GEORGE M. BIBB - DOCUMENT SIGNED 10/16/1844 CO-SIGNED BY: CORNELIUS P. VAN NESS - HFSID 291752

GEORGE M. BIBB and C. P. VAN NESS
As Secretary of the Treasury, he waives standard certification procedures for a shipment of goods from Le Havre, also signed by Van Ness as Collector of Customs for New York.
Document signed: "Geo. M. Bibb" as Secretary of the Treasury, "C. P. Van Ness" as New York Collector of Customs, 1 page, 8x10. Treasury Department (Washington, D.C.), 1844 October 16. Certifying that no evidence of fraud is apparent in an invoice for merchandise imported at New York from Havre (France), the document authorizes the shipment's admission to the US "in the same manner as if the invoice had been duly authorized and authenticated" . GEORGE M. BIBB (1776-1859), a Kentucky judge and legislator, represented that state in the US Senate twice (1811-1814, 1829-1835). He was the fourth Secretary of the Treasury to serve under President Tyler (1844-1845). Although elderly, and dressing in an archaic style with knee breeches, he was an efficient administrator. CORNELIUS P. VAN NESS (1782-1852), born in the same year and town (Kinderhook, New York) as President Van Buren, was Governor of Vermont (1823-1826), ambassador to Spain (1829-1836) and Collector of Customs for the Port of New York (1844-1845). His son, James Van Ness, would become Mayor of San Francisco. Upper left corner missing section 1x½. Left edge rough with small notch 1" from bottom. Lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.