John Hay Autographs
John Milton Hay (October 8, 1838 – July 1, 1905) was an American statesman and official whose career in government stretched over almost half a century. Beginning as a private secretary for Abraham Lincoln, he became a diplomat. He served as United States Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Hay was also a biographer of Lincoln, and wrote poetry and other literature throughout his life.
Born in Salem, Indiana to an anti-slavery family that moved to Warsaw, Illinois, Hay showed great potential from an early age, and his family sent him to Brown University. After graduation in 1858, Hay read law in his uncle's office in Springfield, Illinois, adjacent to that of Lincoln. Hay worked for Lincoln's successful presidential campaign and became one of his private secretaries in the White House. Throughout the American Civil War, Hay was close to Lincoln and stood by his deathbed after the President was shot. In addition to his other literary works, Hay co-authored, with John George Nicolay, Lincoln's other private secretary, a ten-volume biography of Lincoln that helped shape the assassinated president's historical image.
After Lincoln's death, Hay spent several years at diplomatic posts in Europe, then worked for the New-York Tribune under Horace Greeley and Whitelaw Reid. Hay remained active in politics, and from 1879 to 1881 served as Assistant Secretary of State. Afterward, he returned to the private sector, remaining there until President McKinley, of whom he had been a major backer, made him the Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1897. Hay became the Secretary of State the following year.
Read more about John Hay on Wikipedia
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Traded items with a signature of John Hay
The most expensive item with a signature of John Hay (Aviation Corporation of the Americas Stock signed by Juan Trippe and John Hay Wh) was sold in April 2025 for $1,256.25 while the cheapest item (JOHN HAY BEITH (1876 - 1952) autographed vintage card!) found a new owner for $0.99 in June 2008. The month with the most items sold (2) was February 2012 with an average selling price of $313.50 for an autographed item of John Hay. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in April 2025 with $1,256.25 and the month that saw the lowest prices with $0.99 was June 2008. In average, an autographed item from John Hay is worth $96.79.
Most recently, these items with a signature of John Hay were sold on eBay - click here for more items.
| Picture | Item Title | Price | Store |
 | 1900 US passport stamped signed Security of State John Hay wax seal Contini | $68.00 |  |
| Aviation Corporation of the Americas Stock signed by Juan Trippe and John Hay Wh | $1,226.25 | |
| Aviation Corporation of the Americas Stock signed by Juan Trippe and John Hay Wh | $1,226.25 | |
| Aviation Corporation of the Americas Stock signed by Juan Trippe and John Hay Wh | $1,256.25 | |
| Aviation Corporation of the Americas Stock signed by Juan Trippe and John Hay Wh | $1,256.25 | |
| John Hay 1903 Typed Letter Signed as Secretary of State - Mourning Stationery | $187.00 | |
| John Hay 1903 Typed Letter Signed as Secretary of State - Mourning Stationery | $187.00 | |
| John Hay, Autograph Note Signed, Custom Art Framed, Dennis Holzman Antiques COA | $367.00 | |
| John Hay, Autograph Note Signed, Custom Art Framed, Dennis Holzman Antiques COA | $367.00 | |
| Lincoln's Secretary and Secretary of State John Hay Autograph | $113.50 | |
| Lincoln's Secretary and Secretary of State John Hay Autograph | $113.50 | |
| Lincoln’s Personal Secretaries John Nicolay, John Hay Autographed Letters | $199.99 | |
| Lincoln’s Personal Secretaries John Nicolay, John Hay Autographed Letters | $199.99 | |
| Pike County Ballad John Hay Signature | $300.00 | |
| Pike County Ballad John Hay Signature | $300.00 | |
