Benedict Arnold Autographs: Prices Realized, Examples & How to Sell

To auction, sell or consign your Benedict Arnold autograph, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (natedsanders.com).

Here Are Some Benedict Arnold Autographs We Sold:

Autograph Letter Signed From 1780 — Sold for $28,100

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.

Autograph Note Signed From 1786 — Sold for $3,670

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.

Autograph Letter Signed From 1786 — Sold for $3,604

Benedict Arnold autograph letter signed to James Hayt in New Brunswick, Canada, dated 17 October 1786. Arnold, the infamous turncoat, was a loyal American until 1780 when he was passed over for promotion and investigated for mishandling of funds. His plan to surrender West Point to the British in 1780 was discovered and Arnold fled. By the date of this letter, he was living in New Brunswick, running a trading business with his son Richard and friend Monson Hayt. Letter reads in part, “Pray forward the inclosed & oblige, B. Arnold / Should you & Mr. Huey send a vessel here this fall, she must leave St. Johns, by the middle or so Novr. B.A.” Moderate paper loss and toning to 7.5″ x 9″ letter with wax seal residue. Overall very good condition. A rare Benedict autograph letter signed. Sold for $3,604.

To auction, sell or consign your Benedict Arnold autograph, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (natedsanders.com).

FAQs

How do I consign or sell my Benedict Arnold autograph?
It’s never been easier to sell your Benedict Arnold autograph at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Email a description and photos of your item to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a free estimate.

This sounds great and I’d like to move forward. What’s the consignment process like at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auction house along with an agreement to review. Your item will appear in our next auction. Unlike many auction houses, we hold monthly auctions and pay you within an industry-leading 45 days following the auction.

What factors determine the value of my Benedict Arnold autograph?
The value of your autograph can vary based on condition, subject matter and date signed.