ALS signed “Go: Washington,” one page, 8 x 9.75, October 7, 1799. A beautifully penned letter to Tench Francis. In full: “A few days after giving you the trouble of my last, two boxes came to hand with sundry articles of equpmt for Mr. Custis; but no letter, invoice or account accompanying them, it is not known whether a cloak, which was requested at the time the other things were, has been provided or not.—
If, as this little commission has passed through your hands, you could give me any information respecting the matter, it would be kindly received; and might be the means of preventing a double provision of this article.
I pray you to present me, respectfully, to your Lady—& neighbor Mrs. Ponch—in which Mrs. Washington writes. I am Sir, Your most Obedt and very Hble Servant. Go: Washington.”
In the lower left, Washington adds a short postscript which reads, “P.S. Your favr of the 27th ulto is just rec’d.” Second integral page bears a hand-addressed and free franked panel, addressed by Washington to, “Tench Francis, Esq. of Philadelphia,” and franked in the lower left, “Go: Washington,” with “Free” in the upper right in another hand. Panel also bears an October 7, Alexandria postmark. Very clean, and in very good condition, with intersecting folds, a vertical fold passing through a single letter of signature, professional silking to the reverse of both pages, with several repairs to separations and areas of paper loss, reinforcement along hinge, a couple thin areas to page, and some scattered light toning and spotting.
Custis grew up at Mount Vernon after the death of his father and Washington took charge of the young man's education. After a couple of brief attempts at college, Washington arranged for his grandson to join the cavalry to instill him with discipline. The sensitive Custis had been pampered by his grandmother Martha, and Washington felt an obligation to put the young man on the right path. He wrote Quartermaster Clement Biddle and ordered what accoutrements were needed as a "cornet of the horse" including "a pair of Pistols and Horseman's Sword, Silver mounted / A Saddle, the best kind... / Holsters, and caps, to suit the Pistols / A proper Horseman's Cap or Helmet / A horseman's Clock, suitable to the Unifrm." When the articles arrived without a packing slip or invoice, the cloak seemed to be missing, and he wrote Tench Francis, the purveyor of public supplies, to inquire of the cloak’s whereabouts. One of the requirements of the horse regiment was to keep their uniforms "neat and clean," and without a cloak, the young cornet would be out of uniform. Custis finished the academy where he excelled and placed first in Cavalry Tactics and later became an aide-de-camp to General Charles C. Pinckney, achieving the rank of colonel. During the War of 1812 he volunteered to defend Washington, D.C. at the Battle of Bladensburg.
This is a rare and outstanding example, with both great association and an intact free frank. As expected, the franks were very often separated from their letters over the years and are now very seldom found as a pair. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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