LS as president, one page, 8.25 x 13.25, December 4, 1884. An official letter addressed to the U.S. Senate. In full: “I transmit herewith, a communication from the Secretary of State, submitting the text, in the English and French languages, of the proceedings of the International Meridian Conference provided for by the Act of Congress approved August 3, 1882, held at Washington during the month of October 1884….” The International Meridian Conference, held in Washington at Arthur’s request, brought together delegates from 25 nations to establish a worldwide time standard. Among the resolutions was the adoption of the meridian passing through Greenwich Observatory, England as the initial meridian for longitude, as well as the adoption of a universal day, “a mean solar day … to begin for all the world at the moment of mean midnight of the initial [Greenwich] meridian, coinciding with the beginning of the civil day and date of that meridian; and … to be counted from zero up to twenty-four hours.” Accompanied by a period book portrait. Toning to bottom edge, mild wrinkling and soiling, and early dealer’s catalogue slip affixed at upper left corner, otherwise fine condition. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
