Deborah Franklin Parial LS

Excessively rare Deborah Franklin signature. The last time one of these was offered was this exact piece in the Charles Hamilton sale of September 19, 1976. Before that Rosenbach sold two bonds signed by her in 1949 and one in 1947. An ALS sold in 1919. Those are the only records of her signature being brought to market in RareBookHub.

Hamilton's description is as follows: "Excessively rare signature, "D. Franklin," on a portion of an A.L.S., about 2" x 8", containing 26 words in her hand-writing. One tear minutely affects the initial "D" of the signature. Mounted on a 4to sheet, with a few light stains, otherwise very good. The first example of the handwriting of Mrs. Franklin that we have seen." -Original Hamilton auction slip with piece.

Clearly demonstrates Deborah's illiteracy with her phonetic spelling of such things as Eleven "A Leven," "Don't" - "donte", and "complements"- "Compleyments"

no date

From Catalog III

An excessively rare Deborah Franklin signature — the last example offered was this same piece. Her phonetic spelling, for which she apologized to her husband, is the surest authentication of her hand. Deborah kept the Philadelphia household and business through Franklin's long absences, and this letter is the one object in the collection in her voice.