Nice block of 27 three cent GAR stamps with a large signature in a shaky hand that reads “ALBERT WOOLSON.”

Stamps come in a sheet protector that is printed with the following:

CERTIFICATE

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT I PERSONALLY SECURED THE SIGNATURE OF LBERT WOOLSON, LONE SURVIVOR OF THE CIVIL WAR UNION ARMY AND MEMBER OF THE GAR, ON THIS SHEET OF STAMPS COMMEMORATING THE FINAL NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. IN AFFIXING HIS SIGNATURE, MR. WOOLSON STATED THAT HE WAS 106 YEARS OF AGE ON FEBRUARY 11, 1953, THAT HE SERVED WITH BATTERY “C” AND “D” FIRST MINNESOTA HEAVY ARTILLERY REGIMENT. THE ABOVE SIGNATURE WAS OBTAINED AT ALBERT WOOLSON’S HOME AT 215 EAST FIFTH STREET, DULUTH, MINNESOTA ON MARCH 25, 1953.

SIGNED: EDMOND J. MERCIER OFFICER IN CHARGE

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

Item is in excellent condition. An online biography says in part:

“Woolson was born in Antwerp, New York… Albert enlisted as a drummer boy in Company C, 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment on October 10, 1864... The company never saw action, and Albert Woolson was discharged on September 7, 1865.

Woolson returned to Minnesota, where he lived the rest of his life. He was a carpenter and later a member of the Grand Army of the Republic…

In his final days, he lived at 215 East Fifth Street in Duluth, Minnesota. Woolson died at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth on August 2, 1956, at what was thought to be the age of 109, of a "recurring lung congestion condition". Woolson was buried with full military honors by National Guard Armory and is buried at Park Hill cemetery.

Following his death, then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower said:

"The American people have lost the last personal link with the Union Army ... His passing brings sorrow to the hearts of all of us who cherished the memory of the brave men on both sides of the War Between the States."

In mid-2006, new census research indicated that Albert Woolson was actually only 106 years old, being listed as less than one year old in the 1850 census. Previous research in 1991 has suggested he was younger than claimed.”   [sl]

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