Description:

(STAMP ACT) THOMAS CLIFFORD
THOMAS CLIFFORD (1722–1793) Very successful Quaker merchant in Philadelphia. Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Clifford apprenticed under a cooper but abandoned the craft to pursue commerce. He built his mercantile business up through the triangle trade, trading in rum and sugar fortified by an impressive amount of iron goods such as frying pans, locks and hinges, and nails. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Clifford refused to traffic in human cargo. Nevertheless, his profits increased and on the eve of the American Revolution he had ten vessels under his name. Good content A.L.S. 3pp. with integral address leaf, 8vo., Philadelphia, Mar. 3, 1766 to Antigua merchants Harper & Hartshorne. In part: '...the quantity of the articles was far short of what was usually Exported for the Islands other years, I would not think the Islanders would be so blind to their own Interest as to Seize or molest vessels from the Continent for want of Stamps on their Clearances...Enforcing or repealing the Stamp Act to me seemed little other than a Determination whether the Parliament...had or had not a right to Tax the Subjects in America and Deprive us of the Grand Bulwark of English Liberty...things looked so Gloomy and Discouraging...your 'J H' ['John Hancock'?] favor hath a paragraph so Humorous...so much attachment to his Country and So Zealous for the Cause of Liberty that I just sent some abstracts to have in place in our Newspapers...Our Accounts from Great Britain expect the Parliament will Repeal or Suspend the Stamp Act...' Seal tear, else very good.

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April 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
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$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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$2,000,000 + $100,000