ARTHUR, CHESTER ALAN. (1829-86). Twenty-first President of the United States (1881-5), who gained the presidency when President James A. Garfield (1881) was assassinated. Autograph Letter Signed, “C.A. Arthur”, on his blind-embossed, crested, monogrammed, black-bordered mourning stationery, as Vice-President elect. Two fairly full separate pages, octavo. “123 Lex[ington] Ave., N. York”, February 8, 1881. Minor folding, else very fine condition. Accompanied by original black-bordered envelope addressed to “William Edelsten, Esq., Elizabeth, N.J.”, with postal cancellations. Arthur writes: “My dear Mr. Edelsten, Pardon my delay in answering your kind note of invitation for tomorrow. It would give me great pleasure to accept it and be present; but other engagements which I cannot defer will not permit. Hoping to have the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Edelsten and the young ladies at some future time and thanking you for your kind expression in regard to myself, I am very truly yours, C.A. Arthur”. His letters in full holograph are rather scarce, and this would make a fine addition to any set of presidential autographs.
$1500.00