“MY APPLICATIONS FOR AUTOGRAPHS COME CHIEFLY FROM BOYS AND YOUNG MEN.”

ALGER, HORATIO JR. (1832–1899).  American author;  with the sensational success of Ragged Dick; or, Street Life in New York with the Bootblacks [serialized 1867]; the story of a poor shoeshine boy who rises to wealth, Alger found his lifelong theme; more than 100 books would follow, all based on the rags-to-riches formula.   Uncommon Autograph Letter Signed “Horatio Alger, Jr”.  One page, octavo. New York, December 11, 1886.  To  “My dear Miss Burt”, evidently a woman teacher requesting an autograph.   Alger writes:

“My Dear Miss Burt, My applications for autographs come chiefly from boys and young men. I consider it a special compliment when such a request comes from a young lady, and take pleasure in sending my signature to ‘a New Jersey Schoolma’am.’   Yours very truly, Horatio Alger, Jr.”

$450.00