Known as the "Great Compromiser," Henry Clay, from Kentucky, was one of he most famous United States political figures of the nineteenth century, as a member of both the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, a Secretary of State and a 3-time Presidential candidate. Offered is a Henry Clay cut signature on a section of government-sanctioned free correspondence granted to U.S. Congressmen, U.S. Senators, and other high ranking officials. Clay served numerous terms in Congress and the Senate, from intervals between 1806-52, and he was also the U.S. Secretary of State (1825-29). He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Presidency in 1824, 1832, and 1844. Clay was the seventh Speaker of the House of Representatives and the ninth U.S. Secretary of State. In addition, he was one of the founders of both the National Republican Party and the Whig Party. His ability to work with politicians from various political parties and from various sections of the country, and bring disparate sides to an effective compromise, as in The Missouri Compromise, earned him high, and lasting praise. Clay, was both a slave-owner and a political powerhouse who favored the gradual elimination of slavery. According to an article by Linda Blackford, published by the Lexington [Kentucky] Herald Leader earlier in 2025, there is DNA evidence that seems to indicate that former World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, is distantly related to Henry Clay. Muhammad Ali's great-grandfather, John Henry Clay, was a slave on Henry Clay's estate, and even accompanied Henry Clay's son, Henry Clay Jr., during Henry Clay's son's military service in the Mexican American War. 

The offering consists of Henry Clay's signature on what may be a section of an envelope, or a piece of stationery that was possibly sealed and/or sent without an envelope. The aforementioned segment of an envelope or piece of stationery measures approx. 3x5.25" (with an irregular upper edge). Using black fountain ink, Clay neatly signed as "H. Clay." There is an indecipherable word or abbreviation written apparently by Clay, just before his signature. The envelope or partial piece of stationery also has an inscription, written by an unknown hand and reading, "Cadet Charles John Hughes/West Point/New York." The item has a postmark reading, "APR 25 [no legible year] Washington" [with following printing too light to decipher]. The offered envelope or stationery was at one point apparently white, but has darkened, but not excessively so. The darkening is uneven. Machine stamped on the envelope is "FREE," indicating a practice that allowed U.S. Congressmen, Senators, and high ranking officials free mailing privileges. It is unclear when the offering was signed because no date is apparent on the correspondence or legible from the postmark.

The offering has been encapsulated, and it comes with a Beckett Authentication (#00015516188) for the signature. The offering does show wear, but comes with the signature of one of America's all-time impactful politicians. It was written and signed in the nineteenth century, and it is likely 150-200 years old, and in overall very good condition for that time period.