Sleepy Hollow's Washington Irving Signed Check Buying Horses! Headless? PSA

Title:
Washington Irving Signed Autograph Financial Document (1856) – PSA/DNA Certified – Author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Purchases Horses - How Ironic!?

Description:
Offered is a remarkable Autograph Document Signed (ADS) by legendary American author Washington Irving, dated April 18, 1856, just three years before his death. Written entirely in Irving’s own hand, the document measures approximately 4.5" x 7" and instructs his relative Pierre M. Irving, located at 262 Fourth Avenue, to make a sizable payment on his behalf. The text reads:

"Pay to Mr. William H. Ward or order Seven Hundred Dollars for a pair of horses purchased of him this day.
Yours, truly,
Washington Irving."

Penned in flowing sepia ink, the note is a vivid example of Irving's personal correspondence and financial dealings. Light overall toning, a circular stain near the upper portion, and expected mailing folds are present, but the condition remains very good, with a bold, clear signature. The document is authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA in a tamper-evident holder, certification number 85572046.

Historical Context:
Washington Irving (1783–1859) holds a central place in American literary history as the author of enduring classics such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Often credited as the first American writer to gain international acclaim, Irving spent his later years at Sunnyside, his home in Tarrytown, New York—just a short ride from the real Sleepy Hollow, the setting of his most famous ghost story.

This 1856 document, authorizing the purchase of a pair of horses, offers a charming and ironic parallel to one of Irving’s most iconic literary images: the Headless Horseman, the phantom rider who haunts the pages of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. While that spectral figure pursued Ichabod Crane in fictional terror, this real-life acquisition reflects the very practical transportation needs of Irving’s twilight years—when horse-drawn travel remained essential. The note bridges Irving’s imaginative world of haunted horsemen with his grounded, daily life as a country gentleman in the Hudson Valley.

The letter is addressed to Pierre M. Irving, his nephew, close confidant, and eventual biographer, further enriching the historical and literary significance of the piece.

Authentication & Encapsulation:

• Authentication Service: PSA/DNA

• Certification Number: 85572046

• Slab Type: PSA/DNA tamper-evident encapsulation

• Label Reads: "CHECK – WASHINGTON IRVING – AUTHENTIC AUTO"

Closing Appeal:
This signed financial document from Washington Irving offers collectors a fascinating juxtaposition: the practical acquisition of horses by the very man who gave the world its most famous ghostly rider. Elegantly written and deeply evocative, this PSA/DNA-certified autograph ties together the personal, financial, and literary threads of a man whose imagination helped define American folklore. A must-have for collectors of literary manuscripts, Americana, or early 19th-century ephemera, this piece offers a rare, tangible connection to the creator of the Headless Horseman himself.