SPELLMAN, Francis Cardinal (1889-1967)

Price: $95.00

Longtime archbishop of New York.

TLS – Typewritten Letter Signed, one page, 3/18/1946. Friendly acknowledgement to a New York gentleman on the announcement of his being named a cardinal. Accompanied by a 8″x10″ color glossy informal portrait of Spellman as photographed by John J. Loughlin 1966. (SEE Spellman/Loughlin elsewhere in our online catalogue).

Spellman was one of the most influential churchmen of the 20th century, somewhat irreverently called The American Pope for his close association with Pope Pius XII. Early in his priestly career, he was reassigned from Boston to Rome by William Cardinal O’Connell who was not fond of the priest. O’Connell referred to Spellman as a “little popinjay” and observed “…Francis epitomizes what happens to a bookkeeper when you teach him how to read.”

Spellman was auxiliary bishop of Boston; military ordinariate of the US Armed Forces and author of several works.

NOTA BENE:  We have four other routine T.L.S’s from Cardinal Spellman to the same gentleman, spanning the years 1948-1967.  Letters exhibit generalized toning, some mounting residue but, overall, are good to very good.

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