Zebulon Pike

Pikes Peak, Colorado

Autograph of Zebulon Pike (1779-1813) United States military officer and explorer of the American west. He led two expeditions through the Louisiana Purchase territory (1805–1806) and (1806-1807) to explore the upper reaches of the Mississippi River and the areas of New Mexico and Texas respectfully. He served in the War of 1812 and he was killed during the Battle of York in Upper Canada because of an explosion of a gunpowder magazine.

Autograph on manuscript receipt/order reading “Fort Pickering, 6th January 1799, Issue one Pound Musquet Powder & four pounds Lead for the Use of the Officers in this Garrison. Zebu Pike, Capt, Commanding. To Conductor of Military Stores”. Letter docketed for filing on reverse “No. 3, 6th Jany 99, One Pound of Musqt. Powder & four Pounds of Lead”. Fort Pickering was a frontier station and trading post built in 1798 in what is now western Tennessee. and remained in operation until 1814.

Document measures 2.25” x 7.5”, exhibits folds, bleed thru from previous mounting on reverse and exhibits strong signature. Provenance: Gibbs family collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Members of the Gibbs family, most notably Alvin J Gibbs and James W. Gibbs were discerning and dedicated collectors of autographs and other antiques. The Gibbs family founded the Gibbs Manufacturing Company of Canton, Ohio in 1829 that evolved over the years from farming implement manufacture to notions and toys.

Zebulon Pike, 1779 - 1813

Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

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