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    Sara Josepha Hale Archive of Autograph Letters Signed and Personal Correspondence. ... (Total: 20 Items)

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    Autographs:Authors, Sara Josepha Hale Archive of Autograph Letters Signed and Personal Correspondence. ... (Total: 20 Items)
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    Description

    Sara Josepha Hale Archive of Autograph Letters Signed and Personal Correspondence. The lifework of Hale, an important American female author and magazine editor, would fill dozens of thick volumes but yet she is best known for authoring a simple nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (which, by the way, was inspired by an actual incident). We can also thank Ms. Hale for our annual Thanksgiving holiday. She conducted a letter writing and editorial page campaign for many years to have the last Thursday in November declared a "Day of National Thanksgiving" for the American people; the campaign culminated with a personal letter she wrote to President Lincoln in September 1863 that began "Permit me, as Editress of the "Lady's Book", to request a few minutes of your precious time, while laying before you a subject of deep interest to myself and - as I trust - even to the President of our Republic, of some importance. This subject is to have the day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival." Lincoln decided to take her good advice and, just days later, issued a proclamation that made the fourth Thursday of November Thanksgiving Day.

    This lot consists of three ALsS by Hale as follows: 1). "Sarah Josepha Hale", nine pages, 5.5" x 8.5", Philadelphia , January 9, 1865, to Dr. Mason, about fine condition. 2). "Sarah J. Hale", three pages, 8.25" x 11", Philadelphia , January 9, 1865, to Mrs. Mason, about very good condition with some tattering and fold weaknesses. 3). "Sarah J. Hale", eleven pages, 5" x 8", Philadelphia, October 23, 1865, to Dr. James Rush, fine condition.

    Also included are approximately 16 letters written to Ms. Hale from various family members, politicians, and literary figures including: Samuel Austin Allibone (author and bibliographer); Charles John Biddle (U.S. congressman and newspaper publisher); John L. Blake (congressman); Maria Mitchell (astronomer); Lydia Sigourney (poet); Emma Willard (women's rights advocate); and Louis A. Godey (editor and publisher). Also included are various newspaper clippings about Ms. Hale. A wonderful group of material from this important 19th century writer and activist.

    Auction Info

    Auction Dates
    October, 2007
    25th-26th Thursday-Friday
    Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
    Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
    Page Views: 1,154

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