March on Washington Organizer BAYARD RUSTIN Signed Letter. Only Known Example!

Title:

Extremely Rare 1963 Bayard Rustin ALS from Tanganyika — Double-Signed — Weeks Before He Orchestrated the March on Washington — No Known Auction Records of Signed Letters, One of Most Important Civil Rights Figures of our time!

Description:
Outstanding Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by civil rights titan Bayard Rustin, written from Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika (modern-day Tanzania) and dated February 17, 1963 — just weeks before he returned to the United States to lead the planning of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Written in blue ink on an official Air Mail letter sheet measuring 8 x 9½ inches unfolded, this letter is signed twice: once in full at the close, “With affection, Bayard Rustin,” and again on the air letter cover as “Rustin” next to the sender’s address. Addressed to the Medina Art Gallery in New York City. The letter remains complete and legible, with expected mailing folds, light wear, small edge chips, and separation along the central fold. A Tanganyika 30¢ stamp remains affixed at top right.

In the letter, Rustin reflects on education and independence in East Africa, his imminent return to the U.S., and the painful removal of African cultural treasures to the West:

“My work here will be over within a week. Then on to London for a few day[s] and back home, I trust, by March 1st.

It is really amazing how much energy recently independent people have... the percentage of children in schools has risen over 200%.

But alas the most lovely african [sic] works of art are not here but in New York. The Vice President asked me the other day if I would buy things there (New York) that originally came from here for their tiny museum…”

Historical Context:
Bayard Rustin (1912–1987) was one of the most important and unsung architects of the American Civil Rights Movement. A committed pacifist, strategist, and advocate of nonviolent resistance, he had already pioneered efforts like the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation, a precursor to the Freedom Rides, by the time this letter was written.

Just days after writing this letter, Rustin returned to the United States — and history was waiting. With only 11 weeks to prepare, A. Philip Randolph, founder of the March on Washington Movement, turned over full operational control of the upcoming March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom to his trusted partner, Bayard Rustin.

Rustin orchestrated every aspect of the March with near-military precision. He:

• Coordinated over 200 civil rights staff and volunteers,

• Organized church fundraising, national publicity, and outreach,

• Arranged transportation logistics (buses, trains, housing),

• Drafted and distributed an Organizing Manual outlining purpose, talking points, and rules of conduct,

• Designed a system of nonviolent “marshals” for crowd control,

• Oversaw essentials like the sound system and even the porta-potties.

Though early estimates called for 100,000 attendees, Rustin’s careful planning brought more than 250,000 people to the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 — 190,000 Black and 60,000 white demonstrators — in what became one of the most iconic and peaceful protests in American history.

This letter represents Rustin’s final international work before transitioning into that monumental role, making it one of the only known signed documents from this brief but pivotal moment in his life.

Authentication & Encapsulation:

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer’s request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional “Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate” signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
This is an extraordinarily rare double-signed letter from Bayard Rustin, written just weeks before he assumed full command of the March on Washington — a logistical and moral triumph in the story of American democracy.

Despite his profound legacy, Rustin’s autograph is nearly nonexistent on the market. We find no examples of signed letters ever offered at major public auction, and no sales of Rustin autographs recorded by RR Auction or Heritage Auctions. Even single signed items are elusive; letters are virtually unheard of.

This historically charged letter is more than just an autograph — it is a primary source artifact written on the threshold of one of the most consequential events in American history. For institutions, civil rights archives, and collectors of 20th-century history, it is a museum-quality cornerstone — uniquely personal, perfectly timed, and impossibly rare.

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.