After years gathering dust in a Mississippi family’s attic, a valuable piece of history was recently brought to light: a letter penned by America’s third president, Thomas Jefferson.
Addressed to United States Ambassador to France William Crawford, it was written at the Founding Father’s Monticello estate, and is dated Valentine’s Day 1815.
But this was no love letter. Reacting to the end of the War of 1812, the wide-ranging, four-page document shines a unique light on President Jefferson’s negative views towards Britain.
According to the Raab Collection, it’s an “extraordinary letter of the highest historical importance.” On behalf of the Mississippi family, who are reportedly descendants of Ambassador Crawford, the Raab Collection put the letter up for sale on its site on July 4th—exactly 190 years after President Jefferson’s death. The asking price is $325,000. At press time, there are still no takers. —By Reilly Dowd, RealClearLife Contributor
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