Civil War Letter from Lee to Grant

Important Civil War Letter from Lee to Grant Leads Hindman’s May 7 Auction

An important letter from Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant leads an impressive selection of autographs in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ May 7 Fine Books and Manuscripts auction. The letter, dated February 21, 1865, Richmond, Virginia, discusses their agreement to begin exchanging prisoners until one or the other party has been exhausted of them.

The letter from Lee to Grant ($40,000-60,000) is one of 118 lots of historical, musical and literary autographs opening the May 7 auction, largely from Chicago-area private collections. In addition to examples from Louis XVI, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Verdi and Charles Dickens, the session includes two letters from Abraham Lincoln ($15,000-25,000), Thomas Jefferson ($6,000-8,000) and another from Robert E. Lee as superintendent of West Point ($10,000-15,000).

The sale will feature a total of over 400 lots, including a number of important architectural books, John James Audubon prints, modernist and surrealist art and literary publications, and a small session of memorabilia. Highlights include a first edition of Colin Campbell’s tome, Vitruvius Britannicus ($20,000-$30,000), Herman Melville’s Moby Dick ($8,000-12,000) and Audubon’s Great Northern Diver ($10,000-15,000) and Black-Throated Diver ($8,000-12,000).

Auction Schedule

Fine Books and Manuscripts

1338 West Lake Street

Chicago, Illinois 60607

Thursday, May 7 | 12 PM CT

Preview Schedule

Sunday, May 3 – Wednesday, May 6

Contact

Kathryn Coldiron

312.334.4231