Pencil sketch of George Washington's home Mount Vernon by 'G E Blenkins', with leaf from the orange tree planted by Washington, and explanatory Autograph Note by Blenkins.

While only a rough pencil sketch, the drawing is an attractive one, landscape on a piece of wove paper, 20 x 25 cm, with 'JESSUPS' watermark. In good condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper, folded into a packet for postage, with remains of red wafer. Beneath the drawing, in ink in a shaky contemporary hand: 'Lawn view from the backs of Mount Vernon | This is from the Orange Tree planted by himself.' The reverse carries the following note: 'I made the enclosed rough sketch of Mount Vernon the residence of Genl. Washington when I visited it in 1840 | The Orange leaf is from the Tree planted by him | '. On the same side and in the same hand is the address: ' Esq | Gadsby's [Hotel] | Washington'. Written over the address, in a different hand, is the following: '13 passed the Eveng with & for New York. Met Judge Senator Mr. King Member for Georgia an agreeable man, Mr. Curtis Senator for [blank] | afterwards went to a supper at Mr. Monroe nephew of Monroe the President | 14 Went to an the Eveng. with Mr. Curtis & Wife & Mr. Clay & Wife'. The orange leaf, somewhat dried out and a little cracked, but in fair condition, is approximately 10 cm long and 5.5 cm wide. The Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera) from which it comes, believed to be a gift from Thomas Jefferson to the Washington family, is still standing.