Books and Manuscripts

Geo(rge) Town, (Washington, D.C.), Dec(ember). 23, 1815. One sheet, 10 1/8 x 8 1/4 in. (257 x 209 mm). Autograph letter, signed by Francis Scott Key, to Baltimore merchant William Taylor regarding a business matter: "Sir.-- / I have applied to Mr. Vale: R____ / to pay the Judg't you sent me -- / He declines doing it, saying that he thinks / it has been paid--& that your Bill-book / (he thinks) will shew you that he paid a d(ra)ft / or bill on ac(coun)t of it long ago.-- / If he would assume the payment / of it, it might be recovered, otherwise / not, the Judg(emen)t being out of date.-- And / this he does not seem disposed to do.-- / Y(ou)rs resp(ectfully) / FS Key"; addressed on verso by Key, postal ink stamp and docketing to same. Creasing from original folds; loss on left edge from wax seal when opened; separation along top vertical fold. In mat and in frame, 17 3/8 x 14 5/16 in. (441 x 363 mm).

A year following his penning of "The Star Spangled Banner", young lawyer Francis Scott Key writes to a colleague in Baltimore regarding a business matter.