Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-01-21
Presidential Autographs.

.
When an American starts in to make
q collection of autograph letters he is
very apt to begin with the Presidents
ct the United States. A set of the
Presidents is very desirable, and each
year it is becoming more difficult to
form one. An amateur will know little
OF the comparative value and variety of
the different Presidents, and unless he
is informed, he will miss golden chances
of picking up rare specimens, or pay
too dearly for common ones.
Washington naturally leads the list
In desirability, though Andrew John
son is the rarest and most expensive.
Full letters by Washington are scarce,
and their price varies from $25 up-
ward, according to their size, condi-
ton, and subject matter. Letters
dated during the Revolution are the
most interesting, as they are apt to con-
tain references to the war.
Letters signed only by Washington
are fairly common but always in good
demand at prices varying from $40 up
ward. Those written by his Secretary,
Alexander Hamilton, are perhaps the
best. Hamilton was q master of the
English language, and his sentences
flow as smoothly as those OF Addison.
Washington letters will never become
cheaper, as there is steady demand
from outside by people who want only
a Washington. The most exaggerated
idea of their value prevails in Europe,
where 800 is sometimes asked for one.
Andrew Johnson seldom wrote let
ters His right arm was injured by q
snusket ball and it was painful for him
to use it. He confined himself to very
short notes-generally in pencil-or
had his letters written by his son. The
latter frequently signed his fathers
name for him. This signing by proxy
has sometimes escaped notice, and at
the Cist sale last spring one of these
letters sold for $15. Collectors have
grown very suspicious of the name.
Washington is second in rareness
and Zachary Taylor third. The old
soldier was handler with the sword
than with the pen. He wrote villain
GUS hand and was generous of blots.
A fine Taylor is worth from $16 to $25,
and it is very poor specimen that is
not valued at S.. A number of good
forged signatures of Taylor are in cir
and should be looked out for.
They are on a large-sized card, and
may be detected by the regularity of
the writing.
Abraham Lincoln ranks fourth in
point of rareness. He wrote short
notes-covering on the average about
half sheet of octave note paper. He
used half sheet, and his writing is as
plain and homespun as his character.
He wrote straight to the point and
wasted no words. The prices of his
etters range from $12 to $50. It is
safe to say that these prices will be
greatly increased in the near future. 1
The letters of Gen. Grant are highs
priced, not so much because of their
'arity as because of the great reputa-
ion of the writer. They range in
price from SO to $40, and there is a |
arge and steady demand for them.
Grants book had tremendous sale.
md many people like to insert letter |
n the book, as it materially increases
he interest.
John Adams and John Quincy Adams
'ring good prices. Monroe, Madison,
Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Tyler,
nd Polk run close together at from So |
o Sc each. Buchanan, HAYES, Pierce,
Van Buren,, and Fillmore are lower |
,riced.
Arthur is decidedly scarce. It is
ften SO soon after mans death. It |
axes time for letters to find their way
nto the hands of strangers. Twenty
ears hence Arthur's letters will be |
than they are at present.
rhe Collector.
CoAr DEALERS haya MT onlv n ,of4