Single oblong slip (184 x 32 mm), additional contemporary notation in a different hand, dated October 30 (no year).

THE MOST SCARCE OF ALL PRE-EMANCIPATION AFRICAN AMERICAN SIGNATURES.

Benjamin Banneker was an American naturalist, mathematician, astronomer, and surveyor. Largely self-taught, Banneker dedicated himself to self-improvement at an early age, having successfully designed a wooden clock at twenty-one years-old which reportedly continued to function for years after his death in 1806. In his fifties he began to study astronomy with the assistance of the Ellicott brothers, who loaned him books and equipment; in 1789 he successfully calculated a solar eclipse, the first African American astronomer to do so.

In 1791 one of the Ellicott brothers, Major Andrew Ellicott, was commissioned by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to survey an area for what would become Washington, D.C., and hired Banneker on to assist. Following completion of his role in the project Banneker sent Jefferson a copy of his calculations for an almanac he hoped to have published as well as an eloquent letter pleading for abolition, urging him to "readily embrace every opportunity to eradicate that train of absurd and false ideas and opinions which so generally prevail with respect to us." Banneker's letter and Jefferson's response were printed in multiple abolitionist newspapers throughout the United States, seen as testimony to the untapped abilities and potential contributions of African Americans to American life. Although in his response Jefferson complimented Banneker's abilities and mentioned sending along a copy of his almanac to the Marquis de Condorcet, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences at Paris (though there is no record of the Academy having received it), in private he mused that Banneker could not have made these calculations without the help of Ellicott. Copies of these letters are today held by the Library of Congress and the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Among Banneker's notable achievements are being the first scientist to chart the life cycle of the cicada and the first African American to publish an annual almanac. This almanac became particularly noteworthy for being the first publication to feature abolitionist literature published by an African American. Very few examples of Banneker's signature or written works are known to exist today, as on the day of his funeral in 1806 a fire destroyed his cabin along with all of its contents.

VERY RARE: we trace only one other example of Banneker's signature ever sold at auction.