Nov 08, 2018 - Sale 2492

Sale 2492 - Lot 132

Price Realized: $ 188
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 200 - $ 300
GETTING HIS START IN NYC: "I GOT HERE . . . A WEEK AGO LAST FRIDAY" HORACE GREELEY. Autograph Letter Signed, "H. Greeley," to printer C.A. Powe, describing his efforts to find work after arriving in New York City, encouraging Powe to move to NYC, discussing news about printer acquaintances, and expressing surprise that Nathaniel Parker Willis is to become editor of the New-York Mirror. 3 pages, small folio, written on a folded sheet, address panel on terminal page; lower edge trimmed truncating a sentence or two, silked on recto and verso, moderate scattered foxing and soiling, seal tears in terminal leaf repaired with paper (minor loss to text). New York, 28 August 1831

Additional Details

"Who says I can't go down to York and live as well as other folks? Faith they must be sadly mistaken. I got here per steam boat Eckford a week ago last Friday morning; spent the day in examining the ground, reading the news, and buying some clothes, to make me look a bit the kind of decentish; and the next morning set about finding something to do. . . . I was adjudged a runaway apprentice about 18 years old who did not know enough even for that age. . . . Sunday I heard of a chap who wanted a hand; so I called him on Monday morning and he [said] . . . that I might go to work. . . . I have hand work . . . being a pocket testament on agate type, with notes of Greek and superior letters. . . . I can work when I please, and quit when I please, and get my pay weekly. . . . [I]t is worth $10 to live one winter in the city, to 'see the world,' the curiosities of the place, etc. . . . I have no time to enumerate . . . the wonders of the place. One hundred fine vessels are lying quietly in sight of me--three steamboats I can see dashing across the bay; and a number of pleasure vessels are playing about in the harbour. . . . I have visited no theatres, nor anything of the kind, yet, as I am poor; but the time will come. . . .

". . . By the way I hear that N.P. Willis is to become an editor of the Mirror, which is something not dreamt of in my philosophy. . . ."