Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 82
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
M. Lincoln Calls Abe a "great & good man, who loved & served his country so well" - Seeks Pension "After the death of my dearly beloved husband"
M. Lincoln Calls Abe a "great & good man, who loved & served his country so well" - Seeks Pension "After the death of my dearly beloved husband"
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
Description:

Mary Lincoln
Eger, Bohemia, May 21, 1870
M. Lincoln Calls Abe a "great & good man, who loved & served his country so well" - Seeks Pension "After the death of my dearly beloved husband"
ALS

MARY LINCOLN, Autograph Letter Signed, to James H. Orne, May 21, 1870, Eger, Bohemia. 4 pp., 6.75" x 8.75". Folded; light toning and minor marginal tears; one area of tear staining as noted.

This letter is among the most poignant surviving testaments of Mary Lincoln's post-White-House exile. Written from Bohemia while traveling to a spa in Marienbad, Bavaria (modern Czechia), she reacts to the Senate's rejection of her pension request—an event that profoundly shaped her later life. The letter encapsulates her financial desperation, emotional fragility, and sense of persecution, while reflecting the broader societal discomfort of widowed women in public financial need, even as a First Lady.

Her plea, "Will the Senate allow it to remain thus? There are too many noble men in that body to leave me longer in the very sad state, I find myself," underscores her belief that America owed a moral debt to the widow of its martyred President. On July 14, 1870, Congress granted Lincoln an annual pension of $3,000, raised to $5,000 in 1881, but only after public sympathy and political embarrassment forced Congress to act.

Letters of this depth and length from Mary Lincoln's Eger / Marienbad period are scarce and deeply revealing of her psychological and financial state during one of the most controversial chapters of her life.

Complete Transcript
Eger, Bohemia.
May 21st 1870.
Hon. James H. Orne
My dear Sir:
How true it is, that we never know, what a day—even an hour may bring forth. 6 hours after I wrote you my note of thanks yesterday morning, I found myself sick & weary hearted, en route to Marienbad. It happened thus. I had accompanied my young son into Frankfurt, from his country school, near the latter place, also to receive some instructions from my physician, when a London paper was handed me, giving me the harassing intelligence that the Senate Com. had decided adversely. After my expectations being so highly raised by the House, you can imagine—perhaps in a measure my tried feelings. As usual, the immensely magnified amount of my means was given as an apology. The false & greatly <2> exaggerated statement, passes understanding. It is a "wicked & cruel invention of the enemy." May our Heavenly Father, forgive all such, who would by this means endeavor to injure & defraud the widow & orphans of the great & good man, who loved & served his country so well. The news overcame me, in my weak state of health. A dear & kind German lady friend urged me to go immediately to the baths prescribed for me so urgently by my physician. This latter person was sent for me by her—my little baggage was soon packed they drove with me to the depot, placed me in under the care of some very genteel & kind Germans (lady & gentleman strangers to her[)] who were coming as far as this place. Here I am this morning sick & miserable, unattended by a servant either—for you may well believe, dear Mr Orne, in my shattered health—if I had one half of the means attributed to me, I should never <3> be without one. May all those be forgiven who would so attempt to injure me. Will the Senate allow it to remain thus? There are too many noble men in that body, to leave me longer in the very sad state, I find myself. I wish very much you would see a letter my good son Robert, wrote Sen. Trumbull in reply to one—he—Mr T—addressed him. You will there find, some of the reasons why my means are insufficient for me to live comfortably—as the widow of the very plainest citizen I should have been unable to do so. After the death of my dearly beloved husband, just so soon as my shocked senses could be regained, I gave directions to my son & every one to collect together every bill large & small, and living as we necessarily had to—my husband not being rich—you may well believe were numerous. I paid them all & they were deducted from any thing that was coming <4> to me, all contributions were thus used up as well as much else. It was our pride to have it said that there were no debts against the estate, but I can assure you in perfect truth that many dinnerless days, have fallen to my portion, in consequence of all this. Lodging in high & mean apartments, where formerly I would not have placed a favorite servant. I can say no more, only the picture is not as dark as the reality has been. Forgive this scrawl & the tear stained paper. Please write & direct to care Phillip Nicoll Schmit as usual.
With many apologies, for giving you an exact statement of every thing, I remain,
Most respectfully yours
Mary Lincoln

Historical Background
On February 2, 1870, Mary Lincoln wrote to James H. Orne from Frankfurt-am-Main, "Mrs. Orne has frequently written to me during the winter and has invariably assured me of the interest you are taking regarding Congressional action in my behalf.... From dear Mrs. Orne, who in her kindness and sympathy has proved an angel of light to me, I dare say you have heard exactly in what manner I am compelled to live both at home and abroad. Between my great sorrow and humiliating surroundings, separated from a devoted husband who always provided so comfortably and even luxuriously for me, you can imagine that the great change is crushing me to the earth. The anxiety too, regarding what Congress will do for me—where it is so much required—has completely undermined my health so much so that the physician who has been attending upon me has urged me to go South.... Dear Mr. Orne, will you in your great goodness ascertain as you have the means of doing whether the services of my great and good husband will be recognized by his country. The silence so far regarding some relief for me in Congress is very painful to me."

On the day after she penned this letter, Mary Lincoln wrote to James H. Orne's wife, Sally, who was then in Europe. She reported the news that a newspaper she had seen in Frankfurt "said the Senate Com. had decided against on the ground, that I had property to the amount of $60,000!!! A fearful & wicked invention of the enemy—which infamous falsehood will consign me to a most painful state of existence all my days—Will our country, with its many noble hearted men allow this? Neither you or I will believe it—I became very sick—I was assisted into a cab—went to the house—of this good friend—my physician was sent for & after seeing me, he declared—another attack of sickness—such as I had in the winter—would follow—if I was not hurried away.... I expect to remain here 6 weeks...."

On May 27, 1870, Lincoln again wrote to Sally Orne from Marienbad, "On Friday morning last I left F[rankfurt]. in great sorrow.... I heard such terrible news of the defeat in the Senate the morning I left that I had no heart to stop in Nurenburg."

The following day, she wrote to James H. Orne, "I wrote you, dear Mr. Orne, a hurried but sincere statement of facts, a week since from Egèr, en route here.... I wrote you in my letter from Egèr that on receipt of the refusal of the Sen. Com to confirm the bill—it was deemed best by my physician & two or three friends, that I should come on here—my mind is in such a disturbed state and truth to say—I am so unpleasantly situated—so unable to place myself in quarters—that one bearing my name, should occupy—that I am uncomfortable here. My health is very poor—so much so, since I have been here, now one week—I have had to send for the old physician of the place, two or three times...."

Mary Lincoln (1818-1882) was born into the prominent Todd family in Lexington, Kentucky. Educated at female academies and boarding schools, she learned to speak French fluently and studied literature, dance, drama, and music. She was very well-educated for her time, place, and gender. In November 1842, she married Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, and they had four sons. She supported her husband's political ambitions, becoming First Lady in 1861. Because she was from a border state, with several of her relatives supporting the Confederacy, Mary Lincoln was the object of suspicion in the press. Although she was responsible for hosting many social functions, her extensive spending to renovate the White House also drew complaints from a nation at war and from her husband. However, she also visited wounded soldiers in Washington hospitals, taking them fruit and flowers and writing letters home for them. Prone to severe headaches and depression, she suffered the loss of three of her four sons and was present when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre. After leaving the White House, she lived in Chicago, where her son briefly had her committed to a sanitarium in 1875. After being declared competent to manage her own affairs in 1876, she spent the next four years traveling in Europe and living in Pau, France. She later returned to Springfield, where she died in her sister's home.

James Henry Orne (1816-1871) was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Philadelphia as a child. He became a respected Philadelphia merchant and patron of the arts. He married Sally B. O'Neill (ca. 1819-1888) around 1840, and they had at least three children. The Ornes were friends and occasional correspondents of Mary Lincoln. They sought to assist her financially and socially. The Orne family was well known in Pennsylvania civic life.

Phillip, Nicoll, Schmidt was a banking firm in Frankfurt am Main in Germany, known for aiding Americans abroad.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: 6.75" x 8.75"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

January 7, 2026 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000