Samuel F. B. Morse
New York, NY, March 16, 1860
Samuel F.B. Morse ALS
ALS

An autograph letter signed by Samuel Morse regarding a set of portrait photographs he recently had taken of himself for a painting. 1p, measuring 4.5" x 6.5" (sight), New York, dated March 16, 1860. Signed "Saml. F. B. Morse" and addressed to John Skirving Esq. The letter has been matted alongside a printed portrait of Morse, measuring 14" x 11". With flattened mail folds, light toning, and scattered minor foxing. Boldly signed.

In full:
"I have had ambrotype portraits of myself taken in the attitude indicated in yours of Feb. 27th. There are two, one containing the full length in the attitude, and the other the Head in the same attitude but about 3 inches in length. They are on glass, 7x9 inches. How shall I get them to you?"

John Skirving (1804-1865) was an English-born architect, artist, engineer, and entrepreneur who came to Washington in the winter of 1839 to heat and ventilate buildings under construction by the federal government. He worked on numerous city projects, including surveying Lafayette Square and was a superintendent in the reconstruction of the Library of Congress after it burned in 1852. In the mid-1850s he befriended engraver John Sartain (1808-1897) and painter Christian Schussele (1824-1879) and the three began a series of influential collaborations involving historical artworks by Schussele and engraved by Sartain. Skirving was tasked with securing the underwriting, sitters, and sales for the projects. In 1859 he began a project in which Schussele would paint a scene depicting a fictional meeting of seventeen (later expanded to nineteen) of the nation?s best-known living inventors. The final painting, entitled "The Men of Progress ? American Inventors", showed Samuel Morse (telegraph), Samuel Colt (revolver), Elias Howe (sewing machine), and sixteen others gathered beneath a portrait of Benjamin Franklin.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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14" x 11"