Spink_Sale317_999_1099a_Layout 1 9/15/13 12:48 PM Page 167
October 9-10, 2013 - New York, NY
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Post-Civil War: Wise, Henry A. U.S. Congressman, Governor of Virginia (1856-1860), Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army, promoted Major-General after the Battle of Sayler’s Creek, was with Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Appomattox Court House. Autograph Letter Signed “Henry A. Wise”. Four pages on a folded 8 x 10 pale gray sheet of paper, Richmond, Va Oct. 12th, 1865. The letter is concerned with the warhorse of David, the brother of the letter’s recipient (Wise’s “Dear Young Friend”), and a visit to the “Good Mother” of the same; Wise’s being taken ill on his trip; Col. Fleet and other officers and privates coming to “tender” Wise, the management of the mother’s estate and sale of 200 acres of timber to be cleared in two years, and sold at very high prices to help rebuild Richmond. A few small rents, Wise’s writing while clear is somewhat difficult to decipher, Very Good. Est. 200-250 Civil War: Withers, Robert Enoch (1821-1907). Born in Lynchburg, VA, Withers was a physician until joining the Confederate army early in 1861, he entered as a major of the 18th Virginia Infantry, promoted to Colonel of the regiment then retired because of a number of disabling wounds, appointed to the Confederate military post at Danville, VA; after the war, Withers was a newspaperman, politician and diplomat; Boggs, F.J.. CSA officer, commanded Co. H (2nd) (Richmond Greys Company B) in the First Virginia Infantry, resigned after the First Battle of Manassas; appointed commander of the 12th Virginia Battalion-Artillery. Autograph Letter with Response Signed “FJ Boggs Maj & Chf Art” and “R E Withers Col. Comdg Post”. Letter one page, response onepage in single fold of three-fold, 7 7/8 x 10”, Headquarters Artillery Def. R & DRR Clover Depot March 31, 1865. In the letter, written a little over a week before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Boggs tells Capt. Oley, commanding the Artillery at Danville that he was surprised that two 10-pound Parrots had been moved by another party and placed in the fortifications. Rankled by the usurpation of his authority, Boggs says “You will have the guns turned over to you & parked with the rest & report as soon as possible”. A Lt. Wise’s name is also signed below Boggs. Withers responds on the back, Commandants Office, Danville April 1, 1865. “The guns alluded to within were placed in position by my order, the Engineer having reported that he had orders to enclose the work in which they are mounted, & after commencing the work of enclosure it would be impracticable to mount them, until the work should be completed a period of two or three weeks. Had the guns not been put in position and any necessity should have arisen to use them this most important of the redoubts would have been entirely useless to the defense, no matter how great the emergency.” Minor foxing and soiling, Very Good. Est. 100-150
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Civil War: Wright (Bousal), Rebecca. Quaker schoolmistress turned Union spy living in Winchester, Va during Civil War; Wright provided intelligence to General Sheridan which helped him take the Shenandoah Valley; after Wright was banished from her home for her loyalty to the Union, General Sheridan got her a clerkship at the Treasury Dept. where she worked for 47 years until retiring in 1914. Autograph “Rebecca W. Bousal, Washington D.C.” on 4 x 2 1/2” card. Small adhesion stain at top, Fine. Accompanied by a ca. 1912 newspaper clipping relating Wright’s story. [2] Est. 40-60
AUTOGRAPHS by Category 1090
British Royalty. Pair. Adelaide, Queen Consort of Great Britain (1830-1837), Queen Dowager. Autograph Note Signed. One and one-quarter pages. Matted with engraving of Adelaide; along with a Sepia Photo of Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII (1901-1910). 6 1/2 x 11”. Framed. Fine and Very Fine. [2] Est. 75-125
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Composers. Lehár, Franz. Hungarian composer of operettas and waltzes, known especially for his operetta “The Merry Widow, his song “You Are My Heart’s Delight” and his waltz “Gold and Silver”. Autograph Letter Signed “Lehár”. One page, oblong 8vo, on stationery imprinted with his name and address, Vienna, April 13, 1923. Writing in English, he tells Mr. Kaufmann that “I have received your kind letter, on the 2nd of May it is possible that I am in London for the new Premiere of the Merry Widow at the Daly’s Theatre. I will send you a Telegramm to Paris when I go” Some uneven toning at edges from prior display, small tear in upper right corner, otherwise Very Good. Matted with color portrait of Lehár and framed (Ca. 11 3/4 x 20 1/4” overall). The Merry Widow first opened in London in 1907, where it played at Daly’s Theatre; the “new Premiere” mentioned in this letter was its first London revival, which ran for 239 performances. Est. 150-250
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