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Original October 13, 1887 United States Department of the Interior General Land Office letter, signed in ink by Commissioner William A. J. Sparks.
The letter was sent from Washington, D.C., to Mr. William Worthington, Room No. 27, Wiggins Block, Cincinnati, Ohio. It concerns a certified copy of a land patent issued to James Silver for property in the Miami Purchase in Ohio.
The letter addresses the omission of a notation referring to the official seal on an early patent record. The General Land Office explains that the designation of the seal was omitted from many early records, that the patent was presumed to have had the seal properly affixed, and that certified copies remained valid for recording purposes.
William Andrew Jackson Sparks was a former United States Representative from Illinois and served as Commissioner of the United States General Land Office from 1885 to 1888. The date of this document falls within his official term.
DOCUMENT DETAILS
Organization: United States Department of the Interior General Land Office
Date: October 13, 1887
Location issued: Washington, D.C.
Recipient: William Worthington of Cincinnati, Ohio
Subject: James Silver Ohio land patent and omitted seal notation
Approximate size: 8 1/4 by 9 1/2 to 9 3/4 inches
Material: Cream or light tan government writing paper
Format: Single handwritten letter on printed and ruled General Land Office letterhead
Signature: Wm. A. J. Sparks, Commissioner
Other markings: Contemporary file numbers, initials and administrative docketing in black, brown and red ink
The body appears to have been written by a government clerk, with the closing signature apparently applied separately by Commissioner Sparks. The signature displays natural ink flow and line variation and does not appear printed. No third-party authentication is included, and authenticity cannot be guaranteed solely from photographs.
CONDITION
Very Good condition for its age. The sheet shows uniform age toning, slightly darker edge toning, minor edge and corner wear, light handling creases and wrinkles, scattered tiny specks, minor surface soiling and original administrative notations. A small red mark appears near the upper heading. Writing and signature remain strong and clearly legible. No major tears, large losses, tape, repairs or serious water damage are visible in the photographs.
Please examine every photograph carefully, as the images are an important part of the condition description.
This is an appealing original piece of 19th-century federal government ephemera for collectors of United States land history, Ohio history, Cincinnati memorabilia, the Miami Purchase, political autographs, the Department of the Interior and General Land Office documents.
The item will be placed in an archival sleeve, supported with rigid boards and shipped securely to prevent bending.
