News | February 27, 2017

A Show-Stopping Gathering of Alexander Hamilton ??Letters, Documents, and Imprints at the NY Antiquarian Book Fair

Ham Cat Group copy.jpgNew York - A unique collection of original letters, documents and imprints relating to the life and times of Alexander Hamilton—the orphan immigrant founding father who fought for independence, founded our financial system, and fostered a government capable of surviving internal factions and foreign foes—will be unveiled at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair, March 9-12, at the Park Avenue Armory, booths E 33-35.

The Alexander Hamilton Collection contains hundreds of documents from leaders, soldiers, citizens and the press, written when the Revolutionary War and Founding were current events. The Collection includes powerful letters and documents of Hamilton, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Aaron Burr, among many others.

Highlights include:

  • Hamilton’s documents relating to several duel threats, a habit that did not end well;
  • Hamilton’s greatest love letter to Eliza, laced with sexual innuendo;
  • Hamilton’s letter rallying to defeat Jefferson after Washington declined a third term (his tune changed four years later when his more dangerous nemesis Burr was on the stage);
  • a lock of Hamilton’s hair, preserved in his family for generations

The collection was assembled by two leading historic document experts, John Reznikoff of University Archives (Westport, CT) and Seth Kaller of Seth Kaller, Inc. (White Plains, NY).

According to Kaller, “Our aim was to bring together important documents that were part of the struggle to form a new nation, warts and all. The immense success of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON demonstrates how inspiring this story still is. It is comforting to look back, through the quills and presses of Hamilton and his contemporaries, to see upstart America overcoming challenges as great as any we face today.” Kaller added, “Now we look forward to finding a good home to preserve this museum-worthy collection.”