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LINCOLN ASSASSINATION LETTER - A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Other Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
LINCOLN ASSASSINATION LETTER - A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT
LINCOLN ASSASSINATION LETTER - A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT. This is a wonderfully detailed account of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, written by a man named Samuel who was sitting in the front row of Ford’s Theater. He wrote the letter to his wife Maria on April 15th, 1865, the day after the assassination when his recollection was fresh and untainted by the many rumors and theories that sprang up in the days and weeks following that tragic event. The letter is written on embossed lined stationary paper, 8x10” folded in half to form four leaves, which are fully covered in writing. The letter is folded in thirds and is accompanied by a small envelope with the pencil inscription “John Holt Gardiner Letter”. The whole was enclosed in another larger envelope postmarked 1934 and addressed to “Miss Ada F. Gardiner, 8 Sea View Avenue, South Portland, Maine” with a return address from a Wall Street law firm. Here is a small excerpt from the letter: “You no doubt have received the particulars before my letter reaches you of the assassination of Pres. Lincoln. it was terrible for I saw it all. Mr Cook and myself Engaged front Seats for ourselves Mrs Foster and Miss Walcott and as the papers State, J Wilks Booth shot the President and jumped from the front of the Private Box, upon the stage, holding a large Boa knife about a foot in length. No one but a stage actor could have performed the deed with such coolness. As he landed on the stage he look back to the private box with his Boa knife raised and says Va is avenged, and left the stage at its rear mounting a horse and Escaped.” With some research, one should be able to piece together the identities of Samuel and Maria, and the other persons mentioned in the letter, including Samuel’s companions at the theater. This is a wonderful eyewitness account of the Lincoln assassination and the events immediately following - a valuable and previously unpublished historical document. CONDITION: Letter is in fine condition with minor splits on creases and some light staining. 4-53432 SO17