Lot #25

Millard Fillmore Letter Signed as President on His Last Day in Office, Arranging Shipment of Goods Home to Buffalo

Description

On his last full day in office, Fillmore arranges the transport of his belongings from the White House to his home in Buffalo

LS as president, one page both sides, 7.75 x 9.75, March 3, 1853. Letter to Messrs. Kimberly Pease & Co. of Buffalo, signed on his last day in office, arranging the shipment of his belongings back home. In full: "I have shipped in the Schooner Fairfax, bound to New York, B. Osborn master, 74 packages consigned to George Clearman, Esq., New York, 72 of which are boxes, one is a trunk & another a barrel, all bearing numbers, from 1 to 79 (with the exception of Nos. 12, 13, 57, 58 & 69) and containing glass, wines, books, clothing & paintings. I have requested Mr. Clearman to forward them to you by the Troy & Erie line. Will you oblige me by seeing that they are carefully handled and kept dry. Box No. 70 containing delicate shell work which is very highly prized by Mrs. Fillmore should be carried without jarring by the hand of a careful person on its arrival at Buffalo." In very good condition, with old repairs to short fold splits.

President Millard Fillmore left office on March 4, 1853, after completing the term of his predecessor, Zachary Taylor. Tragically, his wife, Abigail, caught a cold at President Pierce's inauguration, developed pneumonia, and died in Washington on March 30, 1853—never again to enjoy her prized shellwork. The mourning Fillmore returned home to Buffalo, New York, where he settled into private life and focused on local civic activities. Though retired, he briefly returned to politics as the presidential candidate for the Know-Nothing Party in 1856, receiving 21.5% of the popular vote.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts Ft. The Bob Neuwirth collection, Bob Dylan and Folk Music
• Dates: #713 - Ended 03/12/2025

---

This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for $75.00

*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.

Third-party authentication service applies only to signatures and handwriting, and does not cover the addition of sketches, artwork, musical quotations, etc.