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Gilbert Stuart portrait of 'George Washington the first good president 1846,' painted March 20, 1797. This portrait was based on the uncompleted Athenaeum portrait by Stuart; the uncompleted portions were filled in by Rembrandt Peale. Painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass.

$1.4M paid for George Washington letter in NYC auction

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson

Gilbert Stuart portrait of 'George Washington the first good president 1846,' painted March 20, 1797. This portrait was based on the uncompleted Athenaeum portrait by Stuart; the uncompleted portions were filled in by Rembrandt Peale. Painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass.
Gilbert Stuart portrait of ‘George Washington the first good president 1846,’ painted March 20, 1797. This portrait was based on the uncompleted Athenaeum portrait by Stuart; the uncompleted portions were filled in by Rembrandt Peale. Painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass.
NEW YORK (AP) – A letter in which George Washington offers his positive views on the newly drafted Constitution has sold for $1.4 million in New York.

It was written during the contentious debate over the document’s ratification. A private collector offered it for sale at Christie’s on Friday.

Christie’s says the seven-page letter was purchased by an anonymous phone bidder for $1,443,750. Bidding was between the phone bidder and a woman in the room.

Dated April 25, 1788, it is addressed to Revolutionary War Officer John Armstrong.

Washington writes that he doubts “whether the opposition of the Constitution will not ultimately be productive of more good than evil.”

He also says the framers of the Constitution “have given the rights of man a full and fair discussion.”

Chris Coover, Senior Specialist of Books and Manuscripts, Christie’s New York, said after the auction: “Today’s sale featured a highly important letter of George Washington, strongly endorsing the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Letters of this significance are very rarely offered for sale. This spectacular result reaffirms the deep and abiding respect and appreciation Americans feel for Washington and his compelling influence which has powerfully shaped our nation. The sale of this superb letter comes on the heels of our June 2012 sale of Washington’s annotated copy of the Acts of Congress, which brought $9,826,500.”

Thomas Lecky, Head of the Books and Manuscripts Department, Christie’s New York, added, “A diverse group of books and manuscripts also found strong results in today’s sale. A selection of maps and atlases was highlighted by a superb copy of Blaeu’s Grand Atlas, and botanical books from the Holden Arboretum were well received. Edgar Allan Poe’s remarkable, previously undiscovered, letter about his seminal story the ‘Tell-Tale Heart,’ more than tripled its low estimate.”

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ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Gilbert Stuart portrait of 'George Washington the first good president 1846,' painted March 20, 1797. This portrait was based on the uncompleted Athenaeum portrait by Stuart; the uncompleted portions were filled in by Rembrandt Peale. Painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass.
Gilbert Stuart portrait of ‘George Washington the first good president 1846,’ painted March 20, 1797. This portrait was based on the uncompleted Athenaeum portrait by Stuart; the uncompleted portions were filled in by Rembrandt Peale. Painting is in the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass.
Signed, holographic George Washington letter written at Mount Vernon, April 25, 1788, and sent to John Armstrong (1717-1795). Auctioned at Christie's New York gallery on June 21, 2013 for $1,443,750. Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd. 2013.
Signed, holographic George Washington letter written at Mount Vernon, April 25, 1788, and sent to John Armstrong (1717-1795). Auctioned at Christie’s New York gallery on June 21, 2013 for $1,443,750. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd. 2013.