Description:

James Garfield
Washington, DC, April 29, 1881
James Garfield Letter as President on Executive Mansion Stationery! "regretting the embarrassments" Super Rare!
LS

A signed letter by James Garfield, alluding to the embarrassment of the "Star-Route Scandal" in the postal service, Washington, DC, dated April 29, 1881. Signed "J. A. Garfield" as President and addressed to Mr. W.A.M. Grier. Writing on White House stationery, Garfield expresses his regret that an appointee has had second thoughts about accepting the nomination as Third Assistant Postmaster. 2pp, measuring 5.5" x 9". With flattened mail folds and minor, small separations starting at the fold edges. Light, uneven toning and soiling throughout. Boldly signed.

Letters from Garfield during his brief tenure as president are rare. A high proportion of the few letters he signed as President were penned by his secretary (later son-in-law) Joseph Stanley-Brown, in a hand closely resembling Garfield's. In the last 25 years, only three Garfield ALSs, on White House stationery, have appeared at auction.

In full:

"Yours of the 25th is received. I regret that you have concluded to decline the position of Third Assistant Postmaster General. I was greatly desirous of having you in the public service, and shall be very glad if I find it in any other way to do so. Thanking you for your kind letter and regretting the embarrassments which the event has caused us both..."

While Garfield was still President-elect, allegations of corruption within in the Postal Service surfaced. Following his inauguration, Garfield ordered the new Postmaster General to investigate claims that lucrative mail contracts for "Star Routes" (remote areas) had been fraudulently issued, costing taxpayers some $4 million. The scandal proved a great embarrassment to Garfield and the party. Garfield hastened to make new appointments to the troubled bureau, but evidently Grier, nominated as Third Assistant Postmaster, had second thoughts.

W. A. M. Grier was an active partner in a banking firm based in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, a delegate to the 1880 Republican National Convention, and had been a pivotal figure in Garfield's nomination. Once Garfield was in the White House, Grier asked to be named second assistant postmaster general. However, allegations of corruption in the postal service arose in the first few months after Garfield's election. After his inauguration, Garfield ordered an investigation of claims that profitable contracts for remote areas ("star routes") had been issued fraudulently. It was discovered that the government was spending an exorbitant amount to maintain these routes, thanks to an intricate web of bribery and kickbacks. Once made aware of the corruption, Garfield quickly attempted to clean house at the post office and made new appointments. But, possibly due to the increased public attention brought to bear on political appointees and the Post Office, Grier declined the offer.

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: 5.5" x 9"
  • Medium: LS

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April 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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