Key facts
- A 1787 letter by Thomas Jefferson, advising on principles for national prosperity, is for sale.
- The letter, written in Paris, warns against missteps that could harm a presidency.
- It was sent to David Rittenhouse, a friend and fellow member of the American Philosophical Society.
- The document and an accompanying book have a guide price of $285,000.
- Jefferson's advice included prioritizing peace, paying debts, improving constitutions, and extending agriculture.
- Donald Trump has frequently hailed Jefferson as a political hero.
A letter penned by Thomas Jefferson in 1787, offering guidance on national prosperity and warning against potential missteps for future leaders, has been put up for sale by the Raab Collection. The document, written while Jefferson served as the US minister to France, is being marketed with a guide price of $285,000.
Jefferson's handwritten note to his friend David Rittenhouse, a fellow member of the American Philosophical Society, outlines his beliefs on priorities for the nascent nation. These included peace as a primary plan, alongside the payment of debts, improvement of constitutions, and extension of agriculture. The letter was written around the time of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
According to Nathan Raab, president of the Raab Collection, the letter's warnings about issues such as debt, constitutional integrity, and international conflict are remarkably relevant to contemporary politics, particularly in relation to Donald Trump. Raab noted that many of the fundamental issues faced by the founding fathers in 1787 remain pertinent today.
The sale includes the letter and a "major European scientific work" that Jefferson sent to Rittenhouse. The Raab Collection, a dealer in historical artifacts, has previously handled other Jefferson documents, including one from 1802 detailing his financial situation and a 1783 note on citizens' rights to bear arms.