Lot 264
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Third President of the U.S. (1801-1809). Autograph Letter Signed as ex-President, half page, 7¾ x 9¾ Monticello, October 18, 1823. To an unnamed person at the Lyceum of Natural History in New York [now the New York Academy of Sciences]. Jefferson writes in full:
"I return thanks to the Directors of the Lyceum of Natural history of New York, and to yourself, for the kind attention of sending me the first No. [number] of their Annals. The preservation of such tracts as this No. [number] contains is well worthy of their care and science; and with my wishes that they may furnish the scientific world with many more of equal value, I tender to them & to yourself the assurance of my high consideration.
Th: Jefferson"
Fine and exceptionally well preserved.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000
JEFFERSON'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIELD OF SCIENCE ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND LETTERS TO EARLY SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER.
Jefferson is referring to the very first volume of Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New-York, which included papers on such diverse topics as "a new and gigantic species of the genus Cephalopterus" and a field study of swallows by artist and member John James Audubon. The letter was probably written to Samuel L. Mitchell, the founder of the Lyceum.
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| Realized $11,000 |
