HORACE GREELEY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/22/1860 - HFSID 1798

HORACE GREELEY
Horace Greely wrote this letter to an autograph hunter on New York Tribune stationery: "The fact that a man's Autograph is sought du-ring his life offered proof presumptive that he is not a great man." Greeley was the founder and editor of the New York Tribune.
Autograph letter signed "Horace Greeley". Black ink notations at bottom edge. 1 page, 5x7¾, on stationery of the New York Tribune. July 23, 1860. Addressed to P. Goben, Esq. In full: "Dear Sir: The fact that a man's Autograph is sought du-ring his life offered proof presumptive that he is not a great man. How many truly great men ever were asked for Autographs? How many Autographs of really great men were valued during their lives? Yours,". 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, stained, soiled, creased and rippled. B/w and sepia-toned photos and bios pasted on verso; adhesive show-through touches signature and body of letter. Adhesive residue on front, which touches signature and body of letter. Body of letter, but not signature, is lightly smeared but legible. Lightly torn at right edge. Rust stains in top left corner. Neatly torn from binding at left edge. Folded in half vertically and twice horizontally. Otherwise in fine condition.