Rare Documents from American Revolution Under the Hammer at Bonhams
A letter from Richard Stockton to his brother discussing the readiness of the Americans people for
the Revolutionary war, estimated at $100,000 – $150,000
Marking the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution, Bonhams is offering a selection of rare and important documents from that pivotal moment in history at its Fine Books & Manuscripts sale running until April 8.
The lots include a rare broadside printed by the London Evening Post on May 29, 1775, containing the first accounts outside America of fighting at Lexington, a little over a month earlier. These accounts are from American sources, pre-dating the arrival of the British government's own reports by two weeks, and were picked up by papers in Europe, Russia and the far East spreading news of the events in a pro-colonist light. Estimated at $20,000 – $30,000, this is the first copy of this broadsheet to be offered at auction.
Also at auction is a letter from Richard Stockton (1730-1781), a signer of the Declaration of Independence and friend of George Washington, to his brother Samuel Stockton in London in October 1775 discussing the readiness and resolve of the American people preparing for war. It is also a very early recorded use of Yankee Doodle with Stockton commenting he was waiting to make General Howe "... dance to the tune of Yankee Doodle..."
Originally sung in mockery of the unpolished American militia during the French and Indian Wars, the intended insult backfired when American fife and drum bands proudly played the tune as General Percy was driven back toward Boston. The letter is expected to make $80,000 – $120,000.
Other highlights include:
- a Revolutionary War privateering commission for Matthew Ritch and the Schooner Liberty signed by John Hancock (1737-1793), estimated at $10,000 – $15,000
- the first confirmed report in Massachusetts of the vote for Independence in The New-England Chronicle on July 11, 1776, estimated at $10,000 – $15,000.
- a one-page manuscript containing a list of men who fought in the Battle at Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, estimated at $8,000 – $12,000
- a rare Boston printing of one of the Intolerable Acts from 1774, estimated at $8,000 – $12,000
