Wife of the sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865). Born into a wealthy Southern family, she was accused by many Northerners of being a Confederate spy. After the death of her husband and three of her sons, she was confined to a mental institute. Extremely rare free franked and hand-addressed mailing envelope, 5.5 x 3, addressed in Lincoln’s hand to “Hon. Jesse K. Dubois, Springfield, Illinois,” and franked in the upper right corner, “Mary Lincoln.” Accompanied by a copy of a 1969 TLS from James Hickey, Curator of the Lincoln Collection in the Illinois State Historical Library, stating, “I have examined your Mary Lincoln franked cover…Dubois was elected State Auditor of Illinois in 1857 and 1861 and was a long time political friend of Abraham Lincoln.” In fine condition, with some mild light toning and soiling. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
