Lot 65
Grant, U.S. Straight-edge razor with "U.S. Grant" handsomely hand-engraved on the blade and "U.S. Army Razor" on the black celluloid handle. Manufactured by Frederick Reynolds, Sheffield, 5¾ inches closed. The lettering on the handle is a little worn, but otherwise in very good condition. The razor comes with a letter of provenance from Lillian Rogers Parks, author of My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House. Written to Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, typed on stationery imprinted with the Presidential Seal and "The White House / Washington, D.C."and dated July 24, 1985, she writes that the razor came to her mother Maggie Rogers, who worked as First Maid from 1909 until 1939 and who was close to several of the First Ladies. About the razor, she writes: "In those early 20th century days, there was never any official inventory of items owned and used by Presidents and First Ladies. This razor was one of those items from the attic, above the First Families White House living quarters. It has been in our family since the early 1900's. I can not recall if one of the First Ladies, Mrs. Taft, Wilson or Coolidge let my mother have it. Read my book…and you can see that a number of things were given to us…." Lillian Rogers Parks died at the age of 100 in 1997.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500.
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| Realized $1,265 |
