LS, one page, 7.75 x 10, Department of State letterhead, May 23, 1867. Letter to a gentleman requesting a map of the recently purchased land from Russia, which would eventually become Alaska. In part, “I have caused to be transmitted to you, by this day’s mail, a map of the territory recently ceded to the United States by Russia.” The original mailing envelope is affixed to the letter’s integral second page. As Secretary of State, he argued that the United States must move westward. He fought for the U.S. purchase of Alaska, which he finally negotiated to acquire from Russia for $7,200,000 for 586,412 square miles of territory (more than twice the size of Texas), on March 30, 1867. The purchase of this frontier land was mocked as Seward’fs Folly. Intersecting folds, on though a letter of signature, and scattered light toning to text, otherwise fine condition. R&R COA.
