PRESIDENT ZACHARY TAYLOR WRITES TO A FAMOUS HISTORICAL WRITER ABOUT TAKING HIS PHOTOGRAPH FOR INCLUSION IN AN UPCOMING BOOK ABOUT THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR.
A most unusual letter signed by Zachary Taylor as President ,”Z. Taylor,” one page, 8 x 10, June 11, 1849. President Taylor writes to Brantz Mayer agreeing to sit for a photograph three months into his presidency, In part: “I take great pleasure in complying with your request to let a daguerreotype likeness for…your forthcoming work on the Mexican War. Whenever you may find it convenient to let an artist attend for that purpose, it will afford me gratification to sit to him, for the short time that he require, at my own residence.” What makes this letter so interesting is that a ghostly image of this famous photograph of Taylor has transferred onto this letter about that very image. That image was obviously stored with the letter throughout the years thereby resulting in this wonderful haunting image on the letter. The letter is in lovely condition. This letter has as dark a Taylor signature as one could find. Comes with a gorgeous leather and linen clambshell case with a steel point engraving of Taylor. Ex Sothbys.
Mayer, this letter’s recipient, was a writer, historian and one of the founders of the Maryland Historical Society. His 1841 book, entitled Mexico as It Was and as It Is, was one of the most-read publications in the years before the 1846–1848 Mexican-American War. The dauguerrotype of President Taylor referenced in this correspondence was presumably intended for a follow-up work. Unique combination of the presidency and the art of photography.
