The Authentic Jefferson Cup

In 1806 Thomas Jefferson was bequeathed two silver cups by his friend and teacher George Wythe. Several years later Jefferson sent the Wythe cups and two others to John Letelier, a Richmond Silversmith. He directed that they be melted down and made into eight smaller cups, weighing about 5 ounces each and in the form of a small cup sent as a model. They were to be gilded inside, and four were to be marked "G.W. to T.J" and four marked "T.J." Four of the original eight Jefferson cups, which descended through Jefferson's grandchildren, are presently in the Monticello collection. We offer a reproduction of one of the original cups now at Monticello and has been approved by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation.