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Rare 1869 Autograph Letter Signed by Anna E. Dickinson — Early Feminist, Abolitionist & Nationally Famous Orator — Discussing Speaking Terms and $125 Fee During Peak of Her Influence
This is a powerful and historically significant Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Anna Elizabeth Dickinson (1842–1932), one of the first women to gain national fame as a public speaker and activist for abolition, women’s rights, and Reconstruction reforms.
Written on her personal stationery from 1710 Locust Street, Philadelphia and dated October 19, 1869, Dickinson addresses Fanny Abbey, responding to a lecture invitation with her standard speaking fee of $125 — a considerable sum for the time. She also notes her recent return from California, a testament to her national reach and tireless activism.
This is a rare and important firsthand record of Dickinson’s post–Civil War professional life, offering collectors a glimpse into how this pioneering woman leveraged her voice and visibility during the transformative Reconstruction period.
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Biographical Background:
Anna E. Dickinson was a political firebrand, writer, and the first woman to ever address the U.S. Congress (1864). A Quaker and prodigy of the lyceum movement, she rose to fame in her early 20s with impassioned speeches advocating for abolition of slavery, Union loyalty, and later, women’s suffrage.
By 1869—the year of this letter—she was at the height of her influence. Following the Civil War, she continued delivering sold-out lectures across the country, earning what were then unheard-of speaking fees for a woman. In an era when women were expected to remain silent in public affairs, Dickinson’s powerful oratory and political activism made her both a symbol of progress and a lightning rod for controversy.
Her later years saw diminished public engagement, but her early efforts directly paved the way for the next generation of women’s rights leaders, including Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
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Full Transcription:
> No. 1710 Locust St.
Phila. 10.19.1869
Long absence from home must be my excuse for not sooner writing to you. I have but shortly returned from Cal., & have been overwhelmed with work.
Thanks for the invitation. If my terms $125. & my time, alike & satisfactory to you, I shall be happy to speak for you, & will speak upon any subject & date – whatever you reply. May I beg that you will do me the kindness of letting me hear it at once to retain me.
Yours very truly,
Anna E. Dickinson
Fanny Abbey
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Historical Importance:
This letter embodies the professional strength and business savvy of one of the 19th century’s most important women reformers at the height of her career. It offers:
A rare documented $125 speaking fee (~$2,700 today)
A reference to her California tour, showing her national appeal
Her clear expectation of timely booking, highlighting her professional demand
A full, clean signature on personal letterhead
This is more than an autograph — it’s a window into the post-Civil War public speaking circuit, where Dickinson stood nearly alone as a female national voice on politics and reform.
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A Stellar Addition for Collectors Of:
Women’s Suffrage & Feminist History
Abolitionist & Civil War-Era Leaders
Lyceum & 19th-Century Reform Movements
Rare American Autographs & Manuscripts
Securely shipped, sleeved, and protected. A vital piece of American reform history and a standout artifact from a woman who helped shape it.
