Description:

James Buchanan
Wheatland [Lancaster, PA], March 6, 1866
James Buchanan ALS on Niece Harriet's Honeymoon to Cuba
ALS

An autograph letter from former President James Buchanan regarding niece Harriet Lane's honeymoon in Cuba. 1p, measuring 5.75" x 7", Wheatland [Lancaster, PA], March 6, 1866. Signed in the third person within the top line as "Mr. Buchanan", he informs the recipient that Lane (now Mrs. Henry E. Johnston) will be in Havana for the next month. Exhibits light creasing and age toning throughout. Mounted along top edge to a separate sheet, resulting in slight puckering. Otherwise, very good.

Reading in full:
"Mr. Buchanan presents his respectful compliments to Mr. E. J. Ellet & regrets to say that Mrs. Johnston with her husband (Henry E. Johnston of Baltimore) left New York in the MS Castle for the Havana on the 28th… and is not expected home until the middle or latter end of April. Her address is Mrs. Edward E. Johnston, care of Duratty, Hasson & Co., Havanna. W. B. will forward to her Mrs. Ellet's note."

In a quiet wedding at Wheatland earlier that year, Harriet Lane (1830-1903), the former acting first lady and niece of James Buchanan, was married to Baltimore banker Henry Elliot Johnston following a long acquaintance. Her uncle, ever the bachelor, often cautioned her against rushing in to marriage as found her potential suitors to be "pleasant but dreadfully troublesome". The couple eventually had two sons, both of whom died tragically of disease in their early teens.

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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  • Dimensions: 5.75" x 7"
  • Medium: ALS

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