Letter Signed by PÁEZ, José Antonio (1790-1873)

This Venezuelan military and political leader served as president of that country three times (1830-35, 1839-43, 1861-63), spending his last decade in exile in New York City; his dictatorship during what's considered a golden age in Venezuelan history was benevolent and enlightened, not self-serving and egomaniacal. LS, 2pp (lettersheet), 4 3/4" X 7½", n.p. [New York, NY], 1867 August 10. Addressed to Lewis J. Cist (1818-85). Near fine. In part: "...my Autobiography has not been translated into English for scarcity of pecuniary resources. I asked you also if there was a gentleman of your acquaintance who wished to enter with me in some arrangement to have said work translated into English. There are only two or three copies of my Autobiography in N. York at Mr. Christern's store in Broadway -- the rest has been sent to the Spanish American countries...." Attractively penned and very boldly signed. Paez's "Autobiografia del General Jose Antonio Paez" was published in New York by Hallet and Breen in 1870, in Spanish of course, and apparently the general never succeeded in getting his memoir published in English. A superb example of this uncommon autograph.