Exceptional Theodore Roosevelt letter signed as President, dated 15 May 1908 on White House stationery regarding his upcoming trip to Africa -- the famed Smithsonian-Roosevelt African expedition of 1909-1910 that Roosevelt would chronicle in ''African Game Trails''. Roosevelt writes to Henry Sharp, an expert on guns for game hunting, regarding the manufacture of a custom gun for use on the trip. With edits in Roosevelt's hand, letter reads in full:

''My dear Mr. Sharp: / I am really indebted to you for your kindness. In a month or so I think I can answer you definitely, and if I then find I need a gun such as you propose I will gladly take advantage of your kindness to superintend its being made. It seems to me that it is exactly what I would want for my African trip, but I would like to get the advice of such men as my friends Edward North Buxton and [Frederick] Selous before deciding definitely. I believe it is a good thing to carry a shotgun on a trip like that, and it seems to me for lion hunting in the thick brush the proposed gun would be just right. / Sincerely yours, [signed] Theodore Roosevelt''.

Single page measures 7.125'' x 8.875''. Single fold, overall near fine condition. With R&R COA.