PENN, William (1644-1718). Letter signed ("Wm Penn") as Proprietor of Pennsylvania to "R. Pinder," "J. Hubards," and "Jos. Peckover," London, 8 January 1690/91. With an integral autograph document, being a "short deed."

Two pages, 298 x 190mm (weak at folds with several pinholes, weak margins reinforced on verso, light scattered foxing), affixed to a mat at margins and housed in an ornate, carved frame revealing both recto and verso. Additionally dated and addressed in Penn's hand.

William Penn offers cheap land in Pennsylvania in an effort to populate his "Infant & growing Colony." Penn addresses the three individuals in a circular letter appealing for additional settlers, writing: "it being my intention to go for America as soon as ye Lord opens my way, in whos orderings we are, I have begun to open my shop againe, as I may call it and expose to sale my wares wch. I have wth. an honest purpose of good to my native (but unkind) country, so long and so injuriously to myselfe and family neglected." Penn encloses "letters from America [not present, describing the] … State of things there." As a further inducement, after closing his letter, he adds: "w[ha]t follows is a breviat of a short deed, I advise each of you to have one because they are short & cheap." The "short deed," drafted in Penn's hand, grants, in consideration of 100 shillings, "3000 Acres of land in Ye s[ai]d Province … Paying the Quit-Rent of 1 yearly for every 100 Acres." Provenance: Algerina Peckover of Sibalds Holme, Wisbech (old label on frame verso) – Charles J. Sawyer, Ltd., Catalogue No. 86, 1926.