Griswold, Rufus Wilmot. The Republican Court; or, American Society in the Days of Washington.
An Exceptional Extra-Illustrated Two-Volume Presentation Set, Lavishly Bound, Inlaid with Original Autographs, Documents, and Period Engravings of the Founding Generation
Offered here is one of the most spectacular extra-illustrated sets of this celebrated work to appear on the market in recent memory: a two-volume first edition of Rufus Wilmot Griswold's The Republican Court; or, American Society in the Days of Washington (New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1855), transformed by a devoted and knowledgeable collector into a monument to the Founding era. The volumes have been magnificently rebound in deep midnight-blue full morocco leather with elaborate gilt-tooled borders, raised bands, and the repeated cipher “W” in gold — a design almost certainly intended as a tribute to Washington himself — with gilt page edges throughout.
Into these two volumes, an ambitious extra-illustrator has incorporated a remarkable group of original autographed documents, signatures, bank drafts, and engraved portraits, each mounted or inlaid opposite the relevant passage of Griswold’s text. The signers and figures represented span the full sweep of the Revolutionary and Early National periods: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, John Dickinson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Elias Boudinot, and Oliver Wolcott — along with a rare early Bank of the United States draft signed by cashier John Kean and a finely engraved Washington bookplate, most likely a later restrike.
THE AUTOGRAPHS & DOCUMENTS
1. George Washington — Autograph Signature Clipped
A boldly executed signature clipped from a larger document, reading “Go: Washington” in Washington’s characteristic hand — the flowing “Go:” abbreviation for “George” that he employed consistently throughout his presidency and military career. The clip is mounted on a backing slip and inlaid into Volume I opposite the engraved Washington frontispiece, creating a dramatic juxtaposition of image and hand. The paper shows a partial wax seal impression, suggesting origin from a franked or sealed letter. Light toning and small fold; the signature itself is bold and fully legible. The wax seal residue on the backing paper indicates origin from a signed cover or document.
2. Thomas Jefferson — Autograph Signature Clipped, with Original Wax Seal
A signature clip signed “Th: Jefferson” in Jefferson’s elegant and distinctive hand, the characteristic abbreviated “Th:” followed by his surname in a flowing cursive script. Crucially, this clip retains an intact fragment of a bright red wax seal at the left edge — a rare and significant survival that confirms the clip’s origin from a franked letter or official document rather than from a mere album leaf. The paper is irregular at the edges where it was cut, and shows light toning; the signature may have been traced over at some point.
3. Benjamin Harrison (Signer) and Thomas Meriwether — Revolutionary War Land Grant Document Signed, Council Chamber, June 17, 1784
A printed land grant certificate with manuscript insertions throughout, certifying that “Martin Healy” is entitled to the proportion of land “allowed a Captain of the [Hale] line, for three years service.” Dated from the “Council-Chamber, June 17, 1784,” the document bears two autograph signatures: at lower left, “Benj. Harrison” (identified in a later hand as “Signer”), and at right, “Tho. Meriwether” with a bold flourishing paraph. Benjamin Harrison (c. 1726–1791) of Virginia — a member of the Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Governor of Virginia from 1781 to 1784 — issued this document during his third and final term as governor, making it an official executive document adjudicating a Revolutionary War bounty claim. Harrison’s signature is large, bold, and fully characteristic.
4. John Kean — Bank of the United States Draft Signed as Cashier, March 1794
A Bank of the United States draft on the Office of Discount and Deposit at Baltimore, dated March 1794, in the amount of $625 (“Six hundred and twenty-five Dollars”), payable to the order of “John Carrere,” signed “John Kean, Cash[ie]r” in a bold, assured hand. The numbered check (“99”) is on the original printed Bank of the United States blank, with the Baltimore office designation written in manuscript. John Kean (1756–1795) served as Cashier of the Bank of the United States from its founding in 1791 until his death in 1795; his death makes documents bearing his cashier signature a finite and increasingly scarce category.
5. Charles Carroll of Carrollton (Signer) — Office of Discount and Deposit Check Signed, Baltimore, May 30, 1821
A fine engraved check, No. 135, Office of Discount and Deposit, Baltimore, dated May 30, 1821, in the amount of $412.10 (“Four hundred and twelve Dollars and Ten Cents”), payable to “I. Blackwood or Bearer.” Signed in a bold, flourishing hand: “Ch. Carroll of C——” — the characteristic abbreviation of “of Carrollton” that Carroll appended to all his signatures throughout his long life to distinguish himself from the numerous other Charles Carrolls in his family. The check blank is of exceptional quality, with ornate Gothic-lettered heading and decorative border. Carroll (1737–1832) was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, a distinction that made his autograph among the most prized in America even during his lifetime.
6. John Dickinson (Signer) — Autograph Signature Clipped, Inlaid Beneath Engraved Portrait
A small signature clip signed “John Dickinson” in the Founder’s clear, deliberate hand, inlaid directly beneath the fine engraved portrait of Dickinson — engraved by J.B. Forrest from a C.W. Peale portrait of 1770 — creating one of the most visually striking portrait-plus-signature pairings in the set. A second small Dickinson signature clip, with an old penciled collector’s notation “60” at upper right, is also present. Dickinson (1732–1808), the “Penman of the Revolution,” was the author of the celebrated Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (1767–68) and a principal drafter of the Articles of Confederation.
7. Elias Boudinot (President of Congress) — Autograph Letter Signed, Burlington, July 8, 1820
A complete autograph letter signed “Elias Boudinot” in his clear, aged hand, written from Burlington [New Jersey], July 8, 1820, addressed on the integral leaf to “The Rev. Mr. Elias Cornelius.” The letter reads in full: “Fred & dear Ser [Sir] — I have just found the enclosed, which was forgot to be returned to you — I am in haste. Yours & &c &c — Elias Boudinot.” The address leaf bears red postal markings and a partial wax seal residue. Some soiling and wrinkling to the letter leaf, with a small hole at center from a broken seal; signature clear and well-formed. Boudinot (1740–1821) served as President of the Continental Congress 1782–83 and later as Director of the U.S. Mint; written just one year before his death, this is among his final letters.
8. George Washington — Engraved Armorial Bookplate (Later Hollyer Strike)
A fine engraved bookplate bearing the Washington armorial design: the family coat of arms — the Washington “stars and bars,” three mullets above two bars — displayed on a shield beneath an eagle, with the motto “Exitus Acta Probat” (“The End Justifies the Deeds”) on a ribbon below, and the inscription “George Washington” beneath. The lower right corner bears the engraver’s signature “S. Hollyer.” As noted by the original compiler of this set, this is a later strike from the original plate, not a contemporary impression; Samuel Hollyer (1826–1919) was a New York engraver who issued reproductive strikes of the Washington bookplate for the collector market. Even later impressions are desirable for their association and graphic quality, and Hollyer’s strikes are among the finest reproductions.
SUMMARY OF AUTOGRAPH CONTENT
George Washington: Autograph signature clip (‘Go: Washington’), with wax seal impression
Thomas Jefferson: Autograph signature clip (‘Th: Jefferson’), with original red wax seal intact
Benjamin Harrison (Signer): Co-signer, Revolutionary War land grant, Council-Chamber, June 17, 1784
Thomas Meriwether: Co-signer, same land grant document
John Kean: Bank of the United States draft signed as Cashier, March 1794, $625
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (Signer): Check signed (‘Ch. Carroll of C——’), Baltimore, May 30, 1821, $412.10
John Dickinson (Signer): Two autograph signature clips (‘John Dickinson’)
Elias Boudinot: ALS, Burlington, July 8, 1820, to Rev. Elias Cornelius
Washington Bookplate: Engraved armorial, later Hollyer strike
THE BOOK: BINDING & PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Griswold’s Republican Court was one of the most admired works of its generation — a richly social history of Washington’s presidential years, documenting the manners, personalities, and salon culture of the new nation. This edition is presented in a deluxe extra-illustrated state, rebound in two volumes of deep navy full morocco with five raised bands to each spine. The gilt decoration is exceptionally fine: repeated foliate and star-filled cartouches with the monogrammed “W” cipher stamped in gold throughout, the year 1855 at the foot of each spine, boards ruled in triple gilt fillets with a central gilt-tooled wreath-and-palmette panel, and all edges gilt. An additional volume in matching blue morocco accompanies the set as a supplementary portfolio for extra plates and insertions. Internally, pages are clean with light toning appropriate to age; engraved illustrations remain in excellent condition; autograph material is professionally presented throughout.
THE ENGRAVINGS — A SELECTION
The extra-illustrated volumes contain a rich and extensive suite of engraved portraits of the principal figures of the Revolutionary and Early National periods — far too numerous to catalog in full. The following represent only a fraction of the illustrations present throughout both volumes:
The frontispiece of Volume I is a large allegorical engraving of George Washington, depicted in three-quarter view within an oval laurel wreath, surrounded by an American eagle, tricorn hat, sword, inkstand, and documents, with the motto “E Pluribus Unum” above and a panel of engraved facsimile signer signatures below — a tour de force of the engraver’s art and the thematic centerpiece of the entire set. A separate full-page hand-colored mezzotint portrait of Washington after the famous Gilbert Stuart type appears opposite the Washington signature clip, rendered with exceptional subtlety and color.
Additional identified portraits include: William Penn (clerical dress, after Von Smissen); John Hancock (engraved by J.B. Longacre after Copley); La Fayette (military uniform, with a facsimile signature as part of the engraving); John Dickinson (engraved by J.B. Forrest after C.W. Peale, 1770, with original Dickinson signature inlaid below); John Adams (half-length, stipple); Mrs. Martha Washington (oval, engraved by J.B. Longacre after a Robertson miniature in the possession of G.W.P. Custis Esq., with a facsimile signature as part of the engraving); William Pitt (ob. 1806, full-length in parliamentary robes, engraved by D. Lightfoot); Major General Baron Steuben (full equestrian, engraved by W.G. Jackman for S. & D. Milliken, New York); Edmund Randolph (bust, stipple); and John Jay (full-length, naval scene background, stipple). The actual complement of engravings throughout both volumes is considerably larger than those pictured.
PHYSICAL DETAILS & CONDITION
Title: The Republican Court; or, American Society in the Days of Washington
Author: Griswold, Rufus Wilmot (1815–1857)
Publisher: New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1855
Format: Two volumes (plus supplementary portfolio volume), extra-illustrated
Binding: Full deep navy blue morocco; gilt-tooled spines with five raised bands; repeated ‘W’ monogram cipher; triple-gilt-ruled boards; central gilt-tooled palmette panel; all edges gilt
Condition (binding): Very Good to Fine; tight, square, sound; minor rubbing to extremities
Condition (contents): Very Good; pages clean with light age toning; engravings sharp; autograph insertions stable
Condition (autographs): See individual descriptions above; generally Good to Very Good