Lot 164
Patton, George S. Autograph Letter Signed ("George S. Patton Jr"). Six pages, octavo, Fort Sheridan, Illinois, n.d. On Fort Sheridan stationery. To his mother ("Dear Mama"). Transmittal folds, else fine.
A unique opportunity and a very personal letter concerning Patton's courting relationship with his beloved wife Beatrice. Friends since childhood, Beatrice swore at thirteen that she would marry George Patton or be an old maid and a reciprocal devotion is expressed clearly in George Patton's letter, which must have been written between his West Point graduation in 1908 and their marriage in May 1910. "…Things as I have said are not all settled yet nor have I told Mr. & Mrs. Ayer of my resolution for various reasons but chiefly because it will make them feel so badly to loose [sic] B and I would hate to hurt them so soon after they had been so very nice to me…Indeed Mr. Ayer things it strange that I have not married B before this. Beat herself is a fool with too much conscience for she every once in a while gets a notion that as her mother has done so much for her she should hang around and do things for her mother. I in large measure indicated such views by pointing out…above all I would not marry her if she kept me waiting any longer. This worked. And she said she would marry me when I said so but please not to tell her too soon…She has a hell of a time any how when ever I leave she crises and is sick in bed for about a week…." Married for over 30 years, the Pattons were devoted to each other and here we see the genesis of the formalization of their lifelong love.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
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| Realized $2,875 |
