First US president George Washington’s long-lost letter up for grabs. See why is it special

A letter from first US president George Washington, which shows his financial woes, is going under the hammer. The long-lost letter may fetch $50,000 at an auction.

The auction house, which is going to put it up for sale, is the Raab Collection. In a news release on Sunday, the discovery of the letter was announced by the auction house, specializing in historical documents.

The letter, which was earlier “unknown to scholars”, was in a small private collection in rural West Virginia, as per the news release.


In the letter in 1787, Washington wrote about his need to sell land and raise money.

The early politician had begun corresponding with a retired colonel Israel Shreve, who wanted to use a form of credit for buying a 1,644-acre tract of land on the Youghiogheny River in western Pennsylvania, as per the Raab collection. While Washington was insisting on selling the land for cash.


“The land you mention is for sale. I wish it was convenient for me to accommodate you with it for military certificates but to raise money is the only inducement, I have to sell it. One fourth of the money to be paid down, while the other three fourths in three annual payments with interest,” wrote Washington.

In the news release, Nathan Raab, who is principal at The Raab Collection, said that this letter, which is coming as it does on the doorstep of one of great moments of Washington, gives us a glimpse into the financial stresses and concerns of the first president, a man we think of in mythic terms but really had many of our own human issues.

FAQs:

1. What was the name of George Washington’s wife?
   Martha Dandridge Custis Washington.
2. Where was George Washington born?
   Virginia, British America.