Morris Robert

Declaration Signer Robert Morris Shows his Business Acumen -- Nice ALS

An autograph letter signed "Robt Morris" to business associates Carey and Tilghman, dealing with both the ginseng and tobacco trade. The document is in good condition. The ink is very dark, making the content quite legible and the signature clear. The usual letter folds, small tears along those folds, and tiny holes in the body of the letter, do not compromise the clarity of the content or the signature. A small hole affects the "R" in "Robt".

Morris wrote: "... I receive Invoice of 18 casks of Ginseng which shall be examined & the amount brought to your credit as shall Harrison Nicholls & Cos. Drafts... Mr. Gilmore writes me his opinion that Tobo. will soon come plenty to your market & be sold at my limits, he tells me the consultation he had with you... makes some propositions which I will consider... be prepared for the purchase of 25/ & 5/ for Casks for I must not exceed that price at Baltimore or I shall raise it on myself in every part of your State, whatever you buy you will put it onboard the Margaretta... then prepare for another... Yesterdays post brought me three invoices of Ginsing [sic] by which I find myself better prepared than I know of therefore I believe it will not be necessary to raise the price of that article beyond 2/6... you may send me all you can get at that rate & if needfull you can give 2/9 to 3/ this at your discretion but I believe that I am now the only purchaser... Robt Morris".

In 1776, Morris was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In October 1785, Morris was elected to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania for the purpose of defending the Bank of North America, and he was re-elected the following year. During this time, however, Morris did not ignore his own business interests. In 1785, he made a contract with the French Farmers-General which gave him the monopoly of the American tobacco trade with France; this move inspired much ill will towards Morris from other American tobacco dealers. American ginseng grew in the Hudson Valley and elsewhere in the states. Its resemblance to a root native to Korea and Northern China made it a valuable commodity; the Chinese believed it to have many beneficial medicinal properties and the demand was great. On February 22, 1784, Robert Morris sent the "Empress of China" from New York to China with a large cargo of American ginseng. The voyage netted a profit of $30,000. This trade boomed and was restricted solely by the limited quantities of the root available. About 1790, the ginseng trade was largely displaced by the Pacific coast fur trade as the "principal medium for obtaining the silks and teas of China," though it did continue into the Twentieth Century.

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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