Beschreibung:

WILSON, WOODROW, President . Autograph free frank ("Woodrow Wilson") as President, on "The White House" envelope addressed to "Hon. Newton D. Baker Secretary of War," postmarked "Washington, D.C. Nov 19 1130AM 1918," 120 x 185mm. (5 x 7 1/4 in.) . Boldly signed slightly above name of addressee and below cancellation. In extremely fresh condition. WILSON TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR: THE ONLY RECORDED FREE FRANK OF PRESIDENT WILSON An extremely rare frank. No other example has been traced at auction or in the well-known collections of Creighton C. Hart, Morton Dean Joyce or Edward Stern. Phillips, American Stampless Cover Catalog , p. 215, records "None." The recipient, Newton D. Baker (1871-1937) was Wilson's second Secretary of War and is best known for having directed the U.S. punitive expedition against Pancho Villa and later, for instituting the draft after America entered World War I. Exhibited : World Stamp Expo '89, Washington, D.C., 17 November--3 December 1989.