George Washington Autograph Letter Written Weeks Before His Inauguration Headlines Freeman’s Printed and Manuscript Americana Auction
Freeman’s will kick off its yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with its Printed and Manuscript Americana auction on January 29 in the firm’s Philadelphia saleroom.
The 153-lot sale spans key moments in American history, from the Revolutionary era to the 21st century, and is led by two extraordinary documents: a 1789 autograph letter by George Washington written just weeks before his first inauguration, and the first letter of credence issued by the Continental Congress in 1776 appointing Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Silas Deane as commissioners to France.
“Our inaugural 2026 sale tells its own unique history of the last 250 years. It is not a complete history, but a journey guided by the property itself. These items will speak for themselves,” said Darren Winston, SVP, Head of Department, Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia.
LEFT TO RIGHT
Lot 29 | Letter of credence appointing Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Silas Deane commissioners to the court of France to negotiate a treaty of alliance, September 30, 1776 | Estimate $150,000 – 250,000
Lot 152 | Rare Wanted Poster for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | Estimate $8,000 – 12,000
Auction Highlights Include:
Lot 23 | A Declaration of the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America, now met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms
Estimate $70,000 – 100,000
This exceptional 1775 Providence broadside printing of the Declaration of the…Causes and Necessity of…Taking Up Arms is among the most consequential documents issued by the Continental Congress and a stirring precursor to the Declaration of Independence. Drafted in the opening months of the American Revolution and shaped by John Dickinson and Thomas Jefferson, the text marks the moment when the colonies formally justified armed resistance to Great Britain, enumerating grievances while affirming the justice of their cause and a resolve to defend liberty “with unabating firmness and perseverance.” Printed by John Carter and signed in type by John Hancock and Charles Thomson, this single-sheet edition is one of only three known surviving examples of the Providence imprint and the only copy remaining in private hands, underscoring its extraordinary rarity and foundational importance in American history.
Lot 29 | Hancock, John. Manuscript Document, signed
The Seed of American Victory Over Great Britain: The Continental Congress Appoints the American Envoy to France—Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Silas Deane
Estimate $150,000–250,000
This rare manuscript document, signed by John Hancock and dated September 30, 1776, is the first letter of credence issued by the Continental Congress, appointing Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Thomas Jefferson as commissioners to the court of France to negotiate a treaty of alliance. Of exceptional historical importance, the document marks the birth of American diplomacy and the nation’s earliest efforts to forge Franco-American relations—efforts that ultimately secured French support crucial to American independence. Newly discovered, it is one of only three known extant official copies, with the others preserved in institutional collections.
Lot 84 | Lincoln, Abraham. Autograph Note, signed
Estimate $20,000 – 30,000
This autograph note signed by President Abraham Lincoln, dated April 13, 1865—the day before his assassination—authorizes General James W. Singleton to pass through Union lines to Richmond, Virginia, and is among the final documents Lincoln ever penned. Written just days after the fall of Richmond, it reflects Lincoln’s direct involvement in early efforts toward reconciliation and Reconstruction. Lincoln’s death the following night abruptly ended Singleton’s mission, heightening the document’s historical poignancy. According to Roy P. Basler, this is one of only five passes written by Lincoln on April 13–14 and among a very small number of known signed documents from the final two days of his life, most now held in institutional collections, making surviving examples of this significance exceedingly rare at auction.
Lot 148 | Washington, George. Autograph Letter, signed
Estimate $250,000 – 350,000
Written just weeks before his inauguration, this exceptional autograph letter signed by George Washington to Frederick Phile, dated March 15, 1789, offers a rare and definitive articulation of his governing philosophy at the very birth of the American presidency. Responding to a request for a government appointment, Washington declares that he would enter office “totally free from pre-engagements,” guided solely by “justice & the public good,” expressing an ideal of merit-based governance before any presidential precedents had been established. The phrase appears only infrequently in his writings and, in this instance, represents the only known example to have reached the market, making this letter one of the most historically significant Washington documents remaining in private hands.
Lot 152 | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Pinkerton's National Detective Agency Wanted Poster for the Wild Bunch
Rare Wanted Poster for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Estimate $8,000 – 12,000
This very rare Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency wanted circular, issued August 5, 1901, documents the final train robbery carried out by the notorious Wild Bunch and stands as a compelling relic of the closing chapter of the American frontier. Circulated after the bold daylight holdup of the Great Northern Railway Express near Wagner, Montana, on July 3, 1901, the poster names Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Kid Curry, and Deaf Charley, offering rewards totaling up to $6,500 for their capture. It recounts the dynamite-assisted robbery in which more than $40,000 was stolen and includes photographic images, aliases, and detailed descriptions of the outlaws, reflecting Pinkerton’s central role in pursuing the gang. As the last known heist executed by the Wild Bunch as a unified group before their dispersal and demise, the circular holds exceptional historical resonance; only one other example is known to have appeared at auction, underscoring its rarity and importance.
Auction Preview and Programming
Highlights from the sale will be on view in Freeman’s New York galleries ahead of the auction:
32 East 67th Street
January 23, 26–28, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Americana Week | January 23–28, 2026
As part of Americana Week, Freeman’s will host previews and public programming at its Upper East Side New York gallery. A special panel discussion on January 27 will feature Abraham Lincoln expert and author Daniel Weinberg, historian Philip C. Mead, Ph.D., and Freeman’s Senior Specialists Darren Winston and Christopher Brink, offering scholarly insight into the historical, political, and cultural significance of works featured in the Semiquincentennial auctions.
How to Bid
The Printed and Manuscript Americana sale will be offered live in Freeman’s Philadelphia saleroom. Bidding will be available in person, over the phone, and via absentee or live online bidding. For more information, please visit freemansauction.com.