Lot 1081
Harrison, Anna Tuthill Symmes (1775-1864) First Lady (1841); the only woman to be wife of one President (William Henry Harrison) and grandmother of another (Benjamin Harrison). She never occupied the White House because she had remained in Ohio to pack; her husband died 31 days after taking office. Autograph Letter Signed ("A. Harrison") as a widow, Northland, Dec. 27, 1844, 2pp. quarto (joined). Free franked ("Anna Harrison") on the address leaf. Three years after President Harrison's death, she writes to her cousin, Mrs. Phebe R. Reeve, on Long Island, N.Y. A personal letter, discussing family and friends and asking that her cousin write soon. In part: "I will send you an autograph of my dear husband….I have to cut them out of Books, having been obliged too often for them….I have had applications from almost, & I do not know but from every part of the nation for them….I carry on the business of my farm, with the assistance of my son, he lives five miles from me….Oh how good was God to spare me one son to be a comfort to me in my old age…." Boldly penned and signed. Address panel bears a manuscript "29" beside the red "WASH DC" stamped postmark. Partial fold separations; negligible paper loss from seal tear; overall light wear. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the late autograph expert Charles Hamilton. Of the Harrison's ten children, only John Scott Harrison, father of future president Benjamin Harrison, was alive at the time of this letter.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
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| Realized $1,200 |
