Description:

Franklin Pierce Free Frank on Jane Pierce 4pp ALS, Rare and Superb with Great Content

 4pp of a bifolium, measuring 8" x 10, Washington, D.C., dated January [16], 1839. The letter is signed "Jane" at the conclusion by Mrs. Pierce and addressed to her mother, Mrs. Appleton. With a free franked address page, where Franklin Pierce has written the address and signed it "Free Franklin Pierce." Jane Pierce shares family news with her mother, as well as recent occurrences in D.C., including speeches by Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun, and a visit by Amerigo Vespucci's descendant, America Vespucci. The lengthy letter reads in part:

"…I have just sealed one to Gen. Pierce who I hope will be able to read it himself, as we have intelligence by a letter from Mrs. McNeil today that he [possibly John McNeil Jr., Franklin Pierce's brother-in-law) has beyond all expectation, begun to amend and she should not be surprised now, were he to live months or even years. He has been exceedingly ill, and black spots denoting mortification had appeared in his paralytic side and limbs, but those have disappeared and at the time Mrs. M wrote, he was able to sit up three hours in the day. He seemed to have no expectation of recovering for some time, and I suppose will still feel as he has done for some time that his hold on life is very slight and liable to be broken at any time…Several ladies paid us morning visits and I hear the galleries at the Capitol were crowded, as I suppose they will be tomorrow, as Mr. Clay speaks. Mr. Calhoun did today. I have been out very little…I am far from well much of the time, with difficulty of the stomach in some form or other, but feel better today than I have done for a week. Washington is gay, but not so much as usual this winter I think…As for Miss America [Signora America Vespucci] I have not yet got up any enthusiasm about her and cannot understand why she has any claim upon the American people…she has appeared at two or three parties and her style of dress is peculiar I believe. She wears her hair plaited in two large braids hanging down upon her shoulders, with a kind of bucket headdress of black ribbon, her dress of black [illegible] in one in [illegible] and crimson in the other. I think I shall be tempted to go to a party just to see her - I forgot to say that she has the scars of a sabre wound which she received in battle, so the story goes - she attempted to be another Joan of Arc I suppose…" The letter has flattened mail folds and minor soiling. Faint staining where the black wax stamp was removed. Boldly signed by both Mr. and Mrs. Pierce.

Franklin Pierce married Jane Appleton in 1834. Jane was shy, devoutly religious, and frequently suffered from illness and psychological ailments. She deeply disliked her husband's political career and hated Washington, but in her early letters to her in-laws and to her mother, she clearly made an attempt to support her husband in the social duties of a Congressman’s wife. The couple had three children, all of whom died in childhood, which Jane never fully recovered from. She died after her long battle with tuberculosis on December 2, 1863, at the age of 57.

John McNeil Jr. (1784- 1850) was married to Elizabeth Andrews Pierce, the half-sister of Franklin Pierce. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army and was severely wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Lane (July 25, 1814). Signora Elena "America" Vespucci was a descendant of Italian merchant/explorer, Amerigo Vespucci, from whose name "America" is derived. She arrived in Washington, D.C. on January 11, 1839, in order to petition the government for compensation for 400 years of unauthorized use of her name. She was unsuccessful in her claim, but numerous Senators, Congressmen, and private citizens set up a national subscription for her which helped fund her widespread travel throughout the country. She later became the mistress of John Van Buren, the son of the former President Martin Van Buren.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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