William McKinley Important Signed Presidential Document on Transatlantic Cable

Single page typed letter signed on Executive Mansion bi-fold stationery, 8" x 10." Dated "May 27, 1899" and boldly signed by President William McKinley as "William McKinley." Near fine with expected folds. Accompanied by two vintage postcards relating to the President and his memorial, one with a small paper shear to the verso. A lovely set.

An important letter by McKinley directing the Secretary of State to "cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to my warrant authorizing the Deutsch-Atlantische Telegraphen Gesellschaft to land a sub-marine telegraph cable in the United States...." (referring to the German-Atlantic Telegraph Society).

Transatlantic telegraph cables were undersea cables running under the Atlantic Ocean used for telegraph communications. Telegraphy is now an obsolete form of communication and the cables have long since been decommissioned, but telephone and data are still carried on other transatlantic telecommunications cables. The first cable was laid across the floor of the Atlantic from Telegraph Field, Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island in western Ireland to Heart's Content in eastern Newfoundland. The first communications occurred August 16, 1858, reducing the communication time between North America and Europe from ten days—the time it took to deliver a message by ship—to a matter of minutes.

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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