"ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE MARTYRED PRESIDENT"
I listed a great postcard last night. It was printed in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The card caught my eye because this year is the Bicentennial anniversary. It was published by E Nash as part of the Lincoln Birthday Series No 1. It is embossed and features a cameo picture of Abe and an image of Lady Liberty visiting a woman in mourning attire seated on a bench by five soldier graves. The text of Lincoln's letter to Mrs Lydia Bixby of Boston MA who was reported to have lost five sons in battle during the Civil War is included (As it turns out, Mrs Bixby was a Confederate sympathizer who destroyed the letter. Two of her sons were killed in battle, one deserted, one was discharged and another either deserted or died as a POW. Whatever, it still is a great letter! [In my opinion, EVERY mother who loses a son or daughter in service to this country deserves such a letter]):
"Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln"
The postcard is listed on EBay (ending March 25th):
I have 9,000 GREAT postcards currently listed on eBay. I will be back soon to feature another favorite.
TTFN
Moody Moomy (Mary Ann)
No comments:
Post a Comment