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Lot Number: 134
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Estimate Range: $600 - $800
Current Bidding Status
This Lot is CLOSED for Absentee Bidding.
December 23, 1790 Letter to First United States Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert in Georgetown, Maryland

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(BENJAMIN STODDERT) (1751-1813), First United States Secretary of the Navy (1798-1801), ably overseeing the Navy during the Quasi War with France; in 1783, he established a tobacco export business in Georgetown, MD, with business partners Uriah Forrest and John Murdoch; he returned to his work as a merchant following his service as Secretary of the Navy.

December 23, 1790-Dated Federal Period, Manuscript Letter Signed, “William Murdoch”, 1.5 pages, measuring 7.25" x 8.75", a business letter written at London, England from his partner William Murdoch, to Benjamin Stoddert at Georgetown, Maryland, Very Good or better. With its Integral Address Leaf that has a scarce "Norfolk" (Virginia) straightline black postal stamp, and a manuscript "Sh 3.8" postal rate.

It contains good content in which Murdock writes of his efforts to negotiate payments to creditors on behalf of Benjamin Stoddert and his business firm, F S & M (Forrest, Stoddert & Murdock). It speaks to the state of the Tobacco market, noting that it is, "without the least life - all Europe full, France so deranged as to interrupt the ordinary demand thro' that channel..." being a reference to the “French Revolution”, and much more. Paper loss noted at bottom of the first page that affects a few words of text on the last three lines, apparently damaged when opened, as shown.

Provenance: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II
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Lot Number: 134
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Estimate Range: $600 - $800
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