Grover Cleveland Great ALS in Between Terms. Ex Forbes

Bi-fold autograph letter signed, 4.5" x 6.75". Dated "July 15, 1892", and signed by Grover Cleveland "Grover Cleveland" as Democratic nominee for President. On letterhead of "Gray Gables, Buzzards Bay, Mass". Three pages with an integral leaf discretely inlaid. Fine condition.

Ex. The Forbes Collection. Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), American owner-publisher of Forbes magazine, and consummate collector,  amassed one of the most substantial and broad collections of such breadth and depth that it filled a half-dozen residences, and sat on three continents. Many of his manuscripts were sold in Multi-million dollar sales by Christie's in the early 2000’s. The Forbes name is considered to be the apex of provenance when attached to an item like the above. We are honored to have been chosen by the family to sell at auction the substantial balance of the collection.

Cleveland bemoans his approaching nomination ceremony at Madison square Garden, "A departure from the old quick method of doing this thing"

Less than a month after his nomination at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, Cleveland addresses a friendly letter to his political colleague in Ohio. Unable to win a second term in the Election of 1888, the former President remained a popular force within the party because of his reform effects, but his stance against the free coinage of silver had created many enemies. Although he was the frontrunner as the 1892 convention approached, the battle to have him nominated proved substantial. Even the powerful Tammany Hall refused to support him. Despite the party division, Cleveland won the nomination by a paltry ten votes.

Here, the clearly anxious Cleveland writes to Campbell about the approaching nominating ceremony, to be held near Tammany Hall:

"I was delighted to learn from your letter … that you intend to be in New York next week … I hope nothing will prevent your coming, for somehow I believe I shall feel a little easier if I know you are near to support me in time of need. You see I have become so accustomed to your support and countenance that I hardly know how to do without it."

The nominee indicates uncertainty about changes in the program: "I will keep you fully informed as to the arrangements made for the ceremony but I am afraid it is intended to have it take place in Madison Square Garden … This departure from the old quick method of doing this thing, which I do not approve but I have left the details to others who I suppose know better what is best than I."

Twenty thousand people crammed Madison Square Garden to hear Cleveland give his acceptance speech, which proved to be the only major public appearance that he made in the campaign. Despite a strong effort by incumbent Benjamin Harrison and Populist Party candidate James Weaver, Cleveland won a second term in November with 277 electoral votes.

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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