1507. ERNEST DOW PALMER (1817-1904) American sculptor, considered a pioneer artist and one of America's greatest sculptors, executed portrait busts of Alexander Hamilton, Washington Irving, and Erastus Corning. Fine content A.L.S. "E.D. Palmer" 3pp., 8vo. on his imprinted letterhead, Albany, Dec. 18, 1893, to his former student Jonathan Scott Hartley. In part: "...Your name is the same as that of my grandfather, Jonathan, whose grave I visited several times during my stay west last summer & autumn. It is a very dear name to me...the past is very precious to me these, my last years of life. Did I give you a copy of Walter's [Palmer's son Walter Launt Palmer] photo of my White Captive? Fearing that I did not, I send you one [not present]. If you have a copy I wish you would give this one to [Daniel Chester] French the Sculptor (if you know him) with my respects and admiration. I am quite sure I gave one each to [John Quincy Adams] Ward and St. Gaudens. It is hard to realize that I made this little sketch nearly forty years ago. I send you a mutilated picture of a head I modelled not long ago. It is of an old Scotchman, long a resident of Albany, and much respected..." . In very good condition. A successful sculptor in his own right, Jonathan Scott Hartley married the daughter of the noted landscape painter George Inness. Very good to fine. $250 - 350