Description:

Martin Van Buren
[New York], September 26, 1838
Martin Van Buren Scarce ALS As President Early Autograph Request
ALS

A 1p autograph letter signed by sitting 8th U.S. President Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), as "M. Van Buren" at lower right. September 26, 1838. The place name is unclear, but it ends in "Springs" and was probably a natural spring or spa near Albany, New York, since correspondence dating from this time frame, the Fall of 1828, was sent to Van Buren there. On watermarked laid bifold paper. The inner and outer pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened paper folds and wrinkles, and scattered pencil inscriptions from a former collector. A small printed portrait of Van Buren has been affixed at the top. Else near fine. 7.75" x 9.625."

In this scarce ALS as President, Van Buren wrote an autograph collector in part: "I cheerfully comply with your request by lending you my autograph + thank you for the friendly expression contained in your letter…"

Van Buren had been treating his persistent gout with spa treatments; earlier that summer of 1838, Van Buren had visited White Sulphur Springs in modern West Virginia to assuage his chronic condition.

President Van Buren was probably surprised and delighted by his correspondent's "friendly expression." The Panic of 1837 was already four months underway, and Van Buren was widely blamed for it even though it started just a few months after his inauguration. One of the first major economic downturns the United States had ever experienced, the Panic of 1837 was precipitated by a policy change on the part of New York banks not to convert paper money into hard species. This sparked a chain reaction of panic, uncertainty, and plummeting values. It's estimated that 343 of 850 American banks closed completely, with an additional 62 partly shuttering. Losses from banks in just one state, New York, exceeded $100 million. The American economy did not fully recover for another five years.

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: 7.75" x 9.625"
  • Medium: ALS

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August 27, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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