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This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/6/2017
William Steward was one of the preeminent politicians of the Civil War era, serving as Secretary of State under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson. Seward is perhaps most famous for his purchase of Alaska from Russia, securing over 500,000 square miles of territory for the young nation.
In this letter, Seward writes to William F. Nast, and confirms that he has been named the Consul of the United States in Stuttgart, Germany. Nast, the father of entrepreneur Conde Nast, served in this position from 1861 to 1865. This letter is dated August 10, 1861. Seward signed the letter in black pen. An unknown hand wrote “Recd August 29th, 1861”. This official State Department letter comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (AB12599).