Sell or Auction Your Mary Todd Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed for up to Over $20,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
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Below is a recent realized price for a Mary Todd autograph letter signed. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to this amount or more for you:
Mary Todd Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed. Sold for Over $20,000.
The following are some related items we have sold:
Scarce Mary Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed as First Lady — Mrs. Lincoln Gives a Going Away Present (Something “light and pretty”) to Her Friend Mrs. Abner Doubleday
Very rare Mary Todd Lincoln autograph letter signed as First Lady, dated 30 January 1865 and written on “Executive Mansion” stationery. Mrs. Lincoln writes to her friend, the wife of General Abner Doubleday, on the occasion of the Doubleday’s leaving Washington for Philadelphia, where the General was to preside over a court martial. In full, “My dear Mrs. Doubleday: I take the liberty of sending you for your acceptance this simple dress made with a double skirt, I think it will be light and pretty. I remain affectionately yours / Mary Lincoln”. Framed in dark wood with a CDV portrait of the Civil War’s First Lady, measuring 20.5″ x 17″. Single page letter measures 5″ x 8″ and is in near fine condition. Sold for $8,500.
Abraham Lincoln Personally Owned and Worn Spectacles — With Provenance From Lincoln’s Family
Spectacles worn by Abraham Lincoln, photographed with the President in the portrait taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington, D.C. in 1865 (O-116D in ”Lincoln in Photographs”). With provenance from Abraham Lincoln’s great grandson, Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith. As his last direct descendant, Beckwith writes in an ”Affidavit and Deed of Gift”, signed and dated 16 August 1977 (a photocopy of which is included in the lot): ”I, Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith of Washington, D.C., certify that among the contents of a trunk located and unopened until recently, and placed in the attic of Hildene, the estate of my grandfather Robert Todd Lincoln, Manchester, Vermont, by my grandmother Mary Harlan Lincoln (Mrs. Robert Todd Lincoln), and the said contents being awarded to me by the Estate of my sister Mary Lincoln Beckwith, were found two pair of eye glasses which had belonged to my great grandfather President Abraham Lincoln, and so marked by my grandmother Mary Harlan Lincoln. I further give one pair of these eye glasses to Margaret Fristoe of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and one pair to James T. Hickey of Elkhart, Illinois.” Hickey was the Curator of the Lincoln Collection of the Illinois State Historical Library, now the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. The pair given to Hickey is still in the Library’s collection. Two years after gifting the glasses to Fristoe, Beckwith married her and upon her death the glasses were passed to her daughter from a prior relationship, Lenora Fristoe Hoverson. Her affidavit is also included. Also included is a signed letter from a board-certified optician attesting to the prescription of the glasses as +2.12, a match to Lincoln’s known prescription strength in the 2.00 range. An amazing piece of personal history from one of America’s greatest presidents. Sold for $84,422.
Abraham Lincoln Signed CDV as President — John Hay Certifies Signature as Authentic on Verso
Exceptionally rare Abraham Lincoln signed carte-de-visite photograph, taken by Alexander Gardner in 1861 and signed as President. Signed ”A. Lincoln” below the seated portrait of Lincoln. John Hay, Lincoln’s private secretary, authenticates the signature upon the verso by writing, ”I certify that the President’s signature is genuine / John Hay”. With ”Brady’s National Portrait Gallery” backstamp. Measures 2.5” x 3.75”. Very good with some foxing and wear, but with a strong signature by Lincoln. With provenance from Profiles in History and with a COA from Charles Hamilton. Sold for $49,913.
Extraordinary collectible from the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln, a personally owned and used pen by Lincoln, given to him during his service as President. Steel-nib fountain pen, lightly worn from use, is evocative and notable for the gold-colored star pattern upon its barrel, calling forth the patriotic Union sentiment at the heart of the Civil War, clearly intended to inspire the President and reminding him of the War’s noble and patriotic purpose.
Pen has been identified as part of a set inherited by Mary Edwards Brown, Mary Todd Lincoln’s grandniece who famously served as Custodian of the Lincoln Homestead in Springfield, Illinois. The pen is listed as one of the items in a 2 May 1925 notarized affidavit signed by Brown as number ”15. Penholder set, property of Abraham Lincoln”, a copy of which accompanies the pen. This affidavit was created by Brown to accompany the sale of the pen to Richard Hagen of Friends of the Lincoln Shrines, whose 1958 notarized affidavit copy also accompanies the pen, created when it was sold to noted Lincoln dealer King Hostick; affidavit reads in part: ”the antique pen holder set…is the one and same pen holder set described in a notarized affadavit dated 2nd May, 1925, and signed by Mary Edwards Brown. I further certify that this pen holder, containing 2 pens, a letter opener, and a scraper, was purchased by me as agent of Friends of the Lincoln Shrines, from Mary Edwards Brown”. Finally the pen is accompanied by the original handwritten note by Mary Edwards Brown reading, ”Desk set of pen holders pencil scraper etc. given to Abraham Lincoln while President of U.S.” This note has been authenticated by University Archives as written by Brown and matching the writing on her 1925 affidavit; the 1925 affidavit was provided by Daniel Stowell, former director of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln Project. University Archives COA also accompanies the lot validating the authenticity of the pen as originally owned by Abraham Lincoln and as one of the pens in the set described in the three documents.
Pen (not including ink cartridge) measures 7.25” long. Light scratching to the nib from use, and some light rubbing to the barrel. Overall in near fine condition, an evocative piece from Abraham Lincoln, likely used for importance during the Civil War. Sold for $41,250.
Important Civil War letter signed by President Abraham Lincoln, exactly one week after the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg that left Lincoln in ”a worse place than hell” upon hearing the results of the ”butchery” of Union forces. The hope of taking the Confederacy’s capital of Richmond had been stymied yet again, and criticism of Lincoln’s handling of the war reached such a pitch that there was even serious consideration of removing him as Commander-in-Chief. In this letter, written to Major Generals William B. Franklin and William F. Smith, Lincoln responds to another possible plan of how to approach the city, presented by the Generals (see lot 135 for Franklin and Smith’s plan). General Franklin, in particular, was likely trying to fix the problem of capturing Richmond, as his command of the Left Grand Division during the Battle of Fredericksburg had been criticized in some quarters; Lincoln, however, views this new plan with skepticism and even issues a mild rebuke at the end of the letter, for what seems to be an inconsistency in Franklin’s recommended strategy. Single page letter is written in the hand of Lincoln’s secretary John G. Nicolay, boldly signed by Lincoln at the conclusion. On bifolium stationery measuring 7.875” x 9.875”. Fold lines, else near fine condition. Sold for $40,000.
Fascinating autograph letter signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1859, an unpublished letter written to Lincoln’s close associate Norman B. Judd, the Republican State Chairman of Illinois at the time. Lincoln discusses a plan to reach German voters in the state via the purchase of a printing press that would ostensibly print literature in German, saying he’s in favor of the plan if it would cost no more than $400 – ”we seem to be gaining with the Germans; and perhaps it is right to press our own luck while it runs favorably”.
As evidenced by this letter, Lincoln and Judd were close allies at this time. It was a year earlier that Judd had proposed the idea that Lincoln should debate Stephen Douglas on the issue of slavery, catapulting Lincoln to national prominence. And it would be Judd who, a year later, nominated Lincoln for President at the Republican National Convention in Chicago – the city selected by Judd so that Lincoln would have an advantage over the other contenders, even going so far as arranging the seating chart so that anti-Lincoln men were in the back of the convention hall. Single page letter measures 7.75” x 9.875”. Mounting remnant to one corner on verso, and restoration along fold on verso. Also an ink blot at bottom in what looks to be a fingerprint. Writing remains bold, overall very good plus condition. Sold for $25,000.
Superb Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed as President, Regarding Possible War Profiteering During the Civil War — “…I expected that when…the price of a…gun was fixed, it would stand…”
Abraham Lincoln autograph letter signed as President with exceptional content regarding arms requisitions, dated 23 April 1862 during the early years of the Civil War as the government’s military expenditures were dramatically increasing. Lincoln’s legal instincts are sharp here, as he analyzes a contract for the purchase of guns, putting a contractor on notice that varying prices will be challenged, and making sure that the government doesn’t fall victim to war profiteering or fraud. Sold for $20,124.
Abraham Lincoln autograph letter signed, datelined Springfield (Illinois) on 28 December 1857. As a 48-year old lawyer, Lincoln writes to his client William H. Davenport, the plaintiff in ”Davenport v. Sconce and Don Carlos”, a case involving fraud and collusion at the General Land Office in Danville, Illinois. Lincoln writes in full, ”W.H. Davenport / Dear Sir: / When I went to Danville in the fall I found that [defendant, Land Agent] Don Carlos had not yet been served with process. I was greatly vexed, and made an affidavit to have a publication made for him, as one who was evading process – Before the end of the term Drake & Moses (lawyers) concluded to, and did enter his appearance, upon which they were ruled to file answers by some day this winter – I think Jany. 1, but not quite certain – That was all I could do – When the answers shall be filed, I ought to have copies of them & I have not yet provided for getting them – / Yours very truly / A. Lincoln.” Lincoln would ultimately prevail for his client shortly before being elected President in November 1860. Letter measures 7.75” x 9.75” on laid paper with ”Windsor Mills” watermark. Partial separation along folds, repaired with tape to verso. A few spots of discoloration, overall in very good condition. Letter is published in ”The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln”, edited by Roy Basler and published in 1953. Sold for $15,000.
FREE ESTIMATE. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Mary Todd Lincoln autograph letter signed that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
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