James Polk & James Buchanan Signed Puerto Cabello, Venezuela Consul Appointment

A 1p document signed by 11th U.S. President James K. Polk (1795-1849) as "James K. Polk" at lower right, and also signed by then U.S. Secretary of State and future 15th U.S. President James Buchanan (1791-1868) as "James Buchanan" at lower right. Issued from Washington, D.C. on February 27, 1847. The partly printed and partly handwritten document on vellum features an embossed presidential seal at lower left. Portions inscribed in ink are faded but still legible. Expected gentle wear including folds, minor yellowing, darkened edges, and isolated foxing. The central horizontal crease is peppered with tiny, unobtrusive holes, else very good to near fine. 19.625" x 14.625."

President James K. Polk appointed "Southy Grinalds of Virginia" as "Consul of the United States of America for Puerto Cabello in the Republic of Venezuela."

Contemporary records, including Congressional Directories, indicate that Southy Grinalds served as U.S. Consul in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela from ca. 1847-1850, and between ca. 1851-1856. Puerto Cabello is located on the northern coast of Venezuela. Grinalds was one of a handful of other U.S. Consuls dispatched to major Venezuelan cities like Caracas and Maracaibo. Prior to the Puerto Cabello appointment, in 1856, Southy Grinalds is listed as U.S. Consul in Santa Martha and Chagres, two cities in the Republic of New Granada (a short-lived conglomerate republic composed primarily of modern day Panama and Colombia.)

Southy (sometimes spelled "Southey") Grinalds proves to be an elusive figure on an individual basis, though we can reconstruct his general family history. Grinalds Family members appear in the historical record as early as the American Revolution, and were closely associated with Accomack County, located on the eastern shore of Virginia. A Southy Grinalds is listed as representing Accomack County in the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the 1830s; approximately one third of county residents were enslaved at that time, so we can speculate that agriculture played a major part of the economy.

James K. Polk served as president between 1845-1849. Buchanan, president from 1857-1861, served as a Polk-appointed Secretary of State between March 1845 and March 1849.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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