Herbert Hoover's Handwritten List of His Autograph Collection

Herbert Hoover collected autographs; here is his handwritten list of his holdings. His collection included Longfellow’s “Excelsior”, a quotation from Wendell Phillips, and a postcard from Mark Twain. Standard 19th century American worthies, such as Bryant, Whittier, Holmes Sr., and Stowe, are represented – but, oddly, no presidents. There is a queen, however -  Victoria -  and the British reformer, Cobbett, along with a handful of New York Mayors. The most valuable piece, Hoover notes, is a letter of Bayard Taylor –  the poet, travel writer, and great chronicler of Palestine and the Levant.

 Autograph Note, in pencil; 5 pages, quarto, no place or date.