Description:

(1790 - 1862) Tenth President of the United States following the death of Harrison, annexed Texas, and remained loyal to Virginia following its secession. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE LETTER AND FREE FRANK AS HARRISON'S VICE PRESIDENT An impossibly rare A.L.S. 'John Tyler' AS VICE PRESIDENT, 1p. with integral address leaf, on 'Brown's Indian Queen Hotel' letterhead, 7.25 x 9, Washington, March 7, 1841. Three days after taking office as the tenth Vice President, John Tyler sent this letter to Captain Emanuel Jones Leigh, with whom he had previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1823 to 1825. In full: 'Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 23 February is before [me] and as the readiest mode of bringing its contents before the proper Department, I shall submit it rather to the President or the Secretary of State. I shall do so the more readily as I am utterly oppos'd to the proscription policy for mere opinions sake. I remember well our service together at Ch's. City Court House, and the regard I then entertained for you is still undiminished. I am dr. Sir, Yr. &c, John Tyler' The integral address leaf, also in Tyler's hand, is franked: 'Free, J. Tyler, V.P.' Emanuel Leigh served as a major in the War of 1812, after which he supported himself as a merchant and farmer. Although no record of Leigh's letter can be found, he is known to have been strongly anti-slavery, having freed his slaves shortly after completing his military service - despite being in dire financial straits. Of course, his opinion on slavery was diametrically opposed to that of the soon-to-be President Tyler. Tyler was also a strong opponent to the spoils system of proscription, and was largely ignored by Harrison as he made his list of appointments. After Harrison's death, despite his distaste for the system, he felt obliged to fulfill many of patronage positions and promises made by Harrison. As Harrison died only 30 days into his presidency, Tyler's signature as vice president is as rare as Harrison's as president. This letter includes two such signatures! The letter bears multiple folds and some light soiling, the address leaf bears the same folds, but they are weak and there is a fair amount of soiling and toning. Regardless, the strength of the writing overcomes these deficits. Red wax seal remnants; small seal tear, still overall very good and undoubtedly one of but a tiny handful of such examples. Ex: Heritage, 2011

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May 23, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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