ALS signed “A. H.,” one page, 8 x 9.5, August 16, 1841. Letter to her grandson, John Cleves Harrison. In part: “I was truly glad, to receive your very kind, & affectionate letter. I have very often thought of you, but much more since the death of your ever to be lamented grandfather. But I assure you my dear boy, this is the very first letter I have written to anyone of my relations, since his death…My dear Cleves, you know not how much I miss your dear grandfather.” Second integral page bears an address panel to Harrison in Vincennes, Indiana. In very good to fine condition, with intersecting folds, scattered light toning and wrinkling, and some small areas of paper loss from black wax seal on second page.
Accompanied by a hand-addressed and free franked envelope, addressed by Anna Harrison, “Miss Anna L. Harrison, Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio,” and franked in the upper right, “Free Anna Harrison.” Also included are locks of hair from both President William Henry Harrison, as well as a lock of hair from his wife, both originally acquired from the late Charles Hamilton, along with two envelope panels addressed to Samuel T. Skidmore.
The former first lady—still grieving after the death of her husband William Henry Harrison four months earlier—chose her grandson to be the first recipient of a letter “written to anyone of my relations, since his death.” Pain from the loss of her husband is, understandably, still fresh, as she laments, “you know not how much I miss your dear grandfather.” The 68-year-old Harrison took office in 1841 but served only one month before dying from pneumonia on April 4, 1841. Although she opposed his candidacy, Anna Harrison was a visible presence at the Harrison home during the colorful ‘Tippecanoe and Tyler Too’ campaign of 1840 where supporters, Whig organizers, and reporters came to see the candidate. She was too ill at the time to attend her husband’s inauguration, and remained in Ohio for his funeral. Anna Harrison would live another 22 years after her husband’s demise, but died 25 years before another grandson—Benjamin Harrison—would take the presidential oath of office. Poignant words from the grieving widow. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$50.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
