Premium pages left without account:

Auction archive: Lot number 51

TAYLOR, Zachary. Autograph letter signed ("Z. Taylor") AS PRESIDENT to Professor Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867, Washington City, DC, 23 June 1849. 1 full page, 4to. In very fine condition, the ink clear and dark.

Auction 02.11.2006
2 Nov 2006
Estimate
US$2,000 - US$3,000
Price realised:
US$36,000
Auction archive: Lot number 51

TAYLOR, Zachary. Autograph letter signed ("Z. Taylor") AS PRESIDENT to Professor Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867, Washington City, DC, 23 June 1849. 1 full page, 4to. In very fine condition, the ink clear and dark.

Auction 02.11.2006
2 Nov 2006
Estimate
US$2,000 - US$3,000
Price realised:
US$36,000
Beschreibung:

TAYLOR, Zachary. Autograph letter signed ("Z. Taylor") AS PRESIDENT to Professor Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867, Washington City, DC, 23 June 1849. 1 full page, 4to. In very fine condition, the ink clear and dark. A PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT FOR A "SUBSTANTIALLY EDUCATED" YOUNG ENGINEER. A very rare Presidential autograph letter. Three months after becoming President, Taylor, employing the wide-nib pens he habitually preferred, writes a glowing recommendation for a young engineer assigned to the Coast Survey: "This will be handed you by Mr. Ethelber F. Mason who is about engaging in the Coast Survey under your supervision; Mr. M. comes highly recommended to me by an esteemed and valued friend who takes a deep interest in his success, and presents him to me as a young gentleman of great merit, modesty and entirely exemplary in morals &c, besides being substantially educated as to prepare him for the duty he is about to enter on. And aid and advice it may be proper for you to give him as regards his duty, or occupation or any attention of a personal character you may be able to extend to him will [be] gratefully acknowledged by his friends..." Bache, a great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin attended West Point, graduating at age 19 "with highest honors and with the rare record of not having received a single mark of demerit" (DAB). He taught chemistry and physics at the University of Pennsylvania, helped found Girard College, and in 1843 was named Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey, a massive project to map the entire U.S. coastline. Taylor became ill in the summer of 1850 and died just sixteen months after taking office. His short term of office and his tendency to use secetaries for much of his correspondence makes his Presidential autograph letters quire rare. No example is featured in Hamilton's album of American Autographs and one authority writes that "Taylor ranks behind only William Henry Harrison and Garfield in the scarcity of his presidential autograph" (J. Taylor, From the White House Inkwell , p.77). According to aution records, only three Taylor autograph letters as President have been offered in the last 25 years; the most recent example, from the Douglass Campbell Collection, was of smaller format (sale, Christie's, 19 December 2002, lot 337, $23,900).

Auction archive: Lot number 51
Auction:
Datum:
2 Nov 2006
Auction house:
Christie's
2 November 2006, New York, Rockefeller Center
Beschreibung:

TAYLOR, Zachary. Autograph letter signed ("Z. Taylor") AS PRESIDENT to Professor Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867, Washington City, DC, 23 June 1849. 1 full page, 4to. In very fine condition, the ink clear and dark. A PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT FOR A "SUBSTANTIALLY EDUCATED" YOUNG ENGINEER. A very rare Presidential autograph letter. Three months after becoming President, Taylor, employing the wide-nib pens he habitually preferred, writes a glowing recommendation for a young engineer assigned to the Coast Survey: "This will be handed you by Mr. Ethelber F. Mason who is about engaging in the Coast Survey under your supervision; Mr. M. comes highly recommended to me by an esteemed and valued friend who takes a deep interest in his success, and presents him to me as a young gentleman of great merit, modesty and entirely exemplary in morals &c, besides being substantially educated as to prepare him for the duty he is about to enter on. And aid and advice it may be proper for you to give him as regards his duty, or occupation or any attention of a personal character you may be able to extend to him will [be] gratefully acknowledged by his friends..." Bache, a great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin attended West Point, graduating at age 19 "with highest honors and with the rare record of not having received a single mark of demerit" (DAB). He taught chemistry and physics at the University of Pennsylvania, helped found Girard College, and in 1843 was named Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey, a massive project to map the entire U.S. coastline. Taylor became ill in the summer of 1850 and died just sixteen months after taking office. His short term of office and his tendency to use secetaries for much of his correspondence makes his Presidential autograph letters quire rare. No example is featured in Hamilton's album of American Autographs and one authority writes that "Taylor ranks behind only William Henry Harrison and Garfield in the scarcity of his presidential autograph" (J. Taylor, From the White House Inkwell , p.77). According to aution records, only three Taylor autograph letters as President have been offered in the last 25 years; the most recent example, from the Douglass Campbell Collection, was of smaller format (sale, Christie's, 19 December 2002, lot 337, $23,900).

Auction archive: Lot number 51
Auction:
Datum:
2 Nov 2006
Auction house:
Christie's
2 November 2006, New York, Rockefeller Center
Try LotSearch

Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!

  • Search lots and bid
  • Price database and artist analysis
  • Alerts for your searches
Create an alert now!

Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.

Create an alert