THE PROPERTY OF
THE GEORGETOWN VISITATION CONVENT*
JEFFERSON, THOMAS, President. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, to John Threlkeld of Georgetown, D.C.; Washington, D.C., 26 March 1807. 1 page, 4to, 256 x 209mm. (10 x 8 in.), integral address leaf in Jefferson's hand, seal hole, otherwise fine. [With:] A spray of leaves and three pecan nuts said to have been collected from the trees grown from the seeds originally enclosed with the letter.
Details
JEFFERSON, THOMAS, President. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, to John Threlkeld of Georgetown, D.C.; Washington, D.C., 26 March 1807. 1 page, 4to, 256 x 209mm. (10 x 8 in.), integral address leaf in Jefferson's hand, seal hole, otherwise fine. [With:] A spray of leaves and three pecan nuts said to have been collected from the trees grown from the seeds originally enclosed with the letter.
PECAN TREES FROM THE ORCHARDS OF MONTICELLO
In the same month that President Jefferson abolished the importation of slaves, he shares information on arboriculture, discusses tree planting and forwards seeds: "I thank you for the kind offer of the trees mentioned in your letter of yesterday. The Peach apricot which you saw at Hepburn's was lost on the road: but I received with it from D. Laly[?] at the same time a supply of the stones of the same fruit, which are planted at Monticello, and from which I hope to raise some trees, tho' as yet I do not know their success. Should these fail I will avail myself of your kind offer the next fall or spring. The two peach trees you propose will be very acceptable. At the same time I am endeavouring to make a collection of the choicest kinds of peaches for Monticello. Presuming you are attached to the culture of trees, I take the liberty of sending you some Peccan [pecan] nuts, which being of the last years growth received from New Orleans, will probably grow. They are a very fine nut and succeed well in this climate. They require rich land. Between the two edges of the kernel there is a thin pellicle, excessively austere & bitter, which it is necessary to take out before eating the nut..."
At the turn of the nineteenth century, the Sisters of Visitation bought land in Georgetown upon which the Threlkeld family formerly lived. One pecan tree still stands on the property today, a direct descendant of the seeds enclosed with this letter. (2)
PECAN TREES FROM THE ORCHARDS OF MONTICELLO
In the same month that President Jefferson abolished the importation of slaves, he shares information on arboriculture, discusses tree planting and forwards seeds: "I thank you for the kind offer of the trees mentioned in your letter of yesterday. The Peach apricot which you saw at Hepburn's was lost on the road: but I received with it from D. Laly[?] at the same time a supply of the stones of the same fruit, which are planted at Monticello, and from which I hope to raise some trees, tho' as yet I do not know their success. Should these fail I will avail myself of your kind offer the next fall or spring. The two peach trees you propose will be very acceptable. At the same time I am endeavouring to make a collection of the choicest kinds of peaches for Monticello. Presuming you are attached to the culture of trees, I take the liberty of sending you some Peccan [pecan] nuts, which being of the last years growth received from New Orleans, will probably grow. They are a very fine nut and succeed well in this climate. They require rich land. Between the two edges of the kernel there is a thin pellicle, excessively austere & bitter, which it is necessary to take out before eating the nut..."
At the turn of the nineteenth century, the Sisters of Visitation bought land in Georgetown upon which the Threlkeld family formerly lived. One pecan tree still stands on the property today, a direct descendant of the seeds enclosed with this letter. (2)
Further details
*This lot may be exampt from sales tax, as set forth in the Sales Tax Notice at the front of the catalogue.