Tench Coxe Archive Incl. FOUR Signatures, & Mentioning Sec. of Treasury Alexander Hamilton

A collection of two free franked autograph letters, one signed, and a free franked printed circular, featuring a total of four complete signatures of Tench Coxe (1755-1824) as "Tench Coxe." The three pieces in this archive date from 1792-1793. Tench Coxe served as a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress in the late 1780s, and also served as the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury between September 1789-June 1792 under 1st U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.

The lot includes:

1. A 2pp autograph letter signed as "Tench Coxe" on the top of the second page, also including an integral address leaf free franked as "Tench Coxe" at lower left, dated March 2, 1792. Expected gentle wear including folds, wax seal loss, and a strip of old adhesive running along the vertical seam, else near fine. 7.375" x 9."

The two letters in this lot were both addressed to Reverend Jedidiah Morse (1761-1826), the Congregationalist minister of a Charlestown, Massachusetts church between 1789-1820. Morse was less celebrated for his preaching as for being the father of inventor Samuel F.B. Morse, and for his series of early textbooks on American geography.

In this letter, Coxe recommended that Morse consult a "Sketch of the Country from the head of Chessapeak to the Mohawk River, which you will find useful + instructive…" He also urged Morse to review "the reports of the Secy of the Treasury + other heads of Depts" to substantiate comments about local economies. Coxe's boss Alexander Hamilton (1755/57-1804) served as 1st U.S. Secretary of the Treasury between 1789-1795.

2. A 3pp autograph letter including an integral address leaf free franked as "Tench Coxe" at lower left, undated but ca. March 1792. Light paper folds, wax seal loss, and a strip of old adhesive running along the vertical seam, else near fine. 7.375" x 9."

Coxe continued offering Morse advice about his geography textbooks, citing Morse's intention to reissue his work "American Geography" originally published in 1789. Coxe chided Morse for some disparaging editorial comments he made about certain states: "I beg leave to remark that some feelings of pain, which I am sure you did not mean to excite, have been produced in the most worthy of people in some of the states upon which you have made remarks that place their states in a less respectable or serious point of view than they merit is proper. These things are often imputed (?) to local prejudices, which you and every rational man will I am sure study to avoid…"

3. A "Treasury Department" circular letter dated August 22, 1793 regarding the prize seizure of vessels and cargoes originating from American ports, free franked by Tench Coxe as "Tench Coxe" in the postage section of the integral address leaf. Expected wear including paper folds and isolated loss corresponding to the red wax seal. A strip of old adhesive running along the vertical seam, else near fine. 7.875" x 9.125."

The circular was addressed to Samuel Russell Gerry (1750-1807), a Revolutionary War veteran and merchant who was appointed Collector of Customs of Marblehead, Massachusetts in August 1790.

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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