| Autographs and Historical Documents |
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Lot 2001 |
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Washington, George, three free franked folded covers, 1st President of the U.S. (1789-1797), Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.
As Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, April 21, 1782. Endorsed "On Public Service" with his bold "G. Washington" frank at the lower left and the address "Oliver Phelps Esqr/ Granville (Mass.)", all in his own hand, docketed "His Excellency Genl Washingtons letter April 21 1782" on the inside. The original letter to Phelps, who was deputy commissary of the Continental Army, concerned provisioning the troops.
Phelps, among other things, was also a member of the Constitutional Convention and a Massachusetts state senator.
As President, November 23, 1791. Handstamped "23/NO" in small circle and "FREE" to which Washington has added his manuscript frank, "President/ U.S.", and the address "David Stuart Esqr/ Alexandria/ Virginia". The original letter concerned plans for "Wood covers to Brick or Stone buildings, in the Federal City."
Stuart was one of the commissioners responsible for naming the new nation’s "federal city" the City of Washington. He also became a member of the Washington family when a son of Martha Washington’s by her first marriage (she was widowed at the age of 26) died and Stuart married the widow, Martha’s daughter-in-law.
As ex-president, June 10, 1799. Manuscript postmark "Alex (Alexandria, Va.) 10 June" and "Free", Washington has penned his bold "G. Washington" frank at the lower left and addressed the letter in his own hand to "The President of the/ Bank of Pennsylvania/ Philadelphia", docketed "Mount Vernon 10 June 1799" on the reverse. The original letter was to Samuel Mickle Fox, the president of the Bank of Pa., enlisting Fox’s aid in collecting debts from two individuals to whom Washington had sold large tracts of land.
These three Washington free franks, in a sense, recreate the famous posthumous tribute paid to Washington upon his death by General Henry "Light Horse" Lee: "First in War (the 1782 letter, written as the Revolutionary War was winding down), first in peace (the 1791 letter written as president of a new nation), and first in the hearts of his countrymen" (the 1799 letter written just six months before his death).
Estimate 20,000 - 25,000
None of the contents are included but transcripts of the original letters are available upon request.
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Lot 2002 |
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Washington, George (1732-1799), 1st President of the U.S. (1789-1797), Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, Surveyor.
ADS, Jan 7, 1774 folio on the appointment of Craven Peyton as attorney to oversee the lands of George William Fairfax in Culpepper and Fauquier counties of Virginia, lengthy document all in Washington's hand, signed "G. Washington", verso of document appointing Craven Peyton as collector of rents, June 18, 1773, signed "G.W. Fairfax" and co-signed by "Lancelot Lee" of Va., minor restoration not affecting the signatures, Fine.
Estimate 30,000 - 40,000
AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT CONTAINING SIGNATURES OF THE MOST PROMINENT FAMILIES IN VIRGINIA; WASHINGTON, FAIRFAX, AND LEE.
At the early age of 16, George Washington helped survey Shenandoah lands for Thomas Fairfax, the sixth Lord Fairfax. Lord Fairfax was a friend and patron of Washington's early life. Over the following years, George Washington would develop a close relationship with George William Fairfax, the son of Thomas's first cousin. George William Fairfax returned to England in 1773, leaving Washington to look after the Fairfax's affairs in Virginia.
Lancelot Lee was a cousin to Robert E. Lee descending from the "Stratford" line of the Lee family that originates from Richard Lee (1647-1714).
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Lot 2003 |
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Harrison, William Henry (1773-1841), 9th President of the U.S. (1841), grandfather of the 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison.
ALS as U.S. Senator with autograph free frank on integral leaf, "Free W.H. Harrison", to his nephew Benjamin Harrison who resided at the family seat of Berkely, Va., letter datelined Washington, 25 Jul 1820 and begins, "Your letter enclosing the memorial of Major Lomax was duly recieved…I have thus returned from the Treasury when I went to enquire about your claim", letter signed "Your uncle, W. H. Harrison", Fine and very rare free frank.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
RARE WILLIAM H. HARRISON FREE FRANK WITH ALS.
William H. Harrison developed a cold after being in office less than a month, The cold developed into pneumonia which led to his death on April 4, 1841. He was the first President to die in office serving only a total of 32 days into his term.
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Lot 2004 |
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Taylor, Zachary (1774-1850), 12th President of the U.S. (1849-1850), U.S. General and hero of the Mexican American War ("Old Rough and Ready").
ALS, 7½" x 9¾", 1p., datelined Baton Rouge, May 3, 1841 to John Bell, the Secretary of War, Letter of recommendation for one Alfred A. Williams to replace the current ordnance storekeeper at the Baton Rouge arsenal, the incombent storekeeper having "left the post without complying with the conditions on which a leave of absence was granted by the depart…as a consequence of age & infirmities…caused in no doubt by intemperance…", signed "Z. Taylor Bt.Br.Gen./U.S.A.", addressed in his hand on integral leaf "Hon. John Bell, Secretary of War, Washington City" carried most likely by military courier, docketed May 17; minor contemporary ink smearing, Fine.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
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Lot 2005 |
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Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865), 16th President of the U.S. (1861-1865).
DS as president, 15¾" x 19½", Feb 7, 1862 Presidential appointment of Henry M. Denniston as "Assistant Paymaster of the Navy", also signed by Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Finely engraved American eagle and naval vignettes at top and bottom, green paper seal. folded but without separation, few light tone spots, Fine.
Estimate 7,500 - 10,000
Henry M. Denniston would later be promoted to full paymaster serving on board the Ticonderoga, and eventually attaining the rank of Rear Admiral.
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Lot 2006 |
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Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865), ANS as president affixed to a December 12, 1864 letter from R. S. Moore addressed to Abraham Lincoln, President of the U. S. concerning the petition to release two prisoners of war, President Lincoln's response reads, "Let these men be discharged, on taking the oath of Dec. 8. 1863 / A. Lincoln / Dec. 12. 1864", Very Fine.
Estimate 7,500 - 10,000
A CHOICE WAR DATED LINCOLN AUTOGRAPH OFFERED PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Expertization: 2004 Letter of authentication from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
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Lot 2007 |
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Grant, Ulysses S. (1822-1885), 18th President of the United States (1869-1877), Army General in Civil War, accepted Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House (1865).
ALS as president on Jul 16, 1872 letter to U.S. Senator Matthew H. Carpenter from the Presidential retreat, Long Branch, NJ printed stationery, signed "U.S. Grant", content is concerning the expected arrival of the Senator and his family at the retreat, Very Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
Provenance: Grunin
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Lot 2008 |
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The 1876-1877 Executive Department, ANS, signatures of the entire Grant cabinet on lined note paper, Ulysses S. Grant (President), Hamilton Fish (Sec of State), Lot M. Morrill (Sec of Treasury), James D. Cameron (Sec of War), George M. Robeson (Sec of Navy), Zachariah Chandler (Sec of Interior), James N. Tyner (Postmaster General), and Alphonso Taft (Attorney General), neatly mounted on a stamp exhibition page with Official India paper proofs from each Department, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
THE ONLY RECORDED DOCUMENT AVAILABLE WITH SIGNATURES OF THE ENTIRE GRANT CABINET.
The document dates from late in the second term of the Grant administration. Alphonso Taft served as Secretary of War, March 8–May 22, 1876 when he was appointed attorney general of the United States, serving till the end of the Grant administration in 1877.
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Lot 2009 |
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Garfield, James (1831-1881), 20th President of the U.S. (1881), assassinated July 2 of that year.
AES as President on verso of the last page of a three page recommendation for a Philadelphia Customs House appointment from U.S. Representative A. C. Harmer, House of Representatives printed letterhead datelined Philadelphia June 26, 1881, Garfield's Jun 30, 1881 endorsement reads, "Respectfully referred to the appraiser for such consideration as the merits of this soldier deserve" and signed "J. A. Garfield"; splitting along file folds reinforced, Fine.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000
THIS IS ONE OF GARFIELD'S LAST OFFICIAL ACTS PRIOR TO THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON JULY 2 THAT ULTIMATELY CLAIMED HIS LIFE.
Alfred C. Harmer (1825-1900) served a total of 14 terms as a U.S. Representative from Pa. starting in 1871 to 1875, and from 1877 until his death in 1900.
The recommendation was for Samuel L. Ennis who served as a private in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Company D. The Fifteenth Volunteer Cavalry was organized at Carlisle, Pa., November 30, 1861, for headquarters and escort duty with Gen. Anderson in Kentucky. It was retained at the headquarters of Generals Sherman, Buell and Rosecrans, Commanding Army and Dept. of the Ohio and Cumberland, till March, 1863.
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Lot 2010 |
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Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919), 26th President of the U.S. (1901-1909), Nobel Peace Prize (1905).
ANS on printed Sagamore Hill stationery card dated August 12, 1918, letter reads "Dear Lawrence, I was very deeply touched by the editorial on Quentin, I thank whoever wrote it.", signed "Always, Theodore Roosevelt", Very Fine.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
The letter was written shortly after Theodore Roosevelt's youngest son, Quentin, was killed in air combat over the German Lines in WWI.
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Lot 2011 |
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Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790), Delegate to the Continental Congress, Colonial and United States postmaster general, inventor, philosopher, and publisher.
Signed "B. Free Franklin" free frank on cover front addressed to Mrs. Franklin at Philadelphia, red "FREE" in circle handstamp, manuscript "via N. York proof. Packet", the cover was sent while Franklin was a Delegate to the Continental Congress in New York, couple edge tears, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000
SCARCE FREE FRANK OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO HIS WIFE IN PHILADELPHIA.
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Lot 2012 |
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Kennedy, Jacqueline Lee (1929-1994), First Lady, 1961-1963.
ALS on mourning card, 5¼" x 3¾", both sides, Jan 1965 note from New York to President Kennedy's secretary Evelyn Lincoln, "Dearest Mrs. Lincoln - As usual you are the most thoughtful person in the world & I just wanted you to know how much Caroline loved her gold horse charm and John his light-up Santa pin - which he especially likes to wear on his pajamas - so he can turn on the light when he is in bed & meant to be asleep! We send you all our love and wishes for a better New Year - Jackie", Very Fine, accompanied by original mourning envelope with handstamped free frank postmarked Jan 2, 1865.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
MARVELOUS CONTENT CONCERNING CAROLINE AND LITTLE JOHN JOHN.
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Lot 2013 |
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Lee, Robert E. (1807-1870), Commander in Chief of the Confederate Armies (1861-1865).
Wardate ALS as Commanding General, signed "R.E. Lee", 1 1/3 pages, datelined December 29, 1861, Headquarters Coosawhatchie, S.C., to John N. Maffitt (1819-86), Confederate Naval Captain and Blockade Runner, excellent content. "If a steamboat be necessary for the execution of the service, with which Capt. Ives, Eng. Dept, and yourself have been charged, you will proceed to Charleston, to ascertain if a suitable vessel can be assigned to you, by Brig Genl Ripley coming in that Dist. In making arrangements for conveying the steamer to the point of destination, you will exercise your judgment, as to the propriety or safety of doing so, and will take measures before hand, to ascertain whether any of the enemys vessels occupy the waters, through which you will necessarily pass. You will also notify the commander of our troops, on the route, of the time, at which you will pass their pickets, or commands, and arrange with them, if practicable, a signal of recognition. In conveying the boat to her destination, should you find it necessary to abandon her, so save the crew from capture, you are authorized to do so, and in order to prevent the boat falling into the hands of the enemy you must destroy her. A light draught boat suitable for bringing off your crew, in the latter contingency, must be prepared in Charleston." fold separations repaired, light toning, Fine.
Estimate 25,000 - 30,000
On December 20, 1861, just over a week before this letter, General Lee received notice from General Ripley that Federal warships had convoyed to Charleston more than a dozen old ships, and sunk them in the main ship channel to obstruct Confederate blockade running. Lee was infuriated, writing to Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin, "This achievement so unworthy of any civilized nation, is the abortive expression of the malice and revenge of a people which it wishes to perpetuate by rendering a more memorable a day hateful on their calendar", referring obviously to the first anniversary of the secession of South Carolina, December 20, 1860.
At the time of this letter, the merchant man "Gladiator", loaded with Confederate supplies, was at Nassau, in the Bahamas. Heavily laden, the ship could not outrun armed Union steamers, and the Confederacy needed the stranded cargo. A plan was carried out to transfer these valuable supplies to steamers, after John N. Maffitt suggested that an attempt be made to land them at the obscure harbor of Mosquito Inlet at New Smyrna, Florida. General Lee had Mosquito Inlet fortified with a fieldwork mounting two guns, and the ships easily reached that port.
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Lot 2014 |
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Lindbergh, Charles A. (1902-1974), American Aviator, made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean on May 20-21, 1927.
ALS on U.S. Grant Hotel stationery, letter from Lindbergh in San Diego to William Robertson dated Mar 4, 1927, it reads in full, "I was unable to meet the Bellanca terms so, as you know have placed the order with Ryan Airlines here. The Ryan has wonderful performance with Hisso or Whirlwind motors but is slightly heavy for an O.X. and does not come up to the Eaglenock or Waco. I understand that Western Air Express obtains their 100% in the same manner that U.A.F. takes 98%. They do not take off in bad weather. Pacific Air Transport has lost a number of ships, had, I believe, three fatalities, and is now attempting to use some O.X.5. Eaglerocks. From what I have been able to gather, it seems we are among the best of the contract routes and our weakest point in comparison is in our mechanical force. Our ground organization does not compare with that of Western Air Express. As Ever, Charles A. Lindberg" Very Fine and choice.
Estimate 25,000 - 30,000
THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY LINDBERGH SHORTLY AFTER SIGNING THE DEAL WITH RYAN AIRWAYS, AND WHILE STAYING IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA TO SUPERVISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS.
William Robertson was a war time pilot and owner of Robertson Aircraft Corp where Lindberg became the first pilot to fly the contract Airmail route running from Chicago, Ill. to St. Louis, Mo. As he grew bored with the contract route, he heard of a fine new airplane, the Wright Bellanca, whose engine promised to give it a range of 4,000 miles. He pondered what could be achieved in such a machine. In 1919, New York hotel businessman Raymond Orteig had offered a $25,000 prize for the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris. Lindbergh convinced a group of St. Louis businessmen to back him in an attempt to win the Orteig prize. They committed $10,000 for his plan. On a tight budget, he went looking for an airplane. At first, Charles Levine, the owner of the Wright Bellanca offered it to him for only $15,000, a great discount from its cost of $25,000. His backers okayed the extra funds. After excitedly traveling to New York to finalize the deal, Lindbergh was dismayed to learn that while Levine would sell him the Bellanca, he insisted on naming the pilot himself. Lindbergh looked for other aircraft but most other manufacturers were unhelpful.
A small manufacturer, the Ryan Aeronautical Company of San Diego, agreed to build a plane for Lindbergh, for $6,000 plus the cost of the engine. He went to their small plant in San Diego and supervised the design modifications and the construction his monoplane. Essentially, the Spirit of St. Louis was a custom-built airplane, designed expressly to fly Lindbergh across the Atlantic. Powered by a state-of-the-art 223hp Wright Whirlwind J-5C engine, the plane could cruise for 4,200 miles. This pushed the final aircraft cost to $10,580.
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Lot 2015 |
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Lincoln, Mary Todd (1818-1882), First Lady, 1861-1865.
ALS, datelined "Chicago, June 9 '66", Mrs. Lincoln writes "Genl., Mr Williams writes me, requesting a free pass for Mrs. W to New York, and for himself to Pittsburgh as far as Chicago if he desires. Mr. W has been a kind friend to me and I hope you will grant his request. I remain with great respect, truly Mrs. A. Lincoln", Fine.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
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Lot 2016 |
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Marshall, John (1755-1835), U.S. jurist and politician; Secretary of State 1800-1801; Supreme Court chief justice 1801-1835.
ADS as Supreme Court chief justice, Dec 29, 1817 deposition written entirely in the hand of Marshall, the document starts, "U.S. District Court of Virginia to wit the foregoing depositions of Catherine Beusey & Margaret Hill were taken before me John Marshall chief Justice of the United States at my office in the city of Richmond…the depositions were reduced to writing by myself…", signed "J. Marshall, Ch. J. of the U.S.", some fold separation, Fine.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000
John Marshall was the fourth Supreme Court Justice and his impact on American constitutional law is peerless. He served for more than 34 years, participating in more than 1000 decisions and authoring over 500 opinions. As the single most important figure on constitutional law, Marshall's imprint can still be found in the great issues of contemporary America.
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