Martin Van Buren Letter Signed as President LS as president signed "M. Van Buren," one page, 8 x 13, December 10, 1840. A letter submitted "To the Senate," which reads, in full: "I communicate a report from the Secretary of State, with the documents accompanying it, in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 20th of July last." In fine condition, with some small stains in the signature area. This letter was in response to a resolution the Senate passed on July 20, 1840, requesting documents from the president about ‘the sales and donations of public lots in the city of Washington.’ The Senate was investigating how much the lots were sold for, how they were valued, who had the authority to sell them, how the sale proceeds were used, and whether there was any money remaining from the sales.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.