49 BAUMAN RARE BOOKS This rare official sea letter is signed by Washington as the nation’s first president, and by his Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Printed in columns on the recto and accomplished in manuscript, the signed document constitutes ship’s papers for the Sloop Nancy. Such signed presidential authorizations, granting the right to sail the seas and dock in a country’s ports, were quite valuable. Ship’s papers such as this were used to establish proof of nationality and guarantee protection for ships from the hazards of piracy, privateering, impressment and other dangers. It was customary for a sitting President and his Secretary of State to pre-sign routine papers and uncompleted documents before they were filled out and issued. In this case, the collector of customs in New York completed the document and affixed the date. The ship’s manifest names Joseph W. Clark as its “master and commander,” identifies its tonnage and cargo— pork, beef, flour, candles, soap, dry goods and lard— and indicates its destination as “the West Indies.” The manifest is signed “G Washington” above the signature of his Secretary of State “Timothy Pickering” and it is countersigned by Lamb below their signatures. The Nancy was a sloop of over 39 tons that was built in Milford, CT, and owned by Connecticut natives Benjamin M. Mumford (1772-1843) and Zachariah Huntington (1764-1850), merchants of New York. This sea letter is accompanied by an archive of nine additional documents, all relating to the sloop Nancy. Sea letter with some fold marks and mild toning, with one small tape reinforcement on verso; Washington’s signature large and bold. Remaining documents with fold marks and light edge-wear as well, light wear and staining to protective portfolio. Overall an impressive collection of official documents relating to a single trade ship, with the sea letter boldly signed by President George Washington.
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