HORACE GREELEY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 03/09/1864 - HFSID 1786

HORACE GREELEY
Horace Greeley wrote this letter on New York Tribune stationery in 1864 to discuss the distribution of unidentified specimens. Greeley was the founder and editor of the New York Tribune.
Autograph letter signed "Horace Greeley". 2 pages, 5¼x8, on New York Tribune stationery. March 9, 1864. Addressed to O. O. Case, Esq. In full: "Dear Sir, I have your letter of yesterday and your new specimens, for which I thank you. I trust you will soon be down or will soon determine how our spe-cimens shall be given out in this city. I hope we shall send them out by Saturday of this week. I would like to see consult about the distribution in this city. I would send the 2 second specimens out to [illegible] that have taken some notice of the first, save where you have special reasons for doing otherwise- Doubtless, great changes have been wrought in [illegible] by the [illegible]; but I will have a new list of the best [illegible] made out in my office, which shall be based in the latest facts., It shall be ready within four days. Yours,". Postscripted: "I keep making 20 boxes per week by constant digging." Greeley (1811-1872, born in Amherst, New Hampshire) founded the New York Tribune in 1841 and edited it until his death. His newspaper, competitive in price with the "penny press" but less sensational, was the first to give its writers individual by-lines and the first with a literary and book review department. The Tribune had wide readership and influence, and many of his editorial quips - like "Go West, young man" - became famous. He was steadfast in support of many causes, such as antislavery, temperance, and the rights of labor, but he could be mercurial at times. (His swift reversal of opinion on the secession of the southern states is reflected in two 1861 Tribune editorials: Go in Peace, Errant Sisters, followed shortly by On to Richmond) He served as a Whig in Congress for three months (1848-1849)to fill a vacancy and did not seek reelection. As the Democratic and Liberal Republican parties' presidential nominee in 1872, he was defeated by President Ulysses S. Grant, who was seeking reelection. On Nov. 28, 1872, just 23 days after the election, Greeley, worn out by the grueling campaign, died at the age of 61. Lightly toned and creased. Show-through touches signature and body of letter. Light tears at top and bottom edges. Neatly torn from binding at left edge, which is lightly discolored. Random ink stains. Folded once vertically and twice horizontally. Otherwise in fine condition.