Description:

EDMUND RUFFIN
(1794 – 1865) Virginia planter and political activist best known as an early advocate for secession of the southern slave states. He served in the Virginia Senate from 1823 to 1827 and was an ardent 'Fire-Eater'. Ruffin was present at the Battle of Fort Sumter in April 1861 and fired one cannon shot at the fort, giving rise to the legend that he fired the first shot of the Civil War. When the war ended, he committed suicide rather than accept what he called 'Yankee rule.' Rare A.L.S., 1p. 4to., Washington, Apr. 15, 1858, in part: '...When I placed my [manuscripts] in your hands, I entirely forgot I was going south & ought require to have them with me soon...if quite convenient to return the papers by May 1st, to me at Richmond - either to the care of Randolph or of J. P. Ballard, as may be most convenient to the bearer. Do not put yourself to any trouble to effect this - and if it should not be done, I will not otherwise need to hurry the return of the papers...' Mounting strip to the verso of the left margin, otherwise very good. Ruffin was a prolific pamphleteer and propagandist, and he spent much of his 1858 trip to Washington attempting to solicit U.S. Senators and Representatives.

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April 1, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
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$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000