Description:

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
(1706 - 1790) American statesman, inventor, and author, Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. AN INVITATION TO THE MAN JEFFERSON CREDITED WITH FIRST EXCLAIMING: "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL" Fine A.L.S. signed in the third person "Dr. Franklin" twice, 1p. 7 1/4" x 6 3/4" (sight), [Paris], March [11], 1783 to Philip Mazzei. In full: "According to Mr. Mazzei's Request, Dr. Franklin has the honour to inform him that there is no Court at Versailles on Tuesday next, consequently that he shall not be there. - Dr. Franklin desires the honour of Mr. & Mrs. Mazzei's Company at Dinner on Wednesday the 12th Inst. - at 1/2 pst 2". Fine condition, lavishly double-matted with an engraving of Franklin and brass descriptive plaque, all set into an ornate gilt wood frame. At this point in time, the Treaty of Paris had already been drafted with Franklin's input as a peace commissioner. It would not be signed, and the Revolution would technically continue until the following September. Philip Mazzei (1730-1816) was no doubt well-treated by Franklin: a close friend of Thomas Jefferson, Mazzei acted as an agent to purchase arms for Virginia during the war. Later, John F. Kennedy would cite Mazzei as the originator of the phrase "All men are created equal", which Kennedy claims Jefferson adapted from one of Mazzei's letters. A great association.

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May 24, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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