Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana. Part 2

Property from the Estate of Maurice J. Curran III

Property from the Estate of Maurice J. Curran III Lincoln, Mary Todd Autograph letter signed ("Mary Lincoln") as First Lady, to her cousin Elizabeth Todd Grimsley ("Dear Lizzie"), discoursing on a wide variety of topics, both personal and political 8 pages (183 x 116 mm) on a pair of blue-ruled, pink-edged bifolia blind-embossed M. L. on the first leaves, "Executive Mansion" (Washington, D.C.), 29 September 1861; a few short fold separations, some with early repair, lightly finger-soiled. "[S]ince the election she is the only one of my sisters who has appeared to be pleased with our advancement" In her first year as First Lady, Mrs Lincoln writes a long letter to her cousin, giving news of her health, her social activities and her friends, including the "Chevalier" Wikoff and her famous seamstress Elizabeth Keckley, and delivering some sharp judgements on her sisters Elizabeth Edwards, Frances Wallace and Ann Smith. The Lincolns had occupied the White House for little more than six months when Mary wrote this fascinating letter to her closest cousin, who had herself just recently departed Washington after an extended stay at the Executive Mansion. The First Lady described her as "a noble, good woman & has been purified, through much trial," and President Lincoln entrusted her with most of his pre-presidential papers when he departed Springfield (Letters, p. 187). Mrs. Lincoln begins by apologizing for a lapse in her correspondence, explaining that she had "been quite sick with chills for some days. … Mr. Lincoln want me to go North, & remain until cold weather—Where so much is demanded of me—I cannot afford to be delicate, if a different limate will restore my health—If at the close of this week, I am still sick, I expect I will go up to Boston, take quarters at the Revere House for two or three weeks—& return here in November. I trust however, I may not be under the necessity, yet I am feeling very far from well … my racked frame certainly bears witness to the fact." Mentioning that she has received a note from Nathaniel P. Willis, author and editor, who "with all his weaknesses … is kind hearted." She also notes that Governor William A. Newell of New Jersey and Oliver S. Halsted are frequent visitors, adding, unabashedly, "as who is not?" The First Lady then delves deeply into family news and gossip. "I presume you are aware, your brother [John B. S. Todd] is elected to Congress [from the Dakota Territory]. I received a letter from Elizabeth E[dwards]. the other day—very kind and aff yet very characteristic—said if rents and means permitted, she would like to make us a visit I believe for a season—I am weary of intrigue, when she is by herseld she can be very agreeable, especially when her mind is not dwelling on the merits of fair daughters & a talented son in law, such personages always speak for themselves. I often regred E.P. E. little weaknesses, after all, since the election she is the only one of my sisters who has appeared to be pleased with our advancement—you know this to be so—" Mary Lincoln also credits herself for obtaining a position as local paymaster of troops for William Wallace, the husband of her sister Frances. "Notwithstanding Dr. W. has received his portion, in life, from the Administration, yet Frances always remains quiet. E. in her letter said—Frances often spoke of Mr. L’s kindness—in giving him his place. She little knows, what a hard battle, I had for it—and how near he came to getting nothing." But it is for her sister Ann that Mrs. Lincoln reserves her harshest judgment: "Poor unfortunate Ann, inasmuch as she possess such a miserable disposition & so false a tongue—How far dear Lizzie, are we removed, from such a person. Even if Smith, succeeds in being a rich man, what advantage will it be to him, who has gained it in some cases most unjustly, and with such a woman, whom no one respects, whose tongue for so many years, has been considered 'no slander'—and as a child & young girl, could not be outdone in falsehood. … She is so seldom in my thoughts I have so much more, that is attractive … to interest me. I grieve for those, who have to come in contact with her malice. …" Having exhausted for the moment family commentary, Mrs. Lincoln proves herself equally adept and political and social gossip. "Nicolay told me, that Caleb Smith, said to him … that he had just received a letter from Kellogg—of Cin. that he did not know why he had not received his appointmentas Consul—Is not the idea preposterous? … I have so much to tell you, I do not know, what first to write about. Wykoff, the 'Chevalier,' enlightened me about Baker’s & Julia’s proceedings in New York in Feb." Henry Wikoff was one of many unscrupulous persons who insinuated themselves into Mrs. Lincoln’s confidence. Wikoff, who styled himself "Chevalier," was actually working for the New York Herald to obtain scoops on life inside the White House. He was barred after he leaked portions of Lincoln’s 1861 State of the Union address to his paper. The most interesting portion of the letter reveals Mary Lincoln’s sincere compassion for Elizabeth Keckley, her black dressmaker and confidant, who had purchased her own freedom, as well as her son's, from enslavement in 1855. In 1868, Keckley published an autobiography, Behind the Scenes, that discussed both the Lincolns. "I know you will be sorry to hear, that our colored Manutuamaker, Elizabeth, lost her only son & child in the battle of Lex Mo. She is heartbroken. She is a very remarkable woman herself." Mary Lincoln crams more news into the conclusion of the letter and asks her cousin to "Write very soon—very often." In a postscript, she adds that she will be sending Lizzie three dollars, given to her for that purpose by the President’s valet, William Slade, adding "Strange he called upon you." The majority of Mrs. Lincoln’s surviving letters date to the period after her husband’s assassination. They are frequently—and understandably—morose, filled with anger and self-pity. The present remarkable letter shows a different and happier side of Mary Lincoln, lacking in self-awareness, perhaps, but aware of her position and taking enormous pleasure in it. REFERENCE: Turner & Turner, Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life and Letters, pp. 104–06 PROVENANCE: The Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation (Sotheby Parke Bernet, 3 June 1980, lot 980)

View 1 of Lot 1146: Lincoln, Mary Todd | Elizabeth Keckly "is a very remarkable woman herself."

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