Vintage matte-finish 7.25 x 11 Harris and Ewing portrait, signed and inscribed in the lower border in fountain pen “For Mrs. Case, as an offering of peace to wipe out the memory of a grievous fault, and with best wishes, Wm. H. Taft, June 22nd, 1917, Manhattan.” In fine condition, with some light silvering to edges of image.
This cryptic inscription begs the question: who is Mrs. Case, and exactly what “grievous fault” was performed against her? The true answer, it appears, has been lost to history. But perhaps the message was to a grieving widow or mother who had lost a loved one in World War I. Given Taft’s advocacy for world peace, such a scenario is certainly highly likely. Regardless, this grand pose and its interesting message unite to create a superb and intriguing presentation. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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