Lot 4272
Monroe, James & Adams, John Quincy. Partly-printed Document Signed "James Monroe as President, December 17, 1821, one page, vellum, 15½ x 11½ in. A ship's passport for the "Brig Wethered, Nathaniel Mayhew master or commander of the burthen of Two hundred & one tons…mounted with four guns navigated with twelve men…." Countersigned by "John Quincy Adams" as Secretary of State. Some overall age toning, the seal is missing and there is some ink transfer, which probably occurred during the 88 years the document was stored in the cornerstone of the Bank of the United States in Boston (see below). Both signatures have a few skips in the ink, but are otherwise bold. The two usual beautiful vignettes of a sailing ship and a lighthouse are at top, and the top edge is scalloped, as required for a Mediterranean ship's passport.
In 1824, when the Bank of the United States building was being erected in Boston, documents signed by each of the United States' Presidents up to that time were ensconced in the cornerstone during July Fourth ceremonies. When the cornerstone was opened in 1912, the contents were placed in the office of then-mayor John Francis "Honeyfitz" Kennedy, grandfather of President John F. Kennedy. There they are said to have languished until it was discovered that the documents of Washington, John Adams, and Jefferson had "gone the way of the Pharaoh's Treasure," as it was contemporarily reported. Remaining were the two documents (both Mediterranean ship's papers) bearing the presidential signatures of James Madison and James Monroe. This is the Monroe document that was in the cornerstone of the Bank of the United States.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
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| Realized $1,840 |
