News-Antique.com reports that last week's autograph sale at R.M. Smythe & Co. set a house record for lots sold, with 77% of offerings drawing bids.
Highlights:
- A letter "written by President Abraham Lincoln, asking Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to approve the resignation of a cavalry captain at the request of the officer’s wife. Lincoln, typically a 'soft touch' in such cases, makes the argument that 'we are rapidly getting an over-proportion of officers.'" Sold for $14,500.
- A Mary Todd Lincoln letter written after her husband's death, in which the martyred president is described as "from my eighteenth year – Always – lover – husband – father and all, all to me – truly my all." Sold for $13,000.
- An autograph note with concept drawing by Norman Rockwell, estimated at $650; sold for $5,500.
- A signed copy of Woodrow Wilson's book Why We Are At War - the first to appear at auction for thirty years - fetched $3,000, a record.
[h/t Shelf:Life]
