Lot 1033
Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus, Baron von (1730-1794), U.S. Revolutionary War General, Inspector General in charge of training the Continental Army. Wardated Manuscript Letter Signed, "Steuben, Maj: Genl:", one page, 8¼ x 13, Richmond, February 2, 1781, to Robert Smith, a Philadelphia merchant, Steuben writes requesting "…six bottles of best Manuba Snuff & ten pounds of best Smoking Tobacco… for his troops shortly after the Benedict Arnold-led British attack on Richmond; integral address leaf (soiled) with manuscript "3-8" rate but no other postal markings. Browned with edge tears and irregular piece missing from lower right corner (not affecting text), Very Good and quite rare.
Estimate 4,000 - 6,000
Steuben joined the Army at Valley Forge carrying letters of recommendation from Franklin and Silas Deane, who had been told that "von" Steuben had served as Aide-de-Camp and Quartermaster General to Frederick the Great. Despite the fact that he was later revealed to be merely a soldier of fortune who had never held a rank higher than captain and who had himself added the "von" to his name, he became a key figure in the success of the American revolution.
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| Realized $2,500 |
