Dining with botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett

Lot 113
16.10.2025 00:00UTC +01:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1472036
Lot 113 | Dining with botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett
Estimate value
$ 2 000 – 3 000
ADAMS, John Quincy (1767-1848). Autograph note signed ("Mr Adams") in the third person to Joel Roberts Poinsett, n.p. [Washington], 4 February 1841.

One page, bifolium, 155 x 212mm. (light unintrusive dampstain).

Accepting a dinner invitation from a Mr. Poinsett, likely his appointee as the first U.S. Minister to Mexico Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851). Poinsett;'s support of Andrew Jackson was awarded with an appointment as Secretary of War by Martin Van Buren and was a Unionist leader in South Carolina during the Nullification Crisis in 1832. Poinsett was also a well-known botanist, sending plants from his travels back to South Carolina for cultivation, including the Euphorbia pulcherrima, now known as Poinsettias in his namesake. In his later years, Poinsett co-founded the National Institute for the Promotion of Science and the Useful Arts, a predecessor of the modern Smithsonian Institution.

[Also with:] ADAMS, John Quincy (1767-1848). Autograph free frank signed ("J. Q. Adams") on an envelope addressed in his hand to Elihu S. Hawks Esq. of North Adams, Massachusetts, cancelled from Washington, May 21. One page, 145 x 75mm. * CLAY, Henry (1777-1852). Autograph letter signed ("H. Clay") to a Henry White Esq, Ashland, 27 November 1846. One page, bifolium, 225 x 268mm (notably dampstained).* WEBSTER, Daniel (1782-1852). His black ink signature ("Danl Webster") with "U.S. Senator" written in his hand, clipped from a document, then mounted to a slightly larger sheet and matted with an engraving. * JACKSON, Andrew (1767-1845). Partly-printed document signed ("Andrew Jackson") as President, being an unissued four-language ship's paper, also signed by Secretary of State Martin VAN BUREN (1782-1862). One page, 510 x 400mm (condition lacking, fully split along original folds impacting Jackson's signature, intermittent tape repairs). * Letter signed "xxx" from unidentified sender, addressed to the Marquis de Lafayette, n.p., n.d. [ca. 1828-1830]. Four pages, bifolium, 160 x 204mm. (pages since separated, chipping and some tears throughout, some soiling.) A good-content letter, discussing the Portuguese Liberal Wars and the 1828 Tariff of Abominations which lead to the Nullification Crisis.


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02.10.2025 – 16.10.2025
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