1112308
[Ida Saxton McKinley]
William McKinley
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[Ida Saxton McKinley] Executive Mansion card signed Ida S. McKinley by her husband, President William McKinley.
This is one of only two Executive Mansion cards that we have seen that was signed for the First Lady by her famous proxy—the President himself.
Mrs. McKinley suffered from epilepsy, was totally dependent on her husband, and therefore had little public role as First Lady. Her autograph is one of the rarest among First Ladies. In his landmark 2006 study for The Manuscript Society, Andreas Wiemer concluded that perhaps only 30-35 of her genuinely signed Executive Mansion cards exist. Wiemer demonstrated that President McKinley actually signed various items, including fully handwritten letters, bearing Mrs. McKinley's purported signature. This card is one of them.
Hence this variant, rarer yet than Mrs. McKinley's own genuinely signed cards, is a must for any serious collector of Executive Mansion, White House, and The White House cards.
President McKinley signed this bright 4¼" x 2¾" card in black fountain pen. The card has a rough spot on the surface at the upper left and shows rubbing to the engraved printing that has left a light blue stain around the words, both well away from the signature. There are mounting remnants on the back. The card is in very good to fine condition.
Unframed.
This item is no longer available.
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