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"Material Change" - Important American Documents from Seth Kaller Material Change from Seth Kaller, Inc. By Michael Stillman Seth Kaller, Inc., Authentic Historic Documents and Artifacts has released a new catalogue: "Material Change" Documents That Shaped America. Kaller offers more than items from notable Americans, but documents that are of historic significance, and from some of the most important of American names, including Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. These are the sorts of things you don't really expect to still see in private hands. In time, most probably will wind their way to museums and similar settings, but for now, they are still available to private as well as institutional collectors. Here are a few of these wonderful documents still obtainable. The catalogue starts with a remarkable letter from George Washington which explains this catalogue's title of "Material Change." Written on October 22, 1780, to George Mason, a fellow patriot and later promoter of the Bill of Rights, he speaks almost from despair of his army's situation. At the time, Washington was still holed up in New Jersey, short of money, supplies, and with many enlistments soon to expire. The outlook was bleak. "Unless there is a material change," he writes, "...it will be in vain to contend much longer." Washington then calls for the creation of a permanent force, though he acknowledges the financial challenges of accomplishing this aim. He calls for securing loans to complement taxes, and that more power be granted Congress to carry out the war. Price on request. A copy of the New England Chronicle from July 18, 1776, is offered. Communications were slow in those days, so this was the edition that brought the news of the signing of the Declaration of Independence to Bostonians. News would have reached some in Boston a few days earlier, but it was on the 18th that the Declaration was read from the state house balcony and published for all to see. Other news of the day, including the "acclamations of joy" expressed by Continental troops in New York on hearing it read, are presented. The paper reports that up to 10,000 British troops have landed on Staten Island, and that a statue of King George in New York has been knocked down and broken to pieces. $190,000. Next we have a letter from a man anything but an American patriot. John Andre was a British officer during the American Revolution who managed their spying operations. He would be Benedict Arnold's contact, and it was Andre's capture which uncovered Arnold's treachery. The joy in this letter is certainly ironic considering the fate that was soon to befall Andre. In September 1780, he writes with pride to his mother in England of his promotion to Adjutant General. "Good fortune still follows me..." pens Andre, and "I...can hardly look back at the steep progress I have made without being giddy." He also speaks of his growing self-confidence. Perhaps it was overconfidence, as the good fortune which had been following Andre would soon desert him. Nineteen days later, he would clandestinely meet with Benedict Arnold, to discuss the latter's plan to turn West Point over to the British. Unfortunately for Andre, there was a problem with his return plans, and he was captured by American militiamen. Arnold's plans were disrupted, and he was forced to give up his cover and flee to British lines. Andre was not so lucky. On October 2, 1780, he was hanged as a spy. $50,000.
"Material Change" - Important American Documents from Seth Kaller Meade congratulates his army for victory at Gettysburg. A most telling letter from abolitionist Frederick Douglass from the Fall of 1846 is offered. Douglass had escaped from slavery in 1838, and gone on to write and lecture for abolition. However, he was still officially a fugitive slave, subject to return. In this letter from Britain, Douglass writes to Anna Richardson, who was attempting to buy his freedom from what Douglass still refers to as "my owner." At the time, he wished to return to America to see his wife, but was hopeful that the issue of his freedom could be resolved first. $75,000. General George Meade issued a proclamation from Gettysburg on July 4, 1863. Printed from the battlefield, Meade congratulates his soldiers on their hard-fought victory. He then goes on to note, "Our task is not yet accomplished, and the Commanding General looks to the Army for greater efforts to drive from our soil every vestige of the presence of the invader." Lincoln did not like Meade's wording. He thought the "drive from our soil" line implied that only the North was Union soil. The Confederates needed to be defeated, not driven back to the South. Lincoln was also displeased with Meade's not pursuing the Confederates as they fled, believing this was an opportunity to destroy the enemy, rather than allowing him to regroup. By year's end, Lincoln would appoint Grant as Meade's commander. Meade's Gettysburg proclamation is priced at $27,500. Seth Kaller, Inc., may be reached at 914-289-1776 or seth@sethkaller.net. Their website is www.sethkaller.net.

"Material Change" - Important American Documents from Seth Kaller

Material Change from Seth Kaller, Inc.

By Michael Stillman

Seth Kaller, Inc., Authentic Historic Documents and Artifacts has released a new catalogue: "Material Change" Documents That Shaped America. Kaller offers more than items from notable Americans, but documents that are of historic significance, and from some of the most important of American names, including Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. These are the sorts of things you don't really expect to still see in private hands. In time, most probably will wind their way to museums and similar settings, but for now, they are still available to private as well as institutional collectors. Here are a few of these wonderful documents still obtainable.

The catalogue starts with a remarkable letter from George Washington which explains this catalogue's title of "Material Change." Written on October 22, 1780, to George Mason, a fellow patriot and later promoter of the Bill of Rights, he speaks almost from despair of his army's situation. At the time, Washington was still holed up in New Jersey, short of money, supplies, and with many enlistments soon to expire. The outlook was bleak. "Unless there is a material change," he writes, "...it will be in vain to contend much longer." Washington then calls for the creation of a permanent force, though he acknowledges the financial challenges of accomplishing this aim. He calls for securing loans to complement taxes, and that more power be granted Congress to carry out the war. Price on request.

A copy of the New England Chronicle from July 18, 1776, is offered. Communications were slow in those days, so this was the edition that brought the news of the signing of the Declaration of Independence to Bostonians. News would have reached some in Boston a few days earlier, but it was on the 18th that the Declaration was read from the state house balcony and published for all to see. Other news of the day, including the "acclamations of joy" expressed by Continental troops in New York on hearing it read, are presented. The paper reports that up to 10,000 British troops have landed on Staten Island, and that a statue of King George in New York has been knocked down and broken to pieces. $190,000.

Next we have a letter from a man anything but an American patriot. John Andre was a British officer during the American Revolution who managed their spying operations. He would be Benedict Arnold's contact, and it was Andre's capture which uncovered Arnold's treachery. The joy in this letter is certainly ironic considering the fate that was soon to befall Andre. In September 1780, he writes with pride to his mother in England of his promotion to Adjutant General. "Good fortune still follows me..." pens Andre, and "I...can hardly look back at the steep progress I have made without being giddy." He also speaks of his growing self-confidence. Perhaps it was overconfidence, as the good fortune which had been following Andre would soon desert him. Nineteen days later, he would clandestinely meet with Benedict Arnold, to discuss the latter's plan to turn West Point over to the British. Unfortunately for Andre, there was a problem with his return plans, and he was captured by American militiamen. Arnold's plans were disrupted, and he was forced to give up his cover and flee to British lines. Andre was not so lucky. On October 2, 1780, he was hanged as a spy. $50,000.

"Material Change" - Important American Documents from Seth Kaller

Meade congratulates his army for victory at Gettysburg.

A most telling letter from abolitionist Frederick Douglass from the Fall of 1846 is offered. Douglass had escaped from slavery in 1838, and gone on to write and lecture for abolition. However, he was still officially a fugitive slave, subject to return. In this letter from Britain, Douglass writes to Anna Richardson, who was attempting to buy his freedom from what Douglass still refers to as "my owner." At the time, he wished to return to America to see his wife, but was hopeful that the issue of his freedom could be resolved first. $75,000.

General George Meade issued a proclamation from Gettysburg on July 4, 1863. Printed from the battlefield, Meade congratulates his soldiers on their hard-fought victory. He then goes on to note, "Our task is not yet accomplished, and the Commanding General looks to the Army for greater efforts to drive from our soil every vestige of the presence of the invader." Lincoln did not like Meade's wording. He thought the "drive from our soil" line implied that only the North was Union soil. The Confederates needed to be defeated, not driven back to the South. Lincoln was also displeased with Meade's not pursuing the Confederates as they fled, believing this was an opportunity to destroy the enemy, rather than allowing him to regroup. By year's end, Lincoln would appoint Grant as Meade's commander. Meade's Gettysburg proclamation is priced at $27,500.

Seth Kaller, Inc., may be reached at 914-289-1776 or seth@sethkaller.net. Their website is www.sethkaller.net.