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Lincoln Letter to Boy on Sale for $60K

1861 note was sent to schoolboy to confirm their meeting

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 18, 2009 9:15 AM CST

(Newser) – When 8-year-old George Patten was mocked by classmates in 1861 who didn't believe he'd met Abraham Lincoln, his teacher wrote to the president seeking to expose the boy's tall tale. Lincoln instead sent the boy a letter confirming that they had met the previous year. That document, believed to be the only surviving letter written by Lincoln to a child, is being sold by a Philadelphia dealer in for $60,000, the BBC reports.

This image provided by the Raab Collection shows a letter President Abraham Lincoln wrote to a boy whose friends didn't believe he had met the commander in chief.
This image provided by the Raab Collection shows a letter President Abraham Lincoln wrote to a boy whose friends didn't believe he had met the commander in chief.   (AP Photo/The Raab Collection)
This image provided by the Raab Collection shows a letter President Abraham Lincoln wrote to a boy whose friends didn't believe he had met the commander in chief. The letter is being sold in Philadelphia for $60,000.
This image provided by the Raab Collection shows a letter President Abraham Lincoln wrote to a boy whose friends didn't believe he had met the commander in chief. The letter is being sold in Philadelphia...   (AP Photo/The Raab Collection)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
ProfessorCold
Nov 19, 2009 4:00 AM CST
I wrote a letter to SD senator John Thune asking him what he thought of Biola (a CA college) and he responded with a couple paragraph letter. He's totally legit.
shopgirl1623
Nov 18, 2009 5:40 AM CST
Great story. And I agree the look on their faces must have been priceless. Letter belongs in a children's museum. Or a nice piece to display at the White House where children visit regularly.
thephat
Nov 18, 2009 4:08 AM CST
Isn't the patriot act far worse than a suspension of habeas corpus? Isn't it a giant permanent whole the protection of our freedoms.

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