Sale 317

U.S. Stamps & Postal History and Important Historical Documents


U.S. Presidents
 
 
Lot Photo Description
Lot 1037
George Washington (1732-1799), Commander-in-Chief of America's Continental Army (1775-1783). First President of the U.S. (1789-1797).Revolutionary War Dated Letter Signed as Commander-in-Chief, one page, 8¼ x 13, Morristown, May 19, 1777. Letter to Col. Edward Antill assigning Major Christian de Colerus to his command, in full:

"Sir,
This will be delivered you by Monsieur Colerus, who is to fill a Majority in Colonel Hazen's Regiment, under your immediate command. This gentleman's conduct, I think, will promote the service and do honor to himself. Monsieur Colerus' rank is to be governed by the date of his commission, and the rules for adjusting Rank in the American Army.
I am Sir
Your Most Obed Sevt
G.Washington"


Very Fine condition, minor reinforcement of tears at edge folds and at extreme corners where rounded.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000

A FINE WASHINGTON LETTER AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WITH AN EARLY REFERENCE TO THE AMERICAN ARMY.

Written in the hand of Washingtons's secretary/aide, Lt. Col. Robert Hanson Harrison, from Washington's winter camp (January 6, 1777-May 26, 1777), this letter concerns the 2nd Canadian Regiment, also known as Congress' Own Regiment, under the command of Colonel Moses Hazen. Born in Massachusetts, Hazen served in the British Army at Fortress Louisburg and Quebec during the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War) and gained a commission as lieutenant. He retired in 1763 from wounds received in action and settled in Canada. In 1775, he was arrested as a spy by both the Americans and then the British, who accused him of being a double agent. He eventually joined the American Army while it was in Canada during General Montgomery's ill-fated invasion in late 1775, and was authorized in January, 1776 to form a Canadian regiment. Just prior to this, a Canadian regiment had been organized under the command of Colonel James Livingston, which was also known as the Canadian Regiment. Hazen's Regiment, which also recruited men from other states, left Canada in June, 1776, and was sent to Fort Ticonderoga in July. By May 19, 1777, it was in Princeton, New Jersey, having been assigned to the Main Army. Colonel Hazen's Regiment took part in the battles of Staten Island, Brandywine, and Germantown, as part of General Sullivan's Division. In 1781, he was made Brigadier General. At the Battle of Yorktown, he commanded a brigade under LaFayette.

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Lot 1038
John Adams (1735-1826), Second President of the U.S. (1797-1801), Vice President under Washington (1789-1797), Signer of the Declaration of Independence (died on the 50th anniversary of its signing). Document Signed as President, one page, 13½ x 14½ Philadelphia, March 21, 1800. Bounty Land Grant on vellum to one Lt. Lawrence Harrison for his seven years of service "in the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment", 1,300 acres "…between the Little Miami and Sciota Rivers north-west of the River Ohio…" [Northwest Territory]. Endorsement on verso signed by "James W Henry, Secy. of War". Fine condition, folded in sixths with minor breaks at two fold junctions and mild soiling in the top corners, none of which affect Adams’ bold signature, nor that of Vice President Timothy Pickering, nor the completely intact presidential seal.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
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Lot 1039
John Adams (1735-1826), Second President of the U.S. (1797-1801), Vice President under Washington (1789-1797), Massachusetts signer of the Declaration of Independence (died on the 50th anniversary of its signing). Free-franked cover as Ex-President, "J. Adams" and "Free" on folded cover addressed in his own hand to Benjamin Homans, J.E. Smith and William Blagrove Esquires, Boston, postmarked manuscript "Quincy [Mass.] Augt: 6.th 1810.", docketed "Letter of John Adams, Late President of U.S.A., Aug 6th 1810", Very Fine.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000

Expertization: 2002 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1040
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Third President of the U.S. (1801-1809). Autograph Letter Signed as President, "Th: Jefferson", one page, 8 x 9¾ Washington, October 16, 1805. To Messrs George Pryce & Co., Jefferson writes in full:

"Mr. John Speer of Charlottesville has desired me to remit you by the first mail 11.D in consequence of orders on me from persons in my employ. Their draughts are by arrangement with them to be always at 30 days sight, because once a month I take up & settle all my affairs of that nature. This probably was unknown to Mr. Speer, & I should not have stood on it; had it been convenient to have done otherwise. As it is I can only undertake to make that remittance for him in the 2.d week of the ensuing month, on which subject I now write to him, as I have thought my duty to him required. I should also mention it to you. Accept my salutations & respects."

Excellent state of preservation, darkly penned, faint age spots as to be expected.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000

Replying to a request for immediate settlement of a bill (presumably related to Monticello) on which he is apparently overdue or delinquent, Jefferson shrewdly explains how he deals with his financial affairs on a set schedule (i.e., payment in 30 days).

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Lot 1041
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Third President of the U.S. (1801-1809), Secretary of State under Washington (1790-1793), Vice President under Adams (1797-1801), Signer of the Declaration of Independence (like John Adams, died on the 50th anniversary of its signing). Free-franked cover as President, "free, Th. Jefferson Pr. US." on folded cover addressed in his own hand to a "Doctr. William Bache, who will call for it at the Post Office of Richmond", postmarked on top of the signature by a red-brown "Washn. City" c.d.s. with matching "Free", Very Fine.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000
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Lot 1042
James Monroe (1758-1831), Fifth President of the U.S. (1817-1825), Secretary of State (1811-1817) and of War (1814-1815) under Madison. Autograph Letter Signed as ex-President, one page (with integral blank leaf), 8 x 10, Oakhill, Va., June 24, 1829. Recipient unknown, commenting on a history of the Louisiana Purchase which he had been sent.

"…I have had the pleasure to receive your letter of April, 3d, with a copy of your history, and of the cession of Louisana, & of the negotiation which led to it. I consider it an able work, written in a spirit of candour [sic], & justice to all the parties, and of kind feelings to me, yet there are some points, in the negotiation, which have escaped your attention, respecting which I will write you hereafter. I have lately been much indisposed, and altho' [sic] now relieved from fever, am too weak to enter into the subject. Too much time has since elapsed, for you to recollect every incident & detail…"

Very Fine and boldly written, reinforced along fold between the two pages.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

A FINE MONROE LETTER REFERRING TO THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE.

Monroe had been sent to France by President Jefferson in 1803 as special envoy to help Mister Robert P. Livingston with the Louisiana Purchase.

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Lot 1043
John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), Sixth President of the U.S. (1825-1848). Autograph Letter Signed, as member of the House of Representatives, one page, 8 x 10, Washington, June 24, 1838. To members of the Committee of the Whigs of the City and County of Philadelphia. Adams sends his apologies for not being able to accept an invitation to attend a July 4 celebration of American independence.

"…I am honoured [sic] with your invitation to attend the celebration of the 62d anniversary of American Independence by the Whigs of the City and County of Philadelphia. Necessary attendance upon public duties at this City on that day deprives me of the pleasure of accepting this invitation, and leaves me only fervent prayer, that it may prove a day of joyous and unmingled festivity to you all and equally so to your generation for ages unlimited hereafter, For your special favour [sic] and kindness to me, accept also my grateful acknowledgments, and believe me your faithful Friend and Servt…"

Very Fine and fresh, a few wax seal mountings on reverse.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

Following his Presidential defeat for re-election by Andrew Jackson in 1828, Adams temporarily returned to his farm. He once again entered politics in 1830 when he was elected to Congress as a Republican (later becoming a Whig in 1834), where he served eight consecutive terms. The Whig Party which was formed in 1833-34, had great sympathy for Adams, since there was the common denominator of bitter opposition to Andrew Jackson.

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Lot 1044
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), Seventh President of the U.S. (1829-1837). Free-franked cover and partial A.L.S. bold signature and "Free" on folded letter addressed in his own hand to his Postmaster General, Amos Kendall, in Washington, D.C., light blue Nashville c.d.s. (Mar 20) and matching "Free" handstamp, fresh and Very Fine. Part of the letter has been removed but the last paragraph is intact and reads "I would be happy to hear how your health is and that of your family. My whole household unites with me in best wishes for your health, happiness, & that of your family— and believe me your friend sincerely (signed) Andrew Jackson (to) Amos Kendall Esqr." Very Fine.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

Expertization: PSA/DNA Letter of Authenticity.

Kendall was a very influential member of Jackson's so-called "kitchen cabinet" whose writings helped shape the image of Jackson as a man of the people. He later served also as Buchanan's Postmaster General.

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Lot 1045
Martin van Buren (1782-1862), Eighth President of the U.S. (1837-1841), Secretary of State (1829-1831) and Vice President (1833-1837) under Jackson. Autograph Letter Signed "Mv. Buren" while a U.S. Senator, one page, 7¾ x 10½ Utica, New York, April 14, 1827. To Dr. Evans asking him not to resign before they met, Very Fine with some contemporary ink offset.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 1046
Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), 12th President of the U.S. (1849-1850), career soldier (1808-1848, Brigadier General), became ill after participating in Independence Day ceremonies on a sweltering July 4 afternoon and died five days later. Free-franked cover, "On Service, Z. Taylor. Lt. Col, U.S. Army" and "Free" on folded cover addressed in his own hand to Col George Gibson, Commissary General of Subsistence in Washington, illegible c.d.s. postmark, military docketing on reverse; small piece of flap missing where wax seal was removed, affects docketing only, Very Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
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Lot 1047
James Buchanan (1791-1868), 15th President of the U.S. (1857-1861), U.S. Congressman (1821-1831) and Senator (1834-1845) from Pennsylvania, Minister to Russia (1832-1834), Secretary of State under Polk (1845-1849). Free Frank as U.S. Senator on folded cover in Buchanan's hand, December 25, 1836; endorsed "Free/Buchanan" with straightline "Free" handstamp and "City of Washington" c.d.s. both in red, filing fold through signature. Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 1048
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th President of the U.S. (1861-1865), assassinated. Printed Document Signed as President, one page (with integral blank leaf), 7¾ x 9¾ Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., June 30, 1863. Draft Order for 3,072 men from the Third District of Massachusetts. Extremely Fine condition.
Estimate 15,000 - 20,000

A SUPERBLY PRESERVED DRAFT CALL DOCUMENT FOR THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS SENT THE DAY BEFORE THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

At the beginning of the Civil War, the army relied solely on volunteers and the militia system for recruits. Following the bloody battles at Antietam and Fredricksburg, it became patently evident that the army could no longer raise the necessary manpower to fill its ranks. Therefore, conscription was introduced by the Act of Congress of March 3, 1863, and the draft was conducted state-by-state on a lottery basis. On July 7, 1863, Rhode Island became the first state to draw lots for the draft. Because of its alleged unfairness, the conscription act triggered some rioting, the worst being in New York City.

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Lot 1049
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th President of the U.S. (1861-1865). Free-franked cover, "A Lincoln, MC" on folded cover addressed to Genl. W Campbell, Abingdon, Va., on the inside, in another hand, is penned "Lieut Col Campbell, Jan 30th 1814 "; two well pressed vertical file folds, one of which passes through "M" of "MC".
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
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Lot 1050
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), 17th President of the U.S. (1865-1869), following Lincoln’s already-defined reconstruction policies led to impeachment [Lincoln may have faced the same fate]; Vice President under Lincoln (1865); U.S. Representative from Tennessee (1843-1853); Governor of Tennessee (1853-57, 1862-65); U.S. Senator from Tennessee (1857-62, 1875), the only Southern Senator not to resign and join the Confederacy. Autograph Letter Signed, "A. Johnson", one page, 7¾ x 9¾ Greeneville [Tenn.], August 18, 1846. To Col. Jonathan Ryland, in part:

"…Your letter was received in due time and I immediately wrote to the Secretary of War for a full statement of all the facts in connection with the appointment of Chaplains to the Army of the U.S. and particularly the appointment of catholics &c. I am looking for a reply every day and will forward it to you immediately after its receipt…"

With Free-franked address leaf in his hand on verso, "Free, A. Johnson, M.C", postmarked blue Greeneville c.d.s. and "Free". Light toning, two professionally repaired interior chips (causing the loss of two words of text) and tiny repaired hole below signature, Fine appearance.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

Johnson is said to have admired Roman Catholicism for its democratic policy of worship and was known to have attended Catholic mass.

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Lot 1051
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), 17th President of the U.S. (1865-1869), Vice President under Lincoln (1865); U.S. Representative from Tennessee (1843-1853); Governor of Tennessee (1853-57, 1862-65); U.S. Senator from Tennessee (1857-62, 1875), the only Southern Senator not to resign and join the Confedaracy. Free-franked cover, "From Andrew Johnson Ex Pres U.S." on envelope addressed in his own hand to Mr. Charles A. McCollough in New York, 3¢ stamp applied and cancelled Greeneville, Tenn., Dec. 7 [1872]; the stamp is missing, either removed because it was recognized as being unnecessary or it has simply fallen off, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 1052
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), 17th President of the U.S. (1865-1869), Vice President under Lincoln (1865); U.S. Representative (1843-1853) and Senator (1857-62, 1875) from Tennessee; Governor of Tennessee (1853-1857, 1862-1865, the only Southern Senator not to resign and join the Confederacy. Free-frank signature, "Free, Andrew Johnson" in ink on a blank envelope, probably done as a congressman or senator, as he later franked his mail in pencil. Also a U.S. Senate Admission Pass to Johnson’s impeachment hearing on April 22, 1868 printed in green on yellow card. Both fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 1053
Ulysses Simpson Grant (1822-1885), 18th President of the U.S. (1869-1877), Commander-in-Chief, Union Army (1864-1865). Free-franked cover, as President, "U.S. Grant" on Executive Secretary envelope on which Grant crossed out the word "Secretary" below his signature, the letter is addressed in Grant's own hand to a Mr. Fletcher Harper, Jr. in Long Brnach, N.J.; edge and tear restoration, none of which affect any of the handwriting, Very Fine.
Estimate 1,250 - 1,500
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Lot 1054
James Abram Garfield (1813-1881), 20th President of the U.S. (1881), assassinated. Autograph Letter Signed "J.A. Garfield" as U.S. Congressman. Two pages (both sides of one sheet), 7½ x 9½ inlaid to overall 8½ x 10¾. Washington, D.C. House of Representatives letterhead, February 7, 1880, to "Gen. R.R. Davies, Marietta, Ohio", discussing the court-martial of Major General Fitz John Porter and his continued belief that Porter was, indeed, guilty of insubordination:

"The interesting points in your letter makes me still more regret your decision to keep out of the Porter case— for in spite of the attempts of the Schofield Board to suppress all testimony in reference to the "animus" of Porter that will be the controlling consideration in the debate before the American people and we ought to be enabled to supply any gap which the Commission left. It requires no oral testimony to establish that as their writings, despatches and intercourse at that time establishes the fact beyond any possible controversy. Still the officers of the Army who have knowledge of the matter independent of the documentary testimonies and the Court Martial, could greatly assist us in making the country understand the case. I suspect when you come to hear the speech that Bragg will make on the subject you will be tempted to give us a helping hand, for he is just now under a good deal of pressure to regain favor with the Democratic Party."

Fine condition except for filing folds, one of which slightly damages loop of "J".

Civil War Dated Document Signed by members of the General Court Martial for the trial of General F.J. Porter. Signatories comprise: Brig. Gen James A. Garfield (fought at battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga, later President of the U.S.), Maj. Gen. D. Hunter (later President of the military commission trying the Lincoln assassination conspirators), Maj. Gen. Ethan Allen Hitchcock, Brig. Gen. Rufus King, Brig. Gen. B.M. Prentiss, Brig.Gen. James B. Ricketts, Brig. Gen. Silas Casey, Brig. Gen. J.P. Slough, and Col. J. Holt, Judge-Advocate General. One page, 8 x 12½ Washington, D.C., January 10, 1863. Providing a good reference for W.P. Lord, the stenographer at Porter's court martial.

Very Fine.
Estimate 10,000 - 12,000

A UNIQUE SET OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO A CAUSE CELEBRE AT THE TIME— LATER REFERRED TO AS THE "AMERICAN DREYFUS AFFAIR".

While under the command and orders of Major General John Pope at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Major General Fitz John Porter failed to attack Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's section of the Army of Northern Virginia. In fact, he had received conflicting orders, as well as intelligence that Major General James Longstreet's Confederate troops had arrived to reinforce Jackson's position. This certainly would have resulted in the slaughter of his own troops. Pope blamed his subsequent defeat on Porter and after the Antietam crisis brought court martial charges against him for insubordination. There were underlying political reasons behind the guilty verdict rendered by the illustrious officers of the court. Porter not only had openly criticized Pope, but also had been a close associate of General McClellan who had been dismissed for failure to engage the army of the Confederacy (i.e., Lee's Army as it moved through Virginia). Edward Stanton, the Secretary of War and a vehement opponent of McClellan, chose the army panel for the court martial, which included Garfield. Porter protested his innocence for years and was finally vindicated by the Board of Army Officers on March 19, 1879, which overturned the original verdict and found Porter innocent of all charges. His Army commission was eventually reinstated.

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Lot 1055
Chester Alan Arthur (1829-1886), 21st President of the U.S. (1881-1885), Vice President under Garfield (1881). Civil War Dated Autograph Letter Signed "C. Arthur, Q.M. Genl." on "State of New York, Quartermaster Generals Department" letterhead, one page, 7½ x 9¾ New York, July 21, 1862. To Brigadier General Hillhouse drawing attention to the absence of a quartermaster in General Francis B. Spinola's Brigade, and Arthur's embarrassment, therefore, to give them supplies without any control over them. Very Fine.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 1056

[Stephen] Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), 22nd and 24th President of the U.S. (1885-1889, 1893-1897). Governor of New York (1883-1885), the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms. Printed Document Signed as President, three pages, 8¼ x 13¼ Washington, November 2, 1885. Presidential Proclamation of Thanksgiving boldly signed on the third page by Cleveland and by Thomas F. Bayard as Secretary of State, Very Fine.
Estimate 200 - 300

These Thanksgiving Proclamations have been issued by every president since Lincoln in 1862 and were also issued in most years between 1789 and 1815; none were issued between 1816 and 1861.

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Lot 1057
William Howard Taft (1857-1930), 27th President of the U.S. (1909-1913), Secretary of War under Roosevelt (1904-1908). Free-franked cover, "Wm H Taft", bold signature on unaddressed legal size White House envelope postmarked undated Battle Creek, Mich. machine cancel; minor soiling, Very Fine and rare.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED TAFT FREE FRANKS ON A WHITE HOUSE ENVELOPE.
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Lot 1058
Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), 28th President of the U.S. (1913-1921). Photographic Portrait Signed "To M. Clemenceau/With the best wishes of Woodrow Wilson". Thick unsurfaced paper, 6 x 9 to shaded and blank background 8½ x 12¼ small tear and ink marks in background. Very Fine and lovely portrait exchanged between these two major world leaders who were the principal figures at the Peace Conference of Versailles (Clemenceau was the President) and the resulting Treaty.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000

Provenance: Forbes
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Lot 1059
Warren Gamaliel Harding (1865-1923), 29th President of the U.S. (1921-1923), U.S. Senator from Ohio (1915-1921). Free-franked cover, "W G Harding" as U.S. Senator on large size U.S. Senate envelope addressed in another hand to a constituent in Alliance O., Very Fine and very rare.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
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Lot 1060
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), 32nd President of the U.S. (1933-1945). Unofficial free-franked cover, bold blue signature vertically at left on a small cover addressed to Mrs. Dorothy Starkey in Berlin, Wis. and postmarked at Washington, D.C., March 23, 1937. Very Fine.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000

Roosevelt did not have the franking privilege and he signed only a limited number of these souvenir "franks".

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Lot 1061
Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), 33rd President of the U.S. (1945-1953), Vice President under Roosevelt (1945). Free-franked cover, signature on envelope addressed to Truman as Ex-President in Independence. Mo., postmarked over the signature by April 1, 1959 Washington, D.C. First Day Cancel of the Nato Alliance for Peace issue. Someone, perhaps Truman, has crossed out the "Ex" before "President" in the address and added "45-53" afterward (the "53" being smeared). Very Fine and most unusual.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500

Expertization: 2005 P.F. Certificate authenticating signature but declining opinion as to the its usage as a free-frank.
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Lot 1062
Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969), 34th President of the U.S. (1953-1961). Typed Letter Signed as President, one page, 7 x 10½ Gettysburg, Pa., August 9, 1955. "DDE, TheWhite House" letterhead to White House correspondent Merriman Smith regarding Smith’s leave of absence from the White House for health reasons, in part "I shall miss you, as will the members of the staff, but I suspect that a few of the trout in St. Louis Creek will be relieved." Very Fine.
Estimate 750 - 1,000

[Albert] Merriman Smith (1911-1970) was the chief White House correspondent for United Press International. His finest reporting was his work on John F. Kennedy’s assassination, when he consistently bested the Associated Press reporter, Jack Bell. Today, the White House Correspondents’ Association annually presents the Merriman Smith Award for excellence in presidential news coverage.

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Lot 1063
Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969), Typed Letter Signed as President, one page, 6¾ x 9, Fraser, Colo., August 19, 1955. White House letterhead to a Mr. Albert Bailey, thanking him for "…the photograph of President Lincoln that belonged to your father. I am glad to have it, and I only hope that you have not deprived yourself of something of great sentimental value." Very Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750

This letter was written from the Doud home (his wife’s parents) where, only a month later (September 24), he would suffer a heart attack.

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Lot 1064
Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969), 34th President of the U.S. (1953-1961). Free-franked cover, as President, bold blue ink signature, "Dwight D. Eisenhower", in upper left corner of an envelope postmarked Palm Springs, Calif., February 18, 1954 over the penciled word "Free", addressed to a John H. Thompson in Torrington, Conn., Very Fine.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

SAID TO BE THE ONLY RECORDED EISENHOWER PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK.
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Lot 1065
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (1890-1969), 34th President of the U.S. (1953-1961). Typed Letter Signed as President, "D.E.", on White House letterhead, one page, 6 x 9, Washington, D.C., May 29, 1958. To Senator Edward Martin thanking him for his work on the unemployment compensation bill, with "The White House" corner card envelope. Very Fine.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 1066
Dwight David Eisenhower, Typed Letter Signed as ex-President, "Ike", one page, 7 x 10¼ Gettysburg, Pa. Personal letter on "DDE" imprinted letterhead to Robert Cutler, in part "I am distressed to learn about the steady deterioration in Jane’s condition." and "I know about the agonies you are going through in the writing of your book. The constant going back and back again to records in an effort to make sure that an account of this kind is completely accurate is not only a strain on the author but it tends, I think, to take away some spontaneity…" Very Fine. A very scarce form of Eisenhower signature on any correspondence other than that to his wife Maimie.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 1067
Gerald Rudolph Ford (1913-2006), 38th President of the U.S. (1974-1977), Vice President under Nixon (1973-1974). Free-franked cover, signature, "Gerald R. Ford" in blue ballpoint below printed frank on a "Congress of the United States" envelope postmarked Washington, D.C., November 29, 1973, addressed to a Theodore A. Stevens in Vero Beach Fla.; minor, insignificant soiling at top of envelope, Very Fine.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
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Lot 1068
Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004), 40th President of the U.S. (1981-1989). Autograph Letter Signed, "Dutch", four full pages [two sheets], 7¼ x 10½ Los Angeles, December 17, 1951. On personalized "RWR" stationery, Reagan, while president of the Screen Actors Guild, written between his marriages to Jane Wyman and Nancy Davis, writes to Mrs. Florence Yerly, a recently divorced [or widowed] friend from his hometown, giving surprisingly candid and personally revealing advice on love, marriage and faith. In full:

"You spoke of your aunt and the 'ideals' she gave you… I too was raised in a home where 'ideals' similar… to your were taught, by my Mother. Now I have the highest regard for her and for her teachings but I have had to go on from there and find a 'code for living' in keeping with my conscience and knowledge of right and wrong… to meet my present needs on a foundation I learned from her. At the same time I have learned painfully that some 'idealism' is in effect a flight from reality. You say you believe there is one love in life for each of us— this is just not true. Can you believe that God means for millions of really young people to go on through life alone because a war robbed them of their first loves? Maybe you'll resent this Florence but I must say it— you have to look into your own heart and ask yourself if you really believe in one love now lost to you or if this is a shield behind which you hide because your past experience did not measure up to your girlhood dreams & now you fear men…

"I will grant you that all of us grow up with a 'moonlight and roses' outlook on romantic relationships and some times it comes hard to reconcile this dream with the actualities of physical contact. To show you how 'over idealistic' my training was— I awoke to the realization … that even in marriage I had a little guilty feeling about sex, as though the whole thing was tinged with evil… My personal belief [now] is that God couldn't create evil so the desires he planted in us are good, and the physical relationship between a man & woman is the highest form of companionship. If I can, I want to say all of this to my daughter. I want her to know that nothing between her and the man she loves can be wrong or obscene, that desire in it self is normal and right. There is one other thing I think she should know… I hope she'll have the common sense and good taste not to be promiscuous or involve her self in casual affairs but… I don't want her to be disgusted & convinced that his desire is an indication or moral decay and vulgarity… [L]ove is not a magic touch of cosmic dust that pre-ordains two people & two people only for each other… Now i'm going to seal this letter very quickly and mail it because if I read it over I won't have the nerve to send it…"


Accompanied by the original mailing envelope marked "Air mail" and addressed by Reagan, postmarked Los Angeles, Dec. 21, with Reagan’s imprint and handwritten address on reverse. Very Fine.
Estimate 20,000 - 25,000

MOST PERSONALLY REVEALING OF ALL HIS HOLOGRAPHIC LETTERS. AN IMPORTANT INCITE INTO HIS CHARACTER.
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Lot 1069
Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004), 40th President of the U.S. (1981-1989). Envelope, circa Nov. 6, 1990, from Oxnard, California (?) to New Jersey bearing 25¢ cancelled by slogan with bold autograph signature "Ronald Reagan" crossing the stamp. Letter of January 9, 1990 from Frederick Ryan, Jr. (President Reagan's Chief of Staff) on Ronald Reagan's officially crested letterhead to Thomas Donnelly, Jr. relating to the request to have two letters personally franked by President Reagan. Very Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 1070
Bill Clinton (1946-), 42nd President of the President (1993-2001). Free-franked cover, bold signature in the middle of an unaddressed White House envelope, apparently signed as a favor, then hand-carried to the Post Office where it was cancelled with a Washington, D.C. machine cancel, 16 Feb 1998. Very Fine.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
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