One of the most well-known traitors in history, Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) was a successful general from Connecticut during the Revolutionary War, up until he switched sides and got caught trying to help the British in 1780. Revolutionary War-dated manuscript DS, signed “Accepted, B. Arnold,” one page, 5.25 x 2.75, June 13, 1775. Receipt regarding the purchase of planks. In part: “Received twenty five Hundred feete Board.” Signed at the bottom by Arnold and countersigned by Collin McKenzie. Document has been professionally inlaid to a 6.5 x 4.5 light green sheet. Central horizontal and vertical fold, scattered moderate irregular toning, a few words of document light, but mostly legible, and a bit of trivial edge loss, otherwise very good condition. Arnold’s signature remains bold and pronounced.
Events in Arnold’s life this same month offered some foreshadowing of his treacherous ways to come. The same month he signed this receipt, Arnold—annoyed that officials with the Massachusetts Congress, which commissioned him, had not reimbursed his expenses nor paid his men—threatened to return several captured crafts to the British. Reports from the incident noted that Arnold and his men appeared to have ‘their own interest more at heart than the public good.’ Any further incident was averted, but those involved the matter later questioned whether the general’s ‘unaccountable pride’ would some day lead him ‘to sacrifice the true interest of the country’—a question answered five years later. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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