A handwritten letter from the 1840s made it to an Antiques Roadshow episode, and the guest’s jaw dropped upon learning the value. The letter was actually addressed to their great-great-grandfather and was written by a very famous person, hence the hefty price.
The note from America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, to his close friend was about the 1841 re-election, which he noted that a certain William Walters was participating in. From the words, Lincoln does not like Walters and questions his close pal’s notion of voting for him.
The ‘Antiques Roadshow’ letter from a famous person still appeared to be in perfect condition
Despite being centuries old, the letter looked neat and properly kept, with Lincoln’s handwriting still legible. The antique expert noted that it is one of the late president’s most emotionally written letters, as they could feel the agitation and anger from his writing. It showed Lincoln’s rare side, as he was reportedly calm.
The letter is undated, but the year could easily be estimated from the context it contained. At the time, 18-year-old Lincoln was not yet president, and he assumed office two decades later until he was assassinated in 1865 at Petersen House in Washington DC.
How much was the letter on ‘Antique Roadshow?’
While discussing the famous person’s letter and its content, the antique expert informed the guest that their keepsake could sell between $75,000 and $125,000. They both gasped at the price, admitting that they did not think a mere letter would be worth so much.
The woman noted that the letter is for her 18-year-old son, and the expert responded saying he was in luck. Other auctioned letters of Lincoln’s include the $3.4 million anti-slavery letter from 1864 which sold at Sotheby’s, and the Emancipation Proclamation from the year before selling at $400,000 more.