[AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, FROM PAINTER BENJAMIN WEST TO SIR STEPHEN COTTRELL, REGARDING A MEETING WITH A COMMITTEE OF LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY TO REVIEW DRAWINGS AND MODELS FOR BRITISH COINAGE].

An interesting letter from the great American-born artist, Benjamin West, regarding drawings and models created for British coins. Benjamin West (1738–1820) was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, and studied art in America and Italy before moving to England permanently in 1763. West was a founder of the Royal Academy and its second president (following Sir Joshua Reynolds, and serving in that capacity from 1792 until his death), became "History Painter to the King" in 1772, and was commissioned by George III to execute some sixty paintings between 1768 and 1801. The text of the letter reads: "Sir, I take the first opportunity to make known to you that I am in town, and will (agreeable to the wishes expressed in your letter of the 13th instant) wait on the committee of Lords at their office tomorrow, with the committee of the Royal Academy at 12 o'clock, and lay before their Lordships the several drawings, and models, placed in my hands for that purpose, and for fashioning the future coinage. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, and obliged Benj. West." Not much is known of Sir Stephen Cottrell, but he appears to have been a member of the British Board of Trade and also involved in British naval and commercial affairs, especially English fishing interests in Newfoundland, later in his life. Manuscript letters from Benjamin West are rare. Quarto. Old folds. Slightly later two-line note on verso. Two tiny holes in upper blank margin, not affecting text. Fine.…