Autumn 2020 Catalogue

5 American Heroes & Leaders Autumn 2020 “A Final Testament To The Human Values He Cherished Most” 3. WASHINGTON, George. The Will of General George Washington. To Which is Annexed, A Schedule of his Property, Directed to be Sold. Alexandria, 1800. Small octavo, original plain paper wrappers, presentation folder and custom clamshell box. $22,500. Click for more info First edition of Washington’s will, “one of the most historically significant and personally revealing documents he ever wrote,” exceedingly rare in original wrappers. Washington “did what no founding father dared to do, though all proclaimed a theoretical revulsion at slavery” (Chernow, 802). This remains “one of the most historically significant and personally revealing documents he ever wrote… his final instruction concerned [his personal servant] Billy Lee, who had been hobbling around Mount Vernon for over a decade on two badly damaged knees. He should be freed outright upon Washington’s death and provided with a small annuity along with room and board, ‘as a testimony to my sense of his attachment to me, and for his faithful services during the Revolutionary War.’ There it was, a clear statement of his personal rejection of slavery… He was, in fact, the only politically prominent member of the Virginia dynasty to act on Jefferson’s famous words in the Declaration of Independence by freeing his slaves” (Ellis, 261-4). Early manuscript titling to front and rear wrappers; contemporary owner ink signatures and annotations to title page and wrappers. Two tiny marginal chips to title page, minor toning to title page and signature C, light wear along spine and corners of wrappers. Scarce and very desirable in the original wrappers.