Letter Signed (draft).
(GREELEY, Horace -- 1811-72).
Price: $75.00
Item Id: 32182
Description
Probably the most famous 19th century American journalist, he of "Go West, young man" immortality, founded and edited "The New Yorker" (1834-41), then the reknowned "New York Tribune" (1841), whose popularity gained its editor's oft-expressed views wide influence; ran as Democratic presidential candidate in 1872, but was soundly defeated by incumbent U.S. Grant. Draft of an Autograph Letter Signed (pencil) in an unknown secretarial hand, 2pp (separate leaves), 7½" X 12½", New York, NY, 1853 December 3. Addressed to William T. Coggeshall (1825-67, poet , Lincoln body guard, U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador). Very good. Moderately age toned and slightly soiled, but boldly pencilled and bearing no edge tears whatsoever; mounting traces on left edge of first page and on verso of second page. Fascinating lengthy letter with outstanding journalistic content, reading in part: "You ask me to attend your convention of Editors & Publishers the 10th prox. which it is not practicable to do. Your alternative proposition that I write you a word of advice or suggestion is readily adopted. I would suggest, then, that the Editors and publishers of Ohio will act worthily and usefully if they agree on the following creed of journalist faith and practice, to be lived up to hereafter...." Greeley then elaborates six numbered points, in brief: "1 Ask payment for all printing when delivered, for all advertisements when ordered.... 2 An earnest and intelligent support of the principles, fundamental doctrines and leading measures of any party to be given according to conviction.... 3 Systematic resistance to and discouragement of the lawyer practice of harassing the press with suits for libels founded on mistakes, inaccurate information.... 4 General agreement to discuss principles and public measures more thoroughly, and personal character less frequently.... 5 A more united, systematic, determined advocacy of improvement in common school education.... 6 The earnest commendation to public favor of all judicious measures intended to diffuse practical Education in the sciences and useful Arts...." Legibly pencilled on lined stock. This pencilled oddity is not -- repeat, NOT -- in Greeley's hand, but was evidently written by a secretary or by someone who wanted a copy in a hand more legible than Greeley's notoriously horrendous handwriting. Whether this was a draft made by a secretary or a file copy made for Greeley's records is not ascertainable, but it is written on a paper appropriate for the period. And by the way -- Did I mention that this is NOT in Horace Greeley's handwriting?
