LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Rare Books & Manuscripts #675  / 

30458

Benjamin Harrison Autograph Letter Signed; 1896

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
Benjamin Harrison Autograph Letter Signed; 1896
<B>Benjamin Harrison Autograph Letter Signed, "</B></I><I>Benj Harrison".</B></I> Two pages, 4.5" x 6.9", original personal stationery, Indianapolis, Indiana, June 30, 1896, to John Wanamaker, the father of modern advertising and the first department store. Wanamaker was also Harrison's Postmaster General, yet his tenure was tarnished by corruption and mismanagement. In this letter Harrison acknowledges the arrival of John Wanamaker's $10,000 check for Harrison's Cape May property in New Jersey. The property, originally a gift presented by Wanamaker and several anonymous "subscribers" in 1890, smacked of favoritism and became a scandalous subject. During the summer of 1890, with the White House undergoing extensive renovations including an electric wing, Harrison moved his family to Cape May to the cottage presented as a gift by Wanamaker. After the press caught wind, Harrison opted to pay Wanamaker $10,000 for the cottage in order to remove the stain of corruption. When Harrison decided to summer in the Adirondacks, he sold the cottage back to Wanamaker. Harrison writes, in part: "<I>Your letter inclosing your check for Ten Thousand ($10,000) dollars for the Cape May property came yesterday. I am very much obliged to you again for your Kindness. I am spending about one half at my Adirondack Camp. I have a pretty site & about thirty six acres of land. We hope to get into the other about Aug 1st & after the latter date I hope we may have a visit from you & Mrs W...</B></I>" Fine condition. <I>Ex. Henry E. Luhrs Collection.</B></I><BR><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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