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Reagan Franked Envelope & ALS

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:0.00 USD
Reagan Franked Envelope & ALS
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Rare Ronald Reagan autograph letter signed “Love / Dutch,” on his personal 6.25” x 4.25” card with gilt embossed Presidential seal above an engraved “Ronald Reagan.” No date or place, but accompanied by an extremely rare 7.25” x 5” envelope personally franked in the upper right “Ronald Reagan” also with, in his hand, the return address of his office, ''11000 Wilshire Boulevard / Los Angeles Calif. 90024,'' and addressed by him to “Mrs. Peter MacArthur / 1500 Lucerne Ave. / Lake Worth Town [sic, Towers] Apt. 507 / Lake Worth Fl. 33460.'' No postal markings. Penned date at lower left in another hand ''9-94.'' Letter reads in full, “Dear Hup – Just a line to thank you for your letter of July 29. Nancy & I were so happy to hear from you. I’m getting along but not quite a 101. Im [sic] pushing in the 80’s and wish I were not quite so many. Nancy & I are happy to have your letter. Thanks and our love. [on verso] We are happy to hear from you. Love – Dutch.” Penned date at lower left in the same hand as on the envelope, ''9-94.'' Reagan used a blue felt-tip pen to write this letter with slight ink spread. Unlike earlier handwritten letters to Hup, this one has an unusual wide left margin. Two months later, on 5 November 1994, the 83-year-old former President famously announced to the nation in a handwritten letter that he had Alzheimer's. As in his letter to Hup, Reagan began with a wide left margin that, line by line, became wider as he wrote. Hup, incidentally, was the 101-year-old Lydia Hupfer McArthur, widow of Peter MacArthur, who famously gave Reagan his first job during the Great Depression in sports announcing. Reagan would stay in touch with him and Hup their entire lives. Envelope browned at upper right edge, else near fine.