Printed DS, signed “Th: Jefferson” as secretary of state, one page both sides, 9.75 x 16, March 23, 1792. An Act passed during the first session of the Second Congress (which began on October 24, 1791), “to provide for the settlement of the Claims of Widows and Orphans barred by the limitations heretofore established and to regulate the Claims to Invalid Pensions.” Among other provisions, the act corrected all the prior injustices of providing for pensions of those worthy soldiers and seamen and their families, suspended prior acts, extended pension claims to be paid to the widows or orphans of any officer, and extended pensions to wounded and disabled veterans for their lifetimes or the length of their disability. It also provides for district court judges to hear all claims and upon proof of service and or disability provide that proof to the Secretary of War for inclusion on the list of pensions. Separate broadside printings of laws like this one (known as “Slip laws”) are uncommon and important, as they were specially printed in small numbers for official government distribution and were usually the earliest printed versions of that law. In June 1789, the First Congress ordered “that within ten days of passage of any law, 22 copies [two for each state which had at that point ratified the Constitution] of it should be logged with the President,” who would send two copies to the governor of each state. There were two “states” of each slip law: 26 “duly authenticated” copies [once Rhode Island and North Carolina ratified the Constitution] printed for the president for distribution to governors, and copies on ordinary paper for distribution to the members of Congress. This copy, bearing the printed statement “Deposited among the Rolls in the Office of the Secretary of State” above Jefferson’s signature, is one of the 26 copies printed for the president. The act has also been signed in type at the conclusion by House Speaker Jonathan Trumbull and Vice President John Adams, and similarly approved by George Washington. The document has been archivally encapsulated in Mylar and is housed in a custom cloth clamshell presentation case. Light horizontal storage folds (one just touching bottom edge of signature), otherwise very fine, bright, fresh condition. Handsome, scarce, and desirable! Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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