Lot 59
James A. Garfield
Opening: $200
Estimate: $600 - $800
LS signed “J. A. Garfield,” one page, 5 x 5, October 5, 1880. Addressed from Mentor, Ohio, a letter to Ohio businessman Henry Sherwin, co-founder of the Sherwin-Williams Co., in full: “I sent Dr. Kitchen today a package of documents in care of yourself. Won’t you please see that they are safely delivered and oblige.” In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, truncating the bottom of the signature.
As the Republican nominee, James A. Garfield would win the United States presidential election just a month later on November 2, 1880, defeating Democrat Winfield Scott Hancock. In the end, the popular vote totals of the two main candidates were separated by 1,898 votes (0.11%), the smallest victory in the national popular vote ever recorded. In the electoral college, however, Garfield's victory was much larger (214 to 155) – he won the tipping point state of New York by 21,033 votes (1.91%).