A very early survey - photo 1

A very early survey

Lot 161
16.06.2023 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 56 700
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 967355
Lot 161 | A very early survey
Estimate value
$ 25 000 – 35 000
WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799). Autograph document signed ("G Washington"), n.p., 9 April 1751.

One page, 368 x 154mm (lightly silked, some toning and dustsoiling, separated folds neatly mended on verso).

A nineteen-year-old Washington accomplishes a land survey for "Michael Swein on certain waste and ungranted land situated in Frederick County Virginia." Washington executed the survey "pursuant to a warrant from the Proprietor's office," and describes the property as "Beginning at a drooping white oak on the East side Evans Marsh corner to Wm. Davis's Patent Land and in Gaiy's line and extended with the said lines 72° E and Seventy six poles to a twig and said oak. This corner forming thence with his lines So. 30 degrees W. Seventy eight poles to a small locust No. 11° East. one hundred thirty six poles to a small twig. Saml. Waters corner in S. Sweim's land thence with Water's line So. 10° W. Two hundred and four poles to a twig and all in this S. Water's line. Thence No. 35° W. Two hundred and twelve poles to a white oak by a spring in Wm. Davis's line finally with his line No. 12° W. 56 poles to beginning containing One Hundred and thirty One Acres." Below the written description, Washington has drawn the plot taking care to delineate the section "left for Wm. Davis."

Washington prepared his first surveys at age sixteen in his schoolbooks before joining George William Fairfax and Prince William County's surveyor, James Genn, on a month-long trip across the Blue Ridge Mountains to survey property for Thomas, Lord Fairfax where he mastered the art and secured an appointment as surveyor for Culpeper County, Virginia. Over the course of his career, he produced nearly 200 surveys, but only seventy-five remain extant today. See Philander Chase, "A Stake in the West: George Washington As Backcountry Surveyor and Landholder," in Warren Hofstra, ed., George Washington and the Virginia Backcountry (Madison, Wis.: Madison House Publishers, 1998), p. 161. Provenance: Parke Bernet, 25-26 October 1939, lot 403.
Artist:George Washington (1732 - 1799)
Place of origin:USA
Auction house category:Letters, documents and manuscripts
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
16.06.2023
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

More from Creator

Contributing funds
Contributing funds "to purchase slaves"
$100
Purchasing a gold watch chain with a
Purchasing a gold watch chain with a "cypher"
$100
Supporting the
Supporting the "purchase of slaves"
$32 000
Purchasing a gold watch chain with a
Purchasing a gold watch chain with a "cypher"
$3 200
A lock of hair
A lock of hair
$7 000
On the refortification of Stony Point
On the refortification of Stony Point
$100
Summoning a senator to attend his second inauguration
Summoning a senator to attend his second inauguration
$20 000
On the retirement of John Glover
On the retirement of John Glover
$15 000

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.