Millard Fillmore’s Handwritten Journal Detailing Expenses For His 1866 European Tour

MILLARD FILLMORE (1800-1874). The Thirteenth President, Fillmore served as comptroller of the State of New York from January 1848 to February 1849. He resigned to become Vice President, and upon Zachary Taylor’s death in July 1850, Fillmore became President. Manuscript book. 5 ½” x 8”. 110 numbered pages. Europe. 1866. A manuscript book in the handwriting of former President Millard Fillmore. He recounts the money his wife spent on their 1866 European vacation, as well as the places they visited. He signed the inside front cover using his wife’s name, “Mrs. Millard Fillmore At Paris, May 18, 1866”. In Fillmore’s handwriting on the very first page, he writes about “Bonnets”, “Shawls”, “Handkerchiefs” and “Laces”. A few pages later, under the heading “Milliners”, Fillmore writes that his wife visited “Mm. Rivet 52 Notre Dame de Lorette By Miss Soule” and “Ms Diels 23 Boulevard des Caperciaes by Nellie Bam”. There are similar pages for “Dresses & Dressmakers”, “Shawls” “Laces” and “Jewelry”. The majority of pages are headed, but not filled in. There are also newspaper printings from a religious sermon pasted into the early pages; some of the titles include “Every Man’s Friend”, “The Only Savior” and “Shut Out Of Heaven”. This manuscript book was an artifact of their second European tour. The book is in good condition. The spine is falling apart – part of the spine strip has already detached – and many of the early pages are in the process of detaching from the binding. The first few pages also show damage, perhaps from where a newspaper was once glued over and then removed. A most unusual Presidential collectible!