Washington Related
1891 James T. Mitchell, Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 10 Letters Re: George Washington Portraits
JAMES T. MITCHELL (1834-1915). Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (1889-1903) and Chief Justice (1903-1910), President of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, Avid Collector of Autographs, Early American Documents and Portraits of George Washington.
Unique Archive Collection of 10 Different Autographed Letters (having 14 pages total), each Signed by James T. Mitchell, Chief Justice of PA., dated at Philadelphia, Feb. through July of 1891, each of these Letters are regarding the purchase of historic George Washington Prints for his collection, Extremely Fine.
These 10 Letters each measure 5" x 8", on his engraved address personal stationery, all boldly written to the same print dealer, who is sending him various prints of George Washington for his selection and purchase. One letter has some light blue smudge stains, all beautifully handwritten and boldly signed in rich deep brown ink. Some excerpts include:
"... I will keep the two Washington like's [likenesses] - and the other prints will be ready for your messenger at any time..."
"..I return the woodcuts today. It is scarcely worthwhile to send me material of this kind unless very rare..."
"... I am obliged for your letter, but do not care for the print you mention. I think I have it, but even if I have not, the price is very far beyond the limit of a lithograph ..."
"... I shall be pleased to examine the Washington prints. I have two copies of the Peale portrait No. 379, but neither of them is perfect ..."
"... I find that the Peale Washington is not in as good order as the one I already have. The French lithograph I feel pretty sure I already have though my prints are in course of rearrangement and I cannot at the moment lay my hand on it. In any event, however, my views of its value are so far below the price named that it would not be worthwhile to discuss an offer. I therefore return both prints by express today ...".
A unique grouping with content regarding the finest collection of George Washington Engraved Portraits ever amassed. Archive of Ten Letters. (10 items)
Much of James T. Mitchell's collection is currently held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and his Collection of Engraved Portraits of Washington was sold at auction in 1906, the Catalog of which Described the Collection as "Unequalled" ("The Unequalled Collection of Engraved Portraits of Washington Belonging to Hon. James T. Mitchell, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania", Stanislaus V. Henkel, Philadelphia). .