SIGNED ON HIS 65TH BIRTHDAY–
HIS LAST BIRTHDAY AS PRESIDENT

GEORGE WASHINGTON. Letter Signed as President to C[harles] Hall, Philadelphia [PA], 22 February 1797. 1 page, plus integral blank leaf, 7¼" x 9", archivally matted with an engraving of Washington.

In the early months of 1797, as he neared the end of his Presidency, George Washington was deluged with messages of thanks for his many years of service to his country. One such tribute came from the citizens of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, whose address, given to Washington in February 1797 by Charles Hall, expressed their praise and gratitude for his contributions in the American Revolution as well as during his Presidency. On February 22, Washington wrote a formal reply to the residents of Northumberland County to thank them for their approbation.

This is Washington’s letter of transmittal for that reply, asking Charles Hall to convey it to the residents of Northumberland County. “With this you will receive my answer to the Address, which you presented to me a few days ago, of a meeting held at Sunbury in Northumberland County,” Washington declares. “You will be pleased to forward it, with my good wishes for the people of Northumberland, in the manner you think most proper.” He has signed the letter, “G. Washington,” and his signature is dark and clear.

Washington signed this letter on February 22, 1797 – his 65th birthday, which was celebrated as a holiday in Philadelphia, the nation’s capital. This was also one of Washington’s final days as President, for he left the office about a week and a half later, on March 4, 1797, when John Adams was inaugurated.

Neither the address from the citizens of Northumberland County nor Washington’s reply to it are present with this letter. However, transcripts of both can be found in Washington’s letterbooks, now at the Library of Congress and available online, and copies of them accompany the letter.

The letter is in very good condition. It has some small pinholes, especially in the top margin, but there is no loss. Along the bottom margin is an undated note in another hand that provides some of the letter’s provenance. Both the text of the letter, in a clerical hand, and Washington’s signature are dark and clear.

The letter is archivally matted, along with an engraving of Washington, in a double mat of dark brown with dark green edging, ready for framing. The overall size of the piece in the mat is approximately 18½" wide by 14" high. $25,000.00

A closeup of the letter is above; the image below shows the letter matted with an engraved portrait of Washington.

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