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"General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card
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"General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card

Original Post
gardengrrl (269 ) View Listings
gardengrrl
(1 of 6)
"General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card
Jul 19, 2012 10:13 PM

Hello-

I inherited some items here in Seattle, historical memorabilia or ephemera, which is NOT my specialty, and would appreciate any help/suggestions. It's an envelope from my late aunt Virgina's aunt Elizabeth Dearborn (who was mentioned in D.A.R.’s Family Record of Pioneers Vol. 15, pgs 13-15, and whom I've traced back to her ancestor Thomas Dearborn born 3/11/1745 in Chester, NH.)

It's a small envelope which bears a handwritten date of 1933, and on which Elizabeth Dearborn wrote "the enclosed papers are to be sent to the Chief Seattle chapter D.A.R." and she lists the contents, of which remain:

Letter written by W.C. Bryant
Calling cards of General Grant and General Sherman
Invitiation to reception of General and Mrs. Grant
Letter of Proposal to Betsy Pingry

Should this lot be broken up and items sold separately, or should I just list it altogether, as is? A friend suggested list them all separately, at the same time, with a group photo as the last photo, and reference the other items in each listing.

 

I've found a General Grant calling card listed online (not ebay) that has much more foxing than the card here and it has an estimate of $150-$250; but I have not been able to find an "at home" card from General and Mrs. Grant. The latter is a larger card, very clean condition - approximately 5 inches wide by 3 inches tall - with what appears to be a tiny pin or thumbtack hole along its upper edge, and it is printed with beautiful script:

General & Mrs. Grant
At Home
Wednesday evenings. Jany. 9th & 23rd & Feby. 6th
(In the lower left corner is printed "Dancing.")

I think a buyer would be able to see the authenticity if I photograph and document everything clearly, or am I mistaken on that score? Is this stuff worth listing on eBay?


The colors are a little dim, took these quickly with a point and shoot under fluorescent lights.

 

Envelope

 

Grant and Sherman cards

 

General & Mrs. Grant At Home card

 

The Bryant letter doesn't seem worth much, in looking at other examples sold (or unsold) online; haven't researched Betsy Pingry yet but I imagine that's part of the family's New Hampshire history.

Many thanks for any response/guidance!

--gardengrrl

 

 
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"General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card

(5 Replies / 340 Views)
gardengrrl (269 ) View Listings
gardengrrl
"General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card
Jul 19, 2012 10:13 PM

Hello-

I inherited some items here in Seattle, historical memorabilia or ephemera, which is NOT my specialty, and would appreciate any help/suggestions. It's an envelope from my late aunt Virgina's aunt Elizabeth Dearborn (who was mentioned in D.A.R.’s Family Record of Pioneers Vol. 15, pgs 13-15, and whom I've traced back to her ancestor Thomas Dearborn born 3/11/1745 in Chester, NH.)

It's a small envelope which bears a handwritten date of 1933, and on which Elizabeth Dearborn wrote "the enclosed papers are to be sent to the Chief Seattle chapter D.A.R." and she lists the contents, of which remain:

Letter written by W.C. Bryant
Calling cards of General Grant and General Sherman
Invitiation to reception of General and Mrs. Grant
Letter of Proposal to Betsy Pingry

Should this lot be broken up and items sold separately, or should I just list it altogether, as is? A friend suggested list them all separately, at the same time, with a group photo as the last photo, and reference the other items in each listing.

 

I've found a General Grant calling card listed online (not ebay) that has much more foxing than the card here and it has an estimate of $150-$250; but I have not been able to find an "at home" card from General and Mrs. Grant. The latter is a larger card, very clean condition - approximately 5 inches wide by 3 inches tall - with what appears to be a tiny pin or thumbtack hole along its upper edge, and it is printed with beautiful script:

General & Mrs. Grant
At Home
Wednesday evenings. Jany. 9th & 23rd & Feby. 6th
(In the lower left corner is printed "Dancing.")

I think a buyer would be able to see the authenticity if I photograph and document everything clearly, or am I mistaken on that score? Is this stuff worth listing on eBay?


The colors are a little dim, took these quickly with a point and shoot under fluorescent lights.

 

Envelope

 

Grant and Sherman cards

 

General & Mrs. Grant At Home card

 

The Bryant letter doesn't seem worth much, in looking at other examples sold (or unsold) online; haven't researched Betsy Pingry yet but I imagine that's part of the family's New Hampshire history.

Many thanks for any response/guidance!

--gardengrrl

 

 
Last Post
Aug 1, 2012 09:09 PM
by gardengrrl (269 ) View Listings
tandkpaxton (856 ) View Listings
tandkpaxton
(1 of 5)
Re: "General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card
Jul 20, 2012 07:37 PM

How cool are these? I think they should be sold separately. No reason to keep them together.  If one person buys them all, combine shipping. It wouldn't hurt to mention them all in each ad.

 

BTW, the General & Mrs. card dates most likely to 1867, since it doesn't refer to him as President Grant.

 

The Sherman card appears to have an address in Washington, DC, so a little research might let you know when he lived at that particular address.

 

Good luck with them!


Tim
gardengrrl (269 ) View Listings
gardengrrl
(2 of 5)
Re: "General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card
Jul 22, 2012 03:29 PM

Hi Tim- Thank you for your reply! I will break things into separate listings and cross-reference them. It is kind of cool to see this stuff together and know a relative had such links to the history of the United States.

 

In researching Grant ephemera, he's almost always referred to as General Grant even well after his presidential terms (e.g. an engraving based on a photo published in 1885 by Harper's Weekly that was captioned "General Grant with his family") so not sure when the "at home" card would date to other than after he was "...commissioned (three star) Lieutenant General, March 9th, 1864, the first man to hold that rank since George Washington, and named Supreme Commander of the Union Armies by President Lincoln on March 12th."  Although he had been promoted to Major General in 1862, and "...during the post-war reorganization, Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to full general."

Gah!!!

(I'd imagine he wasn't able to plan/schedule successive "at homes" with his family during the civil war, but no idea...)

Wondering now if presidents back then referred to themselves as president after they no longer had that title? Also wondering if he had calling cards made after his presidential terms that reverted to "General Grant"?

I'm sure some military history buff knows all of this stuff; it's sure fun to research but I will limit my time spent on that-- either collectors will want this stuff or they won't. :)

 

Thanks again.
tandkpaxton (856 ) View Listings
tandkpaxton
(3 of 5)
Re: "General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card
Jul 22, 2012 08:43 PM

It can only be three possible years: 1867,1878, 1884, when January 9 was on a Wednesday.

 

In 1878 Grant was on a World Tour.  So either 1867 or 1884.


Tim
maha-sam-atman-198.. (0) View Listings
maha-sam-atman-198..
(4 of 5)
Re: "General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card
Jul 22, 2012 09:03 PM

Very nice. 1884 was a bad year for Grant, he was swindled out of all his remaining money and diagnosed with throat cancer. Still, this is for the early part of the year. Still I would guess 1867 is more likely, before his presidential run in 1868


All know the way, but few follow it.
gardengrrl (269 ) View Listings
gardengrrl
(5 of 5)
Re: "General & Mrs. Grant at home" card, and Gen. Sherman card
Aug 1, 2012 09:09 PM

1867 it is! I'm grateful for your responses, they have been very helpful.

 

Now that I know it's post-ACW, any advice if listing should be categorized as:

 

Collectibles > Militaria > Civil War (1861-65) > Original Period Items > Documents

 

or

 

Collectibles > Militaria > Civil War (1861-65) > Other Civil War-Related Items

 

or

 

Collectibles > Historical Memorabilia > Political > US > Presidents & First Ladies > 1865-1901 Presidents

 

Thank you!
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