Partly-printed vellum DS, signed “James Monroe” as president and “John Quincy Adams” as Secretary of State, one page, 11.25 x 14.5, March 1, 1823. Scalloped-top ship’s paper issued for the “Schooner Imperial of New York, James Gill master and commander…mounted with two guns navigated with eight men.” In good condition, with heavy wrinkling and creasing, scattered toning, intersecting storage folds, one affecting a single letter of Monroe’s signature, several small holes, scattered staining, and partial seal remaining. Despites its flaws, both signatures remain clear and essentially unaffected.
March 1, 1823 must have been the day that Monroe set aside for his sea-faring concerns, as on that same date he sent a message to the House of Representatives requesting information on what was being done to stop “an illegal blockade of the ports of the Spanish Main, and to depredations of privateers fitted out from Porto Rico and other Spanish islands on the commerce of the United States.” Incidentally, the Imperial is mentioned in George Coggeshall’s 1852 book, Voyages to Various Parts of the World from 1799 till 1844. The vessel also is known to have participated in the Seminole Wars. An impressive early presidential pairing. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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