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NICOLAY, John (1832-1901). Private secretary to Lincoln and the only one who had the franking privilege. These two men made Lincoln the legend we know today. They were both in the room when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The two men shared a bedroom in the Executive Mansion. Nicolay is known to write the body of some letters that Lincoln would sign. Lincoln appointed Nicolay as his private secretary, the first official act of his new administration. Congress had only authorized one Presidential Private Secretary (who had the franking privilege) and that was John Nicolay. Two Official covers from Lincoln’s two private secretaries, John Nicolay and John Hay. For either the Lincoln collector or the postal history collector, this is a historic pair of covers. Both covers are “From the President of the United States. The first cover has a fine free franking signature “John Nicolay” with a Washington, D.C. January 6th (1862) postmark. Addressed to Jos H. Bradley Esq., 81 Madison Avenue, New York. N.Y. to the left of the postmark interestingly John Hay has signed his name adding the date “Jany 8th 1862.” Perhaps he was the one that actually mailed this item. On the reverse, Nicolay has 90% of his presidential wax seal still visible. The second cover, free franked by John Hay and is in V/G. condition. It is made out to Miss Alice Huntington c/o Geo. L. Huntington Esq. Springfield, Illinois. Red wax seal on the reverse. Hay was officially employed as a clerk in the Pension Office, which function he never practiced. On this cover he has struck out the printed “Priv.” and substituted “Ag” for “Acting.” A remarkable and scarce pair of free franking covers which originally sold in 2015 for $2,500. Our price ..........$695.00  |