NEW YORK, USA – A rare letter signed by three of America’s Founding Fathers—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson—is expected to fetch up to $1 million when it goes on sale next week.
The historic document, addressed to the “Envoy Extraordinary of the King of the Two Sicilies,” seeks to initiate negotiations for a treaty of amity and commerce, exemplifying the emerging foreign policy of the newly independent United States.
The sale, managed by Bonhams auction house, begins with bidding set at $550,000.
Described by Bonhams as “likely the only available example of any letter signed by all three of these Founding Fathers,” the document dates to 1784, a formative period in U.S. history when Congress had tasked Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson with establishing trade-based treaties with over 20 nations.
These early agreements were part of a bold new direction for the nation, intended to bolster its international standing and lay the foundation for a policy of free trade.
“These treaties of ‘Amity and Commerce’ authorized by Congress just after Independence, and well before the enactment of a Federal Constitution, were essentially the establishment of a new and heavily trade-based system that would remake the face of international politics,” Bonhams explained in the auction listing.
The letter has surfaced after being hidden from public view for centuries, resurfacing as a reminder of America’s nascent diplomatic efforts and its founders’ roles in shaping global relations.
The letter not only holds immense historical value but also serves as an example of the cautious optimism that marked America’s post-revolutionary years, a time when the nation’s success on the world stage was far from assured.
Items connected to the Founding Fathers often attract strong interest from collectors. In 2017, a collection of manuscripts, letters, and documents from Alexander Hamilton’s desk drew $2.6 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York.
The upcoming Bonhams sale highlights the enduring fascination with artifacts from America’s foundational era, as collectors and history enthusiasts vie for pieces tied to the figures who shaped the country.
The auction of this rare document is scheduled for November 12.
Additionally, history enthusiasts will have another chance to own a piece of American history at a New York-based Guernsey’s auction on November 22, where a lock of George Washington’s hair and other historic items will be available for bidding.
