Civil War–dated ALS signed “Wm. Henry Shelton,” three pages both sides, 5 x 7.5, April 9, 1864. Letter describing an encounter with Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. In part: “Monday evening I heard Edwin Forest as Macbeth at Ford’s theater. The royal family occupied a box and formed the main attraction between the scenes. Mrs. Lincoln had a lady friend with her and each was clad in a real ermine cape surmounted by a white hat and feather…It is not expected that I should speak of the clothes of Abraham the father…I was a little surprised on the next evening at the German Opera to see the Lincoln family again. A gentleman who sat next to me said rather sneeringly that he believed the president attended the theater instead of going to church. I told him that perhaps we ought to be at church instead. He said every man was his own judge of that, and added ‘old Abe included.’” Matted and framed with a plaque and partial transcription to an overall size of 26 x 13, with a window in the backing for viewing the reverse. In fine condition.
