ALS signed “A. Burr,” one page, 8 x 9.75, October 30, 1823. Letter to Samuel C. Reid, written in Burr’s difficult to decipher hand. In part, “You have not forgotten our talks! They have occupied much of my thoughts.” Burr goes on to mention that his Landlord’s son is preparing to enter military service. After the War of 1812 Samuel Chester Reid became harbor master for New York City. He made many innovations including a signal code for U. S. vessels and the use of the semaphore system for speedy advice on ship arrivals. He devised a method of rapid signaling by land which permitted messages to go from New York to New Orleans in two hours. In 1818 Reid designed the third version of the Stars and Stripes at the request of a Congressional Committee headed by Peter H. Wendover, Representative from New York City. By 1818 there were twenty states and entry of others was expected soon. It was impractical to continue to add stripes as more and more states were admitted.Ê So, Wendover's committee adopted Reid's proposal that the stripes be fixed at thirteen with one star for each state. In very good condition, with light block of toning over text from previous display, heavier at the edges, moderate mailing folds, a few small fold separations and heavier toning and mounting remnants to the second page. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
