Known for her mostly monosyllabic answers to journalists during press conferences, former First and Second Lady Bess Wallace Truman strikes a friendlier in tone in this letter to a friend. Once asked why she didn’t want to give press conferences, Bess Wallace Truman remarked, “I wasn’t the one elected.” The wife of the 33rd President of the United States Harry S. Truman, Bess Wallace Truman never took to life in Washington and instead longed for the comforts of her hometown of Independence, Missouri, where he she retired after her husband declined to run for reelection. Bess Wallace Truman passed away on October 18, 1982, at the age of 97, and holds the distinction of being the longest-lived First and Second Lady in United States history.

Presented in this lot is a black and white 8x10-inch photo of Bess Wallace Truman and former President Harry S. Truman in front of their home in Independence, Missouri, and is signed by the former First and Second Lady with a black marker under her image on the photo. The photo is in good condition and features no edging or cornering.

The next item in this lot is a 9 x 6-inch handwritten letter from Bess Wallace Truman to a Barb Luicolu from 1951 thanking “Miss Barb” as she addresses her in the letter, for photographs of Truman’s daughter Margaret. Bess Wallace Truman, not known for socializing in Washington, only returned to the capital during social season and wrote this letter on letterhead labeled “219 North Delaware Independence, Missouri” while her husband was in his last term as President in 1951. The letter goes on to state how the memories brought by the photo remind her how happy the afternoon was when they were taken. Bess Wallace Truman also makes note of how Miss Barb will be vacationing soon and wishes her a wonderful time. Bess Wallace Truman signed the letter “Most sincerely” and signed the bottom of the letter. The handwritten letter was written in black ink and is legible, bold, and contains no bleeding or toning.

Accompanying this letter is the original 6 ½ x 3 ¾ -inch envelope. The return address is “219 North Delaware Independence, Missouri” on the left side and contains a six cents air mail stamp with black postal cancellation marks across on the right corner. A postal receiving stamp labeled “INDEPENDENCE JUNE 13 5 PM 1951 MO.” in black appears on the upper right of the envelope. The letter is addressed to “Miss Barb Luicolu” and lists the address in black ink. The envelope is in good condition and features no edging or cornering and there is no bleeding of the inscribed address. The presented lot of a handwritten letter, envelope, and signed photo comes with a PreCert from Beckett Authentication.

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