James Madison Signed 7.75×9.75 1814 Handwritten Free Frank BAS #AE13626

This Autographed To Future Secretary Of The Navy Benjamin Crowninshield Postmarked December 15, 1814 7.75×9.75 Handwritten Free Frank has been Personally Signed by James Madison. This item is 100% Authentic to include a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) / hologram by Beckett Authentication Services. The authenticity can be verified on Beckett Authentication Services website.

Original mailing leaf franked by 4th President James Madison and addressed to Benjamin Crowninshield, who he would appoint as Secretary of the Navy. 1p, measuring 9.75″ x 7.75″, Washington, D.C., December 15, n.y. [ca. 1814]. Reading in full, all in the President’s hand: “James Madison/ Benjamin W. Crowninshield/ Salem/ Massachusetts”. Exhibits degrees of uneven age toning and handling marks throughout, with isolated paper loss at lower middle from seal; moderate smudging to lower right corner of text, not affecting Madison’s signature. Good to fair overall, with associations to a significant presidential letter!

A transcript of Madison’s original correspondence dated the same day can be found on the National Archives’ website “Founders Online”. Within, he notably invites Crowninshield to consider accepting the position of Secretary to the Navy.