Autograph Letter Signed. Congratulations conveyed to Michael Gratz from his brother Barnard Gratz, his wife Miriam Gratz, and their daughter Rebecca Gratz, on the birth of Michael and Miriam’s son, Benjamin

AUCTION 33 | Tuesday, June 20th, 2006 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Including Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, & Autograph Letters

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Lot 156
(AMERICAN JUDAICA)

Autograph Letter Signed. Congratulations conveyed to Michael Gratz from his brother Barnard Gratz, his wife Miriam Gratz, and their daughter Rebecca Gratz, on the birth of Michael and Miriam’s son, Benjamin

English with smattering of Yiddish. Address panel: “Mr. Michael Gratz, to the Care of Col. Henry Fry at the Moha[w]k River, Albany.” Postscript: “forward at Unidellah.” 2pp. + integral blank + address panel with red wax seal. Several tears and some minor stains. 8 x 13 inches

Philadelphia: October 3rd 1792

Est: $8,000 - $10,000
MICHAEL GRATZ'S WIFE, BROTHER AND DAUGHTER REBECCA, INFORM, AND SHARE DETAILS OF, THE BIRTH AND BRITH-MILAH OF A SON Evidently Michael Gratz had been absent from home for some time and here, his brother Barnard informs Michael of the birth of a son to Michael's wife, Miriam. Additionally, Barnard himself had just celebrated the birth of a daughter on Rosh Hashana, news he also conveys here. A second letter cojoined with the first is from Michael Gratz's wife, Miriam, who assures her husband (who had been travelling for four months) that she had "kept all the Mitzwoth in our own family,” and here provides details of the boy's Brith (circumcision) ceremony, however regrets that the letter her husband sent with instructions what to name the child arrived after the Brith had already taken place. Michael Gratz's daughter Rebecca provides a third letter, in which she offers her congratulations to her father on the increase in the family. She describes the month-old baby. “He looks about him and takes a good deal of notice, already.” The letter is signed: "R"(ebecca)