Rare Frances Cleveland Signed Photo

CLEVELAND, FRANCES. Photograph Signed, "Frances F. Cleveland / 3rd Nov 96". Original C. M. Bell photograph, 3.5” x 4.5”, affixed to its original mounting, overall 4.75” x 6.25” . Photographer’s imprint to bottom of photograph. Slight contrast to signature, small tears, soiling, and chips to mount, else Very Good condition.

Frances Clara Folsom Cleveland (1864-1947) was First Lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889 and again, from 1893 to 1897, as the wife of President Grover Cleveland. Becoming first lady at age 21, she remains the youngest wife of a sitting president. A well-known contrarian, she campaigned against women’s suffrage, contending that “women weren’t yet intelligent enough to vote”.

Charles Milton Bell (1848-1893) was an American photographer who was noted for his portraits of Native Americans and other figures of the United States in the late 1800s. He was called "one of Washington's leading portrait photographers during the last quarter of the nineteenth century" by the Library of Congress. Bell enjoyed a congenial business relationship with the Grover Cleveland administration and made many portraits of the president's bride after their marriage.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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