How to Sell Your Benjamin Franklin Autograph

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin had several roles that significantly impacted the early years of the United States including helping draft the Declaration of Independence and negotiating the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions have sold several documents signed by Benjamin Franklin and other Declaration of Independence signers. Please reach out to us if you’d like to sell your Benjamin Franklin autograph or would like a free appraisal.

Here are some Benjamin Franklin signed items we’ve sold:

Benjamin Franklin Document Signed as President of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth

Between 1785 and 1788, following the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin served as President of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a position similar to governor of the state. This was one of his last public service positions before his passing in 1790. We sold a Benjamin Franklin signed document dated 22 October 1787 for $23,750. Document measures 15.625 x 13 inches and appoints a Nathan Cary as the Coroner of Luzerne County.

Benjamin Franklin Letter Signed to Scotsman Lord Kames

Benjamin Franklin and Henry Home, Lord Kames corresponded during the mid 1700s over a variety of intellectual topics including Enlightenment philosophy, science and politics. We realized $21,000 for a Benjamin Franklin signed letter to Lord Kames regarding Kames’ books, “Introduction to the Art of Thinking” and “Elements of Criticism” as well as Franklin’s own book “Art of Virtue”. Three page letter is dated 21 October 1761 and is handwritten by Franklin’s son William Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin 1785 Document Signed as President of Pennsylvania

Between 1776 to 1785 Benjamin Franklin was the American ambassador to France and had in important role in gaining support from the French for the American Revolution. A few months following that position he was elected as President of Pennsylvania. We sold a Benjamin Franklin signed interest certificate dated 19 October 1785 for $15,436. The document permits Pennsylvania Treasurer David Rittenhouse to pay ”to Gilbert Quirk late private of Musquetry of the Pennsylvania Line, or his order, the sum of two pounds eight shillings being one year’s interest on his depreciation certificate, due the tenth day of April 1782 agreeably to an act of The General Assembly, intitled, ‘An act to appropriate certain monies arising from the excise, for the payment of the annual interest due on unalienated certificates therein mentioned,’ passed the twenty-first day of March 1783, and out of the fund appropriated by the said act, for the purposes therein mentioned.” Document measures 7.75 x 6.25 inches and features a bold signature from Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin Signed Land Grant

We realized $15,125 for a Benjamin Franklin land grant dated 27 April 1787. Franklin signs document ”B. Franklin” as President of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Document awards land to Private William Williams for his service in the Revolutionary War. Land grant measures 15 x 12.5 inches and has been matted and framed to 40 x 23 inches.

Benjamin Franklin Signed Land Grant from 1787

We sold a land grant signed by Benjamin Franklin as President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania for $15,000. Document is dated 7 July 1787 and awards land in Philadelphia to aristocrat William Hamilton. Part of this land is known as the Woodlands, a National Historic Landmark District today, which contains a historic estate and cemetery. Vellum document measures 15.5 x 13 inches and has a double sided seal of the state of Pennsylvania.

This concludes our top Benjamin Franklin autograph sales. Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to sell your Benjamin Franklin autograph.

FAQ

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

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 for your 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 a Benjamin Franklin autograph?
The value of your item can vary based on condition and subject matter of the document.