Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) affixed a rare example of his full-name penmanship to this one-page letter. The entire message was written in the former president’s own hand, and is dated April 2, 1888. Hayes wrote from his Spiegel Grove home in Fremont, Ohio to Miss Caroline E. Morton. In full, the message reads, “Mrs. Hayes is upon a journey to the Centennial celebration at a distant point in our state—Marietta—and will be absent so long that I venture to reply, that she will not be able to prepare an article for you fascinating paper, ‘The Key.’ Her engagements are numerous and exacting.—With All Good Wishes—Sincerely—(signed) Rutherford B. Hayes.” The 19th President generally closed his messages with an abbreviated, “R. B. Hayes” signature, but here the recipient of this note was afforded a Hayes penning of the scarce, full-name variety. Areas of subtle toning and some very faint smudges can be seen along the document’s otherwise clean surface, and the 5.5 x 8.5 page admits of fine condition. JSA/John Reznikoff Auction LOA and RRAuction COA.
