Wife of President Abraham Lincoln (1818-1882) and First Lady from 1861 to 1865. Born into a wealthy Southern family, Mary Todd wed Lincoln in 1842 and bore him four sons, three of whom predeceased her (two as children). Known for her lavish spending and interest in spiritualism, Mrs. Lincoln was viewed by many of her detractors as overbearing and meddlesome; Lincoln’s longtime secretary, John Hay, characterized her as “the hellcat.” As her mental condition continued to deteriorate and her behavior became more erratic following the assassination of her husband, Mrs. Lincoln was committed to an insane asylum by her only surviving son, Robert. After her release she spent several years in France before dying at the residence of her sister in Springfield, Illinois, where she had spent her early years with Lincoln, at the age of 63. Black-bordered mourning envelope panel, 4.5 x 3, addressed in Lincoln’s hand to “Noah Brooks Esq., San Francisco, California,” and signed across the top, “Mary Lincoln.” Panel is affixed to a slightly larger trimmed card. Originally from the collection of Noah Brooks. Brooks was a journalist and editor who worked for newspapers in Sacramento, San Francisco, Newark, and New York, and authored a major biography of Abraham Lincoln based on close personal observation. Brooks was also set to be appointed Lincoln’s private secretary but that was aborted after his assassination. In fine condition, with small spot of soiling at end of signature. An impressive scarcity from this most storied of first ladies! Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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