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Sale 301
U.S. Autographs, Stamps and Postal History
| Autographs and Americana: Other Prominent Americans |
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| Lot |
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Description |
Lot 1056 |
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Burr, Aaron (1756-1836), U.S. Vice-President (1801-05), Killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel (18044), tried for treason and acquitted (1807) ALS, "Aaron Burr", 1½pp, Poughkeepsie, June 19, 1791. Letter to Peter Von Scaack regarding a legal matter and his [Burr's] health "…having lately recovered from a nervous fever…"; moderate toning, some paper loss on integral address leaf, Very Good.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
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Lot 1057 |
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Clark, William (1770-1838), American explorer, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition ADS, "William Clark Cr.", 1p, 4½ x 7½ no place, 1826 (Apr.-July) Journal page accounting of seven payments he authorized as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, including one to Henry Clay; some toning, Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
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Lot 1058 |
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Clemens, Samuel Langhorne, Mark Twain (1835-1910), American humorist and author. ALS, "Samuel L. Clemens, Mark Twain", full page, 4½ x 7, Buffalo, Feb. 14 (no year). Clemens writes: "I am only too proud of the chance to help with this the only Valentine I venture to write this day — for although I am twain in my own person I am only half a person in my matrimonial form, and sometimes my wife shows that she is so much better and nobler than I am, that I seriously question if I am really any more than about a quarter!"; slight ink smears, mounting remnants on verso, Fine and rare.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000
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Lot 1059 |
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Custer, George Armstrong (1839-187, ALS, "G A Custer", 1p, 7¾ x 9½ Hays City, Kas., May 10, 1869. Letter written, as Commander of the 7th cavalry, to Lt. General Sheridan as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, "(confidential) without delicate handling of the Indian question by persons experienced in Indian affairs we are liable to lose all benefit of our last winters campaign and be plunged into another general war with the southern tribes— I think this can be avoided." light staining, mostly clear of text, Fine.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000
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Lot 1060 |
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Custer, George Armstrong (1839-1876), U.S. Army Civil War Brt. Maj. General, Indian fighter, died at Little Big Horn along with his entire force of 266 men. LS, "GA Custer", 1p, 8 x 10, as Lt. Colonel, 7th Cavalry, Headquarters, Ft. Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Terr., June 11, 1874. To Adj. General Edward D. Townsend (1817-93) in Washington. "…Please inform me whether the provisions of General Orders No 51, of 1872 apply to enlisted Indian Scouts or not…." Endorsement on verso. "Indian Scouts who have Served continously five years are entitled upon again re-enlisting to the benefits of Act of May 15th, 1874, published as G.O. No 51, of 1872, from this office (signed) ED Townsend". Fine, custom framed with UV plexiglass and hinged inner frames for double sided viewing, overall size 42 x 32, one side containing an 1876 newspaper including a lengthy obituary, with contemporary etchings. A handsome display.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000
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Lot 1061 |
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Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1803-1882), American essayist and poet. ALS, "R.W. Emerson", 2pp, 5 x 8, Concord, Mass., May 25, 1876. Letter to a Mrs. Chamberlaine thanking her for her birthday wishes (his 73rd) and speaking kindly of her collection of "Rhodoras" and her "perfect…Aeolian Harp". The second page of the letter is an autograph manuscript, "a rude verse I once wrote on one…" entitled "Aeolian Harp"; slight tears at end of a couple folds, Fine.
Estimate 3,500 - 4,000
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Lot 1062 |
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Harris, Joel Chandler (1848-1908), American editor and author, created the characters Uncle Remus, Brer Rabbit and friends. ALS, 1p, 5½ x 8½ Atlanta, Jan. 6, 1883. Letter of Atlanta "Constitution" letterhead to a Professor J.A. Harrison, interesting literary content regarding the "Creole Patois of Louisiana", refers to "the allusion in Dr. Mercier's specimen to the fact that the terapin, upon a previous occasion, had beaten the rabbit in a trial of speed. Can this be a reference to Aesop. If so, it has been injected, for a negro myth-story is a negro myth-story, whether it be told in Portuguese, French or English." And "I must thank you for your kindly mention of Uncle Remus. Somehow or other, nobody approaches the old man in a critical spirit, and for this I am grateful. It has saved me a great deal of mortification…" Also an interesting postscript- "do you have the joree in Virginia? And is it the starling? In Putnam county, Ga. I have heard the negroes use the name adjectively, as ‘Whar John?’ ‘Don't ax me; dat nigger done gone joreein’ This may mean anything or nothing."
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
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Lot 1063 |
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Harrison, Mary Scott Lord (Dimmick) (1858-1948), Second wife of President Benjamin Harrison (1896-1901)./I> ALS, "Mary Lord Harrison", 5pp., 6 x 8, no place, July 15, 1937. Letter to a friend with interesting political content, mentioning in passing Roosevelt's ("the Administration") attempt to "pack the Supreme Court" with a bill empowering him to name as many as six new Justices. Mrs. Harrison writes "I hope the court Bill will be shelved until next session…".
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 1064 |
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Hemingway, Ernest (1899-1961), American author and sportsman, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature (1954) TLS, "Papa", 2pp., 8½ x 11, Torcello (Italy), Nov. 12, 1948. Personally typed letter on Finca Vigia letterhead [Hemingway's home in San Francisco de Paula, Cuba] to his friend Peter, rambling expletive-filled stream of consciousness on such things as current writers "(Irwin" and "Miss Martha"), the state of duck hunting in Italy (two paragraphs), boxing, and how his being circumsized ("on my father's theory that you got the clap less that way…") hasn't caused anyone to think he was Jewish, etc. Tells Pete how he can find his (Hemingway's) local hangout when he comes to Italy… "will be someone there who will recognize you if you present your one half of the enclosed stamp. The permanent password is Gloria En Excelsis and the answer is In the Pig's (A…)-Hole". Signed in pencil on the side of the second paper "Best Always Papa". Some very minor tone spots, Fine. A wonderful Hemingway letter.
Estimate 4,000 - 6,000
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Lot 1065 |
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Lewis, Meriwether (1774-1809), Private secretary to President Thomas Jefferson (1801-03) which lead to his co-leadership of the Lewis & Clark Expedition (1803-06), governor of Louisiana Territory (1807-09). AMS, 1p-2 sides, 3¾ x 6, no place, Aug. 20, 22, 1808. Two journal entries, each signed at their conclusion (and parts of two others), one concerns the purchase of two "public horses" at $55 and $30; the other "a draught… drawn in favor of Andrew McFalane or order on the bank of the U’States for my salary ending the 30th day of September 1808…"; two small insignificant tears in one blank margin, Very Fine and rare.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000
Lewis died under mysterious circumstances. The most common belief is that he committed suicide (he was prone to bouts of depression) but some believe he was murdered.
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Lot 1066 |
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Lincoln, Mary Ann (Todd) (1818-1882), First Lady, wife of Abraham Lincoln, ALS, "Mrs. A. Lincoln", 1p, 5 x 8, Chicago, June 9, 1866. Letter to a General reading "Genl., Mr. Williamson writes me, requesting a free pass for Mrs. W. to New York, and for himself to Pittsburg 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."; slight mounting thins on verso, light foxing but boldly penned and easily read, Fine.
Estimate 4,000 - 6,000
In May of 1865, Mary, with her two sons, moved from Washington to Chicago.
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Lot 1067 |
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Morse, Samuel Finley Breese (1791-1872), American Inventor of the telegraph and Morse code, also a painter and founder of the National Academy of Design, sometimes called the "American Leonardo". ALS, "Saml F.B. Morse", 2pp, 5 x 6¾ Harrison, N.J., Sept. 20, 1866. Letter to his brother, R.C. Morse, referring to family and acquaintances, to the goings on at the Academy (of Design), and how his "little Eddie shows uncommon talent in sketching." Small part of bottom with a few lines of text missing, slight faults, Fine.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 1068 |
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Warren, Earl (1881-1974), Chief Justice of U.S. Supreme Court, wrote Brown v Board of Education [desegregation] and Miranda v Arizona [due process], Signed Photo, 10 x 12, c.1967-69, Supreme Court building surrounded by oval portraits of the nine Justices, each has signed below his portrait, besides Warren there is William O. Douglas, John M. Harlan, Potter Stewart, Abe Fortas, Byron White, William Brennan, Thurgood Marshall [Marshall has written over the "Th" in his black ink signature with blue ink] and Hugo Black. Crease at lower right corner. Matted with an inset identification plaque and framed to 33 x 27 overall.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 1069 |
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Wright, Wilbur (1867-1912) and Orville (1871-1948), American aviation pioneers and inventors of the first heavier-than-air flying machine. SP, 6½ x 5, b/with, 1908. Bold signatures in the sky above Kill Devil Hills showing their plane in flight just above the rolling hills in the distance. The photo, entitled "History at Kill Devil Hill" was shot for a Collier's Weekly article of the same title by Arthur Ruhl published on May 30, 1908. Light wrinkle, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000
Ruhl visited the Wrights' test site on May 13 and on the following day the brothers decided to attempt the two-man flight. They made three flights, the first being, in effect, the first passenger flight, lasted only about 22 seconds. The second lasted four minutes and the last about 7½ minutes. The photo is thought to be of the second flight.
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Lot 1070 |
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Wright, Orville (1871-1948), TLS, 1p, Dayton, Ohio, Mar. 24, 1928. Letter on personal letterhead to publisher Gordon Dorrance in Phila declining to comment on [Clarence D.] Chamberlin's Record Flights" …without first reading the book, and I am so far behind in my reading now that I would be unable to read it for months to come." Very Fine.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
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Lot 1071 |
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Wright, Wilbur (1867-1912), ALS, 1p, 8½ x 11, Dayton, Ohio, no date. Letter to on Wright Bros. letterhead to G.A. Sexton in Chicago telling of being "…unable to put a machine into the race…" due to heavy demand on their planes, "…we have even been compelled to send away our training machines from our Dayton grounds", Fine.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000
A VERY RARE ALS WITH EXCELLENT AVIATION CONTENT.
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