WOODROW WILSON – PENS A ‘LOVE LETTER’  TO HIS FIRST WIFE

“I FAIRLY PANT FOR MY DARING, MY MATCHLESS LITTLE QUEEN.  I AM COUNTING THE HOURS…WHICH SEPARATES YOU FROM YOUR OWN,  WOODROW.”

WILSON, (THOMAS) WOODROW.  (1856-1924).  Twenty-eighth President of the United States (1913-21).  Exceedingly-rare,  Autograph Letter Signed, “Your own / Woodrow”.  Three pages, small octavo.  “Columbia, S.C. / 20 June 1892”.   Very fine condition.  To Wilson’s first wife, Ellen Wilson, (1860-1914), who died while he was serving his first term as President.  Seven years after their marriage, and twenty-two years before her death, he writes:

“My own darling,

You will find a key to my desk you know, in the little drawer inside my small desk –  just in front of the Catalogue cards which the drawer contains. —  Your second letter reached me this morning, and I proceed at once to answer the questions it puts about the dear ones here.  Bro[ther] George seems quite well again, and is.  I believe quite as strong as when you were here, barring, perhaps, as somewhat increased liability to fatigue.  Sister Arina too, is better than I expected to find her.  It is wonderful how much she can stand.  After nursing bro[ther] George for a couple of weeks, she nursed Jeanmie! And still she does not seem any worse then when you were here, — is bright and playful, and most of the time seems strong. == Dinner was so late that this not was not begun till too late – and now they are calling me to come and take a ride.  I must break away in spite  of the pulling of my heart. – Sister tells me to say that we all of us miss you dreadfully every minute –  and t’is so, darling –  you are loved here almost as much as you deserve,  As for myself, I fairly pant for my daring, my matchless little queen.  I am counting the hours, as well as you, my sweet one, which separates you from your own,  Woodrow.

[P.S.]  I am finding, you see, what it is to write a letter away from home.  W.”

 

Ellen Louise Axson Wilson (1860 – 1914). First Lady of the United States from 1913 until her death in 1914, was the first wife of President Woodrow Wilson. She was a Southerner, as well as the daughter of a clergyman, born in Savannah, Georgia, but raised in Rome, Georgia. Having an artistic bent, she studied at the Art Students League of New York before her marriage, and continued to produce art in later life. As First Lady, she arranged White House weddings for two of their daughters.  She was the third First Lady and the most recent to die during her husband’s term as President.

Any letter written by a president to a family member is indeed a rare thing, when found on the marketplace.  We have had letters from Wilson to his daughters and even joint letters written by his second wife, Edith and Woodrow together, but never have seen, before this letter  —  any written to his first wife.  This is an extraordinarily unique opportunity to acquire a choice Presidential rarity.     

 

$8500.00