W.H. Taft Boldly Signed Photo Dedicated to "U.S.S. Tennessee" Admiral Who Sailed Him To Panama

A vintage silver gelatin photographic print depicting 27th U.S. President William H. Taft (1857-1930), boldly signed, inscribed, and dated by him along the bottom margin as: "For Rear Admiral Staunton with / grateful recollection of a most delightful / trip under his guidance - / Nov 25 1910 / Wm H. Taft." The black and white bust-length portrait of Taft is signed in stone by Harris & Ewing at the lower left. The photo is affixed to a mount under a mat. Expected wear including superficial scuffs and minor edge silvering, else near fine. The actual size of the photograph field measures 6" x 9" while the overall size of the photo and mat is 11" x 14."

President Taft dedicated this photograph to Rear Admiral Sidney (or Sydney) A. Staunton (1850-1939), the career naval officer commanding the special squadron that transported Taft to and from the Panama Canal Zone in late 1910. Taft boarded Rear Admiral Staunton's flagship, a two-masted four-funneled armored cruiser called the "U.S.S. Tennessee," at Charleston, South Carolina on November 10, 1910. The "U.S.S. Tennessee" and one convoy ship, the armored cruiser "U.S.S. Montana," reached Cristobal, Panama on November 14th (see the attached copy of the November 19, 1910 issue of "Army and Navy Register").

During his two-week-long visit to Panama, President Taft personally inspected the Panama Canal construction site, purportedly in response to corruption concerns (see the attached copy of the November 11, 1910 issue of the "San Bernadino Sun," with the headlining article, "A Rumor of Graft on Big Canal Takes the President to Panama.") In Panama City on November 16th, Taft assured Panamanians that the U.S. had no plans to annex Panama. Also while there, Taft toured ancient jungle ruins. The "U.S.S. Tennessee" stopped at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on the return trip, arriving back on the eastern seaboard by November 22nd. Both Taft and Admiral Staunton had a special relationship to Cuba: Taft had served as provisional governor there in 1906, and Staunton had served as Assistant Chief of Staff of the U.S. Fleet at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba in 1898.

A nearly identical signed and dedicated Taft portrait photograph recently sold at Doyle Auctions in September 21, 2021 for a hammer price of $425. This photograph was dedicated to the officers of the "U.S.S. Tennessee" during the Panamanian cruise.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!