Title:
Marquis de Lafayette 1829 Autograph Document Signed "Lafayette" - French Subscription Payment Memorandum - PSA/DNA Certified Authentic, Cert. 85952772

Description:
An excellent Autograph Document Signed (ADS) by Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), handwritten in French and signed "Lafayette." One page, approximately 6 x 7.75 inches, dated May 21, 1829.

Written entirely in Lafayette's hand, the document concerns the forwarding of funds for several subscriptions and directs that the subscribers' accounts be marked as paid. Several individual names and corresponding monetary amounts are listed beneath the introductory instructions, giving the document the character of a personal financial or administrative memorandum.

Full transcription, translated into English from the French:

"I am sending to Monsieur Chevalier the amount for several subscriptions, asking him to mark 'paid' next to the names of the subscribers."

The document then lists several subscribers and the amounts associated with them. Portions of the individual names are difficult to decipher with certainty from the available image; accordingly, they are not conjecturally transcribed here. The document concludes with an additional brief handwritten notation, Lafayette's signature, and the date May 21, 1829.

The manuscript displays Lafayette's characteristic flowing handwriting in dark ink, with his signature prominently placed toward the lower portion of the written text. The sheet exhibits expected age toning, old folds, scattered spotting, and minor staining consistent with a document approaching two centuries in age. Despite these signs of age, the handwriting and signature remain strong and visually appealing. The document is preserved within a substantial PSA authentication holder.

Historical Context:
By May 1829, Lafayette was 71 years old and remained one of the most internationally celebrated surviving figures of the revolutionary era. More than half a century earlier, the young French aristocrat had crossed the Atlantic to support the American struggle for independence. Congress appointed him a major general in the Continental Army in 1777, and he developed an exceptionally close relationship with George Washington. Lafayette fought at Brandywine, where he was wounded, and continued to play an important military and diplomatic role in the American cause. 

His importance extended far beyond the American Revolution. During the opening phase of the French Revolution, Lafayette became commander of the French National Guard and was closely associated with the revolutionary ideals of constitutional government and individual rights. He famously sent George Washington the key to the Bastille, which remains at Mount Vernon. 

Only a few years before this document was written, Lafayette had completed his celebrated 1824-1825 tour of the United States, during which Americans received the aging Revolutionary War hero with extraordinary enthusiasm. Lafayette and his son visited Mount Vernon during that journey to pay their respects to Washington, whom Lafayette had regarded as a father figure. 

This 1829 document is particularly appealing because it presents Lafayette not through a ceremonial proclamation or later commemoration, but through an ordinary piece of his personal administrative life. His instructions concerning subscriptions and payments provide a tangible glimpse into the daily affairs of a man whose life connected the American and French revolutionary traditions.

Authentication & Encapsulation:
The document has been authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA, whose identification label describes the piece as "LETTER / MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE" and assigns it "AUTHENTIC AUTO" status. The visible PSA/DNA certification number is 85952772. The oversized clear holder protects the original manuscript while permitting unobstructed viewing of Lafayette's handwriting, signature, and the document's period characteristics.

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer’s request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional “Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate” signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
A compelling original manuscript from one of the most revered figures of the American Revolution, this 1829 Lafayette Autograph Document Signed combines a substantial handwritten text, a clear "Lafayette" signature, an early nineteenth-century date, and PSA/DNA authentication. Written only five years before Lafayette's death in 1834, it offers collectors a direct connection to the daily life of the French general whose service beside George Washington made his name enduringly significant on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.