A Landmark Six Figure Sale! George Washington’s "Justice & Public Good" Letter
In the realm of American historical documents, few discoveries rise to the level of national importance, but in 2022, our acquisition of "The Justice & Public Good" letter, a handwritten 1789 letter written by George Washington did exactly that. It marked a historic artifact returning to the light and became a defining milestone in our company’s journey.
Acquired in partnership with University Archives at a New Jersey estate sale for just $33,750, this rare Autograph Letter Signed, composed by Washington at Mount Vernon just weeks before his inauguration, ultimately sold through our collaboration with Gotta Have Rock and Roll for $250,000 in 2023, making it a landmark sale in our company’s history, and our largest single-item private transaction to date.
But beyond the numbers lies a deeper truth: this document offers a candid window into the ethical framework of the man who became the first President of the United States, a leader who chose duty over power, and principle over patronage.
A President Not Yet Crowned, but Already Leading
Dated March 15, 1789, the letter was written in the brief but critical pause between the ratification of the Constitution and the start of George Washington’s presidency. Though the newly elected Congress had convened, the executive branch had yet to be activated, and Washington had not formally accepted the presidency, though the outcome was universally expected.
Writing from Mount Vernon, Washington addresses a request for a political appointment, but does so with profound restraint:
“If the Administration of the new Government should eventually fall upon me,”
“I must go into Office totally free from pre-engagements of every nature whatsoever… My sole object, if I should be called to the public service, would be to pursue the public good.”
These lines, calm and deliberate, speak volumes. At a moment when political alliances were beginning to calcify, Washington refused to entertain even the appearance of favoritism or obligation. His commitment to remaining free of entanglements laid the ethical groundwork for the presidency itself.
From Obscurity to Spotlight: Estate Discovery to National Coverage
When this letter surfaced at a small estate auction in New Jersey, it was under the radar, known to few, and publicly unheralded. But its historical gravity was immediately clear to our team and our partners at University Archives. After acquiring and authenticating the letter, we unveiled it at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair at the University Archives booth, where it drew extraordinary attention from collectors, historians, and the press alike.
The document’s cultural resonance quickly grew. TMZ published a dedicated feature titled “George Washington Can't Tell a Lie ... Presidential Letter Should Fetch $1M!!!”, emphasizing both its content and its presidential timing. In the days that followed, news of the letter rippled across social media and collecting circles.
Simultaneously, The New York Times featured our founder Luke Pascal in its widely read article “Meet the New Old Book Collectors” — highlighting our generation’s role in preserving and elevating original source material in the digital age. The letter stood as a perfect example: tactile, powerful, and still shaping the conversation over 230 years after it was written.
The Sale: A Benchmark for Historical Collectibles
Working in partnership with University Archives & Gotta Have Rock and Roll, we introduced the piece to a broader network of collectors. Its combination of content, timing, condition, and provenance proved irresistible. Ultimately, the letter sold for $250,000, cementing it as our largest private sale ever, and an affirmation of the strength and depth of the historical autograph market.
To us, it was never just about value. It was about meaning. This letter was not only an original, unfiltered statement of presidential ethics, it was a document that continues to speak to modern audiences, about restraint, about service, and about the ideals that launched a nation.
Why This Letter Still Matters
Washington’s insistence on entering office “totally free from pre-engagements of every nature” is not a passing comment, it’s a constitutional philosophy before the existence of it! At the very inception of the executive branch, he chose not to grant favors, not to repay political allies, not to use his power to enrich friends or punish enemies.
He chose the public good.
That simple idea, so often talked about, so rarely practiced, is what makes this letter one of the most historically significant George Washington documents to appear on the market in decades. It's also what made it resonate with so many people, from casual readers to serious collectors.
A Moment We’re Proud Of
For our team at Historical Autographs Gallery, this sale was a validation of our mission: to preserve, contextualize, and elevate the most meaningful pieces of our shared past.
And for those who encountered this letter, whether at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair, in the pages of the New York Times or TMZ, or through our digital storefront, we hope it reminded them that history isn’t just something that happened. It’s something we’re still learning from.
Read the New York Times Article
Read the University Archives Blog Post
Read the Antiques & The Arts Article