?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,500 - $ 5,000
"I FANCIED . . . THE REBEL HORDE . . . WERE INVADING MY QUARTERS" MARY TODD LINCOLN. Autograph Letter Signed, "Mary Lincoln," to the wife of her lawyer Myra Bradwell, finding consolation in the sunshine and flowers of Florida, requesting that she write a long letter, repeating disdainfully a newspaper report of someone's remarriage, characterizing a stream of unwanted visitors as a "rebel horde" and listing their names, and in a postscript additionally Signed, "M.L," written vertically in upper margin of second page: "I am staying at a nice hotel overlooking the St John's river, kept by friends of Mr. Over's[?] Vermont men." 6 pages, 12mo, monogrammed mourning stationery; minor scattered toning, folds. With the original envelope, addressed in her hand, bearing postmark and faintly cancelled 3-cent Washington postage stamp. Jacksonville, 9 December 1874
"I have arrived safely in this beautiful land of flowers, & sunshine, and if you have not heard from me sooner, you may well believe, it is not from forgetfulness of you, but much fatigue & indisposition. I left Chicago, sick in mind & body, but the very air is so sweet & balmy here like a sunny June day with us, that if pain endureth for the night, sunshine, almost invariably comes with the morning. What a consolation to the weary hearted of this world! . . .
". . . I fancied last week, that the Rebel horde, that have since the war settled at J[acksonville], were invading my quarters. In two days time, four or five [visiting] cards--with the significant Gen & Mrs. So & So--were brought me, also Ex Gov Reed & Lady of this place. Being an invalid sufficed that I should excuse myself. . . ."
