Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-06

| rIxr-oNR OF THE MOST VALUABLE SETS OF AUTO
GRAPHS IN THE CouNrRY-rHI sIaNERs OF TIE
DECLARATION OF NDEPENDENck
A s.hobbyn Of q well-known resident Of the city,
as he himself describes IT, has been commented
upon In Q recent publication. The acquaintance
OF Mr. Henry A. willard, who know him as an en-
ergetic and successful man OF business, would
probably be surprised to learn that he Is an auto
graph collector. Such, however, II the fact, and
although Mr.. willard speaks of his collection In
rather deprecating way, "a II 1t was Q weakness
to be concealed, yet IL seems that he has
proved 10 be very successful In this
direction and ranks among the leading
collectors Of the country. A recently issued
lions Of the Wisconsin state Historical society
STaPs5 : e. the cosssoHs ssscs!sPSs
dependence and Of the Constitution. Some &C
count Is given OF all the known collections, ana
complete sets 81 the rity.sS sgnsrs Of that docu.
ment Mr.. Willard possesses the autographs OF all
but four. or this humber twenty-three are auto
graph letters with the signature attached the rest
being autograph documents signed, letters signed,
documents signed and signatures. Prof. Draper
says that "as Mr.. Wllard's collection possesses the
rare Lynch and Gwinnett signatures with many
other rarities, no EFFORT should be wanting to sc.
cure ara us early completion" This set has been
autograph is an engraving OF the signer. Perhaps
no one but collector would appreciate not only
expense
OF the autographs OF the signers OF the Declare
ton OF Independence.
DIFFICULT TASK.
It Is task that enlistS the best efforts of the
leading collectors, and although competent men
for the past seventy years and more have given
freely OF their time and their money, yet at the
present time there are only twenty-five complete
sets In the world. Various circumstances have
rendered collection OF this kind exceedingly
dlmcult, and perhaps the most prominent Is the
death Of eight the signers soon after appending
lhelr names to the Declaration. In Col john
Irumouli's historical painting OF the signera now
forty-three are introduced Coz TrumbulI is said
70 have formed the design OF tnis painting as early
OF portraits from life. In the execution of THIS
work he Travelled all over the country, and yet he
failed TO get the portraits even at that early day,
this particular field was Rev DR.. William b.
Sprague. OF New York, who became, In 1915, an
Instructor In the FANNY OF Major Lawrence Lewis,
nephew OF Gen. Washington While thus EN-.
ployed he obtained permission OF Judge Bushrod
Washington, VINO inherited the papers Of his
| tiers he wished from the correspondence of Gen
| Washington, provided he left copies In their
stead: In TINS way he came into the possession OF
| these advantages he was twenty years In COM
peting full set OF the signers other collectors
have not been more fortunate. MEWillard refuses
| 10 say how many years ago he began his collec-
ton, because II he did his friends might begin TO
regard hin as an o.d man. But 1t was some years
|
time 10 his collection 1t has been the occupation
Oh his spare moments, he says-a recreation and q
| IN the subject was inspired, he says, by coming
into possession OF many OF the papers and letters
OF his wife,s grandfather. Mr.. Bradley, the f1rst
senator from Vermont Among them were many
autograph letters OF value.
HOW THE COLLECTION WAS MADE.
HIS set OF the sgners forms only portion Of his
| collection OF autographs and In completing that
set he has awaited himself Of opportunities for Sc
| curing other autographs. Like all collectors,
has had a number OF curious experiences. Some
years ago he happened TO step into Q Junk.
city There was great Die of psper SeaDed iI uD
In the middle OF the 0or TO be assorted for the pa
per mills. While chatting with the proprietor OF
papers over'wirh his foot and he was surprised
TO see that they consisted mainly Of old let
tiers and manuscripts Of various kinds. Pick
was a valuable autograph letter. He asked
the proprietor II he would have any Oh.
said that he mad no objection, except that his
employees would soon be ready TO assort the pile
which must be ready for shipment by the next
day. Ate: considerable negotiation, and the pay.
ment OF $50 Mr.. willard secured permission to
have that pile OF papers left undisturbed for his In
vein he had struck, and many valuable additions
were made TO his collection.
THE RAREST SIGNATURE.
AS was stated In the quotation from Prof
Diapers paper the Lynch signature is the rarest
OF all the sgners Lynch went to sea for the bene-
Mt OF his health soon after appending his name 70
the document, and was never again heard from So
extremely rare Is any specimen Of his handwriting
nized autograph letter. Nearly all the complete SETS
have only signatures OF Lynch. These signatures
have been cut out OF books and from old deeds and
receipts Mr.. Willard has q Lynch signature
He has also what he believes to be a Lynch letter
IL was submitted 70 the inspection OF Mr.. Simon
who wrote TO MT. Willard that he believed IL was
forgery. He said that he recognized It as one OF
the forger1es OF man by the name OF James W.
turner, whom Mr.. Gratz states nOurtshed IL this
city some twenty nve years ago, and sent out
number Of counterfeit Lynch letters Mr.. willard
He obtained IL from Mr. Fred. B. MCGUIRE OF this
| city, who found II among the Madison papers In
the possession Of his father, the late James C. Nc
CURE, VINO was the executor OF the estate OF Mrs
Madison ut had lain among those papers undis-
turoed" says Mr.. MCGUIRE, 'for the past thirty
years since the settlement OF the estaten M
willard thinks that IL is hardly possible that a
forged letter would be found In such Q collection
LBN1ANr LETTER.
At the recent sale OF the autograph collection of
the late Ben Perey Poore Mr.. Willard secured the
written by Major LEnfant, the originator o3 the
plan Of the city. II was dated from Philadelphia
In the year $500 and was an application for COM
this city. Mr.. willard also obtained the manuscript
OF an autograph memorial TO the Commissioner of
me city from kalor LEnIant dated few months
N
| scripts handsomely bound In leather.
| Among the other features OF Mr. Willards COL
| lection may be mentioned the autographs OF All
the Presidents and their Cabinets from the flrst
| administration down TO LincolnA He has also 4
large number OF manuscript speeches delivered In
Benton, Polk, Choate and otherA and many
/ speeches made In the earlier Congressea
ANorHER WASHINGTON COLLECTOR
is mentioned BY Prof Draper q among the LEADING
collectors Of the country, namely, the late James
Il n. ta tuoun roll~
only OF autographtc matter a. such, but OF state
papers OF great value and interest," The Washing.
| ton papers alone NIL two volumes They relate q
| movements OF the Army, questions OF state &c
There Is also the draft Of the original nrst farewell
ADDRESS In the form Of Q letter addressed 70 Mr.
Madison. The collection has several volumes con.
tanning the letters Of James Madison, which were
published by Mt. Mcclure some years ago foI
private distribution. Also many letters OF Clay
Jefferson, and AdamA A volume OF letter.
| OF Edmund Randolph, OF Joseph Jones
OF Jonn Drayton and OF Edmund Pendleton. Herr
| may oe seen the ciphen used BY Madison and
| commission as Secretary OF state, Tobias Lear,s
account OF expenses for the nrst eleven weeks Of
| Wasningtons residence at New York q President
ano large number OF otner interesting revolu.
| Iutlonary ana colonial manuscnptA Letter
signed oy henry Clay In fuu u believed to b
There are other collections In this CITY bes,dsa
the Two referrod 70 by Prof. Draper The onnor.
tunities presented here for cultivatinR 4 tsstS Of
TINS KIND are unusually good, and they sr0 mo-
neglected. NV
| The Price % Rroah
| To the Editor Of TIE Ivlxrxo srAs:
The reasons given BY bakers for 4 r,ae IN tn
| prfce bread wone A.