This letter is written in a very “distinctive” hand.  It is marked “COPY” in the upper left hand corner.  Take one look at it and you will determine that it was not copied by some “fan” of Lincoln… it looks very “Presidential”. 

Lincoln’s letter to Eliza Gurney, the widow of Quaker Joseph J. Gurney, is one of his most famous.  You can tell your friends that if this was not a “copy” it would be worth several million dollars! 

Mrs. Gurney had visited President Lincoln at an earlier date telling him that she would pray for him during this difficult crisis in our country.  About the time that she visited Lincoln had written a memorandum relating the war to the will of God.  On September 4th, 1864, Lincoln wrote Mrs. Gurney revealing his continued interest in God’s role in the situation our country was facing, an interest that would culminate in his Second Inaugural Address the next spring.

The piece we are offering is from the famous Floyd Risvold Collection that sold in New York in January 2010.   Our piece was in a group lot and would have found much more notoriety if it had been listed separately.  There were literally hundreds of great items in group lots that we were able to purchase… one was a Kit Carson war date document signed! 

The letter is 2 and 1/3 pages written in nice dark ink.  There is no question that the letter was done contemporaneously with Lincoln’s and not a later copy.  The piece has excellent visual impact and is in fine condition with minor staining.  There is some paper loss in the upper left-hand corner where the stationary manufacturers imprint is located. 

If you can match this very distinctive handwriting, you’ve got a real “find”, as it is, it is a fine Lincoln association piece!

#S66 - Price $395

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