Extremely rare partly-printed DS as president, one page, 19.25 x 16, June 21, 1881. President Garfield replaces a Consul appointee. In part: “Know ye, that the reposing special trust and confidence in the abilities and integrity of Robert Y. Holley of Vermont and by virtue of the authority conferred upon the President by section 1768 of the Revised Statutes of the United States…I do hereby suspend Woodbury H. Polleys from the office of the Consul of the United States of America at Barbadoes…and I hereby designate the said Robert Y. Holley…to perform the duties of the suspended officer.” Superbly signed at the conclusion in black ink, “James A. Garfield,” and countersigned by Secretary of State James G. Blaine. Beautifully suede matted and framed to an overall size of 26 x 22.5. Inspected outside of the frame, the document has been professionally preserved with a light silking to reverse of document, as well as a couple well done repairs to marginal edge tears, light previous storage folds, a couple unobtrusive pinholes at junction of folds, some mild toning to edges from previous display, and some slight, faint mirroring of Blaine's signature located under Garfield’s impressive 4.5” signature. In the frame, the document rates in fine, clean, bright condition, with white wafer seal crisp and intact.
Noted expert Kenneth Rendell remarks in his book History Comes to Life that documents signed by Garfield as president are extremely rare and that Garfield “is second only to William Henry Harrison in rarity of signed material during his presidency.” Only the fourth Garfield presidential document we have ever offered. Garfield died just 200 days into his presidency, and during the eighty days between his shooting and death, his only official act was to sign an extradition paper, making this a presidential item of the utmost rarity! Oversized. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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