Books and Manuscripts

Van Buren, Martin
Manuscript Document, signed
Washington (D.C.), January 29, 1841. One sheet folded to make four pages, 10 x 8 in. (254 x 203 mm) Manuscript document, signed by Martin Van Buren as President of the United States, being an address to the U.S. Senate, transmitting papers and stating: "...it appears that an additional appropriation is necessary, if it should be the pleasure of Congress that the preparatory Exploration and Survey of the North Eastern Boundary of the United States should be completed." Creasing from contemporary folds; mounted to larger sheet. In mat with portrait of Van Buren, and in frame, 16 x 22 3/4 in. (406 x 578 mm).

The North-Eastern boundary of the United States was a topic of major contention throughout the 1830s. The divide between the U.S. and Great Britain was disputed as the language outlined in the Treaty of Ghent that formally ended the War of 1812 was vague and caused the state of Maine and colony of New Brunswick to claim different borders. Tensions culminated in what has since been referred to as the "Aroostook War." Local militia units were mustered, there was skirmishing between British and American lumberjacks in the area, but no actual combat ever took place. Van Buren sent General Winfield Scott to the border to show military resolve and lower tensions. The matter was diplomatically in 1842 with the signing of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty that formally settled the border dispute.

Together with:

Tyler, John
Partially-Printed Document, signed
Washington, (D.C.), May 25, 1842. One sheet folded to make four pages. 10 x 8 in. (254 x 203 mm). Partially-printed document, signed by President Tyler directing "the Secretary of State", Daniel Webster, "to affix the seal of the United States to the remission of the penalty of a bond, executed by George L. Schuyler, Master of the American Steamer Kamtschatka (sic)." Docketed on the verso "May 25 ,1842, To the remission of the case of George L. Schuyler." Creasing from contemporary folds. In mat with portrait of Tyler, and in frame, 16 1/2 x 23 in. (419 x 584 mm).

George Lee Schuyler (1811-90) was a well known shipbuilder, one of the founding members of the New York Yacht Club, and grandson of Continental Army general Philip Schuyler. In 1838, George and his partner John H. Brown were contracted by representatives of the Russian Empire to build a steamship, Kamchatka. Completed on November 24, 1840, it was the largest vessel constructed in America up to that point, weighed almost 1,800 tons, and had a 600-horsepower engine. The total cost of the project exceeded the advances sent by the Russian emissaries, and in order to exact payment Schuyler sailed the ship himself to the Baltic Sea. Hoping to bolster the image of American political support for his mission, Schuyler was accompanied by his father-in-law, Col. James A. Hamilton, son of Alexander Hamilton.

Together with:

Polk, James K.
Fragment of a Partially-Printed Document, signed
No place, January 27, 1849. A portion of an official Treasury Department document, 3 1/4 x 8 in. (82 x 203 mm). Scattered ink stains. In mat with a portrait of Polk, and in frame, 19 1/4 x 14 5/8 mm (489 x 371 mm).