Thomas Jefferson letter from 1787, warning against national debt and war, goes on sale
UKPulse News Desk
A handwritten letter from Thomas Jefferson, the third US president, written in 1787, has been put up for sale by a private collector. The document advises on how the newly created country could prosper and warns against missteps, with a guide price of $285,000.
- The letter, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1787, advises on national prosperity and warns against specific missteps.
- The document, addressed to David Rittenhouse, is being sold by a private collector through the Raab Collection for a guide price of $285,000.
- Jefferson's letter states, "Peace should be our plan, and the payment of our debts, improvement of our constitutions and extension of agriculture our principal objects."
A handwritten letter from Thomas Jefferson, the third US president, dating from 1787, has been put up for sale by a private collector. The document, which advises on how the newly created country could prosper, is being offered through the Raab Collection, a Pennsylvania-based dealer, with a guide price of $285,000.
Written in Paris while Jefferson was minister to France, the letter was sent to his friend David Rittenhouse. In it, Jefferson muses on the priorities and principles he believed future presidents should follow, stating, "Peace should be our plan, and the payment of our debts, improvement of our constitutions and extension of agriculture our principal objects."
Nathan Raab, president of the Raab Collection, noted the parallels between the issues discussed in Jefferson's letter and contemporary politics in 2026. He highlighted that fundamental issues such as spending and debt have persisted over time.
Why this matters: The letter offers insights into the foundational principles and concerns of the early United States, highlighting enduring issues such as national debt and peace.