St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-16
PRESIDENTIAL AUTOGRAPHS
Andrew Johnson's the Rarest,
Washington's Next, and Zachary
TayfOr'S Third.

Andrew Johnson's the Rarest,
Washington's Next, and Zachary
TayiOr's Third.
When an American starts in to make
collection OF autograph letters he is
very apt to begin with the presidents of
the United States. A set of the presi-
dents is very desirable, and each year it
is becoming more difficult to form one,
says the Collector. 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 spec
linens or pay too dearly for common
ones.
Washington naturally leads the list in
deSirability. though Andrew johnson is
the rareSt and most expensive. Full
letters by Washington are scarce, ard
their price varies from S25 upwards, ac-
cOrding to their size, condition and sub
ject matter. Letters dated during the
Revolution are the most interesting, as
they are apt to contain references to the
war.
Letters signed only by Washington
are fairly common, but always in good
demand at prices varying from SIP up
wards. Those written by his secretary.
Alexander Hamilton, are perhaps the
best. Hamilton was master of the
English language, and his sentences
flow as smoothly as those of Addison.
Washington letters will never become
cheaper, as there is a steady demand
from outside by people who want only a
Washington. The most exaggerated
idea of their value prevails in Europe,
where SlD0 is sometimes asked for one.
Andrew johnson seldom wrote letters,
His right arm was injured by a musket
ball ard 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 some
| times escaped notice, and at the Cist
| sale last spring QUE of these letters sold
for $15. Collectors have grown very
suspicious of the name, and at the Rich
mOnd sale last month signed document
| sold for the low price of S3. A genuine
| signature is worth that alone. Another
reason why johnson wrote SO little was
| because he made mistakes in grammar
| and spelling. and he disliked to expose
| himself to criticism.
Washington is second in rareneSs and
| Zachary Taylor third. The old soldier
was handler with the sword than with
|
and was generous of blots. a fine Tay-
| lor is worth from SIG to s25, and it is a
very poor specimen that is not valued at
less than S.. A number of forged sig
| natures of Taylor are in circulation, and
| should be looked out for. They are on
| 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 a
sheet of octave note paper. He used a
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 letters
range from sl2 to $50. 1t is safe to say
that these prices will be greatly in
creased in the near future.
The letters OF Gen. Grant are high
priced, not so much because of their
rarity as because of the great reputation
of the writer. They range in price
from $40 to $50, and there is large and
steady demand for them. Grants book
had tremendous sale, and many people
like to insert letter i'll the book, as it
I materially increases the interest.
| John Adams and John Quincy Adams
bring good prices. Monroe, Madison.
Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Tyler and
Polk run close together, at from s. to ST
each. Buchanan, Hayes, Pierce, Van
| Buren, and Fillmore are lower priced.
Arthur Is decidedly scarce. 1t is often
| SO soon after mans death. 1t takes
| time for letters to find their way into the
hands of strangers. Twenty years
I hence Arthur's letters will be COM
mOner than at present.
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