Presidential Autographs & Free Franks
1001 C George Washington. Bold signature "G. Washington" on folded cover addressed in another hand to "Lieut. Colo. Reid, Commanding at Albany", docketing on inside reads "Gen'l. Washington 11th July 1782", expertly silked, small negligible edge tears and lightly toned ##A FINE AND ATTRACTIVE WASHINGTON MILITARY COVER.##This letter was signed by Washington as Commanding General of the Continental Army just prior to his resignation in October 1782. The letter was carried by courier outside of the mails.........................................................$ 4,000 1002 C John Adams. Large bold free frank "Free John Adams" on undated folded cover to the Rev. J. Belknap in Boston, partial strike of New York straightline and matching "Free", a Very Fine and choice free frank.....................$ 3,000 1003 C Thomas Jefferson. Bold free frank "free Th. Jefferson" as ex-President on folded address sheet to John Vaughan in Philadelphia, also addressed in his hand, red "CHARLOTville Va. MAR. 14" cds and ms. "Free" at top right, docketing on inside reads "Jefferson Thomas...1820 Monticello 20 Mch"##VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF JEFFERSON'S FREE FRANK.##Small expertly repaired tear at top and file fold at bottom..................$ 4,750 1004 C James Madison. 1-1/4p ALS "James Madison" to G. W. Featherstonhaugh at Duanesburgh N.Y., datelined "Montpelier, Mar. 11, 1826", with separate but original address leaf bearing free frank "Free James Madison" as ex-President and address in Madison's hand, ms. "Orange C House Mar. 15" pmk., lightly toned, minor wear along folds, the letter is a commentary on the "general backwardness in rural improvements" in Virginia, Fine and desirable Madison frank and letter............................$ 5,250 1005 C James Madison. Bold free frank "Free James Madison" on immaculate folded cover addressed in his hand to Professor Ticknor in Boston, "Orange CH Apl. 6, 1825" ms. pmk. and matching "Free", light file fold, Very Fine and choice signature.......................................................$ 750 1008 C James Monroe. Autograph free frank on folded cover addressed in his hand to Caesar Rodney (the son of the Declaration signer), in Dover Delaware, "New York Jun. 18" cds and matching "Free", undated but docketing at left reads, "President Monroe", cover with small tear at top, Fine and scarce.................................................$ 650 1009 C James Monroe. Bold free frank "Dept. of State, Jas. Monroe" on 1813 folded cover addressed in his hand to "George Graham Esq., Dept. of War, Washington", with brownish "Richmond Va. May 21" cds and matching "Free", blue receipt docketing on inside, two light file folds, expertly repaired along folds, the signature is Very Fine.......$ 625 1010 C John Quincy Adams. Free frank "J. Q. Adams" as Secretary of State on folded cover to John Adair at Frankfort Ky., Dept. of State endorsement in same clerk's hand, brownish "Washn. City Apr. 27" (1822) cds and "Free" hs, neat docketing on back, file fold, Very Fine.........................$ 575 1011 C John Quincy Adams. Bold signature on folded ALS addressed to "Messrs. Gales and Seaton, Washington D.C.", contents "Mr. Gales is requested, carefully to review the proof of the enclosed paper, and to cause it to be published as may be convenient in the Intelligencer. Philadelphia 15 April 1833", light file folds, receipt docketing at L., Very Fine............................................................$ 450 1012 John Quincy Adams. Bold signature with his address on small slip, Fine................................................$ 220 1013 C Andrew Jackson. 1-1/2p ALS "Andrew Jackson" as ex-President to General J. B. Plauche at New Orleans, datelined "Hermitage June 15th 1841", address leaf in Jackson's hand with "Free Andrew Jackson" free frank, blue "Nashville Te. Jun. 17" cds and blue ms. "f", interesting letter in which Jackson, the former president, accepts a loan from General Plauche and decries "the decline of property and the security of money", lightly toned along file folds, Very Fine, a rare example of Jackson's frank and letter intact.............................................$ 3,500 1014 C Andrew Jackson. Large bold free frank as President, on undated folded cover, red "City of Washington Oct. 21" datestamp, matching "Free" hs, some tears and small paper loss entirely on back flaps, fresh and Very Fine, choice free frank....................................................$ 1,900 1015 C Martin Van Buren. Bold free frank "Free M. Van Buren" on folded cover addressed in his hand to A. Bleecker in Albany, red "Kinderhook N.Y. Jul. 14" cds and matching "Free" hs, 1843 receipt docketing on inside flap, light file fold, Very Fine frank as ex-President......................$ 230 1016 C Martin Van Buren. 1p ALS "M. Van Buren" as ex-President to neighboring political group in Penn Yan, declining invitation to attend meeting, with integral address leaf free franked "Free M. Van Buren" and address in his hand, red "Kinderhook N.Y. Oct. 1" cds, toning around folds, otherwise Very Fine.............................................$ 400 1017 C John Tyler. Bold free frank "J. Tyler" on blue folded cover addressed in his hand to "William Lee Esqr., Red Jacket Garden-Elmira, Chemung Cty. New York", greenish blue "Norfolk Va. Apr. 29" ds and matching "Free" hs, fresh and Very Fine.............................................$ 300 1018 C James K. Polk. Free frank as President "Free J.K. Polk" on folded cover addressed in his hand to George Bulard, Exeter N.H., red "Washington City D.C. Feb. 20" cds and light matching "Free" hs, with President's seal on back, Very Fine and choice, very scarce.............................$ 2,500 1019 C Zachary Taylor. Bold free frank "Z. Taylor" on small cover addressed to his sister Eliza Taylor in Washington D.C. and forwarded to Annapolis Md., the forwarding address in Taylor's hand, red "Washington D.C. Feb. 1 Free" cds, ms. at B.L. of cover "Politeness of Mrs. King" in hand of original addressee, some toning and wear, the signature is Very Fine, unusual usage, probably carried outside of the mails to Washington and forwarded using the free frank........$ 1,250 1020 C Millard Fillmore. Bold free frank as Vice President "Free M. Fillmore V.P." on cover addressed in his hand to his wife ("Mrs. Millard Fillmore") in Albany N.Y., red "Baltimore RR." straightline cancel and "New York Mar. 12" cds, "M.F." in intact wax seal on back, some very faint overall toning, a Very Fine and choice double-signature cover...........................................................$ 475 1021 C Millard Fillmore. Bold free frank as President "M. Fillmore" on light blue cover addressed to James Sheldon in Buffalo N.Y., light strike of "Washington City D.C. Aug. 23" cds, 1852 receipt docketing at left, intact President's seal on back, few negligible toning spots, a Very Fine free frank............................................$ 600 1023 C Franklin Pierce. Free frank "Franklin Pierce" on cover addressed in his hand to the Chaplain of the Seamen's Union in Baltimore, neat "Andover Ma. May 13" cds and matching "Free" hs, fresh and Very Fine.........................$ 250 1024 C James Buchanan. Free frank "Free James Buchanan" on cover addressed in his hand to New York City, "Washington Cy. D.C. Free May 6" cds, small opening tear just above signature.......................................................$ 180 1025 C James Buchanan. Free frank "Free James Buchanan" on cover addressed in his hand to T.W. Bayaud and Co. in New York, neat "Washington City D.C. Free Apr. 19" cds, mostly intact presidential wax seal on backflap, some overall soiling, otherwise Very Fine....................................$ 230 1026 C Abraham Lincoln. Free frank as President "A. Lincoln" on full legal-size cover addressed in his hand to "Major General Hurlbut, New Orleans Louisiana" and marked "Private", somewhat blurry "Washington D.C. Free" cds, some minor wear at edges, still Very Fine, Major Hurlbut succeeded General Banks in command of the Army of the Gulf, and this cover addressed by President Lincoln was almost certainly sent to Hurlbut during his command at New Orleans, with copy of Goodspeed's letter of authentication signed by Gordon T. Banks.....................................$ 4,250 1027 Abraham Lincoln. DS "Abraham Lincoln" as President, vellum military appointment, cosigned by Secretary of War Stanton and dated February 24, 1865, attractively framed, red recording manuscript at T.L. as often, Very Fine and attractive item signed towards the close of the war...........$ 4,000 1028 C Andrew Johnson. Free frank as Member of Congress "Free Andrew Johnson M.C." on buff legal-size cover addressed in his hand to "Col. Jos. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington City D.C.", receipt docketing at L. regarding an invalid pension, slightly reduced at R. not affecting signature, fresh and Very Fine........................$ 240 1029 C [Andrew Johnson]. Cover bearing 3c Bank Note with target, matching indistinct N.Y. cds on dry goods corner card cover addressed to "Hon. Andy Johnson, Nashville PO Tennessee", Fine.................................................$ 25 1030 C U.S. Grant. Free frank as President "U.S. Grant" on part-printed cover "From the President of the United States" with "Private Secretary" crossed out, neat "Long Branch N.J. Sep. 22" and quartered cork duplex, addressed in his hand to "Hon. W.A. Richardson, Asst. Sec. of the Treas., Washington D.C.", cover with small stain at B.L. far from signature and address, otherwise Very Fine...........$ 1,350 1032 C James A. Garfield. Free frank "J. A. Garfield MC" as Ohio Representative on cover addressed in his hand to Orlando Morgan in Warren Ohio, "Congress Washington D.C. Mar. 11" double-circle ds, light receipt docketing at L., slightly reduced at L., the signature is Very Fine.......................$ 200 1033 Grover Cleveland. ALS, datelined "Princeton May 30, 1906", contents reads "Your letter of the 16th is in hand. I am not sure that I ought to assume to furnish a motto for your son, but am willing to suggest the following: 'Be sure that your heart and conscience are in accord with the Laws of God, and then trust yourself.'", accompanied by cover addressed in his hand to New York, fresh and Very Fine, interesting contents......................................$ 950 1034 William McKinley. Executive Mansion card signed "W. McK" and with note in his hand which reads "Genl.__, Judge Wheaton of N.C. is commanded by Senator Pritchard for Lt. Colonel in one of the __Regts. If this can be done - do it.", Very Fine, written just after the start of the Sanish-American War.............................................$ 425 1035 Theodore Roosevelt. Signature and dated "Feb. 22d 1907" on B. of illustrated card depicting White House, fresh and Very Fine, signed on Washington's birthday......................$ 600 1036 William H. Taft. Bold signature "WmH Taft" at B. of illustrated card depicting the White House, fresh and Very Fine............................................................$ 475 1037 Warren G. Harding. Signature with note "With best wishes to Major Joseph B. Foster and the greetings of the S.A.R." on illustrated card depicting the White House, few minor adherences on back, Very Fine and rare..........................$ 500 1038 C Calvin Coolidge. Free frank as President "Calvin Coolidge" on White House Official Business penalty envelope with typed address to expert Mr. Edward Stern on Nassau Street, neat "Washington D.C. Sep. 19, 1928" cds, fresh and Very Fine, very rare, included in Stern's book.....................$ 3,500 1039 Franklin D. Roosevelt. TLS as Governor of New York, dated April 2, 1930, Very Fine........................................$ 170 1040 C Harry S. Truman. Signature as ex-President "Harry Truman" on Nato Alliance for Peace first day cover with "Washington D.C. Apr. 1, 1959" first day cancel and addressed to him in Independence Mo., with label depicting Truman, addressed in someone else's hand originally as "U.S. Ex President" which Truman crossed out to read "U.S. President '45-53", with return address of Dominick Fabian in Portland Or., fresh and Very Fine, unusual item apparently done as a favor to a supporter.....................$ 1,150 1041 Harry S. Truman. Signed photo "Harry S. Truman", official U.S. Navy photo of U.S.S. Prevail with mimeographed imprint on back, Very Fine......................................$ 300 1043 C [John F. Kennedy]. Memorial first day card with "Boston Mass. May 29, 1964" pmk., signed by several people incl. Robert Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Robert S. McNamara, Dean Rusk and several others, a Very Fine and interesting item.......$ 400 1046 Richard M. Nixon. Signed 8 x 10 in. family color photo "For Billy Hall from Richard Nixon", accompanied by invitation to 1973 Inaugural Youth Concert, Very Fine...........$ 200 1048 C Ronald Reagan. Signature on cacheted Inauguration Day cover from 1981, arranged for the consignor by Tip O'Neill, fresh and Very Fine, rare, only a few were signed......$ 500 1049 C George Bush. Signature on cacheted and postmarked Inauguration Day cover, arranged for the consignor by Tip O'Neill, Very Fine and rare.....................................$ 500 1050 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Autograph signature and dedication "For Bill, with best wishes, Jacqueline Kennedy" on beautiful 8 x 10 in. black-and-white photo of Mrs. Kennedy with the infant John Jr., a touching image with bold signature, Very Fine................................$ 1,900 1051 Edith Bolling Wilson. ALS "Edith Bolling Wilson" with her addition "[Mrs. Woodrow Wilson]" on small letterhead dated Apr. 16, 1934, declining dinner invitation from Mrs. Crawford Biggs, with transmittal envelope, Very Fine.............$ 55Autographs by Name
1054 Oakes Ames. American capitalist and industrialist who built the Union Pacific Railroad. 1p ALS from New York, Jan. 28, 1849, with address leaf showing red "New-York 2cts" cds, Very Fine, rare......................................$ 100 1055 C David Rice Atchison. Senator from Missouri and so-called "President for a Day". 1-1/2p ALS "D. R. Atchison" to Capt. J. W. Denver at Weston Mo., datelined "Senate Chamber Jan. 4th 1850" with buff cover bearing "free D. R. Atchison" free frank and red "Free Washington D.C. Jan. 4" cds##A VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE ATCHISON FREE FRANK, TOGETHER WITH AN IMPORTANT LETTER DESCRIBING FELLOW MISSOURI SENATOR THOMAS HART BENTON'S MUTED REACTION TO PRO-SLAVERY LEGISLATURE - "OLD BULLION [BENTON] WAS AS CALM AS A SUMMER'S MORNING, HE ROARED AS GENTLY AS A SUCKLING DOVE...IT WAS A COMPLETE PHISSLE OUT. HE DID NOT IMPALE CALHOUN AS HE THREATENED TO DO. INDEED HIS SPEECH WAS NOT WORTH A REPLY."##David Rice Atchison was Pro Tempore of the Senate on Sunday, March 4, 1849, when President James K. Polk, according to his own diary, officially left office at 6:30 a.m. and attended church services. Vice President George M. Dallas had resigned as president of the Senate on Friday, March 2nd, leaving Atchison as Pro Tem, and, on Monday, March 5th, president-elect Zachary Taylor was sworn in - more than 24 hours after Polk had vacated his office. The continuity of the office of President demands that in the absence of the elected President and his Vice President, the president of the Senate shall assume office of the President. Thus, Atchison is regarded by many historians and collectors as the de facto 12th President of the United States - the so-called "President for a Day."##Atchison's free franks and autograph letters are exceedingly rare, in fact, no free franks were known prior to the discovery of the Denver correspondence, from which this and one other example originates............................................$ 2,900 1056 P. T. Barnum. ALS, 1p, dated Aug. 31, 1874 on his Waldemere mourning stationery with raised PTB at top and blue datestamp with his name, Fine..............................$ 250 1057 Henry Bergh. Founder of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 2pp ALS on illustrated ASPCA letterhead, dated Oct. 21, 1882, to Consul General of Great Britain re fate of a fighting dog, excellent content, Very Fine..............................................$ 325 1059 C Boston Red Sox. 1c Postal Card autographed in 1941 by Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Dom Dimaggio and two others, Very Fine.......................................................$ 210 1060 Aaron Burr. Vice-President under Thomas Jefferson, murderer of Alexander Hamilton and acquitted of treason. 1p ALS datelined "Marietta 4 May 1805" with outer address leaf to William Biddle, the Philadelphia merchant, ms. "Marietta 5th May" pmk. and "20" rate, simple business content but written during the year after Burr mortally shot Hamilton, after escaping an indictment for murder, Burr took refuge in South Carolina and eventually returned to Washington to complete his term as Vice President, early in 1805 he sailed from Pittsburgh and travelled around the frontier, during which time he conjured up plans to conquer territory in Texas or New Mexico and create his own republic, officials in Washington learned of Burr's plan and placed him on trial for treason, but he was acquitted - legally, at least - Burr left the U.S. and continued his humiliating downward plunge, eventually dying in destitution - a scarce ALS from one of our nation's more lively vice presidents..........................$ 3,500 1061 Carrie Chapman Catt. Women's suffrage advocate. 1p TLS "Carrie Chapman Catt" on National American Woman Suffrage Assoc. letterhead dated May 10, 1916, receiving datestamp of Secretary of Navy, with promotional literature, accompanied by anti-suffrage broadside, Very Fine...............$ 105 1062 Marc Chagall. Twelve different prints, each signed by the artist, Very Fine...............................................$ 750 1063 C Marc Chagall. Signatures on two Chagall-related items: both are cacheted 1967 First Day covers of UN Chagall Window souvenir sheet (one is legal-size), Very Fine............$ 170 1064 C Marc Chagall. Signatures on one postcard and one cover, both are dated "9 Nov 1963 Les Maries de la Tour Eiffel Premier Jour, Paris" and each with different colorful cachet, Very Fine................................................$ 95 1065 C Marc Chagall. Signatures on two cacheted covers: first is from President Eisenhower's European Visit, 1959, second is on Israel Museum 1969 First Day cover, Very Fine..............$ 50 1066 Henry Clay. 1p ALS dated "Ashland, 17th October 1844" to J.P. Foote, discusses a portrait being done of him by an artist named Mr. Jones, purple archive hs shows through, some file folds affecting signature, Very Fine..................$ 170 1069 C [Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy]. Correspondence. A few dozen covers and cards, some carried outside mails, all addressed to or from the Secretary, cursory examination reveals nothing rare, but an interesting group for the naval specialist.........................................$ 80 1070 Alexander Dumas (Pere). 1p ALS, undated, in French, accompanying this is an ALS of Dumas (Fils), first with scattered natural bleach spots and wrinkling, latter with very faint edge toning, Fine.....................................$ 50 1071 Giuseppe Garibaldi. 1p ALS "G. Garibaldi" dated Nov. 1865, in Italian, some fading, Fine....................................$ 65 1073 Charles Gounod. 2-1/2pp ALS (signed "Ch. Gounod" on first page) to editor of newspaper supplying biographical data incl. name, date of birth, education, positions, etc., Very Fine.......................................................$ 110 1074 Helen Hayes. 1p ALS "Helen Hayes" dated Jul. 12, 1982, to Amos Abrams "That's just about as much light as I want on a candid camera photo of me at this time", with transmittal envelope, Very Fine..................................$ 60 1075 C Ebenezer Hazard. Postmaster General, 1p ALS datelined "New York March 17th 1787" to Postmaster of Norwich Conn. re change in route from Hartford to Providence incl. statement "a Postrider is not hired for Life", with address leaf marked "Free" in ms., Very Fine....................$ 220 1076 Marquis de Lafayette. DS, as Commander General, Fine............$ 350 1078 C Joan Miro. Signature "Miro!" on multicolor cacheted cover of 1974 Miro stamp issued by France, Very Fine...................$ 75 1079 C Joan Miro. Signature "Miro!" on multicolored cacheted cover of 1974 Miro stamp issued by France, Very Fine.............$ 75 1081 John Page. Revolutionary War leader and friend of Thomas Jefferson. 3pp ALS as member of House of Representatives dated Jan. 3, 1792, re money matters, Very Fine.................$ 110 1082 Eddie Rickenbacker. Signed photo "Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker 1918/1968" showing Rickenbacker and plane, small tear in top margin, otherwise Very Fine.................................$ 375 1083 John Ruskin. 1p ALS "J Ruskin" dated Oct. 14, 1875, to "Alice", probably Alice Meynell, a poet and Ruskin's biographer, faint toning, otherwise Fine........................$ 110 1084 Russell Sage. American capitalist. 1p ALS datelined Troy, Nov. 21, 1851, simple transmittal letter with clear signature, Very Fine............................................$ 150 1089 [Queen Victoria]. 1873 Royal patent for Dr. Edward Crane for an invention for economizing the heat of open fireplaces, large parchment with the Queen's wax seal (6 inches wide, -3/4 in height) in its original tin container, with both placed in a large black leather presentation box gold stamped Brandon & Morgan-Brown of London and Paris on the lid - all original and intact, handsome conversation piece.....................................$ 325 1090 C Daniel Webster. Free frank "Danl. Webster U.S. Senate" on transatlantic folded letter from France to U.S., datelined Paris Oct. 28, 1839, to Daniel Fletcher Webster in LaSalle Ill., Paris cds, red "Paid Ship Letter London" oval and "Foreign Paid" in arc, red "New-York Ship Nov. 24" cds, sender's route instructions "pr. B. Queen via London", various rate markings, the last of which are crossed out and marked "f" for free, negligible wear along folds, Fine and outstanding use of Webster's free frank on an incoming letter from family in Europe..................................$ 1,050 1091 [Walt Whitman]. Two cover fronts and two pieces, each addressed in the hand of Walt Whitman, the two cover fronts addressed to E. J. Loomis at the Nautical Almanac Office in Washington D.C. and one of them bearing Walt Whitman's mailing label, one piece bears "EJ Loomis/from the author", other piece "R Hannah/from the author", some faults, still an interesting group..............................$ 210 1092 AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION. Approx. 75 autographs, LS, and ALS in album, some Presidential incl. Grover Cleveland (S), Millard Fillmore (ALS), military figures such as William S. Smith (ALS), also Jefferson Davis (S), almost all are pasted into book, also includes 1939 printed Royal Visit to N.Y. invitation and diary from 1875-80, an interesting group.........................................................$ 1,100 1093 AUTOGRAPHS. Five items: first is printed signature of Richard Nixon on Office of Vice President stationery after his knee injury, second is printed signature of Adolf Hitler on document, third item is 1791 signature of Robert Morris, fourth is ALS by Alisha Boudinot, last is proxy document of Bonaparte, all appear Fine..........................$ 110Printed Ephermera & Historical Letters
1095 C [RAILROAD] Early Description of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Letter datelined Baltimore Jan. 9, 1831, from a young man to his brother, detailed description of a trip on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which opened one year earlier: "We rode the first fourteen miles on the railroad which is to extend to the Ohio River at Pittsburgh. Will give you a description of it as well as I can. The difference between a rail-road and any other is that the carriages run on a bar of iron or rail instead of running on the ground..." continuing with a sketch of the tracks and wheels, train crossing bridge, etc., includes address panel with red Baltimore cds, two panels of lettersheet missing but these do not affect key portion of letter devoted to the railroad - a remarkably early contemporary account of the newest innovation in transportation.............................$ 250 1097 [MISSIONARIES] Missionaries in West Africa. 5-1/2pp letter headed "Report of the Girls' School at the Sub-Station Itandeluku for the year Oct. 1st 1862 - Sept 30th 1863" from R. Hamill Nassau at Corisco, West Africa, interesting content re mission school, curriculum, students, local life etc., Fine, an uncommon contemporary report.................$ 85 1098 [STAMPS] National Parks Issue. Three typed letters signed by Harold Ickes as Secretary of the Interior, on official letterhead, content related to the 1934 National Parks Issue and Farley Special Printing - first letter "I am glad you like the National Park stamps...I take a good deal of credit for myself for this issue. I had to do some persuading with thye President.", followed by "I will be glad to get you singles of the reissue of Park imperforates if they sell them that way." and ending with "I enclose information about the special issue of stamps...", referring to the Farleys (printed bulletin enclosed) - Ickes was part of the group that caused the great Farley controversy, which led to the special printing wthout perforations or gum, this is an unusual group of letters related to the issue...........................$ 100 1099 C [NAVAL] "Old Ironsides" Collection. Album containing 172 covers and seven postcards forming a diary of the last trip of the U.S. Frigate Constitution, 1932-34, wide variety of postmarks, cachets and frankings, also 1841 ALS by the ship's Captain "At Sea", Fine-Very Fine..................$ 280 1100 C [RAILROAD] Pacific Railroad Exploration. Letter datelined "Presidio at San Francisco June 6th, 1853" from an officer recently detailed to command the escort accompanying the expedition to explore a pass in the Cascade Mountains for the Great Pacific Railroad, with transmittal cover, "San Francisco Cal. Paid 6" cds, Very Fine, an important early reference to the Pacific Railroad Surveys authorized by Congress in March 1853..........................................$ 210 1101 [PITTSBURGH] Illustrated View of Pittsburgh by E. Whitefield. Lithographed with olive watercoloring on greenish paper, the letter is written and signed by the artist, E. Whitefield, regarding travel and business affairs, including references to Pittsburgh and his "views" on sale at various galleries in Cincinnati, New York, etc., Very Fine, a handsome lettersheet and rare example used by the artist himself..............................$ 350 1102 [ALMANAC] Pope's Almanack. For the year 1795, 68pp, published by John Folsom, includes in its pages the diary of an unnamed New Hampshire preacher who writes in a bold, readable hand, considering this was opened on an almost daily basis, the book is remarkably well-preserved, Very Fine............................................................$ 105 1103 [POSTMASTERS] Postmasters' Letters. 1802-1921, 17 letters, mostly ALS but a few are TLS, few better items incl. 1871 ALS from Cresswell to president of Pacific Mail Steamship Co. declining an invitation to personally inspect the route, also a letter of introduction from Cresswell for someone who is to make a study of the postal telegraph in Switzerland, all are Fine-Very Fine, an interesting group........$ 85 1104 [POST OFFICE] Post Office Notices. Two, "New Postage Act" of 1855 re rate change effective April 1st, and 1869 notice to postmasters re repeal of free-franking privilege, Very Fine, scarce pair of key notices................$ 450 1105 C [TEXAS] Tales of Texas. Wonderful 4pp letter, articulate, humorous and informative, as the dateline alone reveals "March 15th, 1848. At anchor a mile or so below the village of Pattersonville, with the double disadvantages of a head wind and ebb tide, waiting for more favorable circumstances, to up to the town of Franklin", writer describes in comparable detail his travels to Galveston, witnessing a near murder, slaves rowing boats, etc., with transmittal cover, red "Pattersonville La." cds and "10" ms. rate, Fine..................................................$ 190 1106 [ASTRONOMY] David Todd Correspondence. Miscellaneous ephemera in two cartons incl. advertising pieces, greeting cards and invitations, many sent by prominent people to David Todd, astronomer (husband of author Mabel Loomis Todd), mixed condition, still an interesting group..............$ 200 1108 C [NAVAL] U.S. Submarine Launch Covers to Franklin D. Roosevelt. 84 different covers addressed to President Roosevelt from various war-time launch sights of U.S. Navy submarines, all with printed or hand-drawn cachets, this was lot 411 in the H. R Harmer Roosevelt sale Part One (realized $200)...............................................$ 1,150 1109 C [WORLD WAR II] Covers. Couple hundred pieces, mostly covers with good group of worldwide mail including censored, soldiers mail, POW, etc., also patriotic cards and covers, generally Fine......................................$ 110 1110 C [WORLD WAR II AND BEYOND] Covers. Several hundred covers from educator and lawyer Alexander Bickel, mostly war-period, numerous examples of his autograph to be found, mixed condition..........................................$ 105 1111 [PRINTED EPHEMERA] Balance. Box of assorted items, incl. seven large die proofs of presidential portraits, few other die proofs on card incl. Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis, some printed ads, also other items such as Raggedy Ann book, book of animal pictures, etc., also some old signed documents, a treasure trove of various ephemera........................................................$ 180Civil War
1114 General Braxton Bragg to Jefferson Davis. Southern Telegraph Co. form received at Richmond, Jun. 16, 1862, message from Tupelo, Jun. 15, to President Jefferson Davis: "Genl Beauregard whose bad health requires him to leave here soon declines to relieve me until he hears from the Dept. I await the reply. Braxton Bragg", minor toning, desirable message content.......................................$ 800 1115 [KENTUCKY] Senator Garrett Davis. ALS datelined "Paris (Ky.) 17th Sept. 1861" addressed to General G. H. Thomas, fascinating contents on his personal views regarding future military plans of the U.S. government: "The most pressing duty is to give Ky. all the protection possible. To that end Paducah ought to be held by adequate U.S. forces, and the Louisville & Nashville rail road ought to be taken possession at once by the military authorities...The Legislature should authorize the raising of 40,000 twelve months men in Ky..." continuing interesting contents, accompanied by typewritten transcript, fresh and Very Fine, fascinating letter.............$ 260 1116 William H. Hurlbert: A Political Prisoner in Confederate Richmond. A remarkable 4pp transmittal letter datelined "Richmond Aug. 13, 1861" together with original 12pp enclosure to the Editor of the New York Times datelined "Richmond, Virginia, August 11th 1861", in which Hurlbert, a news correspondent whose anti-slavery views landed him in jail, details for the record his long-time opposition to the war and dramatically describes this message as "what may be perhaps your last communication from your most faithful friend and servant." Hurlbert was jailed in 1861 and escaped in the summer of 1862. He later campaigned for McClellan in 1864 and, as this letter and twelve-page statement for the Times so passionately describe, his anti-slavery position was balanced by a very strong anti-war (anti-Republican) political stance. It was not, however, enough to shield him from hostile Southerners who arrested him for published statements against slavery and secession. A fascinating prisoner-of-war correspondence..................................$ 350 1117 C Death Certificate Covers. Two covers, one has Adams Express Co. imprint with printed identification "Certificate of Corpse", other with U.S. Army Medical Dept. imprint, 3c 1861 tied by Phila. duplex, enclosure on printed letterhead referring to enclosure of death certificate for a private, Very Fine, scarce items..............$ 300 1118 C U.S.S. Stars & Stripes. Folded letter to Capt. Reed Werden of the U.S.S. Stars & Stripes with hand-colored depictions of signal flags for U.S.S. Perry, Brinole, Ceres, and Underwriter, further instructions to "Have your vessels coaled, washed & provisioned and a supply of customs signals", signed Commodore S. C. Rowan, undated but clearly from Civil War period during which the U.S.S. Stars & Stripes served on the Atlantic and East Coast Blockading Squadron, Very Fine, excellent naval collateral......$ 260 1119 C Indiana in the Civil War. Family correspondence with eleven letters and original covers (3c 1861's, Indiana postmarks), 1862-65, homefront news re the hardships of war, all transcribed, interesting reading, Fine group...........$ 325 1120 11-Star Confederate Flag Lettersheet. With verse and "Confederate States of America", datelined "Mount Jackson Va. March 29th 1862" from a Confederate soldier to his father with the fourth page used by another soldier and acquaintance, good battle description, minor soiling and wear, still Very Fine and extremely rare, unlike their Northern counterparts, Confederate soldiers were rarely equipped with patriotic stationery - C.S.A. patriotic letterheads are scarce in general and very rare from the field of war..................................................$ 1,000 1121 C An Old Southern Farmer's War-Time Letters. Two, both written from Edward B. White, a melancholy old farmer at Kemper Miss., one dated Jan. 25, 1863 to his nephew (the ms. pmk. is mis-dated "Peden Miss. Jan. 26 - 62 Paid 10"), the other dated Jan. 23, 1864 to his sister (hand-carried to DeKalb Miss. with part of cds but stamps removed), poignant content from a father who has lost sons, details regarding the battles in which various family members have fought, who has died and been captured, remorse over the bloodshed and misery, reflections (in 1864) on his earlier prediction for the course of the Southern Confederacy - "my doctrine before the commencement of it was that secession would be followed by the bloodiest strife recorded on the page of modern history and lay the foundation stone for the abolition of slavery, but all such talk as this, was, at that time, looked upon as proceeding from the imagination of a lunatic, and treated accordingly. There must be a tremendous reconing to settle up for the misery inflicted on the innocent thousands of young boys, who never had a voice in the affairs of government, butchered. The whole land is strewn with widows, orphan children, and bereaved parents." Excellent Confederate civilian letters....................................$ 350 1122 C Illegal Use of Congressional Free Frank by U.S. Soldiers. Five Civil War letters from Gardner B. Clark, a member of Besden's U.S. Sharp Shooters Regt., Michigan Corps, to his sweetheart in Grand Rapids, the letters and four covers demonstrate the illegal practice of Congressmen who free franked envelopes and distributed them to soldiers and constituents: first in series is Sep.4, 1861 from Weehawken N.J. with orders to go to Washington (patriotic cover, stained, faulty 3c 1861 tied by N.Y. cds), second is lettersheet with U.S. Capitol (no cover) dated Oct. 16 which states "I am going to the City tomorrow and think I shall have a chance to get some envelopes franked, so they will go fee, and if I do I shall send you some more perhaps." - not only is he using them himself, but he is sending free-franked envelopes to his girlfriend!, third and fourth in series are patriotic lettersheets with covers free franked by Ohio Repr. William Helmick, these two have faults but nice Magnus and McClellan designs - Helmick was out of office on Mar. 3, 1861, but here he is franking envelopes in October 1861 - lastly, the best of the group, a "Loyal States" Vermont green litho cover with Helmick's obsolete frank crossed out and another congressman (Repr. William Mitchell of Indiana) has franked the cover below - the only double frank we have seen - an outstanding group of scarce covers, the subject of an article in a recent American Philatelist................$ 1,600 1123 [TEXAS] Red River Campaign. 4pp letter from Indianola Tex. Feb. 26, 1864, from a soldier with Major-General Dana's regiment building the strong works, very good content, mentions Confederate General McGruder's flag-of-truce messenger, with transmittal cover postmarked at New Orleans (faulty), scarce letter.................................$ 140 1124 C Tobacco "good enough for negroes to chew". Folded letter datelined "Peachland La. Sept. 24th 1856" to New Orleans from a penny-pincher named D. P. Calhoun, requests some cheap loose tobacco and says "I do not wish to pay more...for negro tobaco", also asks about another river boat because the current one charges too much, 3c 1851 tied by "Linden La." cds, dampstained, readable and unusual reference to tobacco for slaves..........................$ 85 1125 C Office Superintendent Recruiting Service, U.S. Troops (Colored), Department of the Gulf. Three-line imprint on cover to Elmira, 3c Rose (65) tied by New Orleans duplex, corner mended (touching imprint), also a Northwestern Freedmen's Aid Comm. imprint cover with 3c Rose (65), scarce Civil War corner cards...................................$ 130
Next Page