Autographs
CHARLES J. GUITEAU Autograph and Associated Items to His Execution by Hanging with Rare Printed Invitation to Witness the Execution of Guiteau Dated for June 30, 1882
CHARLES J. GUITEAU (1841-1882). American Lawyer who Assassinated U.S. President James A. Garfield on July 2, 1881 and was executed by hanging June 30, 1882.
An important Archive of Five related items to the Execution of Charles Jules Guiteau, the murderous Assassin of United States President James A. Garfield.
1. April 29, 1882-Dated Gold-gilt edged card measuring 3.5" x 2" with the handwritten large authentic signature, "Charles Guiteau" measuring 3.25" long and Guiteau dates below, "April 29, 1882", Extremely Fine, with some glue residue on the blank reverse. *Together With: The piece of paper to which this Card was once attached, with the typewritten notation reading: "The below is the signature of Charles A. [sic] Guiteau who shot President James A. Garfield in July 1881. Still in prison at the below date this signature was obtained by Mr. C.J. King Father of Mr. Julius King now of Fairhope.
2. July 2, 1881-Dated Carte-de-Visite, 4" x 2.5" with an engraved portrait of Charles Guiteau and a caption that reads, "CHARLES JULES GUITEAU. The Murderous Assassin of President Garfield. July 2nd, 1881", Extremely Fine, with a small thin on the reverse.
3. Stereoview Card by the Woodward Stereoscopic Co. in Washington D.C. measuring 7" x 4.25". Includes two views of the District of Columbia Jail with the caption that reads, "356. Jail where Guiteau was hung, Washington, D.C.", Very Fine.
4. 1882-Dated Printed Invitation to Witness the Execution of Guiteau, measuring 4.75" x 3". The invitation reads, "You are respectfully invited to witness the execution of Charles J. Guiteau, at this jail Friday June 30th 1882; between the hours of 12 M., and 2 o'clock P.M." The invitation is printed in black on light blue linen paper and has a printed signature "John S. Crocker, Warden.", lightly wrinkled, Choice Extremely Fine.
(5 items)
Charles Julius Guiteau (September 8, 1841 - June 30, 1882) was an American writer and lawyer who Assassinated United States President James A. Garfield on July 2, 1881.
Guiteau falsely believed he had played a major role in Garfield's victory, for which he should be rewarded with a consulship. He was so offended by the Garfield administration's rejections of his applications to serve in Vienna or Paris that he decided to kill Garfield, and shot him at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. Garfield died two months later from infections related to the wounds.
In January 1882, Guiteau was sentenced to death for the crime, and was hanged five months later. Executed two days short of the anniversary of his crime, Guiteau remains by far the longest-lived Presidential Assassin in U.S. history, and the only one put to death under federal law.