Item is a paper invitation in the shape of a white clamshell with a gold border.

On the front exterior is a small CDV of General Lee, from life, in Confederate uniform. Image meas. approx. 1.75 x 2.25 inches. Image has yellowed some with age and has light foxing but the clarity is still good. The exterior reverse of the invitation is blank.

When opened the inside of the invitation has gold lettering that reads on one side “LEE MONUMENT BALL – AUGUST 18, 1876 AT THE – GREENBRIER WHITE SULPHER SPRINGS” while on the opposite is “FLOOR MANAGERS – VICTOR SMITH, MD.; W. T. ROYALL, VA.; JO. LANE STERN, VA.; RALPH ELLIOTT, GEN. WADE HAMPTON JR. MISS; DEV. BOYLE, IND; DR. A. BROCKENBROUGH, D.C.; COL. C. H. SUBER, S.C.”

The invitation has separated at its hinge but otherwise it is in nice condition.

With the item is a letter sized envelope from the Greenbrier Hotel addressed to the owner of the invitation who lived in Lorton, Virginia. The envelope contains the draft of a 1958 letter offering to sell the invitation to the hotel’s archives. Also in the envelope is a 1982 response from the hotel, on their stationary thanking the owner for the offer but declining to buy the invitation. Also in this envelope is a smaller and earlier one with a pencil inscription of “LEE PICTURE – IMPORTANT.”

General Lee and family were regular visitors to White Sulphur Springs from 1867 to 1869. He would have been there in 1870 but poor health and his death precluded that from happening. The General often met former comrades, and a few former enemies, there for socializing and taking in the hot baths that the place was known for.

A news report found in the Richmond Dispatch of August 19, 1876 announced that the ball was being held to raise money for an equestrian statue of General Lee to be erected in Richmond and that veterans of both the Blue and the Gray attended. Unfortunately, due to modern hysteria, the monument that was later erected no longer stands.  [ad][ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!