THE PROPERTY OF A DESCENDANT OF JOHN T. FORD, OWNER OF FORD'S THEATER
B0OTH, JOHN WILKES. Autograph letter signed ("J Wilkes Booth") TO JOHN T. FORD, OWNER OF FORD'S THEATRE, 107 East 17th St, [New York, N.Y.], 17 September [1863]. 1 page, large 8vo, clean separations along three horizontal folds, small tear at bottom edge, neatly mounted on its integral blank.
Details
B0OTH, JOHN WILKES. Autograph letter signed ("J Wilkes Booth") TO JOHN T. FORD, OWNER OF FORD'S THEATRE, 107 East 17th St, [New York, N.Y.], 17 September [1863]. 1 page, large 8vo, clean separations along three horizontal folds, small tear at bottom edge, neatly mounted on its integral blank.
THE ONLY RECORDED LETTER OF LINCOLN'S ASSASSIN TO THE OWNER OF FORD'S THEATER, AGREEING TO AN ENGAGEMENT WHICH LINCOLN ATTENDED
Booth's hurried and rather flamboyant response to a telegram from the theater owner, arranging a theatrical booking for Booth in the newly rebuilt Ford's Theater. Ironically, it was during this engagement, on Monday November 9, that President Lincoln himself attended Ford's Theater to see Booth star in "The Marble Heart" (Meirs, Lincoln Day-By Day). He watched the performance (which John Hay called "rather tame than otherwise") from the same booth he would occupy on 14 April 1865.
Booth writes: "Dear John, Your telegraph just recd., now that I understand it. All right. Book me for Nov. 2d for two weeks. I will be there and I will keep the two following weeks open a time longer. There may be a chance for Baltimore then, or you may want me to keep on in Washington. But consider the two weeks from Nov.2d. settled. With best wishes. I am yours truly..." Published in "Right or Wrong, God Judge Me": The Writings of John Wilkes Booth, ed. J. Rhodehamel and L. Taper, 1997, pp.90-91; text from a photocopy in the Ford Papers, Library of Congress).
John Thompson Ford (1829-1894) owned theaters in Baltimore, Washington and Richmond Virginia. Ford's Theater, on 10th Street in Washington, where the President was assassinated, was brand new at the date of this letter. It had been built for Ford on the site of the old Ford's Theater, a converted Baptist church, which burned in December 1862. It boasted a grand brick facade, and was large enough to accomodate some 2400 theater-goers. Booth starred there from 2 to 15 November in Shakespeare's Richard III, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice and Romeo and Juliet as well as The Apostate, The Robbers and The Lady of Lyon. Alhough he was completely unaware of Booth and his conspiracy, Ford was arrested and imprisoned for more than a month after the assassination.
Provenance:
1. John T. Ford, the recipient
2. The present owner, by direct descent.
THE ONLY RECORDED LETTER OF LINCOLN'S ASSASSIN TO THE OWNER OF FORD'S THEATER, AGREEING TO AN ENGAGEMENT WHICH LINCOLN ATTENDED
Booth's hurried and rather flamboyant response to a telegram from the theater owner, arranging a theatrical booking for Booth in the newly rebuilt Ford's Theater. Ironically, it was during this engagement, on Monday November 9, that President Lincoln himself attended Ford's Theater to see Booth star in "The Marble Heart" (Meirs, Lincoln Day-By Day). He watched the performance (which John Hay called "rather tame than otherwise") from the same booth he would occupy on 14 April 1865.
Booth writes: "Dear John, Your telegraph just recd., now that I understand it. All right. Book me for Nov. 2d for two weeks. I will be there and I will keep the two following weeks open a time longer. There may be a chance for Baltimore then, or you may want me to keep on in Washington. But consider the two weeks from Nov.2d. settled. With best wishes. I am yours truly..." Published in "Right or Wrong, God Judge Me": The Writings of John Wilkes Booth, ed. J. Rhodehamel and L. Taper, 1997, pp.90-91; text from a photocopy in the Ford Papers, Library of Congress).
John Thompson Ford (1829-1894) owned theaters in Baltimore, Washington and Richmond Virginia. Ford's Theater, on 10th Street in Washington, where the President was assassinated, was brand new at the date of this letter. It had been built for Ford on the site of the old Ford's Theater, a converted Baptist church, which burned in December 1862. It boasted a grand brick facade, and was large enough to accomodate some 2400 theater-goers. Booth starred there from 2 to 15 November in Shakespeare's Richard III, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice and Romeo and Juliet as well as The Apostate, The Robbers and The Lady of Lyon. Alhough he was completely unaware of Booth and his conspiracy, Ford was arrested and imprisoned for more than a month after the assassination.
Provenance:
1. John T. Ford, the recipient
2. The present owner, by direct descent.