Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
Small archive comprised of 5 letters, each with their original postal covers from the 1860s. The writer is Frank H. Little, Bookseller and Stationer, 82 State St., Albany, NY. Three of the five are on his letterhead. He writes to his Uncle, N.N. Bullock in Albion, NY. Most of the letters concern family members, and photos of certain people, but the Feb. 27, 1862 letter has content regarding Mrs. Lincoln. Speaking of her, he writes "You speak of the remarkable "fixens" of Mrs. Lincoln in the photograph - well, we've had six or seven pictures of the lady & they were all of them taken in different ball or party dresses- nary ‘beauty unadorned’ among the lot. I can't say I admire the taste or propriety of the lady in this particular, but suppose that she thought that to look well, she must ‘pile on the garments’, and look ill. But the poor woman is in affliction now, and we must not laugh at her oddities.” He also relates the prices of pictures (presumably cdvs). "We sell the Am. Pictues at $2.50 pr. doz. the English are worth 4.50 & the French 1.00 pr. doz. American copies of Fr. & Eng. pictures can be had for 2.50." Mrs. Lincoln's "Affliction" is mentioned. At this time Mrs. Lincoln was in mourning due to the death of her son Willie on February 20. It is said that the President and Mrs. Lincoln never recovered from the death of their beloved son. ...plus, On Jan. 17, 1862 he ends his letter with: "I send you the latest & best picture there is of the President whom I think is pretty considerable of a man after all." ...plus, Letter of December 1860, his postscript also concerns photographs: "Would you like a picture of the Prince of Wales? I enclose the one taken by Brady in New York. I think I sent you one taken in London with his sister, but aren't certain."...plus, The two letters dated January 1862, and a short note of 25 Oct. 1862, basically asking what crime he had committed that warranted not receiving any letters from him. An interesting archive, especially the letter pertaining to Mary Lincoln, written during a period of family mourning.
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