Lot 680: James G. Blaine, Garfield condition report,

James G. Blaine, Garfield condition report, autograph telegram in brown ink signed "J.G. Blaine" (James Gillespie Blaine, 1830-1893) as Secretary of State, "George M. Robeson/North Hampton N.H. The President's condition is more hopeful. His pulse is down to one hundred temperature about normal," penciled at top "1030 a m Aug 19/81", 5 x 8 in. Minor soiling, slight toning, edge roughness at right (as torn from pad).

Provenance: Gallery of History, June 19, 2002, Lot 104; Collection of H. Donald Nelson, Williamsburg, Virginia.

President James A. Garfield was shot on the morning of July 2, 1881 by Charles Guiteau, while in the presence of Secretary of State Blaine. He died one month after this telegram was written, on September 19, 1881. Blaine was the Republican Presidential candidate in 1884, losing to Cleveland.