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Alexander Cartwright (1820–1892)Exceptional Pre–Civil War Onion Skin Letter Signed from Hawaii — November 4, 1856
One-page letter press original by (“Alexr. D. Cartwright”), written in Honolulu and dated November 4, 1856.
An extraordinary and rarely encountered manuscript by Alexander Cartwright, written during his early Hawaiian residency and just eleven years after his pivotal role in formalizing the rules that shaped modern baseball. This letter captures Cartwright in reflective exile, separated from the organized social and recreational life of the American mainland that had defined his earlier years in New York.
In eloquent mid-19th-century cursive, Cartwright expresses gratitude for a "hat" that his friend, Oscar H. Boyd sent to him. Cartwright says in part, "I assure you that I shall endeavor to wear it with honor to myself and credit to the fraternity." Cartwright speaks poignantly of his isolation from the “amusements and recreations” to which he had long been accustomed. He reflects on the absence of structured social diversions and the friends and associates left behind—revealing the mindset of a man whose life’s work centered on organization, fraternity, and communal recreation. These passages offer rare insight into the personal motivations that later led Cartwright to introduce organized baseball to the Hawaiian Islands, extending the game beyond the continental United States.
Although baseball is not explicitly referenced, the letter's historical significancelies in its context. It documents Cartwright’s transitional period—after the Knickerbocker era and before baseball took root in Hawaii—providing a compelling primary source that reinforces modern scholarship recognizing him as a transmitter of American sporting culture rather than merely a codifier of rules.
The letter is boldly signed and exhibits strong, period-consistent penmanship. Pre–Civil War Cartwright autograph material is scarce, and examples written from Hawaii are notably rarer. Letters of this length, reflective depth, and historical context seldom appear on the open market.
Historical Importance:
A museum-caliber document linking early baseball history, 19th-century Americana, and Hawaiian cultural history, representing one of the most desirable forms of Alexander Cartwright material available to advanced collectors.
Condition:
Very good, with light age toning and expected handling consistent with mid-19th-century iron gall ink correspondence. Some small splits in the paper are present.
