Books & Manuscripts

Israel Putnam Collection, ca. 1777

Appraisal: Israel Putnam Collection, ca. 1777

Transcript

GUEST: I brought some letters from Israel Putnam during the Revolutionary War. I really don't know much about them.

APPRAISER: How did you get them?

GUEST: From my grandmother, I inherited them.

APPRAISER: How did she get them, do you know?

GUEST: I'm not exactly sure. She was a collector.

APPRAISER: Of what sort of things?

GUEST: A lot of artifacts, furniture, artwork.

APPRAISER: Okay. You've got a collection of material relating to Israel Putnam. He is a famous Revolutionary War general. He was an important figure at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He is credited with having said, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." He may or may not have said that, but he is generally credited. And you've got a collection of material, of letters, some of which predate the Revolutionary War, but some of which are actually written during the Revolutionary War. If you look at this letter and this letter, those two letters are early. One is 1768, and the other is January of 1775, which is four months before Lexington and Concord, before the Revolutionary War begins. These are sort of business-y letters.

One is about buying a horse, the other is about a land transaction. But they are entirely in Israel Putnam's hand, in his rather unusual style. This letter is a letter written by him as a general, as a commanding general. It's September 13, 1777. It's written from Putnam to John Hancock, who is at that time the president of the Continental Congress, and it is a really dense, rich letter reporting on the events that are happening at that moment. At September of 1777, Putnam is in New York. He is preparing to fight Clinton at the Battle of Fort Montgomery, which the colonists lose. But so he's sending important information about the state of his troops. That's actually in the hand of a secretary, but signed by Putnam on the second page. This letter, it's a great war date, 1776, letter, and it talks about transmitting carbines, and muskets, and powder. I mean, it's clearly Revolutionary War based. But if you look very closely, this one says, "I. Putnam, Jr." This is actually the son.

GUEST: Oh.

APPRAISER: The other piece you've brought in is a mezzotint portrait. The text here is in French, which is not uncommon, but was actually published in London. And this is a contemporary portrait of Putnam. Revolutionary War material is very, very hot right now. It is one of these critical war periods that is always collectible, and interest continues. I would put the value of the pre-war letters each at $2,000 to $3,000 apiece.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: The one from the son is... because he's a lesser figure, will be in the $800 to $1,200 range. The Putnam portrait is $1,000 to $1,500. But this letter, this war date letter with the rich information about these important battles, communications from Putnam to be passed on to George Washington, that letter I would value at $12,000 to $18,000.

GUEST: No way-- wow, crazy.

APPRAISER: Yeah.

Appraiser

Catherine Williamson

Bonhams, LA
Los Angeles, CA

APPRAISED VALUE (2015)

$17,000 - $26,000 Auction

Event

Tucson, AZ (2015)

Theme

Fine Art, Historical Artifacts

Form

2D Art, Portrait, Books & Documents, Letter

Appraiser Speciality

Books & Manuscripts

Material

2D & 3D Art Media, Ink, Paper and Cardboard, Paper

Period

18th Century

Update: April 4, 2016

The letters brought to the 2015 Tucson ANTIQUES ROADSHOW event have been transcribed below. Boston 5th June 1776 Dear Sir. I have sent from hence to be thereby you Recv'd & forwarded to New York: <ul s

sand bags in 20 Bales.</li>
t Ball. 2 tons in 40 boxes.</li>
antelets in 20 casks. </li>
road axes in 2 vats.</li>
ndhammers in 1 Cask. 500 hand hatchets in 13 Casks. </li>
ng axes 2 Casks. Hand bill 10 casks containing 500-1000 Spades & 500 Shovels.</li>
es of Carpenters tools & one cask of hand saws. Seven casks of spikes from 2 ½ to 5 inch. Casks of 2 ½ Nails. 20 boxes of Carbines & 500 barrels of powder & hope you will be ready to receive them I intend to be at Norwich with the powder & I am</li>

with affection & esteem yrs: I. Putnam Jr. Pomfret of 2 of April 1768 Dear Sir When I talked with you about bringing the hors down to you I take it that Major Durky and Mr Abet was to say how much good Westinde rum I was to have for him next Jun if you take it so you need not rite but if you don’t pray let me know for I and Durky understood it so but sumbody that was by afterward said they did not understand it so this from your most obedient humble servant. To Mr Gortmarchant at Norwich Israel Putnam Joshua Huntington Esqr Peekskill, Sept. 13th 1777 Please your Honor, Your favour of the 9th Inst. with the Inclosures I have been duly honoured with, [I] am much obliged to you for the intelligence they contain, by which, & the information of M. Brown, I perceive, the Two Armies of Gens. Washington & Howe are in a critical situation; the Enemy, I understand, are now removed from their ships, which are sent round, I presume, to give an alarm up the Delaware and unless General Washington attacks them soon, I fear, he will loose some advantages that may not easily be regained. By Capt. Worcester, who came from Gen. Gates last Saturday, at Van Schaicks Island, am informed that supplies came in to him fast, the men in high Spirits & that he has since moved up to Stillwater, —Genl[s]. Lincoln & Stark are on their march from Bennington with Six or Seven thousand Troops to get Burgoin's rear[.] Should they design as high up as Crown point, their plan, in my Opinion, would be perfect, & in case Genl. Gates pursues on at the Same time, the [?s] would be glorious. …