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Revolutionary War Spy JOHN ANDRE Drawing Signed

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Autographs

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Original Drawing by Major John Andre - The British Officer Hanged as a Spy in the American Revolutionary War

JOHN ANDRE, British Officer Hanged as a Spy in Revolutionary War.
Extremely rare original Drawing Signed, "J. Andre 1776" drawn and then by him, in the lower-right corner, on 4.75" x 8" laid paper, Very Good. In very light ink, bwing light and barely noticeable, but is absolutely there nonetheless. The drawing by Andre, a rather talented artist, depicts a crude farmhouse at left with a tree beside it, a two-rail fence blocking a road in foreground, and a smaller tree at right. On the back of the drawing is penned the sterling provenance of this tem: "This drawing is by Major John Andre Thos. P. Cope Phila. 1851". At a later date, another writer, perhaps Cope's spouse or child incorrectly added the words: "last drawing of" to Cope's initial provenance, also writing: "I hope you keep it and remember me always. This is the farm and the path… he spent his last days here".
Thomas P. Cope (1768–1854) was a Quaker originally from Lancaster, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant and the son of farmer Caleb Cope. In 1774 Andre first came to America as lieutenant in the Royal English Fusileers and in 1775 was taken prisoner at St. Johns, Canada. He was sent to Lancaster where he was held on the farm of Caleb Cope, father of Thomas P. Cope. The Copes developed a real affection for Andre, who gave art lessons to their eldest son, possibly our Thomas P. Cope! Cope very well could have kept the drawing as a souvenir of his friend and teacher, the British soldier, and later, spy.

Major John André (1750-1780) was a British officer hanged as a spy during the American Revolutionary War. This was due to an incident in which he assisted Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York, to the British Army.

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