Boldly penned ALS as president-elect, signed Z. Taylor, one page, 7.75 x 9.75, January 15, 1849. I must say I have only three hundred dollars on hand, all I can command at this time. ” Addressed on the reverse of the partial second integral page in Taylor’s hand, “Honbl. In very good to fine condition, with light creasing, file holes to the left edge, and small old repairs on the reverse; the address panel is wrinkled and soiled and missing its lower third. Taylor’s 1849 inaugural trip from Baton Rouge to Washington, D. Was an expensive, arduous trek. Although he may have had additional reasons for denying Ewing’s loan request, his defense that he had “barely enough on hand” to defray his travel expenses was a realistic one. Much of Taylor’s wealth was tied up in land and slaves, as well as his interests in Kentucky warehouses, probably the source of funds he refers to in his letter. During his inaugural journey, he made several boat transfers, encountered dismal weather, braved the frozen Ohio River, and was even struck by a falling trunk. Despite his reference to “the expenses of my family and self, ” his wife Margaret, stewing because she had hoped he would lose the election, did not join him until later. Autograph letter signed Z. Taylor, as President-elect, to John Ewing, Baton Rouge, La. 1 page, 4to, blue paper, three punch holes along left edge, catching portion of one letter. TAYLOR TURNS DOWN A LOAN REQUEST, SAYING HE HAS “BARELY ENOUGH ON HAND TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES” OF HIS TRIP TO WASHINGTON FOR HIS UPCOMING INAUGURATION. I HAVE ONLY THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ON HAND. ” Taylor was busy tending to his affairs “preparatory to leaving for the North and his inauguration as President when he received Ewing’s loan request. I must say I have only three hundred dollars on hand, or all I can command at this time. Taylor may have had his own reasons for pleading poverty in the face of Ewing’s request, but much of his wealth was indeed tied up, either in land or slaves. He owned about 140 slaves on his Cypress Grove plantation in Louisiana, and also had interests in warehouses in Louisville, Kentucky, his wife’s hometown. Taylor complicated his finances. By making the bequests in his will conditional on his death in battle. When he died instead from gastroenteritis in the White House in July 1850, an administrator had to be appointed, and his estate was apportioned between Taylor’s widow and their three children. Originally from Forbes Collection and. Valued between 5,000 and 8000 in 2006. The item “Zachary Taylor Handwritten Letter by the President-Elect 1849 with COA” is in sale since Monday, August 17, 2020. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Autographs\Political\Presidential”. The seller is “erinbrookegallery” and is located in Bonita Springs, Florida. This item can be shipped to United States.

• President: Zachary Taylor
• Autograph Authentication: PSA/DNA precertified