Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
(800) 937-3880
SELL

Lot #256
David Rice Atchison

Scarce handwritten plea by the 'president for a day'

This lot has closed

Estimate: $600+
Sell a Similar Item?
Share:  

Description

Scarce handwritten plea by the 'president for a day'

American politician (1807-1886) best remembered as the subject of a controversy over whether, as president pro tempore of the Senate, he technically served one day as US president in 1849 when Zachary Taylor declined to be inaugurated on the Sabbath. Though the unusual circumstances have since been widely analyzed and the notion of Atchison's presidency discounted, the legend of his 'tenure' has become an enduring fixture of American political folklore. Partial ADS, signed “Atchison Atto for Defe,” one page, 7 x 10.25, no date. Final page of a plea in a libel and slander suit written by Atchison on behalf of his client, in part: "The said Plaintiff charged with stealing were at the time and one will by nature, and of which and upon which the Plaintiff could not have committed and said Defendant that he did not intend to by the speaking and publishing the said words to impute the Plaintiff with the crime of larceny or any other crime only a little impropencity in the way of trespass and of this he the said Defendant puts himself upon." Matted and framed with a plaque and portrait to an overall size of 19 x 17. In very good to fine condition, with faint toning along three horizontal folds, and some scattered ink stains.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts
  • Dates: #525 - Ended April 11, 2018





This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for $35.00

*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.