ROOSEVELT TO PEARY JUST BEFORE HIS 1908 POLAR EXPEDITION. ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. 1858-1919. Typed ...

ROOSEVELT TO PEARY JUST BEFORE HIS 1908 POLAR EXPEDITION. ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. 1858-1919. Typed Letter Signed ('Theodore Roosevelt') while President to explorer Robert Peary as Peary prepares for his 1908-1909 expedition to the North Pole, commenting on Peary's young son 'if he takes after his father, he will think quick, shoot straight, not strike at all unless he has to, and then strike as hard as any human being can...,' 1 p, 4to (xxx x xxx mm), on White House letterhead, Washington, DC, March 13, 1908, framed and matted with an original photograph of the explorer and his son (who was born in 1903). Provenance: Admiral Robert E. Peary; by descent, sold James D. Julia, Estate of Robert E. Peary, Jr., Important Maine Summer Auction, August 25-26, 1994, lot 542. '... THINK QUICK, SHOOT STRAIGHT ...' A SIGNATURE TEDDY ROOSEVELT LINE SENT TO EXPLORER ROBERT PEARY AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS 1908 POLAR EXPEDITION. Roosevelt was an enormous supporter, both publicly and financially, of Peary's from early on in his career. In fact, the custom built boat that carried Peary through the ice on both the 1905-1906 and 1908-1909 expeditions to the North Pole was named in honor of the President, The Roosevelt. Peary would leave for the North in July of 1908, reaching the North Pole, by his own account, on June 21, 1909. Here Roosevelt reappropriates one of his most famous lines, in full: 'My Dear Commander Peary: / I am touched by your letter, and I love the photograph of your small son. Give him my best. If he takes after his father, he will think quick, shoot straight, not strike at all unless he has to, and then strike as hard as any human being can. / Wishing you all good fortune, faithfully yours, / Theodore Roosevelt.' For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing