Saint-Gaudens LS to Former NYC Mayor Seeking Payment in Important Year 1897, When Cooper & Shaw Monuments Were Finished

A 1p manuscript letter signed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907), the preeminent American sculptor, as "Yours very truly / Augustus St Gaudens" at lower right. October 14, 1897, written at Saint-Gaudens's midtown Manhattan residence at 148 West 36th Street. On a single leaf of watermarked laid paper. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra gentle wrinkles, with staple holes at the upper left. Else near fine. 7.75" x 10."

Augustus Saint-Gaudens dictated the following letter to Franklin Edson (1832-1904), the ex-mayor of New York City (term 1883-1885), regarding an unidentified business matter.

In part: "I forwarded your letter to me regarding the insurance to Mr. Homer and in reply have received the enclosed statement [not included in this lot] which explains that he has recd. the $75.00 to which you refer but that there is still due me $78.38…"

Augustus Saint-Gaudens was widely recognized as the era's most famous sculptor of large-scale statues, memorials, and monuments. He wrapped up two massive projects in late May 1897, just five months earlier, after toiling on both for over ten years: the Peter Cooper Statute in New York City (1887-1897) and the Shaw Memorial (1883-1897) in Boston.

Saint-Gaudens was commissioned to sculpt a likeness of Peter Cooper (1791-1883), the important New York City industrialist and philanthropist, in 1887. The bronze statue of a paternal Cooper, seated within a granite and marble niche designed by architect Stanford White, was officially unveiled in Cooper Square on May 29, 1897.

Saint-Gaudens had begun work on another public installation, the memorial to Civil War commander Robert Gould Shaw (1837-1863) in Boston, Massachusetts, four years before accepting the Peter Cooper commission. The final work boasts a complex composition, incorporating an equestrian sculpture of Shaw in bas relief flanked by soldiers from the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment that he commanded. The monument was inaugurated on May 31, 1897.

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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