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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Washington, George (1732-1799) [Printed Farewell address with autograph note (written on Claypoole's Advertiser)]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00185 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Philadelphia Type: Autograph note Date: 19 September 1796 Pagination: 4 p. ; 50.8 x 34.5 cm. Order a Copy

Printed copy of Washington's farewell address in Claypoole's Advertiser. Washington has added manuscript notes to his copyist for copying: "The letter contained in this Gazette addressed to the People of the United States is to be Recorded -- and in the order of its da[te.] [Pointing hand] Let it have a blank page before & after so as to stand distinct as it were. -- Let it be wrote with a letter larger & fully [sic] than the common recording hand -- and where words are printed with capital letters it is to be done so in Recording this letter -- and where other words that are printed in Italicks, must [be ruled] underneath and streight by a Ruler[.]"

Notes: Once thought to be a printer's proof copy, this newspaper contains Washington's instructions to his copyist for entering his farewell address in his own letterbooks. Washington notes the actual completion date of the text (17 September ), rather than David Claypoole's date of publication. With Jared Sparks' note.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

17 Sept 1796
The letter conta[i]ned in this Gazette addressed to the People of the United States is to be Recorded - and in the order of its da[te] [pointing hand] Let it have a blank page before & after so as to stand distinct as it were. - Let it be wrote with a letter larger & fully [sic] than the common recording hand - and where words are Printed with capital letters it is to be done so in Recording this letter - and where other words that printed in Italicks, must [be ruled] underneath and straight by a Ruler.

Washington, George, 1732-1799

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