18

(Mount Lebanon, 1876)

"Spirit Power" Letter from Shaker Eldress Antoinette Doolittle [Mount Lebanon - Spiritualism - ALS]

Autograph letter from Shaker Eldress Antoinette Doolittle (1810-1866) to spiritualist medium James V. Mansfield (1817-1899), Mount Lebanon, New York, April 28, 1876. Ink on paper. In early gilt frame. Mansfield was also an active collector of historic relics and documents: See Lots 14–19 for additional items from this collection.

A full-page testimonial letter from Shaker Eldress Antoinette Doolittle praising Mansfield's abilities as a medium, stating that in more than twenty communications, there had "not been a mistake of one name, nor a misapplication of a single question," affirming his powers as "proof positive… except by Spirit Power or agency." The letter further offers the support of the Shaker community, noting "we shall be your witnesses as a most reliable test medium," and concludes with a blessing and invitation to visit their Shaker community at Mount Lebanon.

James Valentine Mansfield (1817-1899) was a 19th-century writer, educator, and prominent spiritualist medium whose career reflected many of the social and intellectual currents of his era. He began his working life as a penmanship teacher and merchant before turning, in the late 1850s, to spiritualism, where he became widely known for producing written messages during séances. Mansfield lived and worked in several major American cities, including Boston, San Francisco during the Civil War years, and New York, and his clients included a number of notable figures, among them Mary Todd Lincoln. He was also a careful collector of historic relics and documentary material, preserving letters and manuscripts that illuminate both his own career and the broader culture of 19th-century America.
Frame: 11 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (29.2 x 24.1 cm.)

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