Lot 1833

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

GARRET A. HOBART
(1844 - 1899) 24th Vice President of the United States under William McKinley, serving from 1897 until his death in 1899. He was the sixth American vice president to die in office. A.L.S. on Vice Presidential letterhead, 2pp. 8vo., Washington D.C., January 7, 1898, to James L. McCartney declining an invitation. In part: '...I am in receipt of the kind invitation of the Clover Club to attend its sixteenth anniversary dinner...it is impossible for me to attend for I have a dinner party at my house on that night, semi diplomatic in character and I must of course be present...' Toned with minor ink stains, else fine. The Clover Club was a Philadelphia based men's club founded in 1882 that consisted of journalists who met to drink and discuss current events. This letter highlights an interesting dynamic unique to William McKinley's presidency which was never before seen. The First Lady, Ida McKinley, suffered from a variety of ailments that made it difficult for her to assume the traditional roles of the office, most notably hosting White House events. Due to this, Hobart's wife Jennie took charge of most of the social responsibilities by hosting at their house across from the Executive Mansion. It is also possible that the 'semi-diplomatic' party being held was to discuss the growing calls of the nation to intervene in Cuba, then a Spanish colony in revolt, which would subsequently lead to the Spanish American War.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

August 26, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000