Canada Prime Minister John Diefenbaker Autograph Card, Letter and Envelope

Description

This is a Prime Minister's Card used by John G. Diefenbaker when he served as the 13th Prime Minister of Canada from 1957-1963. John Diefenbaker was elected as Prime Minister in 1957, leading his Progressive Conservative party to its first victory in 27 years. A year later, he called a snap election and turned a minority government into the largest majority government in Canadian history, wining 78.5% of the seats in Parliament, a feat never equaled or surpassed before or since. Diefenbaker signed the card in response to an autograph request from the recipient of the letter. The letter that contained the card and is included with it was written by Diefenbaker's private secretary on February 26, 1958, just before the historic election, a fact alluded to in the letter.
Condition:
The paper of the card is crisp, thick and clean, and the paper is in very good condition except for a mark on the upper left corner where a staple had been applied. The signature is clear and vivid, the ink has not faded at all.
The letter is neatly typewritten and has been well preserved, the only marks being two rust-colored impressions from where the staple binding it to the card had been applied.
Diefenbaker also signed the front of the envelope the card was sent in. The signature on the envelope is missing some writing on the right, but is distinct enough to be clearly Diefenbaker's and is very legible. The envelope has very slight discoloring on the edges, but is otherwise in pristine condition. In particular, the Office of the Prime Minister stamps on the three pieces are in wonderful shape.