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DOLLEY  MADISON
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A RARE DOLLEY MADISON AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED AS FIRST LADY JUST AFTER THE BURNING OF WASHINGTON

 

DOLLEY MADISON (1768-1849). Madison was First Lady of the United States – the wife of President James Madison. As First Lady during the 1814 burning of Washington D.C. by British forces, she is sometimes credited with saving treasures from the White House (specifically the portrait of George Washington) and then decorating the new White House.

 

HENRY ALEXANDER SCAMMELL DEARBORN (1783-1851).  Dearborn, the son of a famous general, was a lawyer, author, public servant, soldier and the head of the Boston Customs House.

 

ALS. 1pg. October 18, 1814. Washington. An autograph letter signed in the third person Mrs. Madison. Less than two months after British forces burned Washington D.C., including the White House, Madison wrote to Henry Dearborn, Jr. She requested him to send several luxuries to Washington: “Mrs. Madison presents her best respects to her friend Mr. H. Dearborn & requests the favor of him to send by Mr. Van Zandt the cologne water almond paste & as much of the sweet meats & cordial as he may be able to bring, or send to Washington.”  Nicholas Biddle Van Zandt (1780–1863), formerly of New York, was married to Martha Wood Southall Van Zandt, a cousin of Dolley Madison.  The letter is in very good condition.  Autograph Dolley Madison letters signed as First Lady are quite rare.  American Book Prices Current only shows two Madison ALsS as First Lady ever selling.