Robert E. Lee & Family, Exceptional Archive Featuring CDVs Signed by Robert and G.W. Custis Lee, Plus Mary Custis Lee Signed

Lot 89

About Seller

6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States

With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more

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Price	Bid Increment
$0	$25
$500	$50
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$100,000	$10,000

About Auction

American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. by Cowan's Auctions

Live

American History, Featuring the Property of N...

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-06-09 10:00:00 2017-06-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-featuring-the-property-of-n-flayderman-co-2392 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

Lot of 5, featuring: Robert E. Lee signed CDV, autographed R.E. Lee; Mary Custis Lee signed CDV and ALS, both autographed M.C. Lee; Robert E. Lee, Jr. signed CDV, autographed R.E. Lee; and George W. Custis Lee signed CDV, autographed G.W. Custis Lee. The Lee family CDVs are credited to Vannerson & Jones of Richmond, VA.

The accompanying letter from Mary Custis Lee was written from Lexington, December 26, 1865. To Mrs. (Elizabeth Alexander Ware) Britton. Mrs. Britton, Lee’s distant relative, had just lost her only child to yellow fever. To help raise her spirits, she sent Britton her and General Lee’s likenesses as well as a sympathetic letter in the care of their mutual relation, Mrs. (Maria Coxe) Lewis. Lee writes:

Mrs. Lewis intimated to me that you would be gratified to have a likeness of Genl. Lee & I am glad to have it in my power to afford you such a gratification. I have (?) at present but his profile which we all think excellent, Lucy has one of the others so you can have both views of the face.

Lucy Lewis, whom Lee mentions, was another mutual relation. She was wife to Confederate colonel, lawyer, and politician, Edward Parke Custis Lewis, whose paternal grandparents were Lawrence Lewis, a nephew of George Washington, and Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis, a granddaughter of Martha Washington. E.P. Custis Lewis was a 1st cousin, once removed of Mary Custis Lee.

Lucy Lewis and Mary Custis Lee developed a strong relationship while living together at their extended family's plantation in Berryville, VA, Audley Plantation, during the Civil War. In the letter offered here, Lee writes, I most truly love & appreciate [my dear little Lucy]. You will find in her affection & true piety - all the consolation which can alleviate such sorrow.

The recipient of Lee's letter, Elizabeth Alexander Ware Britton, was sister-in-law to E.P. Custis Lewis.

This archive in addition to Lots 63, 84, and 90 descended in the family of E.P. Custis Lewis.

Provenance: Descended in the Family of Edward Parke Custis Lewis

Condition

All very good. The family cared for the photos and letters for generations. The two brothers have faint arched borders from an earlier mat. Mary's card has a bit of handling wear.
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