Description:

Rare Presidential Free Frank on envelope addressed by his daughter Betty Bliss, as acting First Lady and probably unique as such, enclosing a rare ALS "Betty T. Bliss" from her to her cousin, mentioning the death of John C. Calhoun and a speech of Daniel Webster

ZACHARY TAYLOR (1784-1850) Rare envelope free franked "Z. Taylor" as President, 5.25" x 3". Addressed by his daughter, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Taylor Bliss to the wife of her cousin, "Mrs. William Taylor" in New Orleans. The envelope is postmarked "Free" Washington, D.C., April 1 [1850]. Mrs. Taylor's New Orleans address is crossed out, being forwarded to "Mansion House / Mobile / Ala.," postmarked again New Orleans, La. April 9 indicating the date it left New Orleans for Mobile. The President's daughter has handwritten "Free" to the upper left of her father's frank which was illegal: the President had the franking privilege, not members of his family.

William Wallace Smith Bliss, Zachary Taylor's Chief of Staff in Texas and Mexico (1845-1847), married Betty Taylor (1824-1909) in December 1848, a month after her father was elected President. Pres. Taylor appointed Bliss his Private Secretary. Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Bliss lived in the White House. The First Lady, Margaret Taylor, was in ill health and seldom appeared at public functions, so her youngest daughter, 25-year-old Betty Bliss acted as White House hostess for her mother. President Zachary Taylor was 65 when he died just three months after this letter, on July 9,1850. Betty's mother died at 63 in 1852 and Betty's 38-year-old husband died of yellow fever in 1853.

Rare Autograph Letter Signed "Betty T. Bliss," 4 full pages, 7" x 8.75", front & verso on two conjoined sheets. Washington, April 1, 1850. Penned by Mrs. Bliss at top edge of first page: "Commit this to the flames as soon as read."

The President's daughter first discusses family (e.g. "He has not written Pa a line for Mother, and has [Pa] has only heard of the inundation of Plantation through the newspapers. It is really outrageous and I am surprised at Pa's submitting to it...Anne Payne [Mrs Madison's niece] is to be married very shortly to a Dr Caustin of his place, a very worthy good man I am told." ) The great grandfather of Presidents Zachary Taylor and James Madison was James Taylor (1673-1729). Betty continues, "You will no doubt hear ere this reaches you through the newspapers of Mr Calhoun's death. He died yesterday morning and is to be buried tomorrow. His death has been daily looked for, for some weeks...Col. Bliss enclosed Mr. [Daniel] Webster's speech whilst he hopes Mr. T. will like..." On July 22, 1850, two weeks after the death of Pres. Taylor, his successor Millard Fillmore appointed Daniel Webster as Secretary of State.

Dr. Walter A. Ostromecki, Jr., in his landmark study "The First Ladies of the United States: An Historical Look at Each and Their Autograph Materials 1789-1989,'" Revised and Updated 1991 Edition, states, "Like her mother, Betty Taylor Bliss Dandridge is very scarce in autograph material. During the past twenty years (1968-1988), only two of her letters have appeared on the market --- both selling in excess if $1,500. One was dated 1876 and the other 1890. Both were written at Winchester, Virginia." The letter here offered, of course, was written as acting First Lady from The White House. We have been unable to find any other Betty Bliss letter being offered for sale in the last 26 years.

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