Cherokee chief (1790–1866) who helped draft the Cherokee Constitution of 1827. During his tenure as chief he opposed displacement of the tribe from its native lands, but this resistance would prove futile in 1838, when President Andrew Jackson ordered the removal of the tribe to present-day Oklahoma in what was to become known as the ‘Trail of Tears.’ ALS signed “Jno Ross,” one page, 7 x 10, May 8, 1845. Letter to an unidentified recipient. In full: “The compliments of the undersigned to the Revd. Mr. Balch. And beg leave to state that, the requisite dispatch of his business, and consequent shortness of his present visit to New York, has prevented him the pleasure of calling on Mr. Balch agreeably to his [p]olite invitation. And being on the eve of starting for Washington, he can only add adieu.” In fine condition, with intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature, a trivial brush to paraph of signature, and paper loss to left edge affecting the beginning of a single word of text. RR Auction COA.
