Sotheby's is to offer an archive of documents by founding father Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton was born on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts and Nevis, but moved to the US to study in 1773.

This document appoints Hamilton as Washington's aide

He joined up with a militia in 1775 following the outbreak of the Revolutionary War and was soon appointed George Washington's aide-de-camp.

He went on to become secretary of the treasury and a hugely influential figure in US politics. He was killed in a duel with vice president Aaron Burr in 1804.

The collection includes the original paper appointing Hamilton as Washington's aide, which carries an estimate of $150,000-200,000.

There are also examples of his notes for Washington's speeches, love letters sent to Hamilton's wife, Eliza, and a lock of his hair.

The archive is expected to sell for a combined $1.5m-2.5m.  

Interest in Hamilton has grown exponentially in recent years, in part due to the runaway success of Hamilton - a critically acclaimed musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda based on his life.

The show made $30m in advance ticket sales and was sold out on Broadway for most of 2015. It opened in Chicago in September and will move to London's West End in 2017.

Selby Kiffer, Sotheby's senior books and manuscripts specialist, commented: "It's highly unusual, but highly gratifying, when popular American culture is informed so directly by our historical past."

We have a phenomenal piece of George Washington memorabilia for sale.

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