John Nicolay, Private Secretary to Abraham Lincoln

A personal note from John Nicolay, a prominent 19th Century newspaper editor and Lincoln's private secretary during the Civil War. The note is on stationery from the US Supreme Court, where Nicolay later served as Marshal of the Court.

Background: In this note, Nicolay extends his thanks for information sent to him relating to an official biography of Lincoln that he was writing with fellow Lincoln secretary John Hay.

"Deerfield, Mass., July 10th 1887. My dear Sir: Accept our thanks for your kind letter of the 5th, the answer to which has been delayed by my summer vacation trip. In the revision for our book, the suggestions you make will naturally come under consideration. We are of course gratified by the generous commendations you are pleased to bestow on our work. Yours truly, Jno. G. Nicolay"

Note: The letter is lightly and evenly toned with two horizontal folds, and there is minor brushing of ink at the conclusion of Nicolay’s signature.

$800