A billing dispute over drawings for the Capitol - photo 1
A billing dispute over drawings for the Capitol - photo 2

A billing dispute over drawings for the Capitol

Sold
$ 6 875
Auction dateClassic
22.04.2021 10:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 517679
Lot 33 | A billing dispute over drawings for the Capitol
MONROE, James. Autograph letter signed ("James Monroe") as President to an unnamed correspondent, Washington, 16 July 1822.

Two pages, 248 x 195mm (partial separations along some mailing folds, hinged to a mat, minor loss at upper left not affecting text). Framed with a portrait and a window in the back to reveal verso of letter.

James Monroe navigates a billing dispute concerning design drawings for the U.S. Capitol. Monroe writes, somewhat defensively, that "It is not my practice to dispute accounts, & much less, what encouragement I may have given Mr Jay to make the drawing, he has done, I admit anything that he may say on the subject. But you will recollect, that I could have had no object, in a labor'd drawing, other than to exhibit it here, as an object worthy the attention of our artists, & to do credit to the author. For myself, a sketch would have been as useful. I have shown it to Mr Bulfinch who has made a report on it, criticizing it with some severity, & I would now send the work to you, to be submitted to Mr. Bolton, were I not prevented by a motive of delicacy to Mr. Jay. Mr Bulfinch, says that 75 dolrs. would be a liberal compensation. Nevertheless I wish you to settle the affair for me, allowing one hundred dolrs. If he still asks that sum." Charles Bulfinch (1763-1844) served as Architect of the Capitol from 1818 to 1829 where he supervised the completion of the building including the legislative wings and the original low, wooden dome.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
08.04.2021 – 22.04.2021
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.