Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-05-02
AUTOGRAPHS OF PREsrDEr1s.

/ American history, the heroes Of colonial
days, the founders of the republic,
statesmen and generals and famous
men in every walk of life.
Since the great Washington centen-
NAL celebration was held in New York
there has arisen a voracious demand for
Washingtoniana of every kind, and
above all for Washington letters. A col
lection once begun the possessor is hard
to satisfy until he renders it complete.
The craving for old, faded, worm-eaten
letters grows on one Just like that for
old china or bric-a-brac, manuscripts or
pictures. Many persons, after having
acquired one or two Washington letters,
find 1t impossible to advance any fur
Their on that line and set about acquir-
ing presidential collection. Hundreds
are now setting their hearts on this
task, and it is likely to cost them many
dollar and many heartache before
they accomplish it, as the following
facts will show. It is thought that
there are about 1900 Washington let
ters in existence. He always wrote
with care and on good paper, and as he
was prominently before the people even
in his twentieth year, great numbers of
his letters were preserved by the friends
to whom he sent them. His hand
writing changed greatly, but his sig
nature was virtually the same at all
periods of his life, and in spite Of their
number his letters range in price from
$s5 to $3.50. Some of them referring to
striking historical matters have brought
even more than the last sum under the
hammer.
Jefferson is also costly, but much
cheaper than Washington. His letters
are more readily obtained A very
characteristic one Of the PHILOSOPHER
of Monticello" is tho following to. Gem
eral Benjamin Lincoln of revolutionary
fame on the latter's retirement from
the coIlectorship of the port of Boston.
1t is dated November "a, 1906:
DEAR SIN: have received your favor OF
the 18th inst proposing to resign your ofaoe Of
collector at the end Of the present year, and I
receive It with real concern No one respects
you more than myself, none is more deeply
impressed with the value Of your revolutionary
services, nor does anyone more earnestly wish
your personal happiness. You are one Of those
who deserved we'll Of your country, and have
seen with pleasure you convenience allied to
It's services. How far It may now be more de-
siraole for you to separate yourself from the
ONCE depends on circumstances into which I
have no right to enquire, and of which yourself
alone can Judge. It Is on my own account
therefore that ask some respite Of your deter
mtnation so as to give mo o more enlarged
SCOPE OF time to tx on Q successor, and that I
particularly request that your resignation may
relate, not to fixed day, but to the actual
appointments Of successor, on my assuring
You It shall not detain You beyond another
quarter, say beyond the hast day Of March next.
Accept my friendly salutations, and assur.
ances Of great esteem and respect.
tn: JEFFERSON"
Taken at random, these are some Of
the current prices for the letters of 9TH
er presidents: Pierce Ii fairly rare and
brings from SIS up to $40; Tyler is com
mon and ranges from 50 to SIS; Taylor is
very rare He did not shine as a PEN
man and wrote few letters, and very
few of his missfves have fallen into the
hands of collectors. His letters, there
fore, are worth from $25 to 500; Van
Buren, is not rare, and fetches only $50
to IS; Arthur Is scarce and dear.
Friends who have his letters hold on to
them, and Mr.. Benjamin says they will
be more common In twenty years, as
they will then be brought out from
their hiding-places. They are now
worth about $40 each; Monroe letters
are quite common, and are readily
bought at from 50 TO SIS. Here is an un-
published one Of his IN Mr.. Beniarnin'e