LEWIS, Meriwether (1774-1809). Document signed ("Meriwether Lewis," with flourish), as Governor, Louisiana Territory; St. Louis, [Missouri], 19 August 1809. ½ page, 4 o (240 x 202 mm), neat repairs along one central fold, endorsements on verso . MERIWETHER LEWIS, "THE GREATEST PATHFINDER THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER KNOWN," BORROWS MONEY. An attractive document signed by the Virginia-born Lewis, head of the celebrated expedition which charted a path across the continent. Lewis joined the militia in 1794 during the Whiskey Rebellion and rose to the rank of captain. After serving as private secretary to President Jefferson, in 1803 Lewis took command the "corps of discovery" sent to survey and explore the vast lands just acquired from France. Upon his return, Lewis was offered the post of Governor of Louisiana Territory, embracing all the lands north and west of present-day state of Louisiana. At age 25, while en route to Washington, Lewis met a violent and still controversial death (probably by his own hand) at a backwood tavern in Tennessee (11 October 1809). DOCUMENTS SIGNED BY THE HEAD OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION ARE INCREASINGLY RARE: the most recent examples at auction are one dated 24 August 1809 (sale, Christie's, 7 May 1996, lot 259, $14,000) and one dated 12 February 1807 (sale, Christie's, 17 June 2003, lot 122, $11,000).
LEWIS, Meriwether (1774-1809). Document signed ("Meriwether Lewis," with flourish), as Governor, Louisiana Territory; St. Louis, [Missouri], 19 August 1809. ½ page, 4 o (240 x 202 mm), neat repairs along one central fold, endorsements on verso . MERIWETHER LEWIS, "THE GREATEST PATHFINDER THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER KNOWN," BORROWS MONEY. An attractive document signed by the Virginia-born Lewis, head of the celebrated expedition which charted a path across the continent. Lewis joined the militia in 1794 during the Whiskey Rebellion and rose to the rank of captain. After serving as private secretary to President Jefferson, in 1803 Lewis took command the "corps of discovery" sent to survey and explore the vast lands just acquired from France. Upon his return, Lewis was offered the post of Governor of Louisiana Territory, embracing all the lands north and west of present-day state of Louisiana. At age 25, while en route to Washington, Lewis met a violent and still controversial death (probably by his own hand) at a backwood tavern in Tennessee (11 October 1809). DOCUMENTS SIGNED BY THE HEAD OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION ARE INCREASINGLY RARE: the most recent examples at auction are one dated 24 August 1809 (sale, Christie's, 7 May 1996, lot 259, $14,000) and one dated 12 February 1807 (sale, Christie's, 17 June 2003, lot 122, $11,000).
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
