Jefferson’s 1787 Letter to David Rittenhouse Offered for $285,000

A handwritten note penned by Thomas Jefferson in 1787 while he served as the United States minister to France is now listed for sale by the Raab Collection, a Pennsylvania-based dealer in historic artifacts. The document, addressed to fellow American Philosophical Society member David Rittenhouse, is bundled with a contemporary European scientific work that Jefferson gifted to his friend. The dealer has set a guide price of $285,000 for the combined letter and book.

The Guardian

Jefferson wrote the letter in Paris shortly after the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, offering advice he believed future presidents should follow. He emphasized “peace,” the “payment of our debts,” improvement of the constitution, and the “extension of agriculture” as the nation’s principal objectives. The missive also expressed Jefferson’s affection for western expansion and his apprehension about a possible renewed conflict with England only four years after the Revolutionary War.

The Guardian

Nathan Raab, president of the Raab Collection, says the letter’s warnings echo contemporary political debates. He notes that issues Jefferson identified—debt, war, constitutional strain, and agricultural policy—remain headline topics in 2026, especially as President Donald Trump’s second term confronts a costly war in Iran, a national debt exceeding $40 trillion, and tensions with farming communities. The article observes that Trump, who has publicly praised Jefferson and installed a bronze statue of him in the White House Rose Garden in July, appears to have diverged from many of the founding father’s recommendations.

The Guardian

Raab described the letter as “at the very top” of Jeffersonian documents, highlighting its breadth of knowledge and the striking relevance of its concluding warning to today’s political climate. He added that the preservation of both the letter and the accompanying scientific volume is “incredible” and that the piece offers a rare glimpse into the founder’s multifaceted expertise.

The Guardian

• “Peace should be our plan, and the payment of our debts, improvement of our constitutions and extension of agriculture our principal objects,” — Thomas Jefferson

The Guardian

• “Digging out of a hole of debt, funding not only the war debts but also the creation of this new country, was something that was very much an issue,” — Raab Collection Nathan Raab, president

The Guardian