Catalog 65

T he R aab C ollection ~Philadelphia~

T he R aab C ollection

C atalog 65

P.O. Box 471 Ardmore, PA 19003 (800) 977-8333 www.raabcollection.com

All material is guaranteed to be genuine, without time limit, to the original purchaser. We want you to be satisfied, so any item not purchased on layaway may be returned (in the same condition as received) for a full refund within 5 days of receipt. We accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express, check or money order. A layaway plan is also available and can be customized to fit your needs.

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Eisenhower on Leadership & Character, Written During the Midst of World War II “The higher commanders must have an inexhaustible fund of nervous energy, determination and optimism.”

The history website of the U.S. Army states that “Dwight D. Eisenhower was a master craftsman in the demanding art of leadership.” It goes on to say “The name Eisenhower is synonymous with dynamic leadership in a complex international environment...Under the intense pressure of a global war, he rose to become Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe...[it was] his leadership skills that won the great land campaigns of the twentieth century.” (U.S. Army Biography.)

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Ike was promoted to four-star general in February 1943 and served as the Allied commander for all the major operations in the Mediterranean theater throughout that year. After victory in the North Africa campaign, he went to Tunis, and after Italy was invaded, to that country. The invasion of Sicily took place in July 1943, and after it was secured, the Italian mainland was the next Allied target.

On September 23, 1943, General Eisenhower took the Italian surrender aboard the HMS Nelson off Malta.

It was amidst all this that he wrote his definition of leadership, the very leadership that led the Allies to victory in World War II. Typed Letter Signed on his Allied Force Headquarters letterhead, Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Italy, August 10, 1943, to his boyhood friend Charles Case (whom he addresses as Charley), also praising his country and upbringing for making that leadership possible. “...Your letter was written about two weeks after we started our Sicilian invasion. I assume that your newspapers keep you pretty well up with the progress of events, so you know that we are still hard at it. War is tough on everybody. Physically the strain comes on the young fellows carrying the battle right up to the enemy. But the higher commanders must have an inexhaustible fund of nervous energy, determination and optimism. I have often felt, in my own case, that a fine constitution and an upbringing by upright, intelligent and understanding parents in a wholesome and healthful country, like our great Midwest, has sustained me in many hours of crisis...”

$10,000

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After a Lifetime of Struggle, Susan B. Anthony Is Angered That Women Are Still Treated Like Pets “I know you think women are the pets of society...but to be a pet is not to be an equal, and what I want is for women to be equal before the law in every respect.”

Anton Heitmuller, a Washington businessman over the course of half a century (from 18901940), billed himself as “Specializing in Selling Collections of Autographs,/Manuscripts, Historical Broadsides and/Curios”. He had a penchant for self-promotion, and a knack for being clueless in making his offerings and tactless in his sales methods. In early 1905 he approached Susan B. Anthony and asked her organization to purchase a collection of the signatures of the great men of the preceding century. Why he would offer a group of signatures of men, and only men, to the head of an organization dedicated to the equality and advancement of women, is unknown, but his communication angered Anthony and led her to sum up her life’s work in a single letter.

Typed Letter Signed on her National American Woman Suffrage letterhead, Rochester, N.Y., February 11, 1905, to Heitmuller. “Your communication of February 4th is received. I have no doubt that your autographs are very fine and the portraits of all the distinguished men you mentioned must be fine also, but I am especially interested in the autograph signatures and the pictures of distinguished women. When

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you get a collection of autographs and portraits of the distinguished women of the last century - of Mary Woolstencraft, Frances Wright, Ernestine L. Rose, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Paulina Wright Davis, Lucy Stone etc. etc., I will talk about patronizing you.

But while women are by the law excluded from a voice in the government under which they live, I can only work for their emancipation. I know you think women are the pets of society. That they may be, but to be a pet is not to be an equal, and what I want is for women to be equal before the law in every respect.” The tone of this letter, in which Anthony dresses down Heitmuller before issuing her battle cry, is one we’ve never seen before, and is clearly of great significance.

The theme of women being treated like pets bothered Anthony and stuck in her mind. A few days after sending this letter, on February 15, 1905, under the auspices of the Rochester Political Equality Club, a party was held to celebrate her 85th birthday in the home of William Channing and Mary Lewis Gannett.

In response to all the tributes, Susan B. Anthony replied, “you may compliment women, pet them, worship them, but if you do not recognize their claim to justice, it is all as nothing.” $15,000

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Pres. Roosevelt on Overcoming Adversity: “Make the most out of your life in spite of its handicaps...”

The nation’s only handicapped president shows how he dealt with illness In 1921, with the 39-year-old energetic Franklin D. Roosevelt poised for a long and successful career, he was suddenly struck ill with a severe case of polio that left him paralyzed from the chest down. At that time, there was no vaccine to prevent the disease, nor even any effective treatment, and there was a certain stigma attached to it. The practice of the day was to hide the afflicted person away from the public eye.

“

I read between the lines of your note, however, that you are not the kind to be easily discouraged and that you will make the most out of your life in spite of its handicaps...

Roosevelt, a confident and some would say pampered and smug man, was advised to settle into a life of confinement and inactivity. However, he was not willing to give up; he was a fighter and determined to beat the disease. Hope was born when Roosevelt heard of a young polio victim who was able to walk again after swimming in the warm waters of a health spa at Warm Springs, GA, near Atlanta. In 1924 he moved to Warm Springs. After his initial disappointment with the rundown conditions and the frustration that came with his continued inability to walk, Roosevelt developed a deep appreciation for the pain and suffering of others and even an optimism and inspiration that polio victims could be helped there. In 1926, he invested two-thirds of his savings to purchase Warm Springs for $200,000, and created a cutting edge therapeutic center under the direction of the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation. His facility opened its doors to patients all over the country, providing medical treatment and an opportunity to spend time with others suffering from the effects of polio. Patients at Warm Springs were invigorated and re-learned to enjoy life.

During the years of his illness, Roosevelt underwent a spiritual transformation.

The disease had humbled him, and he became an empathetic man who, having been to the depths of despair, was able to understand the problems with which people had to contend. It was this spirit that empowered FDR and pushed him to return to political life and run for President. It also played a key role in helping him perservere during the Great Depression and World War II. In 1934, a year when unemployment averaged 20% and FDR was battling the Depression, a girl named Ruth Spahn from Altoona, PA, wrote to Roosevelt, seeking some words of encouragement from a man who had overcome his affliction to become President of the United States. Despite the turmoil of the country and business on his schedule, he took the time to answer her personally in a stirring letter that embodied the attitude and spirit that indeed inspired Roosevelt himself to overcome adversity. Typed Letter Signed on White House letterhead, February 13, 1934, to Ruth Spahn. “I am glad that you felt like writing to me about yourself, and only wish that I could be of some very definite assistance to you. From your letter I am confident that you have had very excellent medical care. You probably know there is no golden road to cure or improvement in such a condition as your own, and that patience and persistence is necessary to secure further improvement. It is important that you be under proper medical supervision from time to time so that the

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doctors may advise as to the measures that you must follow in order to maintain your progress, which at times may seem very slow. I read between the lines of your note, however, that you are not the kind to be easily discouraged and that you will make the most out of your life in spite of its handicaps.� The letter comes with its original envelope.

Franklin Roosevelt felt such a kinship with those suffering from polio that he spent much of his time at Warm Springs. He even chose a secluded hillside near the springs to build a home, which soon became known as the Little White House. He died there in 1945. $4,500

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John Hancock Writes George Washington in August 1776 Concerning a British Peace Proposal He states that Congress has appointed a committee to consider it. That committee included Jefferson, Adams and Franklin With the American Revolution in its second year, the Continental Congress began to consider the question of independence. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee brought the matter to a head by presenting a resolution to sever the bond between America and Britain. Meanwhile, the British sent a massive war fleet to America consisting of 30 battleships with 1200 cannon, 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 sailors, and 300 supply ships. The main portion of this armada arrived in New York harbor on June 29, 1776, and by mid-July it was all gathered there, dwarfing anything the Americans could field.

The British commanders, General William Howe and his brother, Admiral Richard Howe, arrived in New York harbor soon after their fleet. But it was not only war that the Howes had in mind. Their government was interested in making a conciliatory gesture to the Americans, and the Howes were selected to command in America because they were known to be sympathetic to the colonists.

The Howe’s sister was a friend of Benjamin Franklin, and Richard had already contacted Franklin in his own peacemaking feeler. The King commissioned the Howes to “confer with persons of authority” in America on grievances of the colonies that had led “to the weakening of the Constitutional relation” between the colonies and the crown. Lord Drummond also appeared in New York purporting to be a secret emissary from the British government, seeking a negotiated peace. However, events were moving very fast.

On June 28, 1776, the day before the British fleet appeared in New York, Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to Congress, with changes made by Adams and Franklin. The actual signing of the document would take place on August 2. So by the time the Howes arrived in New York essentially offer amnesties, the Americans were committed to independence.

Lord Richard Howe began his mission of conciliation by sending a letter to George Washington under a flag of truce. It was rejected because it was addressed to Mr. Washington as an individual rather to General Washington in his capacity as an American leader. On that same day Washington reported to the President of Congress, John Hancock, that the British officer conveying the letter had told his American counterpart “That he (Ld Howe) had great Powers” to negotiate. On July 19 a British barge appeared with a white flag. It was met

by Washington’s aides, Col. Joseph Reed and Lieut. Col. Samuel Webb, the latter reporting that the bearer, an aide-de-camp to General Howe, “said, as there appeared an insurmountable obstacle between the two generals, by way of Corresponding, General Howe desired his Adjutant General might be admitted to an Interview with his Excellency General Washington. On which Col. Reed, in the name of General Washington, consented.” The meeting was held but proved fruitless.

At this point, with the British essentially offering amnesty and the Americans insisting on independence, both the Howe and Washington began to prepare for military action. However, there was to be one more attempt at conciliation and it was initiated in early August when Washington approached Howe about a prisoner exchange. On August 5, Howe responded positively, and Washington wrote

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Hancock that “The mode for the Exchange of Prisoners, resolved on by Congress is acceded to by General Howe, so far as it comes within his command, a Copy of my Letter and his answer upon the Subject, I have the Honor to inclose you and to which I beg leave to refer Congress.”

Then, on August 17, Washington received a number of letters and papers from Lord Drummond, among them peace propositions and a letter stating that Drummond wanted to go directly to Philadelphia to lay them before Congress.

He also included a letter from Lord Howe saying “I shall with great satisfaction embrace the first opportunity that may be offered...to promote so desirable an event.” Washington responded to Drummond the next day, saying “I have your Lordships Favor of this Day accompanied by Papers on Subjects of the greatest Moment and deserving the most deliberate consideration...I shall, by Express, forward to Congress your Lordship’s Letter and the Papers which accompanied it...” He also wrote the Howes concerning the proposed prisoner exchange. Pursuant to this promise, and understanding the potential importance of the peace proposal and the authority of Congress to determine a response to it, that same day Washington submitted all the papers he had received from Drummond to Congress. He wrote John Hancock, “I have the honor to Inclose you for the perusal and consideration of Congress, Sundry papers marked No. 1. to No. 7 Inclusive, the whole of which except No. 2. & 7, My Answers to Lord Drummond & Genl Howe, I received Yesterday Evening by a Flag, and to which I beg leave to refer Congress.” Drummond’s plan going beyond what Howe had intimated in July, Washington continued, “I am exceedingly at a loss to know the Motives and Causes Inducing a proceeding of such a nature at this Time and Why Lord Howe has not attempted some plan of negotiation before, as he seems so desirous of It...” The Washington Papers lists the first five enclosures Washington sent to Hancock as “copies of Lord Drummond’s letter to GW of 17 Aug., GW’s reply to Drummond of that date, Drummond’s letter to Lord Howe of 12 Aug., Drummond’s peace proposals of 12 Aug., and Lord Howe’s reply to Drummond of 15 August...”

Washington’s letter and enclosures reached Philadelphia on August 20, were read in Congress immediately. Congress then appointed a committee to consider what response to make, naming to it Jefferson, Franklin and John Adams himself, three of the foremost advocates of independence. This committee would ultimately decide to appoint a group to meet with the British representatives to gauge the seriousness of the peace proposals for themselves.

Then Hancock reported back to Washington. Autograph Letter Signed, “Congress Chamber [Philadelphia], 20 August 1776, 3 O’Clock P.M.” “Your Letter by Express with its several Inclosures I yesterday Rec’d, & yours by Post this moment come to hand; I have laid the whole before Congress, & am directed to keep the Express; I shall therefore only by the Return of the Post Inclose you Two Commissions which please to order to be Deliver’d; Referring all other matters to be Sent by the Express.” It is signed “John Hancock Prest.” This letter is recorded in the Washington Papers, which notes that” Congress detained the express rider, because it was discussing the papers concerning Lord Dunmore that GW had enclosed in his letter ,” and that the commissions referenced “are probably those for James Chapman and Thomas Dyer, both of whom Congress promoted to major on this date.”

British forces did not wait for a reply and determined to create their own realities on the ground. The same day Hancock wrote Washington, August 20, Howe crossed over from Staten Island to Long Island with his 15,000 polished soldiers,

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and on the 27th led them against Washington’s untried and outnumbered army.

The Battle of Long Island was a severe defeat for the Americans, who retreated to Brooklyn Heights, facing possible capture by the British or even total surrender. But at night, the Americans crossed the East River in small boats and escaped to Manhattan, then evacuated New York City and retreated northward.

It was a dark moment for hopes for American independence.

Perhaps the Howes expected this victory to energize his conciliation effort. On September 11, 1776, American representatives appointed by Congress, including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Edward Rutledge, attended a peace conference on Staten Island with Lord Richard Howe. The conference was in the form of an elegant dinner hosted by the admiral, but it failed as Howe was not

empowered to grant a peace unless the Americans withdrew their Declaration of Independence. This the Americans could not and would not do, Franklin telling Howe “that he had nothing really to offer” and Adams saying “I avow my determination never to depart from the idea of independency.”

Our research indicates that this letter of Hancock, written as President of Congress just 18 days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, is the only letter of his to Washington to reach the marketplace in at least 35 years.

That it concerns a matter as important as peace negotiations is extraordinary.

$65,000

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John F. Kennedy Appoints California Governor Pat Brown To The Civil Defense Advisory Council Document Signed as President, Washington, June 29th, 1961, partially printed and accomplished in manuscript, giant oblong folio, being the appointment of Edmund G. Brown of California as a Member of the Civil Defense Advisory Council. With the wafer seal. $7,000

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Signer Samuel Huntington Receives His Salary as Governor of Connecticut

A member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Huntington was from 1786-1796 governor of Connecticut. This is a true copy of an “Act of the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut holden at Newhaven on the 2nd Thursday of October, anno dom 1787,” granting his Excellency, Samuel Huntington, Esq., one hundred and fifty pounds, for the last half of his salary as Governor the current year. This is signed by George Wyllys as secretary to the Assembly. On the verso is the governor ’s receipt, a Document Signed stating “Rec’d of Treasurer Lawrence the contents. June 30, 1788.” This is our first salary receipt of a Signer. $2,200

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His Career Over, Robert Morris Settles Accounts With the U.S. Treasurer Financier of the Revolution and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Morris was used to grand enterprises. After the war, he believed strongly in the future of western expansion, and by 1787 became heavily involved in real estate speculation in the western lands. By 1790 Morris had plunged in full force and he soon became the largest private property owner in the United States, owning or holding a controlling interest in eight million acres in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Georgia.

To make all of these purchases, Morris borrowed money from every institution and individual he could convince to lend, and placed much of the land under mortgages. One of his private investors was Samuel Meredith, the Treasurer of the United States, and as such the second financial leading figure in the U.S. government after Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. As a second stage of Morris’s plan, he intended to survey and improve large tracts of the land and then to sell the parcels to settlers. This was also an expensive undertaking, and Morris had exhausted his resources to buy the land, so he borrowed even more.

By 1797 he could not pay his mortgages or creditors; he could not even leave

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home because of the sheriffs camped outside waiting to serve him with legal papers. He evaded them for quite a while, but time ran out and he went to debtor ’s prison in February 1798, fated to remain there until 1801. While there he had few visitors, no offers of aid, and also found that almost everyone took advantage of his helpless position who could possibly do so.

This is a document recording Morris’s financial transactions with Meredith, headed “Samuel Meredith, Esq., in account with R. Morris Co.” It recites that on January 10, 1786, Meredith paid Morris cash of 14 pounds 14 shillings 10 pence, which sum was exactly set off in the same month “By my 1/2 of taxes you paid on lands in Northampton County.” On November 6, 1787, Meredith paid Morris over 569 pounds, of which 293 pounds went for 1/4 cost of the New York lands and 270 pounds for a year ’s rent. Morris in return gave a note to be paid in January 1788. The document then skips to September 1793, recording close to 12 pounds paid on Morris’s behalf - 1/2 half of what I paid Joshua Whitney for surveying fees. At the bottom of the document, Morris has written and signed: “Rec’d December 4, 1798 of Samuel Meredith Esq., his check on The Bank of the U.S. for twenty nine dollars eighty four cents in full of all demands.”

This is a very intriguing document. Clearly, Morris continued to have claims against Meredith, for money Meredith had promised to pay, on Morris’ behalf, but which Meredith declined to do. Considering the large sums generally involved in Morris’s transactions, and Morris’s desperate need of any funds in debtor ’s prison, Morris was reduced to having to settle for small change. $2,400

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Less Than a Year After the End of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee Helps The Union League President After the war, Lee accepted an offer to serve as the president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia, and served from October 1865 until his death. So instead of a military man, he was an educator dedicated to training the rising generation of young people. Obviously this commendable activity became his main goal, overriding any animosities remaining from the war.

Autograph Letter Signed, Lexington, Virginia, March 9, 1866, to Joseph G. Darlington in Philadelphia. Darlington had served in the Union Army and was a future president of the Union League. “Your letter of the 27th ulto., misdirected to Richmond, has been received. I have known Mr. and Mrs. Ball, principals of Springwood School, for many years; and believe anyone entrusted to their care will be properly cared for & educated.�

It says something very positive about the state of personal relationships in the immediate wake of the war that a man like Darlington would seek the advice of the military leader of the Confederacy on a personal matter, and that Lee would respond and freely offer that advice to a recent foe. $5,800

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President Cleveland Declares Thanksgiving The holiday we know today as Thanksgiving was conceived by Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of the prominent magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book, who engaged in a campaign over years to get Thanksgiving accepted as a national holiday in the United States.

She recommended this to Abraham Lincoln in 1861, and on November 28, 1861, he signed a proclamation saying, “I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving.” The next national Thanksgiving was declared by Lincoln in April 1862, and in 1863 he declared Thanksgivings for both August 6 and the last Thursday in November. He went on to declare a similar Thanksgiving observance in 1864, establishing a precedent that was followed by his successor, Andrew Johnson, who declared a Thanksgiving for December 7, 1865. Johnson gave government employees the day off, making the day a legal holiday.

The precedent established by Lincoln has been adhered to by every subsequent president.

Document Signed, Washington, November 2, 1885. The President declares “It is fitting and proper that a nation thus favored should on one day in every year... publicly acknowledge the goodness of God and return thanks to Him for all His gracious gifts. Therefore I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate and set apart Thursday the 26th of November instant as a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer, and do invoke the observance of the same by all the people of the land.” The document is countersigned by Secretary of State Thomas Bayard. Every president’s official Thanksgiving proclamation is, of course, in the National Archives. Along with these official proclamations, presidents have signed several additional copies to be distributed to officials.

This is one of those copies and marks Cleveland’s first Thanksgiving proclamation in the White House.

In 1941, Congress enacted a law to fix the date of Thanksgiving at the fourth Thursday in November, and FDR signed it. Thus did Thanksgiving become an “official” national holiday.

$9,000

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Pres. William McKinley Makes Official American Instructions For Transferring Cuba From Spanish to U. S. Control When the Spanish-American War began in April 1898, the most immediate U. S. goal was the end of Spanish sovereignty in Cuba. By July 17, American forces had effectively defeated the Spanish army and navy on the island. Then, in a formal armistice signed in Washington on August 12, Spain agreed to relinquish its claims to Cuba and to evacuate the island. However, as it left, Spain was to turn Cuba over to the United States, not to the Cuban insurgents who had been fighting for independence for some years. Although the U. S. disavowed any desire to annex Cuba, President William McKinley and his advisers feared that instability in Cuba could threaten U. S. interests there and lead to foreign intervention, so they insisted on an indefinite period of American control of the island.

To implement the Spanish evacuation of Cuba and its transfer to the U. S., the armistice required the U. S. and Spain to name commissioners who would meet in Havana within thirty days to arrange all the details of Spanish departure from the island. On August 26, President McKinley named Major General James F. Wade, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, and Major General Matthew C. Butler as the American evacuation commissioners, and he gave them two letters of instruction – one public and one private – to guide their actions.

Document Signed as President, Washington, August 26, 1898, in which McKinley directs the “Secretary of State to cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to my two letters of instruction to the Commissioners of the United States to superintend the evacuation of Cuba.” This order was the final step needed to make his letters of instruction official and put them into effect.

In his public instructions to the commissioners, McKinley first highlighted the fact that they were undertaking “a military operation [that] will when carried into effect leave the evacuated places in the military occupation of the United States.” He then outlined the specifics of the commissioners’ duties in negotiating and carrying out the Spanish evacuation. They were to arrange to take possession of all immovable property that had belonged to the government of Spain, including “all public buildings and grounds, forts, fortifications, arsenals, depots, docks, wharves, piers, and other fixed property..., and arrange for the care and safe-keeping of the same under the authority and control of the United States.” The commissioners were to work in conjunction with the U. S. commanding general in Cuba to ensure the orderly transfer of cities, and towns, and were also “to see that all state papers, public records, and other papers and documents” were “taken into...custody and preserved for...future use.” They were to safeguard all records “necessary or convenient for securing to individuals the titles to property.” Finally, the commissioners were to allow the peaceful departure of any individuals who wished to leave, along with their personal possessions.

In his “Supplemental Instructions,” which were marked “Confidential,” McKinley directed the commissioners to “pay such attention as opportunity may afford” to matters that would affect American “control and government” of Cuba.

He told them to arrange, so far as possible, for the “speedy reestablishment of trade, commerce, business, and other peaceful pursuits of the inhabitants.” He also urged the commissioners to learn about police arrangements in each city

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and town so they could advise the U. S. commanding general on how to continue “good order and the administration of the local laws and ordinances after the departure of the Spanish forces.” Finally, McKinley instructed, “Where it can be done prudently, confer with the leading citizens of Cuba...in an unofficial manner and endeavor to ascertain their sentiments toward the United States, and their views as to such measures as they may deem necessary or important for the future welfare and good government of the island.”

The American and Spanish evacuation commissioners had their first meeting in Havana on September 12. By the end of November, the Spanish Governor General of Cuba had formally resigned, and Spanish forces left the island for good on January 1, 1899. As McKinley’s instructions make clear, Americans, not Cubans, took control as the Spanish departed. U. S. occupation of the island lasted until May 1902, and then, independence came only with Cuba’s acceptance of terms which restricted its freedom of action in foreign affairs and gave the U. S. the right to intervene in the island. $23,000

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Democratic Standard Bearer William Jennings Bryan Wants a Letter of Thomas Jefferson, His Party ’s Founder, Available to the Public In 1896, 1900 and 1909, Bryan was the Democratic Party’s candidate for president, only to lose all three times. Just after his final loss, autograph dealer Anton Heitmuller offered him a letter of Thomas Jefferson, eliciting this reply.

Typed Letter Signed on his The Commoner letterhead, Lincoln, Neb., May 29, 1909, to Heitmuller. “I thank you for your offer in regards to the Jefferson manuscript, but I think it is better than anything like that should be in the Smithsonian Institute, or someplace where a large number of persons can have the benefit of it. Possibly the library at Washington would be interested in purchasing it.

At any rate, I think that a library of some kind is the place for it.” $350

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During the Rhode Island Campaign of 1778, Signer William Whipple Appoints a Quartermaster For His Brigade William Whipple was a signer of the Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Hampshire. In 1777, he was made Brigadier General of the New Hampshire Militia, participating in the successful expedition against General Burgoyne at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga raising and commanding a brigade of militia during the campaign. In 1778, he led another New Hampshire militia brigade at the Battle of Rhode Island on August 29.

Autograph Document Signed, Camp on Rhode Island, August 12, 1778, during the Rhode Island campaign. “This is to certify that I have appointed Mr. Nathaniel Gaffield Quarter Master of the Brigade of New Hampshire Volunteers under my command. Wm. Whipple, Brig. Gen.” $3,000

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Father Divine Affirms His Integration Mission “to break down the segregated barrier of so-called races, creeds and colors, in the recognition of the unity of all men” Father Divine was an early fighter for integration, and his Peace Mission remains one of the most unorthodox religious movements in America. He preached a message of equality among men and the hope of heaven-on-earth to black people (doing things like buying a hotel near Atlantic City, New Jersey, so that blacks could access the beach). His actions got him arrested, imprisoned, and, on one occasion, institutionalized in a mental asylum. However, his charismatic message of an interracial paradise on earth caught on and his Peace Mission became well known for its aggressive efforts to desegregate all aspects of American society.

“

Concerning the historical collection of slave materia l offered, we would not be interested...from a racial standpoint of consideration....

Autograph dealer Anton Heitmuller rather inappropriately offered him some artifacts of slavery, and Divine responded with both pique and reaffirmation.

Typed Letter Signed on his rather self-obsorbed letterhead, New York, October 13, 1939, to Heitmuller.“...Concerning the historical collection of slave material offered, we would not be interested in the same, and particularly disinterested from a racial standpoint of consideration, for it is the very work of my mission to break down the segregated barrier of so-called races, creeds and colors, in the recognition of the unity of all men, as ‘Out of one blood God formed all the nations of the earth.’ With best wishes to you, desiring that you might be as I am, this leaves me well, healthy, joyful, peaceful, lively, loving, successful, prosperous and happy in the spirit, body and mind and in every organ, muscle, sinew, joint, limb, vein and bone and even in every atom, fiber and cell of my bodily form.” $1,000

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Aaron Burr Orders Payment of Signer William Floyd’s Expenses For Attending the NY Constitutional Convention, and Floyd Acknowledges Receipt In 1801, a constitutional convention was called in New York to resolve a dispute between Governor John Jay and the state Council of Appointment over who had the power to name state officials. Aaron Burr, the foremost political figure in New York, was selected as president of the convention. He was also at that time vice president of the United States. On October 27, the convention finished deliberations and determined that the power would be concurrent. William Floyd was a member of the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. After the war, he served in the U.S. Congress until 1791, then was called out of retirement to be a delegate to the New York convention.

Autograph Document Signed by Elisha Jenkins, New York State Comptroller, Albany, October 27, 1801, to the State Treasurer, ordering the payment of Floyd’s expenses for attending the convention. “Pursuant to the ‘Act recommending a Convention for the purposes therein mentioned,’ passed 6 April 1801, pay to William Floyd a delegate from the County of Suffolk, out of any money in the Treasury, the sum of $97.50 - for his attendance in the Convention.” Accompanying this is a partly printed Document Signed. “To William Floyd, a Delegate in Convention from the county of Suffolk: October 1801 - To my attendance in Convention at the city of Albany from the 13 to the 27 instant inclusive, being 15 days, at 2 dollars & 50 cents per day, To allowance for traveling 480 miles, making 24 days at 20 miles per day at 2 dollars 50 = $97.50. I audit the above account at ninety seven & 50 dollars. October 27th, 1801.”

This is signed by Aaron Burr as President of the Convention. At the bottom, it is receipted “Received of Robert McClallen, Esq., Treasurer of the State of New York, ninety seven dollars and fifty cents in full of the above amount.” This is signed by Floyd, making a most unusual combination of the two notables signatures.

$2,750

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Washington At The Turning Point At Valley Forge While his troops endure privation, he hatches a daring and audacious plan to take the offensive and attack the British stronghold in New York In September 1777, the Continental Army lost the Battle of Brandywine and was forced to retreat before a strong British force led by Lord William Howe. The victorious British then occupied Philadelphia, forcing Congress to flee the city. After another unsuccessful engagement at Germantown the next month, the Americans fled to Valley Forge, a more defensible location from which they could keep an eye on the foe. After an exhausting march, the undermanned American force arrived there on December 19, and they were in a miserable state (just four days later nearly 3,000 men were reported sick or incapable of duty). The winter came on and the men suffered badly from the cold. Except for officers, they slept in six-foot square tents made of canvas, which were weak and cracked and didn’t provide sufficient protection from the snowy and stormy weather.

These shortages were especially bad from January through March 1778. The entire American Army thereafter consisted of some 6,000 men huddled around campfires on wet, icy ground. British general Howe, by way of contrast, had some 15,000 well-supplied men in and around Philadelphia, and many more available in nearby New York.

“

What is to be don e? We must either oppose our whole force to his, in this Quarter, or take the advantage of him in some other...

Alexander McDougall was active in the appointment of delegates to the first Continental Congress in 1774, and when the Revolution broke out was named colonel of the 1st New York Regiment. On August 9, 1776, he was made a brigadier-general, and in the retreat from Long Island he superintended the successful embarkation of the troops. In the battle of White Plains he was conspicuous, and in October 1777 he was promoted to major-general. MacDougall was in the battle of Germantown, and remained with the army at Valley Forge. On March 16, Washington sent him to lead the American forces on the Hudson River north of New York, and thus to keep an eye on the British in New York City. “Upon your arrival at the Highlands,” Washington wrote, “you are to take upon you the command of the different posts in that Department.” Gen. Samuel Parsons, in command at West Point, would assist him.

On March 24, the ice was an inch thick on the ground and the troops were cold.

On March 28 and 29, the winter weather turned stormy, and word of two important events reached Valley Forge. The first was the news that on February 6, France and the United States had signed a Treaty of Alliance in Paris. This meant recognition of American independence, as well as the eventual arrival of supplies, munitions and French troops to participate in the war. Even more urgent at the encampment was information that four British regiments were believed to

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have left New York by ship, possibly bound for Philadelphia. Washington wrote McDougall about this, saying “I am informed that two Regiments of British and two of Hessians were embarked at New York, and by accounts from Rhode Island it was imagined that the Enemy were about evacuating Newport. This makes me suspicious that General Howe is drawing his reinforcements together to attack us...”

On March 31, confirmation reached Valley Forge that the British ships from New York were headed to Philadelphia, buttressing the American concern. Washington aimed to divert attention away from his army’s poor state and its defensive position by proposing an offensive. According to “Ordeal at Valley Forge” by John Stoudt, knowing that he must act on both the offensive and defensive, and soon, Washington “busies himself late into the night with plans for the next campaign.” He outlined his plan, which took advantage of the apparent diversion of British troops from New York to Philadelphia to have Continental Army forces on the Hudson launch an attack on New York itself. This was Washington’s first major offensive plan since the Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge the previous fall. In fact, March 31 was the pivot point, when Washington shifted from thinking about defense and turned his attention to the offensive, and when the storied encampment turned from despair to hope.

Letter Signed, Valley Forge, PA., March 31, 1778, to McDougall, discussing Howe’s offensive, the weakness of American forces, his idea for an attack on New York, and his purpose of dividing the enemy. “That part of the Troops at New York have left that place, admits of no doubt. The accts. of their number differ, some say four Regiments (two British and two Hessian), some 2300, and others 2500 Men, all of which, there is reason to believe are arrived at Phila.; as a fleet consisting of near 50 Transports (the same number that left New York passed Wilmington about five days ago. By report, Rhode Island was to be evacuated (as on the 20th. Instt.) and the Garrison brought to Phila. This, if true, evidently proves that General Howe intends an early Campaign; to take advantage of our weak state.

What is to be done? We must either oppose our whole force to his, in this Quarter, or take the advantage of him in some other, which leads me to ask your opinion of the practicability of an attempt upon New York, with Parsons’s Brigade, Nixon’s, and the Regiments of Vanscoick, Hazen, and James Livingstons; aided by Militia from the States of New York and Connecticut; such I mean as can speedily be drawn together. On this Subject, and the advisability of such an enterprize, I would have you consult Govr.

Clinton and Genl. Parsons, and them only. In considering of this matter, Provisions will be found a capital object; not merely on Acct. of the quantum necessary for the support of such force as may be thought adequate for your own operations, but inasmuch as it respects this Army, which must depend, materially, upon the Eastern States for Beef and Pork; and must, at all events, be attended to as a primary object.

If in viewing of this matter in every light the Importance of it deserves, you shall be of opinion that it can be undertaken with a fair prospect of Success, I shall not withdraw any part of the aforementioned Troops to this Army; if on the other hand, too much danger and difficulty should appear to warrant the attempt, I desire that Vanscoicks Regiment (which has been ordered to Fishkills) may be directed to march without delay to join me. It is unnecessary I am sure, for me to add, that the most pro. found secrecy should attend your operations, if the scheme is adopted; and to drop hints of such a measure being in agitation if it is not, in order to divide the attention of the Enemy.”

This letter still has its original signed free frank attached.

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When the British ships unloaded in Delaware the first week of April, they contained far fewer troops than expected. Because of these factors, the assault on New York was never made, though the misinformation campaign proposed by Washington was likely put in place. The plan provides a fascinating insight into General Washington’s leadership qualities, showing how he mixed careful, practical assessments with a streak of daring and surprise.

A search of auction records shows just one Washington letter from the winter at Valley Forge (December 1777 - March 1778) coming up for auction sale since 1988 (it sold for $270,000), and we have had just one other in our decades in business. Yet that was the time of the greatest desparation and patriotism.

$185,000

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Pres. Grant Calls the Senate Into Special Session to Ratify a War Claims Treaty With Great Britain When Ulysses S. Grant assumed the presidency in March 1869, relations between Great Britain and the United States were at a low ebb. From the American point of view, the foremost reason for the breach was the construction and refitting of Confederate warships by British shipbuilders during the Civil War. American politicians argued that such behavior violated Britain’s official neutrality, and demanded that the British government make financial restitution--these were collectively known as the Alabama claims, after the most successful of the Confederate ships. Negotiations between Britain and the United States to resolve these disputes began during the presidential administration of Andrew Johnson. After Grant’s election in November 1868, the president-elect informed Johnson’s secretary of state, William H. Seward, that he wanted to be consulted during the ongoing talks. Seward, however, ignored Grant and reached a settlement with Britain, known as the Johnson-Clarendon Convention, which only provided financial restitution to private American citizens for specific damages, and did not cover general harm caused by the British-built Confederate warships against the Union military.

Grant opposed the unpopular treaty for this reason.

A month after his inauguration, the treaty was ready to be submitted to the Senate for ratification. The Senate was not, however, in session, so he ordered it to convene in a special session. Document Signed as President, Washington, April 8, 1869, “To the Senators of the United States respectively,” calling the Senate into official session. “Objects interesting to the United States requiring that the Senate should be in session on the 12th instant, to receive and act upon such communications as may be made to it on the part of the Executive, your attendance in the Senate Chamber in this City, on that day, at 12 o’clock noon, is accordingly requested.” There were then 62 U.S. Senators and likely each was sent a copy. This one was received by Senator John Scott of Pennsylvania. A search of auction records for the past 35 years discloses no other copies having reached the marketplace, nor do we recall ever having seen another one. In fact, this is our first Grant document of any kind calling the Senate into session.

The Special Senate Session lasted from April 12-22, 1869, and the proposed treaty was denounced in the debate. Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, insisted on the floor that the British government owed American taxpayers $2 billion in damages, and recommended the down payment be Britain’s cession of Canada to the United States. In the end, the Senate agreed with President Grant and rejected the treaty overwhelmingly, 54-1. It would be a few years more before this issue could be resolved in a form satisfactory to both sides. $7,000

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Teddy Roosevelt on What It Takes to Be a Cowboy The man whose adventures as a cowboy led to national fame and the presidency reveals the qualities needed for the great outdoor life

“

The man who does not work steadily and hard in the west becomes a mere bar room loafer...

In 1881, at the age of 23, Roosevelt was elected to the New York State Assembly.

He quickly established himself as the leader of a group of young independentminded Republican legislators, who fought to clean up New York politics by opposing the power of the Republican state machine and the Tammany Hall Democrats of New York City. He gained a widespread reputation for honesty, integrity, and vigor. This seemingly charmed career was sidetracked in February, 1884, when he suffered the deaths of both his wife and his mother. The blow was tremendous, and declining to run for reelection, he instead went west to forget his sorrows. He purchased a ranch in the Dakota Territory and spent the next two years leading the strenuous life, tending to a large herd of cattle, chasing outlaws, writing popular books about the West such as “Hunting Trips of a Ranchman”, and creating an image as the nation’s most famous cowboy. During these years, TR made trips back east and regaled reporters with tales of his exotic adventures. This ensured that his name remained in the papers in New York, as well as spreading to locales far and wide. He stayed enough in the public eye that upon one of his return trips in 1886, the party nominated him for mayor of New York City. Though he lost, the attention he gained nationally led to his being named Civil Service Commissioner by Pres. Benjamin Harrison in 1889. Then in 1897, Pres. William McKinley appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and he found himself in this office when the United States declared war on Spain in 1898. Always ready for action, TR promptly resigned his post to form a volunteer regiment of western cowboys and eastern adventurers that the press dubbed “Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.” The Spanish-American War did not last long, but it was long enough for the Rough Riders to take San Juan Hill and pass into folklore. Roosevelt returned to the United States as the most famous man in the nation.

Autograph Letter Signed, 4 pages, Washington, August 4, 1890, to noted psychiatrist Dr. Herbert B. Howard, future President of Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital, who asked him about life as a cowboy. “...To do well on a cow ranch a man must have a good knowledge of plainscraft, know about cattle, be a good rider of vicious horses, be hardy and resolute. Every cowboy has these qualities; to be anything more needs of course steadiness, soberness, thrift and persevering capacity to disregard the hard, narrow monotony of much of the life. An eastern boy or man is rarely worth his keep for the first year or two. There are plenty of good cowhands, trained all their lives to the business, ready for any job. A boy’s being ‘wild’ may or

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may not be a disadvantage. If he loves adventure but is willing to persevere and work hard he might do well; but if he thinks the life is not one of toil and on the whole of monotony he had better not go out. The man who does not work steadily and hard in the west becomes a mere bar room loafer and goes to the wall as quickly as in the east...

Send him out with barely enough money to keep him in coarse food and under shelter at night for the first few months, and let him begin by working at any job he can pick up, at any of the small ranch towns. As he picks up knowledge of the country and of himself he can work towards ranch life.� This is by far the best Roosevelt letter we have seen concerning being a cowboy and leading the strenuous life, both of which were not merely key facets of his personality, but led to his brilliant career on the national stage. With the original mailing envelope. $11,000

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Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson Certifies an Act of Congress Relating to Alexander Hamilton’s Economic Program Congress imposes duties on imports to pay the debts of the U.S. Government and encourage manufactures and shipping When in 1789 Congress first assembled under the new Constitution to launch the United States, it had one overriding concern: money - where to find it and how to collect it. Without its own source of reliable funds, the U.S. Government would be weak and ineffectual, and its very independence, secured through such sacrifice, would be difficult to maintain. Thus, the first substantive subject taken up in the House of Representatives was a plan of James Madison that would eventually make the nation solvent - impose a duty on imports and create a well-managed agency to ensure its collection. Responding to the urgent need for revenue, Congress quickly passed, and President Washington signed, three laws which together constituted the customs program - the Tariff Act, the Duties on Tonnage Act and the Regulation of the Collection of Duties Act. All were passed and signed in July 1789, and after a law passed in early June governing procedures, they accounted for three of the first four acts passed by the U.S. Congress. These laws establishing a revenue-generating mechanism were considered so important that the press of the day hailed them as a “second Declaration of Independence.” They were followed by “An Act for laying a duty on goods...for the discharge of the debts of the United States, and the encouragement and protection of manufactures.” This set specific duties, ear-marked the money for discharge of debt, and added the purpose of encouraging American manufactures.

Alexander Hamilton, the new Secretary of the Treasury, believed that if the nation was to grow and prosper, its credit and commercial economy would have to be sound to encourage both foreign and domestic investment. In his “Report on Credit” on January 14, 1790, he specified a threefold program. First, the government should pay off the war bonds it had issued. To fail to do so, he argued, would establish the federal government as a bad debtor. Second, the government should assume the debts of the states. Although many argued that this was another unnecessary expansion of central government, Hamilton argued that to have all states manage their debts was inefficient and ineffectual. Finally, he proposed that the government establish a steady revenue stream based on taxation of imported goods.

Thomas Jefferson and Virginia led the opposition to Hamilton’s entire program, and most particularly the assumption of debts. Virginians were also unsettled about the planned location of the federal capital in New York. Hamilton realized he could use this issue as leverage. Late in June 1790, Hamilton met in private with Virginia Congressman James Madison. A deal was struck: Virginians would

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support assumption of state debts, and Hamilton and his supporters would approve of moving the capital to its present site on the Potomac River. Although Hamilton’s plan was approved, Jefferson remained his bitterest foe and founded a political party to thwart Hamilton’s programs from gaining further ground.

The duties established in 1789 were insufficient for the expanded purpose of financing payment of federal and state debts, so to implement Hamilton’s plan, they had to be raised. Document Signed, second session of Congress, four pages folio, New York, January 4, 1790, “An Act for the further Provision for the Payment of the Debts of the United States.” This new law taxed wine, tea, cocoa, sugar, cheese, soap, hemp, bricks, china, paper, dye, spices, cotton, wool metal, and scores and scores of other items; in short, practically every conceivable import was taxed.

Books, workmen’s tools and scientific equipment were, however, taxed at a lower rate. Another interesting aspect of the law was that goods brought to the U.S. in foreign vessels paid more tax than those arriving on American ships, a way of promoting the fledgling U.S. maritime industry. At the end of the Act, Jefferson, as Secretary of State, certifies this as a “true copy.” One can only imagine the feelings of Hamilton’s arch-foe as he signed this Act of Congress, the very embodiment of Hamilton’s program, raising funds to pay debts Jefferson opposed undertaking, creating high tariffs to benefit those he considered privileged and undeserving, and encouraging industries he feared would undermine the agrarian utopia he dreamt of establishing. $33,000

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Beautiful Oversized Harris & Ewing Signed Photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt As President

Signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President inscribed to supporter Leighton Shields. Shields and Roosevelt were long time acquaintances and President Roosevelt appointed Shields U.S. District Attorney for China. The photograph including the matting measure 12” by 12” and the inscription reads, “For Leighton Shields from his old friend Franklin D. Roosevelt.” $2,750

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To the Halls of Montezuma: The Original Chart of Directions For the United States Army to Reach Mexico City in the Mexican War Totally in the hand of the army’s foremost topographical engineer, Robert E. Lee After the Mexican War broke out, army engineer Robert E. Lee reported to General John Wool at San Antonio de Bexar, Texas on September 21, 1846. Within days, he and his fellow topographical engineers set out to find the best route for Wool’s advance in the Chihuahuan Expedition, which resulted in the capture of Saltillo. In early January 1847, Lee received orders to join General Winfield Scott at Brazos, where Scott was preparing to move on the coastal city of Vera Cruz to place himself within striking distance of Mexico City. He served under Scott for the remainder of the war.

Scott assembled an army of approximately 12,000, which was transported by sea to a beach about 3 miles south of Vera Cruz.

Landing on March 10-11, it surrounded the city and began combined naval and land attacks. Heavy shelling from navy guns forced the seemingly impregnable town to surrender on March 28. Almost immediately Scott began the advance toward Mexico City. Only sporadic resistance was encountered until his army reached the village of Cerro Gordo about 50 miles inland. There, in a narrow defile, Santa Anna prepared to turn back the Americans. The attack on Cerro Gordo was led by units under General William J. Worth on April 18. The engineers, who included Robert E. Lee, George B. McClellan, Joseph E. Johnston, and P. G. T. Beauregard, found a trail that enabled the Americans to flank, envelop and rout Santa Anna’s forces. The Mexicans lost 1,000 men in casualties and another 3,000 as prisoners. The Americans had 64 killed and 353 wounded. Lee received a particularly strong commendation from Scott, and for his role in the victory achieved his first widespread recognition as a rising star.

Scott and his army entered Jalapa on April 19, where he established his headquarters in the governor ’s palace. There the advance stopped for a month. Scott reported over 1,000 men bedridden in Vera Cruz and another 1,000 sick at Jalapa. Again moving forward, on May 14-15 two American divisions arrived at Puebla, about 75 miles from Mexico City (Scott himself would get there on May 28). They expected heavy resistance because of Santa Anna’s reported presence there, but the town’s leaders decided to open Puebla to them instead. Here Scott ran into a problem he could not ignore; the enlistments of many of this army of about 9,000 effective men were expiring imminently, and he could not convince most of them to reenlist. In fact, enough departed and went home that Scott was left with 7,000 men, an insufficient number, he believed, to launch as assault on Mexico City. He urgently telegraphed to the War Department in Washington that he needed men, and right away. The Secretary of War promised 20,000 men, but in the end Scott’s army, after being reinforced, was composed of about 11,000.

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These men were divided into four divisions commanded by Generals Twiggs, Worth, Pillow and Quitman. There was also a cavalry corps under General Harney.

While awaiting reinforcements, Scott directed Lee and Major William Turnbull (who was chief topographical engineer) to make studies of approaches to Mexico City, collect information, compare notes, and then determine the best route the American army could take from Puebla to the capital. The officers accummulated intelligence from travellers, natives and written materials, and when settled as accurate the data was pencilled in on a map. Scott examined the engineers’ progress almost daily. Lee and Turnbull (with Scott monitoring) ended up mapping out a route from Puebla via the Prieto River over to Ayolta, then ending at El Penon, a scant 7 miles from Mexico City. El Penon was the gateway to the Halls of Montezuma, but it was believed to be a heavily fortified garrison.

So at that point, in the field and with up to the minute information, it would be decided whether to attack it and thus try to go directly into the Mexico City or swing down below it and come up from the south. The Puebla-El Penon route being decided upon, Scott ordered that the data from the map be written down and a copy provided to his division commanders. These charts would serve as directions and also a scale of distances, which was necessary because Scott intended his divisions to leave Puebla on a staggered schedule rather than all at once.

Autograph Document Signed, Puebla, circa July 1847, being General John A. Quitman’s copy of that very document. It is headed “Table of distances from Puebla to the City of Mexico.” It lists the stops on the entire route, and the mileages between them, plus the cummulative mileage of each from Puebla. By “authorities” Lee means persons who were his sources of information; we know that Fitzwater was an army scout on the scene.

On August 7, General Franklin Pierce arrived at Puebla with a second contingent of reinforcements, 2500 in number. The American force was now sufficient for Scott to make a move. The advance commenced almost immediately, with Twiggs’s division in front. The remaining three divisions followed, with an interval of a day between. The marches were short, to make concentration easier in case of attack.

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Reaching the outskirts of Mexico City on August 20, the Americans assaulted the town of Contreras, routing Mexican forces. Later that day, Scott attacked the Mexican lines at Churubusco. Fighting from behind convent walls, the Mexicans beat off repeated American assaults until their ammunition began to run out; then their line broke and they retreated. Now only five miles remained to Mexico City. On September 8 Molino del Rey was taken, and Scott now sought to take Mexico City itself. However to do so would require storming Chapultepec Castle, which was perched on top of a 200 foot hill and dominated the western defenses of the city. On September 12, the castle was taken and the Americans occupied Mexico City. The war was essentially over.

As for Lee, his twice determining the route for Scott’s forces to successfully maneuver around the Mexicans with minimum casualties brought him renown in the army and made him one of the most famous non-general officers of the Mexican War. When 14 years later the Civil War broke out, and Lincoln asked Scott who should command the U.S. armies in the field, Scott recommended Robert E. Lee. Virginia had seceded, however, and Lee declined the post. Instead he would go down in history as the legendary leader of the Confederacy. $30,000

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Andrew Jackson Disdains Rewarding One Of His Political Enemies “He appears to have some interest of feeling in this case for his Georgia friends and particularly as it is given...to such an open undisguised traducer of the administration as he says Mr. Longstreet is.”

Jackson believed that changing officeholders would prevent the development of a corrupt bureaucracy. He implemented the theory of rotation in office, declaring it “a leading principle in the republican creed.” In practice, this fine theory involved rewarding Jackson’s supporters and fellow party members with government posts, as a way to strengthen party loyalty. This system of firing opponents and filling their places with party loyalists came to be known as the “spoils system,” and Jackson received the reputation of being its initiator.

During Jackson’s first term, there was a high tariff on imports of manufactured goods made in Europe. This made those goods more expensive than ones from the northern U.S., raising the prices paid by planters in the South. Southern politicians argued that high tariffs benefited northern industrialists at the expense of southern farmers. South Carolina went so far as to claim the right to “nullify”—declare void—the tariff legislation, and more generally the right of a state to nullify any Federal laws which went against its interests. Although Jackson sympathized with the South in the tariff debate, he supported a strong union with effective powers for the central government and violently opposed nullification. He vowed to send troops to South Carolina to enforce the laws, and in December 1832 issued a resounding proclamation against the “nullifiers,” stating that he considered “the power to annul a law of the United States, assumed by one state, incompatible with the existence of the Union.” South Carolina, and by extension all nullifiers, the President declared, stood on “the brink of insurrection and treason. In 1833, Congress passed a “force bill” which authorized Jackson to use violence to preserve the Union.

Augustus Baldwin Longstreet was the publisher of the Augusta (Georgia) States Rights Sentinel, a newspaper that advocated nullification in the recent crisis and thus opposed Jackson’s policies. The year after this letter, he would publish what is considered the South’s first important literary work, “Georgia Scenes, Characters, Incidents, Etc. in the First Half Century.” His brother Gilbert shared his politics. These Longstreet brothers were uncles of Confederate General James Longstreet - Lee’s famed “war horse.” Gilbert owned rights to the AugustaSavannah mail route and there were complaints that under his aegis, the mails were not delivered often enough. The Georgia congressional delegation brought these to the President’s attention.

Perhaps spoils politics was also on Jackson’s mind when he wrote the following letter, which was ostensibly about bidding and the granting of other Georgia postal routes. The William Barry mentioned was Jackson’s Postmaster General.

John Forsythe, his Secretary of State, was a Georgian who, when South Carolina nullified the federal tariff in 1832 and asked Georgia to follow persuaded his fellow Georgians to support Jackson instead of its neighbor.

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Autograph Letter Signed, Washington, November 8, 1834, to Charles K. Gardner, acting postmaster responsible for postal appointments, criticizing the selection of political foe (and possibly inept) Longstreet for a government contract instead of one of the President’s supporters. “I am this moment advised that there is great complaint of unfairness in the letting of the route in Georgia - from Augusta to Savannah. The complaints came to me through a high source and is well calculated to do the Department an injury, as it would seem to throw a suspicion that it was done to the injury of our friends, to favor Mr. Longstreet a bitter enemy and constant reviler of the administration. It is stated that Mr. Reesides proposed to carry the mail for $10,000 per annum to run the one half the time on the South Carolina side & one half on the Georgia side, and the Messrs. Holliday proposed to carry the mail on the Georgia side for $8,500 and round by Waynesborough, ten miles round, for $8,800.

Mr. Reeside’s proposal was accepted and as alleged transferred to Mr. Longstreet. It is complained of because passing on the east on the South Carolina side of the river is a useless route & costs the government $1,500 without any public benefit. If this arrangement is not closed, let it be kept open for the return of Major Barry & I wish you to see Major Forsythe on this subject - he appears to have some interest of feeling in this case for his Georgia friends and particularly as it is given by Mr. Reesides to such an open undisguised traducer of the administration as he says Mr. Longstreet is.” $6,500

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22

Houdini Expresses Interest in Seeing a Collection Related to the Lincoln Assassination Anton Heitmuller, a Washington businessman over the course of half a century (from 1890-1940), billed himself as “Specializing in Selling Collections of Autographs,/Manuscripts, Historical Broadsides and/Curios”. He had a knack for self-promotion, a knack done him one better by Harry Houdini. Both Heitmuller and Houdini had an interest in Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln assassination, and Heitmuller had artifacts related to John Wilkes Booth and a collection of items of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was implicated in the assassination for treating Booth for his broken leg assassination night. Heitmuller saw a promotional opportunity for both he and Houdini in showing these materials; Houdini showed some interest but being at the height of his career, found it hard to find time to get to Washington to see the artifacts.

Typed Letter Signed beneath a printed message, on his pictorial Lettergram notepaper, Milwaukee, circa September 30 (1923), to Heitmuller. The printed message stated, “Please pardon any incivility in this letter. It has been rushed to you under stress of business and written in the dressing room. Therefore all formalities like Dear Sir, Dear Madame. etc. have been omitted, not to be curt or brusque; but that it is deemed better to let you hear from me in a lettergram of a few words than not at all.”

The typed letter reads, “I am on the road for the next four months, and there is a possibility of my reaching Washington about March or April. It all depends upon booking possibilities. Just rushing this to you to give you an outline of my route.” $1,800

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Governor-Elect Ronald Reagan Looks Forward to Taking Over As California Chief Executive With “Mixed Emotions” California Republicans were impressed with Reagan’s political views and charisma after his “Time for Choosing” speech for Barry Goldwater in 1964 and nominated him for Governor of California in 1966. In Reagan’s campaign, he emphasized two main themes: “to send the welfare bums back to work,” and in reference to burgeoning anti-war and anti-establishment student protests at the University of California at Berkeley, “to clean up the mess at Berkeley.” He was effective on the campaign trail and was handily elected, defeating two-term governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown. The new Governor would be sworn in on January 3, 1967. As he readied himself for his inauguration, he was absorbed with the preparation and his mind was burdened by knowledge of the tasks and responsibilities just ahead. He confided this to an old friend, Charles W. Horn, who was former NBC Director of Research and Development and was involved in developing television in the same era that Reagan was a film star.

Typed Letter Signed on his governor-elect letterhead, California, December 5, 1966, to Horn. “Can’t tell you how good it was to hear from you and how much I appreciate your generous words. You make me very proud. I’ve already discovered the one thing harder than campaigning is winning and facing the chores. I must say the challenge is great and exciting and I look forward to it with mixed emotions.” $2,000

“

I’ve already discovered the one thing harder than campaigning is winning and facing the chores...

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Autograph Note Signed of Roger Taney, Chief Justice Who Issued the Dred Scott Decision Autograph Note Signed, Washington, February 18, 1861, to Joseph Darlington, future president of the Union League of Philadelphia. “I write this note to comply with your request for my autograph.” This was written just two months before the outbreak of the Civil War, which his Dred Scott decision did so much to help bring on. $500

Signer John Morton Appoints An Officer to Serve the American Cause in July 1776 John Morton was a delegate to the Continental Congress during the Revolution and provided the swing vote that allowed Pennsylvania to vote in favor of the Declaration of Independence. Morton signed the Declaration and chaired the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. He died in 1777 and his autograph on letters and documents is uncommon.

Partly printed document signed Philadelphia, July 13, 1776, with embossed “Liberty, safety & Peace” seal at left. appointing Philip Waggoner, Gentleman, as “Second Lieutenant of a Company of foot in the fourth Battalion of Association Militia in the City of Philadelphia...” It is signed

by Morton as Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, and is one of just two autographs we have ever had of Signers of the Declaration of Independence dated in July 1776.

$11,000

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President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Design the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Highest Civilian Medal Awarded in the U.S. Mrs. Kennedy comments on beauty & its importance: “If we do these things which mean so much, we should do them as superbly as possible.

I don’t want to inter fere but this is something I care about & love to work on.”

From the moment that John F. Kennedy was elected President in November 1960, it was clear that the incoming First Family would bring an unaccustomed sense of style, grace and optimism to the White House. Jacqueline Kennedy was a young woman of notable beauty, at once wistful and luminous, and of acute intelligence and exacting expectation. Her response to life was aesthetic, and she brought with her a broad knowledge of the arts. With her historical sense, she understood that the White House was not a private residence but the property of the American people, and her brilliantly executed quest to bring beauty and history to the President’s House led to the most important redecoration of the White House in its history. However, it was not just the executive mansion that came under her influence, but all artistic and cultural aspects of the positions she and the President held.

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One significant example of this is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was established in 1963 by JFK’s executive order. It is a decoration bestowed by the President and is the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes those individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” Maj. Gen. Chester “Ted” Clifton was a senior military aide to the President, joining Kennedy’s staff in 1961 and serving throughout his presidency. Clifton was in almost constant touch with both the President and First Lady during those years, and it was his responsibility to act as liaison between the Kennedys and the medal design team.

Autograph Letter Signed by Mrs. Kennedy on White House letterhead, Washington, circa July 1, 1963, to Clifton, relating her interest in the medal project, revealing the lengths to which she would go to make things beautiful, and saying that beauty is something she cares about. “The President told me about the President’s Medal - which I guess has been designed or you are in the process of. Could I please see it? I did not like the Presidential Citation being prepared for the Harrimans - so redesigned it from old Presidential documents from archives & got the old looking vellum to print it on. I am so anxous this medal be something beautiful too. Is there a deadline when it must be given? Could you send it over to the Treaty Room for me to see today. If you can get any examples of old medals from archives could you send them too - what is its material - bronze” Could it be silver - what is to be written on it? I thought his inauguration medal was so awful. If we do these things which mean so much, we should do them as superbly as possible. I don’t want to interfere but this is something I care about & love to work on. If you have a special sculptor or designer with whom i should get in touch if I want to make any changes, can I see him before we go to Florida Wednesday? Also could I see its presentation box?” Clifton complied, and Mrs. Kennedy soon after sent this Autograph Note Signed on a White House card, Washington, July 14, 1963, to Clifton. “I have written suggestions inside folders for B, D, E. Could we see them in color by next weekend?”

In early September 1963, Clifton wrote the President and First Lady about the ribbon design of the medal and sent six samples. The President responded in this Autograph Note on both sides of a White House card, Washington, to Clifton. “Ted, I like this best. What about a more attractive blue ribbon- without stars and with a white border?” His ribbon design change was accepted and is the very ribbon for the medal still given out.

Clifton’s letter to Mrs. Kennedy ended by saying “We would certainly appreciate your judgment on the colors.” As usual, she responded in an Autograph Note Signed right on the sheet. “I agree with you that the group of #1 is a blue to

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prefer over the more garish blue of group #2 - & 1B looks better than any other. You are miraculous, producing a beautiful Freedom Medal & presentation sword.” She then digressed in a note relating to a dog the Kennedys wanted to give Clifton, and buttons Jackie wanted to give the President for Christmas, but thought better of it and crossed it out. She continued, “Since I wrote this I read your memo on the Wild Geese buttons. You are a saint to pursue it this far & I think we have all done the best we can & it is a lost cause - though I would pursue the Spanish Military Museum in Madrid as suggested (not for September 12) just for the future - maybe an excuse for you to go there! Do write them as it would be lovely to have these buttons someday. So if you can track them down - do - or any other Irish historical buttons that you think JFK might like - just one set for Xmas.” The Wild Geese were Irishmen who served in the Spanish and French armies, wherever they could fight against England and for the freedom of Ireland. Kennedy had a great interest in them and referred to them in speeches. Here we see Mrs. Kennedy looking everywhere for a piece of their memorabilia to give her husband; a Spanish military museum indeed seems like a place to try.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom manifested the Kennedy’s desire to reward excellence in all fields of endeavor, and to focus attention on those fields. It still serves that purpose today. This group of letters and notes comes right from the Clifton files and has never been offered for sale. It seems to exemplify the esthetic beauty, love of culture and art, and grace of the Camelot years. There is a poignant side to this letter too, for JFK did not live to see the Christmas of 1963, so never received the Irish historical buttons his wife was so anxious to find for him.

$4,000

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President Lincoln Pardons a Leading Confederate Official for Treason He is guilty of “connecting himself in the fall of 1861 with an organization of rebels against the government of the United States.”

When the Civil War began, it was clear that the border states of Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland held the key to victory, and President Lincoln especially thought that maintaining the Union without holding Kentucky would not be feasible. Citizens of those states soon took sides, and in Kentucky, while the official state government remained loyal to the Union, Confederate sympathizers organized a rival government called the Provisional Government of Kentucky, to take their state into the Confederacy. Four major government officers were installed in the offices; governor, lt. governor, treasurer and auditor. The latter office was held by Josiah Pillsbury. This government was recognized by the Confederate government in Richmond, and Kentucky was admitted to the Confederacy on December 10, 1861.

On December 8, 1863, President Lincoln issued a proclamation offering amnesty to those who had participated in the rebellion, provided that they take an oath of allegiance to the United States and agree to abide by the Emancipation Proclamation. However, some classes of people (essentially senior leaders of the Confederacy) were ineligible for this blanket amnesty; these included those who: were civil or diplomatic officers of the Confederate government, left judicial or congressional stations under the United States to aid the rebellion, were military or naval officers of the Confederacy, and were engaged in treating colored persons “otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of war.” People in these categories had to specially apply to the President expressly for pardons.

By this time Kentucky was firmly and securely in the Union, and Pillsbury saw the wisdom of taking advantage of the amnesty. However, because of his office in the Provisional Government and his liability for treason, he had to apply to the President for a pardon rather than simply taking the oath of allegiance.

He wasted no time in doing so. Henry Grider was a loyal Kentuckyan who represented his state in Congress throughout the Civil War. In time he would serve on the Joint Committee on Reconstruction which drafted the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. J.R. Underwood was a former U.S. Senator from Kentucky. These loyal men, and others, supported Pillbury’s application, a fact recited in the pardon itself. Thus, most unusually, we know the actual names of those who intervened to obtain the pardon. With these men behind Pillsbury, Lincoln decided to grant the request.

Document Signed, Washington, January 4, 1864, That starts out by stating that Josiah Pillsbury, “by connecting himself in the fall of 1861 with an organization of rebels against the government of the United States, calling itself the Provisional Government of the State of Kentucky, has committed a grave offense against the laws of the said United States.” It continued that Pillsbury “has now heartily repented of his

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crime and taken the oath of allegiance to the United States.” Lincoln then did “hereby grant to the said Josiah Pillsbury a full and free pardon of all treasons, felonies and misdemeanors by him committed...” The document’s seal is still present, and it was countersigned by Secretary of State William Seward.

According to the study “Inside Lincoln’s Clemency Decision Making,” Lincoln issued 324 pardons as President, with only 64 of them relating to service for the Confederacy. These break down as follows: conspiracy (22), treason (17), rebellion (12), holding an office in the Confederacy (9), and serving with the rebels (4). Thus, this is one of just 17 pardons for treason issued to a Confederate that Lincoln signed. It fell to his successor to execute the lion’s share of pardons after the war ended. $25,000

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Before the Trumpet: Major Dwight D. Eisenhower Signs a Discharge Early in His Career Eisenhower graduated West Point in 1915 and served with the infantry until 1918 at various camps in Texas and Georgia. During World War I, he became the #3 leader of the new tank corps, training tank crews at Camp Colt – his first command–on the grounds of Pickett’s Charge on the Gettysburg battle site. Ike and his tank crews never saw combat. After the war, Eisenhower was promoted to major and assumed duties at Camp Meade, Maryland, where he remained until 1922. His interest in tank warfare was strengthened by many conversations with George S. Patton and other senior tank leaders.

Document Signed, Camp Meade, Maryland, August 5, 1921, honorably discharging Eugene M. Powers from the 17th Tank Battalion. This scarce document is the earliest one signed by Ike that we have ever carried. $800

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Signer Robert Treat Paine Defends a Man Against an Illegal Arrest Robert Treat Paine began the study of law in 1756 and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar the next year. He conducted the prosecution of Captain Thomas Preston and his British soldiers following the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770; John Adams was opposing counsel. He was highly respected and represented Massachusetts at the Continental Congress from 1774 through 1778. In Congress, he signed the final appeal to the King (the Olive Branch Petition of 1775), and signed the Declaration of Independence. After the war, Paine was Massachusetts Attorney General from 1777 to 1790 and a justice of the state supreme court from 1790 to 1804 when he retired.

This is a Writ to the Sheriff of Bristol County, Massachusetts, August 2, 1765, to seize the goods or person of one Samuel Holloway on account of a debt and hold them for a hearing on the third Tuesday of August. On the verso the Sheriff notes that he brought Holloway in for his appearance. Below that notation Treat, who was defending Holloway, states in a seven-line Autograph Note Signed that his clients being taken was illegal and that the claimed debt ought to abate.

$2,600

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Martin Luther King Jr. Is Infused With Hope After Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize: “We stand on the threshold of our world’s bright tomorrows” Juxtaposed against the violence of the segregationists, King’s mission of equality through civil disobedience resonated with millions of Americans and people around the globe. In July 1964 the struggle he led resulted in passage of the Civil Rights Act, an enormous step that ended racial segregation in the United States.

Then on October 14, 1964, just nine years after leading the Montgomery Bus Boycotte, King himself became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

His spirits were buoyed by both of these events and by his positive reception back home in Atlanta after the Nobel ceremony, and he began to glimpse with a long view the ultimate success of his movement. Meanwhile, words of congratulation poured in from people everywhere.

“

Although the days are sometimes dark, I am convinced that we stand on the threshold of our world’s bright tomorrows.

Typed Letter Signed on his Southern Christian Leadership Conference letterhead, Atlanta, October 24, 1964 (just ten days after receiving the Nobel Prize), to Henry Gurau, a Jewish community leader in Toronto, Canada, in which we can see King’s eyes were on the future. “Your kind, encouraging words are of inestimable value for the continuance of our humble efforts. Although the days are sometimes dark, I am convinced that we stand on the threshold of our world’s bright tomorrows”.

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President Franklin Pierce Makes Official a Treaty With the Chippawa Indians, In Which the Indians Ceded Land to the United States The Chippawas were one of the largest Indian tribes in the United States, whose range was along both shores of Lake Huron and Superior, extending across North Dakota and up into Canada on the west and Lake Erie on the east. The main body of the tribe lived in the region surrounding what is now Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Starting as far back as 1795, the Chippawas came under increasing pressure from the United States and gradually began ceding their lands. By 1855 it had gotten so bad that they were ceding land right in the midst of their Sault main camp.

On August 2, 1855, the U.S. concluded a treaty with them that, according to “Indian Land Cessions in the United States 1784 to 1894”, ceded land “within the village limits of Sault Ste. Marie.” The treaty was proclaimed on April 24, 1856.

Partly printed, partly manuscript Document Signed as President, Washington, April 24, 1856, in which President Franklin Pierce orders that the Secretary of State affix the seal of the United States to that very treaty - “a Treaty with the Chippawa Indians of Sault Ste. Marie...” This is the first presidential document effectuating a treaty with the Indians that we have ever carried.

Eventually the Chippawas had to cede vast stretches of their land and were restricted to small reservations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. $4,500

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Dateline: Robert Anderson, Fort Sumter 1861, Just 9 Days After the First Shots Were Fired In November 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. As a direct result, on December 20 South Carolina delegates to a special secession convention voted unanimously to secede from the Union. Six days later, U.S. Army Major Robert Anderson, commander of the army garrison in Charleston harbor, abandoned the indefensible Fort Moultrie and secretly relocated to Fort Sumter without orders from Washington, on his own initiative.

He thought that providing a stronger position would delay an attack by South Carolina militia and improve the chances of a successful defense. Over the next weeks, repeated calls for the U.S. evacuation of Fort Sumter by the government of South Carolina were ignored. Then on January 9, 1861 a naval attempt to resupply and reinforce the garrison was repulsed, when the first shots of the war were fired to prevent the steamer Star of the West from completing the task.

A signed sentiment, “Your obt. Servt., Robert Anderson, Major U.S.A., Fort Sumter, S.C., Jany. 18, 1861.” At this point, only Mississippi, Florida and Alabama had joined South Carolina in secession. Georgia would follow the next day. $800

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Autographs of Chang and Eng, the Siamese Twins Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker were the conjoined twin brothers whose condition and birthplace became the basis for the term “Siamese Twins”. They promoted themselves successfully in public exhibitions about three decades before the Civil War, then bought a plantation and slaves in North Carolina. During the war they sided with the Confederacy, and after the conflict, needing money, they again began promoting their exhibitions. Their pencil signatures above a certification of authenticity dated Philadelphia, August 31, 1867. $400

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Rare Signed Picture of Woodrow Wilson in His Academic Gown, Surrounded by New Jersey Democratic Dignitaries This is a program in the form of a 10 page book, bound in cloth with the cover engraved in gold and a blue ribbon bookmark, for a dinner for gubernatorial candidate Woodrow Wilson, held by the Democratic Union of New Jersey, October 10, 1910. The second page of this 7 by 9 inch book contains a photographic portrait of Wilson in his academic gown, surrounded by important New Jersey Democrats including former President Grover Cleveland and General George B. McClellan, and is signed at the top by Wilson. Other pages include the menu, toasts to be drunk, songs to be sung, and another photo page with engravings of Democratic Presidents starting with Thomas Jefferson.

Signed pictures of Wilson almost always show him later in his career; this is the first we’ve ever had picturing him as an academic.

$1,250

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Just After John F. Kennedy ’s Funeral, Jacqueline Kennedy Reveals She Presented One Her Husband’s Presidential Dog Tags to Cardinal Cushing, Because She Was Moved by Its Legend - “JFK - Commander in Chief - Roman Catholic” She prophetically predicts, “There won’t be a tag printed that way again for a long time.”

Another dog tag she gave to his cousins from Ireland who were at the White House for the funeral In the immediate wake of the assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy wanted to give personal mementos of her husband to those who were closest to him. Some of these would be articles he had owned (like his own presidential dog tags,) while some would be specially made as rewards for service (like golden cufflinks). In this letter she discusses what happened to those very dog tags, and provides details on the memorial cufflinks. She also notes presciently that it might be a long time before another Catholic would become president.

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Autograph Letter Signed on White House letterhead, with words “White House Washington crossed out”, circa late November -early December 1963, to Maj. Gen. Chester “Ted” Clifton, senior military aide to Presidents Kennedy and then Johnson. Clifton was in almost constant touch with both the Kennedys during their time in the White House, and even after the assassination sought to assist Mrs. Kennedy any way he could. “This is the size cufflink I like. The design is perfect JFK’s initials could be on back of the seal & the recipients on the other little knob. But the material is the big problem. It just does look fake - & so dark & depressing. Could we try it in silver dipped in gold? But that might be prohibitively expensive for 10-15 pairs, so you had better let me know what it would be before I go ahead. Also could you do me one other favor? I read your article on JFK & it was perfect. In it I learned that the dog tags in his bureau drawer the day he died were the ones given to him at Fort Bragg. I didn’t know what they were when I found them. It seemed so strange to see JFK Commander in Chief, Roman Catholic - on the little tag that I gave it to Cardinal Cushing, and one to his little cousin who came over from Ireland for the funeral. But could I have another set of them for the library. There won’t be a tag printed that way again for a long time. I am not sad I gave them away, as it meant so much to the people who have them. But I would love to have another set to keep.” This letter comes right from the Clifton files and has never been offered for sale. $3,000

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Letter of Theodore Roosevelt As Commander of the Rough Riders One of the most famous of all the units in the history of the American armed services, “Rough Riders” was the name given to the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War. After their heroics at the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba, the war soon ended and by August 14, 1898 the Rough Riders were back in the United States and encamped at Montauk at the tip of Long island. They would be mustered out on September 15 and pass into history.

Typed Letter Signed, Montauk, New York, September 1, 1898, to autograph dealer Anton Heitmuller, who had apparently made a suggestion to capitalize on Roosevelt’s new fame, been turned down, and not taken “no” for an answer.

“Dear sir, I regret I cannot go into it now.” $800

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Shortly Before Hitler Came to Power in Germany, Winston Churchill Hopes “that a long time will be accorded us” Before Another Great War Major-General Sir Frederick Barton Maurice was Director of Military Operations for the British General Staff in World War I. In February 1918 he became convinced that troops were being withheld from the Western Front in order to undermine the position of General Douglas Haig.

When David Lloyd George announced in the House of Commons that British troop levels on the Western Front were at all-time highs, Maurice believed that he was deceiving both Parliament and the British public, so he wrote a letter to The Times criticizing that position. The publication of this letter on May 7, 1918 caused a minor political storm, and Maurice was initially suspended and ultimately forced to retire. He was a prolific author with an interest in the American Civil War, and in 1927 wrote “An Aide-de-camp of Lee”, assessing the war from the Confederate point of view using the papers of Lee’s aide Colonel Charles Marshall.

“

It will be a long time before a satisfactory solution is devised, but happily we may hope that a long time will be accorded us...

On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Churchill became First Lord of the Admiralty. However, he was blamed for the failure of the Dardanelles Campaign in 1915 and was moved to the minor post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Unhappy about not having any power to influence the Government’s war policy, he joined the British Army and commanded a battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the Western Front. When David Lloyd George replaced Herbert Asquith as Prime Minister, he brought Churchill back into the government as Minister of Munitions and for the final year of the war, Churchill was in charge of the production of tanks, airplanes, guns and shells. In the 1920s he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer, the same position as secretary of the treasury in the United States. Churchill was always interested in the Civil War, as his mother and aunts were Americans who frequently discussed it at home when Churchill was young; in fact, his grandfather Jerome owned stock in the New York Times during the conflict.

Typed Letter Signed on his Exchequer letterhead, London, January 15, 1927, to Maurice, alluding to the scandal, mentioning the impressions made by the horrible blood-letting of World War I, and hoping that much time will be allotted before the coming of another such awful conflict.. “...I am much obliged to you for the information you have given me. My work, such as it is, does not attempt to be a complete chronicle, but deals chiefly with those aspects of the war which I personally realized. A friend, reading the proofs, drew my attention to the fact that no reference had been made to the Maurice debate and it’s after-consequences on British politics. I thereupon drafted a paragraph and asked Eddie to inquire whether you had any fault to

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find with it. I have told him to make the alterations which I understand will avoid the risk of any controversy between us on a personal point not in any way material to my arguments, and on the general merits of which I take your view. As you know, I protested vigorously at the failure to reinforce the Army in November and December 1917; but could make no headway in view of the horror and anger inspired in the cabinet by the prolongation of Paschendale. I shall be most interested to see the effect which this book produces upon you. I shall not expect you to agree with it. Nonetheless I hope you’ll read it with attention. I read your book about the Civil War very carefully. It is a valuable contribution to the study of the problem of the supreme command at the outbreak of a great modern war. It will be a long time before a satisfactory solution is devised, but happily we may hope that a long time will be accorded us.”

It is interesting how the country recoiled in horror at the slaughter in World War I. Of course, the world was not accorded “a long time” before the next war.

Less than six years after Churchill wrote this letter, Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. Soon Churchill was calling for rearming in anticipation of another conflict with Germany, and in 1940 he would himself be called upon to lead the British Commonwealth in the Second World War. $7,300

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Jacqueline Kennedy Remembers the Moving Ceremony Dedicating the British Memorial to JFK at Runnymede After the assassination, the British built a John F. Kennedy Memorial overlooking Runnymede, the site where the Magna Carta was signed. It was unveiled

by Queen Elizabeth II on May 14, 1965 in the presence of President Kennedy’s widow and children. One of the other Americans who accompanied the Kennedys on this meaningful and emotional occasion was Maj. Gen. Chester “Ted” Clifton, a former senior military aide to President Kennedy who was in almost constant touch with both the President and First Lady during their time in the White House.

Typed Letter Signed, March 15, 1966, to Clifton, thanking him for a memento and for coming on the trip with her. “I’ve just received the lovely vermeil box which you and other friends of Jack’s sent me in memory of our trip to Runnymede. You will never know how touched I am. I shall treasure it forever. It meant so much - your coming to England with me. I don’t think any of us will forget Runnymede.” This letter comes right from the Clifton files and has never been offered for sale. $600

“

You will never know how touched I am. I shall treasure it forever...

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Lincoln Appoints a Heroic War Veteran to a Diplomatic Post The appointee would later be in charge of registering former slaves as voters in Savannah Henry S. Wetmore resigned a cadetship at West Point to join the Union Army and command the 9th Ohio Battery. The unit was on active service and participated in campaigns in the South, with Wetmore being cited for bravery in 1862.

In April 1864 they went into garrison duty and Wetmore sought a more challenging assignment. Later that year, President Lincoln submitted Wetmore’s name to the U.S. Senate as Consul to Peru, and he was confirmed.

Document Signed as President, Washington, August 29, 1864, appointing Wetmore U.S. Consul at Payta, Peru, and requesting that the Peruvian government recognize and deal with him as such. The document is countersigned by Secretary of State William Seward.

After the war Wetmore was in charge of registering former slaves as voters in Savannah and then fought for fair treatment of Chinese laborers in Peru (whose conditions he had seen in person pursuant to this appointment). $6,850

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40

John Hancock sends a Delegate to The Continental Congress to Join Debate on The Treaty of Paris The crux of the disputes that led to the American Revolution was over representation. The colonies had no elected representatives in Parliament, and the colonists believed that it was a breach of their rights as Englishmen to have laws passed that applied to them without their participation. “No taxation without representation” was the cry, and the right to freely elect representatives the demand.

The formation of a representative body to act for the colonies was job one when the need arose to organize resistence to British measures. The First Continental Congress met briefly in 1774, and the delegates organized an economic boycott of Britain in protest and petitioned the King for redress of grievances. These actions failed to change British policy. The Second Continental Congress, its successor, was gaveled into session on May 10, 1775, less than a month after the battles at Lexington and Concord started the war. Its members included such luminaries as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and its longtime president, John Hancock. It determined policy, raised funds, ran the war, declared independence, and guided the new nation to liberty and fulfillment of its own destiny. In 1781, the Articles of Confederation were enacted, and the Continental Congress assumed its third aspect as the Convention Congress.

In 1787, issue of elected representation was so fundamental to the Constitutional Convention that the United States Constitution dealt with it in Article One. That Article established the legislative branch of the United States government, which it continued to call Congress, and described the powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It also set forth the manner of election and qualifications of members of each house. In addition, it outlined legislative procedure and enumerated the powers vested in the legislative branch. In September 1788, just three months after the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the Continental Congress, as its last major work, ordered the organization of the new government, including the Senate and House of Representatives. Within a few months, the states held elections to choose the 26 senators and 65 representatives. On March 2, 1789, upon adjournment of its final session, the Continental Congress passed into history.

Now the United States Congress took over the nation’s legislative responsibilities. The First United States Congress officially convened on March 4, 1789, though it was not until April 1 that the House of Representatives held a session with its first quorum. Its initial order of business was the election of a Speaker, selecting Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, a Representative from Pennsylvania. The next order of business was the election of the Clerk, and that post went to Virginian John Beckley. The Senate achieved its first quorum five days later. The First Congress served until March 3, 1791, during the first two years of George Washington’s presidency, initially at Federal Hall in New York City and later at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

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Considering the centrality of the question of representation, the right to serve as a representative had to be properly documented. Members of the Continental Congress received credentials certifying that they had been duly elected to Congress and had the right to serve, and sometimes they were given written instructions as well. The 1774-80 credentials were most often in the form of resolutions passed by state assemblies and the resolutions are attested, usually by the clerk of the state council/assembly, to be true copies extracted from the journal proceedings or minutes of the assemblies. These copies were presented by the member to the Clerk of Congress, Charles Thomson, who entered their text in journals. Those resolutions that survive now repose in The Continental Congress Papers in the National Archives.

Starting with the Confederation Congress in 1781 and lasting until the demise of the Continental Congress, some form of the true copy arrangement was retained in certain states (such as Maryland, where credentials to Congress are found signed by officials of its legislature). However, examination of the original documents in the National Archives indicates that other states now proceeded differently. They had original credentials prepared with their state seals and sent these documents to their governor ’s office for execution. In some places, they might be signed either by the state governor or a clerk in the governor ’s absence (South Carolina is an example of this). In still other states, they appear to have been signed principally if not solely by the governors themselves (Pennsylvania and Massachusetts had this practice. Some of their credentials in the National Archives were signed by Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock in their capacity as governors). Upon taking their seats, these credentials, however prepared and signed, were presented by members of Congress to Thomson. They are also in the National Archives. Did any of the delegates hold onto their original credentials rather than leave them with Thomson? The National Archives has no knowledge of any other holdings of such documents, and indeed very few delegates seem to have done so, as we can discover just three. Interestingly, the documents handed over to Thomson often take the form of appointments to a state position, but are actually credentials to Congress, as their presentation to Thomson and subsequent retention in the National Archives papers proves.

The Governor of Massachusetts at war ’s end was John Hancock, former President of the Continental Congress who affixed the first signature to the Declaration of Independence. Nobody was more fitted than he to certify the credentials of elected members being sent to Philadelphia. Document Signed as Governor, Boston, November 12, 1783, being James Sullivan’s original credentials to serve in the Continental Congress. It reads in part: “Whereas the General Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid did on the twenty eighth day of June A.D. 1783...appoint the Honorable James Sullivan Esq. a Delegate to represent this Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States of America...I do by these presents...commission the same James Sullivan Esq. to represent this commonwealth in Congress...” The verso is docketed “Honorable James Sullivan Esq. - Commission as a member of Congress.”

James Sullivan was a Massachusetts patriot, judge, congressman, governor and the first benefactor of the Massachusetts Historical Society. At this time in his life, he was an attorney and justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court. His duties prevented him from attending Congress, so though he received and accepted a credential, in the end he never had the opportunity to present it to Thomson. It survived in his papers.

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An extensive search of auction records, going back to 1968, has failed to turn up any other credentials of the Continental Congress having reached the market.

Additional consultation with colleagues has revealed at most two other such documents (for New York and Delaware) in the same 40+ year time span, and online research has not turned up any such documents privately held. This document is therefore one of three known Continental Congress credentials findable outside of the National Archives, as well as the sole one signed by John Hancock (whose name is virtually synonymous with the Continental Congress).

$38,000

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Signer George Walton as Chief Justice of Georgia A member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, he was from 1783-1789 chief justice of Georgia. He left that post to serve as governor. Document Signed as Chief Justice, October 1 (no year), being the Petition of Lewis B. Keall to the Court to authorize process to require Col. Samuel Hammond to appear to answer a complaint. Keall claimed that Hammond owed him over 171 pounds sterling for 46 barrels of rice.

The Court agreed, with the order to “Let process issue,� which is signed by Walton.

Attached to the document is an invoice made out to Hammond evidencing the debt.

The defendant, Hammond, was an officer in the Revolution, finishing as a colonel under Nathaniel Greene. He settled in Savannah and was appointed surveyorgeneral of Georgia. He served in Congress from 1803-1805, when he was appointed

by President Jefferson military and civil commandant of upper Louisiana, an office he held from 1805 till 1824. We can only wonder why he was keeping this merchant waiting to be paid. $1,600

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Signer Francis Hopkinson Helps Put Finis to the United States Navy A signer of the Declaration of Independence, Hopkinson served on the Marine Committee of the Continental Congress, which conducted the business of the fledgling American Navy. In 1779 he was made judge of the Court of Admiralty set up by the Congress, a position he held for a decade. Clement Biddle was Deputy Quarter Master General of the Continental Army and a friend of Washington. After the war, Congress appointed him U.S. Marshal for the Admiralty Court. In this position, Biddle assisted the Court by serving processes, saw that Court orders were carried out, and attended to Court business generally.

The Continental Navy seemed like a needless extravagance to many in an economy-minded Con-

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gress after the war ended, so in June 1785 it was ordered demobilized. Congress then sold the Navy’s surviving ships and released the seamen and officers with back pay. By late 1785, the American Navy had, incredibly, ceased to exist. This Autograph Document Signed, October 31, 1785, is an acknowledgment by the Admiralty Court that it had received funds to make large [and apparently final] payments to U.S. seamen. It is clearly part of the demobilization of the Navy.

“Received of Clement Biddle Esq., marshal, two hundred twenty nine pounds seventeen shillings for the above named persons wages of the ship United States ordered to be paid into this honorable court.”

It was not long before the termination of the Navy was recognized as unwise, yet it was not until a decade later, after attacks by the Barbary Pirates and the outbreak of a major war in Europe left a navy-less America vulnerable, that Congress saw fit to authorize the redevelopment of the U.S. Navy. $2,400

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The Correspondence, Hundreds of letters, of the Great Archaeologist Edward Chiera, Discoverer of the Nuzi Tablets Includes original photographs and Chiera’s opinion on the establishment of the Antiquities Museum in Baghdad Chiera was Annual Professor of the American Schools of Oriental Research in Baghdad from 1924-5 when at the invitation of Gertrude Bell he went to Nuzi near Kirkuk, Iraq and began archaeological excavations. His discovery and deciphering of the Nuzi Tablets was an important archaeological result. He was a close associate of the director and founder of the Oriental Institute, James Henry Breasted, and acted as a curator of the Museum of the Oriental Institute, making significant acquisitions for its collections. He was instrumental in the development of plans for the ASOR, for the Iraq Museum, and in the careers of other noted archaeologists. This archive consists of his correspondence mainly from 1927-1933, when he and Breasted worked hand in hand at the acclaimed Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. It allows us to see how an institute ran during this period, the development and funding of various schools of archaeology in the Middle East, and the Institute’s efforts to build and care for its collection. There are well over 700 items, including: - Correspondence with important antiquities dealers relating to acquisitions.

These include a pictorial rubbing, photographs of objects, depicting tablets, utensils, statues and containers; - Correspondence with archaeological expeditions, which reported their findings to Chiera; - Correspondence relating to the establishment of the great Antiquities Museum in Baghdad; - Correspondence relating to translation of numerological symbols, Babylonian and Assyrian; The archive is large and would benefit from further research.

$4,500