ALS signed “Ronald,” one page, 7.5 x 10.5, personal letterhead, May 20, 1957, paired with an extremely early matte-finish period photo of Reagan at 11 years of age, posing with his brother, Neil, and other children in White Pigeon, Illinois, in 1922. The handwritten letter, sent to childhood friend Milford Smith of Rock Falls, Illinois, reads in full: “In a few hours I'll be on a train again traveling for G.E. However I wanted to grab a minute to thank you for sending the pictures and for your kind invitation. I'm afraid we won't be able to take advantage of it on this trip. While we do get to Ill. for a few days and will be moving around we won't get to the vicinity of Rock Falls or Dixon. By the way check that snapshot again – I think Neil is the one in the cart and I'm holding the dog. Must catch a train now – again thanks & our best to the family.” The included photo, 4.5 x 2.75, depicts a group of six children posing on and around a horse-drawn cart, with annotations to reverse dating the image to “White Pigeon, Ill., 1922,” and identifying five of the six children left to right, with the first boy not named: “Milford Smith, Neil Reagan, Raymond Smith, Marie Mundt Pierce, Ronald Reagan.” In overall fine condition, with a light crease and some faint toning. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope hand-addressed by Reagan, which was postmarked in Los Angeles, California, on May 21, 1957. A desirable early handwritten letter from Reagan, then a well-established Hollywood actor, which boasts uncommon content related to his upbringing in rural Illinois. Enhancing the letter is the presence of a rare original photograph of Reagan, pictured holding a dog in his arms, that serves as a great visual reference to the future president’s humble beginnings.
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