39 Signed By Two American Presidents, Thomas Jefferson And Then Secretary Of State James Madison, Ship’s Papers For The Schooner Topsham Beauty Rare official document, signed by both Thomas Jefferson as president and James Madison as secretary of state, consisting of ship’s papers for the schooner Topsham Beauty. The “sea letter,” printed with the same text in four columns in French, Spanish, English, and Dutch, was issued to those ships that sailed the Atlantic as a guarantee of United States protection of both the vessel and her owners in foreign waters. Every Americanowned ship was required to keep its letter as part of her papers. The dates shown on sea letters are not those on which the President and Secretary of State signed them, but rather the dates that the Collector of Customs entered information for a particular ship upon leaving port. Blank forms were signed in advance by the President and Secretary of State and sent to the Collectors, who would then fill in the details as occasions arose. This document is for the schooner Topsham Beauty, under the command of Joseph Millett, bound from Gloucester to Marseille laden with “rum, sugar, pepper, beef, fish, pork” and other items. Text in English, Dutch, Spanish and French. Signatures bold and clear. Very handsomely framed with portraits. 50JEFFERSON, Thomas and MADISON, James. Document signed. Gloucester, 1805. One leaf (17 by 17 inches), printed on recto and finished by hand, with original paper seal; matted and framed with portraits, entire piece measures 26 by 42 inches. $17,500
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