To John Jay - photo 1
To John Jay - photo 2

To John Jay

Lot 142
05.02.2026 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
To bid, go to the website
CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1540391
Lot 142 | To John Jay
Estimate value
$ 12 000 – 18 000
FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). Autograph letter signed ("B. Franklin") as President of Pennsylvania, [to John Jay,] Philadelphia, 15 May 1786.

One page, 234 x 187 mm., (light crease through signature).

Franklin requests a passport for a merchant to recover a cargo detained in Havana during the Revolutionary War. He introduces the bearer of the letter, "Mr. Whital," who " informs me, that one whom he intrusted with a Cargo at the Havanah during the War has ever since detain’d the Produce of it, and continues to reside there, which makes it necessary for him to go thither in order to recover his Property, which he cannot do without a Passport from M. Gardoqui [the Spanish Minister to the United States], who will grant it on your Application; and he requests me to intreat you would take the Trouble of making such Application in his Favour." Franklin, assures Jay that Whital, "seems a good kind of Man, and being a Citizen of the United States, I hope there may be no Impropriety in my desiring you to do him this Kindness…." Franklin adds that David Hartley, Franklin's old friend who was one of the British negotiators during the peace talks in Paris opposite Franklin and Jay, has sent him "five of his Portraits," and advises that he has forwarded "two to you by the Opportunity…." Two days later, Jay responded from New York that he was more than happy to assist with the passport, and offered his thanks for the portraits. Then on the 19th, Jay followed up once again to let Franklin know that M. Gardoqui had agreed to the request. (Franklin Papers). Little has been found on Whital, though a James Whital made a donation in October 1786 for the support of the Pennsylvania Hospital (Pennsylvania Gazette, 25 October 1786, 1).


Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
22.01.2026 – 05.02.2026
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress, of the Christian People called Quakers
The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress, of the Christian People called Quakers
$100
The Charters of the Province of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia
The Charters of the Province of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia
$100
The Liberty of the Spirit and of the Flesh Distinguished: in an Address to those Captives in Spirit among the People called Quakers, who are commonly called Libertines
The Liberty of the Spirit and of the Flesh Distinguished: in an Address to those Captives in Spirit among the People called Quakers, who are commonly called Libertines
$100
Cicero's Cato Major
Cicero's Cato Major
$100
The Charters of the Province of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia
The Charters of the Province of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia
$100
An Act for Granting the Sum of Sixty thousand Pounds to the King's Use
An Act for Granting the Sum of Sixty thousand Pounds to the King's Use
$100
Establishing what would become the University of Pennsylvania
Establishing what would become the University of Pennsylvania
$15 000
Admonishing his daughter-in-law
Admonishing his daughter-in-law
$80 000

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.