Sell or Auction Your John Nixon Autograph Letter Signed for up to Nearly $1,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
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Sell Your John Nixon Autograph Letter Signed
John Nixon (1733 – December 31, 1808) was a financier and official from Philadelphia who served as a militia officer in the American Revolutionary War. On July 8, 1776, he made the first public proclamation of the Declaration of Independence and read it from the steps of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. Nixon was born in Philadelphia, the son of a shipping merchant. Upon the passage of the Stamp Act in 1765, he signed the non-importation agreement against the Act, became active in opposing the encroachments of the English government upon American liberties, and was a member of the first committee of correspondence in Pennsylvania.
Below is a recent realized price for a John Nixon autograph letter signed item. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to this amount or more for you:
John Nixon Autograph Letter Signed. Sold for nearly $1,000.
Here are some items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com), has sold:
Enlightenment Philosopher David Hume Autograph Letter Signed on Vociferous Debate on the Stamp Act — “…the King had said…he was for the repeal of the Stamp Act…The King has since said, that this was a mistake…”
Historically important David Hume autograph letter signed, discussing the contentious debate in Parliament on the Stamp Act, led by Prime Minister William Pitt who questions the moral authority to tax “free-born subjects without their consent”. Here, Hume writes to the Earl of Hertford, Ambassador to France, after witnessing Parliamentary debate in which Prime Minister William Pitt defends America’s opposition to the Stamp Act. Dated 27 February 1766 from Lisle Street, Leicester Fields, the letter reads in part, “…[T]he Parliament opened by a very extraordinary speech of Mr. Pit’s [William Pitt]. Besides asserting that England had no right to her Colonies, and that it was unconstitutional to take money from free-born subjects without their consent, he…much astonished his audience. He seemed even to treat the Parliament with contempt…and men were thrown into such wonder at the lofty and intrepid style of his discourse, that nobody had courage or presence enough of mind to answer him…Meanwhile the question which he had started, was brought on in the House of Peers; it was disputed, whether the English Parliament had a right to tax the colonies…Mr. Pit had carry’d the matter farther than almost anybody was inclined to follow him…It was moved by Mr. Grenville that the house should address his Majesty to inforce the laws in America. The…question was carried against him by a majority of 140; a number which surprised the Ministers themselves…Lord Rockingham published everywhere that the King had said to him that he was for the repeal of the Stamp Act…The King has since said, that this was a mistake…It was foreseen, that the countenance given the Americans by Mr. Pit and Lord Camden’s appearance for them would increase, if possible, their obstinacy. The bad effects on trade began already to be sensibly felt. Many manufacturers all over England had threatened to dismiss a half or two-thirds of their tradesmen, which must have produced infinite confusion…I am persuaded no one voted against the repeal but from party and in full hopes and confidence of being out-voted…” Hume, here serving on the staff of the British Embassy in Paris, also references the rumor that the lack of opposition to the repeal of the Stamp Act was partly due to Lord Bute’s having plotted to overthrow the Ministry. Letter runs six pages on two folded sheets. Measures 7.25″ x 9″. Reinforced along vertical folds, else near fine. This letter, found in “Letters of David Hume” has been called by William Knight, Hume’s biographer as “a long, minute, and singularly graphic account of the transactions of Parliament on its first day of its assembling that year.” Published in Grieg, “Letters of David Hume,” 2:18-23. Provenance: Sotheby’s John Young sale, 26 April 1869, lot 500; Alfred Morrison catalogue, 1897; Parke-Bernet sale, 26 November 1941, lot 269. Sold for $57,000.
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John Adams Autograph Letter Signed Re the Stamp Act
John Adams autograph letter signed “John Adams”, regarding the Stamp Act Congress, the colonists’ response to the infamous Stamp Act of 1765. This Act was one of the first legislative measures passed by Great Britain that taxed the colonists, an act which set in motion events leading to the Revolutionary War 10 years later. Adams writes to Jedidiah Morse regarding Morse’s work, “Annals Of The American Revolution”, an important record of the Revolution published in 1824, and refers to his role in the Revolution, “Five and Forty years ago”. From his home in Quincy, Massachusetts on 11 September 1815, Adams writes, “For some time past I have been unable to read or write or see, so that it has been impossible for me to answer your Expectations as I wished. And now it costs me more pain and time to write a line than it did but seven years ago to write a page. You will find me but a miserable resource for information or advice in your great Undertaking. I can give you nothing but broken hints. At present I send you a few documents from the oldest States man in America Governor Mackean, Four Letters Aug. 20. Oct. 9. Nov. 15, 1813 Jan. 1814. Also a Pamphet [sic] ‘Authentic account of the Proceedings of The Congress held at New York. A.D. 1765 on the Subject of the American Stamp Act.’ Instead of Specimens or hints of the manner in which I should try History if I could, I send you a Specimen of the manner in which I did write, history, poorly enough indeed, Five and Forty years ago. These Letters and Pamphlets I rely upon your Friendship to return to me by the Mail, after you have noted what may appear to your Purpose. When these shall be returned if my inflamed Eyes and quivering fingers will permit, I may give you a few hints but probably of no great importance…John Adams”. Single page letter measures 8″ x 9.75″. With integral address leaf written in another hand. Light soiling and small paper loss from seal, otherwise near fine condition given age. Accompanied by an engraving of Adams for framing, and housed in attractive custom clamshell case lettered in gilt on the front. Sold for $10,200.
Extensive collection of 21 British Acts of Parliament spanning the American Revolution from start to finish, all pertaining to policy toward the dissenting American colonies. Acts were published by Charles Eyre and William Strahan: Printers to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty: London 1766-1783, and are quite rare, as they were only printed for members of Parliament, officers of state, and the judiciary. In chronological order, collection includes: (1) Stamp Tax Act of 1766 running 4pp.; (2) 1767 Act governing duties in the plantations of America running 14pp.; (3) 1770 Act enabling New York to pass an act of assembly, 2pp.; (4) 1771 Act creating a bounty upon the importation of White Oak casks running 7pp.; (5) 1773 Act to explain and amend a previous act concerning paper bills of credit, 4pp.; (6) 1773 Act for importing salted beef, pork, bacon and butter from America, 2pp. The acts take a dramatic turn once bullets were fired at Lexington and Concord in 1775: (7) 1775 Act to restrain trade and commerce between the Colonies and Great Britain, 9pp.; (8) 1776 Act granting His Majesty a certain sum of money running 24pp.; (9) 1776 Act limiting the liberty to carry rice throughout America, 7pp.; (10) 1777 Act to continue allowing exportation of wheat, 2pp.; (11) 1777 Act to authorize the carrying of captives, 4pp.; (12) 1778 Act to repeal an earlier act for regulating the government of Massachusetts, 2pp.; (13) 1778 Act to amend earlier act relating to American sugar plantations, 4pp.; (14) 1778 Act removing all doubts concerning taxation in the Colonies, 2pp.; (15) 1779 Act concerning various dealings with the United States of America, 5pp.; (16) 1780 Act allowing exportation of goods, wares and merchandise to North America, 6pp.; (17) 1781 Act to explain a previous act, 2pp.; (18) 1782 Act to prevent enemies from being supplied with ships from Great Britain, 5pp.; (19) 1783 Act to continue laws relating to regulating fees, 4pp.; (20) 1782 Act concerning prize and bounty money not claimed, 4pp.; and finally, (21) 1783 Act to enable His Majesty to conclude a peace or truce with the America Colonies. Acts are printed on sheets measuring 7.5” x 11.5”. Mild foxing, toning and staining, and some contemporary stapling, else near fine. Sold for $916.
‘Gentleman’s Magazine, Historical Chronicle” 1765 hardcover compilation of all twelve issues from that year. The first to use the term magazine, the monthly publication of the ”Gentleman’s Magazine” had originally debuted in 1731 and was an important source of news during the American Revolution. The preface to this 1765 collection states, ”…There is…scarce any Period of Time in which the Prerogative of the Crown, the Privileges of Parliament, and the Liberties of the People, have been more full discussed…” Tensions between Great Britain and the American colonies were high at this time, due in large part to Parliament’s continued attempts to tax the colonies. Already opposed to the 1764 sugar tax, colonists were united in their resistance to the Stamp Act, passed in March 1765 and announced in the March issue. ”…Lord Mansfield, as Speaker, and the Earls Gower and Marchmant, by virtue of a commission of his majesty, gave the royal assent…for laying a stamp duty in the British colonies in America…” The coordinated resistance to these taxes was a major step toward revolution. Growing discontent is palpable in later issues, especially December, which contains: ”The Grievances of the American Colonies candidly examined” and ”The Importance of the N. American Colonies considered”. Other news includes advances in agriculture, medicine and science, religious controversy, stories of crime and writings of Voltaire, with illustrations of British homes, mechanical drawings of the centrifugal engine and maps. Moderate edge wear to 5.5” x 8.25” marble boards, bound with a leather spine lettered in gilt. Binding loosened from volume; foxing and toning to some pages but generally bright. Overall very good condition. Sold for $550.
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