Harriet Beecher Stowe
Andover, MA, March 5, 1864
Harriet Beecher Stowe War-Dated AQS: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord…"
AQS

A biblical autograph quotation from Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) in which she recites a verse from the Book of Isaiah. 1p of lined stationery, measuring 4" x 6", Andover, MA, March 5, 1864. Signed at conclusion as "H. B. Stowe" and penned in the midst of the Civil War, this particular quote originates from Isaiah 40: 3-5. Stowe lived in Andover from 1852 to 1864 while her husband, Calvin, worked as a professor at the Andover Theological Seminary. Exhibits faint letter folds and toning throughout. Light pencil docketing verso. Else, near fine.

She writes in full:
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths strait. Every mountain should be brought low & every valley should be exalted and the crooked shall be made strait & the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed & all flesh shall see it together."

Born into a family of strict Calvinists, Stowe often struggled with the cold, sometimes frightening aspects of the theology (such as predestination and original sin). By the time she wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin," she would use religion as a way to demonstrate a connection between the title character and the reader. Throughout the book, Tom's religious peace and trust gives way to despondence and, in a moment of crisis, he sees a vision of Christ. When he is roused, the despair has been replaced with joy. Stowe perhaps felt that a similar sentiment can be found within this section of Isaiah, when "the glory of the Lord" has been revealed.

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!

  • Dimensions: 4" x 5"
  • Medium: AQS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

by University Archives
July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000