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PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR
GARFIELD, James (1831-1881), President. Letter signed ("J.A. Garfield") AS PRESIDENT, to Mr. W.A.M. Grier, Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., 29 April 1881. 1½ pages, large 8vo, on page 1 and 3 of a 4-page sheet, page 1 headed "Executive Mansion Washington," the text in a strong, clear hand, slight soiling.
Details
GARFIELD, James (1831-1881), President. Letter signed ("J.A. Garfield") AS PRESIDENT, to Mr. W.A.M. Grier, Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., 29 April 1881. 1½ pages, large 8vo, on page 1 and 3 of a 4-page sheet, page 1 headed "Executive Mansion Washington," the text in a strong, clear hand, slight soiling.
A FINE LETTER FROM PRESIDENT GARFIELD, ALLUDING TO THE EMBARASSMENT OF THE "STAR-ROUTE SCANDAL" IN THE POSTAL SERVICE
While Garfield was still President-elect, allegations of corruption within in the Postal Service surfaced. Following his inauguration, Garfield ordered the new Postmaster General to investigate claims that lucrative mail contracts for "Star Routes" (remote areas) had been fraudulently issued, costing taxpayers some $4 million. The scandal proved a great embarrassment to Garfield and the party. Garfield hastened to make new appointments to the troubled bureau, but evidently Grier, nominated as Third Assistant Postmaster, had second thoughts:
Garfield writes: "Yours of the 25th is received. I regret that you have concluded to decline the position of Third Assistant Postmaster General. I was greatly desirous of having you in the public service, and shall be very glad if I find it in any other way to do so. Thanking you for your kind letter and regretting the embarrassments which the event has caused us both, I am very truly yours...."
LETTERS OF GARFIELD DURING HIS BRIEF TENURE AS PRESIDENT ARE QUITE RARE. A high proportion of the few letters he signed as President were penned by his secretary (later son-in-law) Joseph Stanley-Brown (1858-1941), in a hand closely resembling Garfield''s. In the last 25 years, only three Garfield ALSs in office, on White House stationery, have appeared at auction. The last was a 2-page letter to Edwards Pierrepoint, from the Douglas Campbell Collection (sold Christie's, 19 December 2002, lot 300, $60,000). Provenance: Walter R. Benjamin, Inc.
A FINE LETTER FROM PRESIDENT GARFIELD, ALLUDING TO THE EMBARASSMENT OF THE "STAR-ROUTE SCANDAL" IN THE POSTAL SERVICE
While Garfield was still President-elect, allegations of corruption within in the Postal Service surfaced. Following his inauguration, Garfield ordered the new Postmaster General to investigate claims that lucrative mail contracts for "Star Routes" (remote areas) had been fraudulently issued, costing taxpayers some $4 million. The scandal proved a great embarrassment to Garfield and the party. Garfield hastened to make new appointments to the troubled bureau, but evidently Grier, nominated as Third Assistant Postmaster, had second thoughts:
Garfield writes: "Yours of the 25th is received. I regret that you have concluded to decline the position of Third Assistant Postmaster General. I was greatly desirous of having you in the public service, and shall be very glad if I find it in any other way to do so. Thanking you for your kind letter and regretting the embarrassments which the event has caused us both, I am very truly yours...."
LETTERS OF GARFIELD DURING HIS BRIEF TENURE AS PRESIDENT ARE QUITE RARE. A high proportion of the few letters he signed as President were penned by his secretary (later son-in-law) Joseph Stanley-Brown (1858-1941), in a hand closely resembling Garfield''s. In the last 25 years, only three Garfield ALSs in office, on White House stationery, have appeared at auction. The last was a 2-page letter to Edwards Pierrepoint, from the Douglas Campbell Collection (sold Christie's, 19 December 2002, lot 300, $60,000). Provenance: Walter R. Benjamin, Inc.