Lot 110
Garfield, James A. Partly-printed document signed ("James A. Garfield") as President, on a pale blue bifolium, 10 x 8 in., Washington, June 10, 1881. Ordering the Secretary of State (James G. Blaine) to affix the seal of the United States "to the envelope of my letter in reply to a letter of H.M. the King of the Belgians, announcing the marriage of the Princess Stephanie to Prince Rodolphe of Austria…." On July 2, 1881, three weeks after signing this document, Garfield would be shot by Charles Guiteau. He would linger for two and a half months, dying on September 19, 1881.
Archduke of Austria and Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, Rudolf (1858-1889) was the heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. On May 10, 1881, Rudolf married Princess Stéphanie (1864-1945) of Belgium, a daughter of King Leopold II. They had one child, the Archduchess Elisabeth (1883), then drifted apart and became involved with other people. In 1887 Rudolf bought the Mayerling hunting lodge in the Vienna Woods, which would become famous as the place where he and his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, died in a murder-suicide pact in 1889. The 1968 movie "Mayerling" was based on this story.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 10,000.
The Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation, Sotheby Parke Bernet, June 20, 1979, lot 685; The Forbes Magazine Collection, Christie's Dec. 15, 1995, lot 168.
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| Realized $7,800 |
