autograph that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).