1851. 1 page, 8.25 x 6 inches, removed from an 1851 Yale yearbook, the year he graduated, to fellow classmate, staunch unionist and future judge Marcus Lyon, in part: "...I very much regret that our acquaintance was not formed at an earlier period of our College course. In accordance with the hand of Fate you were not here during the 1st year. I was away the 2nd...The time is near at hand when we must bid farewell to College and..... More
Summing, GA. Scarce full signature: "Hiram P. Bell - Cumming - Georgia", executed on a 5.5" x 2.5" slip of paper, most likely while serving in the United States House of Representatives. Fine condition. American politician from Georgia who served in the Confederate States Congress and later, in the United States House of Representatives. He originally voted against secession as imprudent but then signed the Ordinance of Secession as a vote of solidarity. In 1861 he served in the Confederate..... More
West Point: 1862. 6 pages (front and back), 10 x 8 inches, West Point, New York, September 8, 1862. Signed "S. V. Benet" and written to Col. Alexander Hamilton Bowman, Supt. of the United States Military Academy, reporting on an ordinance trial of a projectile designed by American inventor Michael Ritner that could actually penetrate iron...but would be denied a production contract, in very small part: "...One of the objects of the trial was to test the penetrating power of..... More
Texas: 1855. Exceedingly rare Autographed letter signed twice with the initials "J.S.B." 4 pages, 9.75 x 7.75 inches, Fort McIntosh, Texas, August 6, 1855. This lengthy personal letter was written to his younger sister, Abbie, in small part: "...I was ordered right out into camp and have been scouting...since...I am still here on a Court Martial and should not wonder if an order came up by the next mail to create the Court to 18 members and try a man..... More
1898. 2.75 x 3.5-inch card, no place, no date, circa 1898, signed "Yours very truly J.C. Breckinridge Inspector General U.S.A." Faint uneven toning but still in very good condition overall. Union Army officer who was appointed an aide-de-camp to George H. Thomas in 1861. His cousin was a Confederate General and U.S. Vice-President. His brothers were Confederate Officers. He later became a brigadier general and Inspector General of the Army as well as a Major General of volunteers in the..... More
1858. Partly printed D.S. "W A. Buckingham", as Governor of Connecticut, folio, one page, 16" x 10 1/2", November 30th, 1858, appointing Joseph C. Lawrence a "Special Commissioner from New York State. Fine condition. William Alfred Buckingham (1804-1875). American politican who served as governor of Connecticut during the Civil War. More
New Orleans: 1869. 1 page, 8.25 x 5 inches, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 7, 1869. Written by the Confederate Major General in response to a request for his autograph: "Dear Sir: At your request I subjoin my autograph..." Handsomely matted with a fine wood-engraved portrait of Buckner and set in a textured brown frame measuring 15.75 x 16.5 inches. Near fine condition. More
Russellville, KY. Pristine signature on an autograph page: "Jno. W. Caldwell - Russellville - Ky", 5.5" x 3.5", most likely executed while representing Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives. American politician and "Southern Sympathizer" from Kentucky. Although he opposed secession, Caldwell entered the Confederate States Army and was immediately elected Captain of the "Logan Grays", a Confederate regiment from Logan County, Kentucky. When Confederate forces under Simon Bolivar Buckner entered Kentucky, Caldwell let the Grays to Bowling Green..... More
Indianapolis: 1877. 1 page on "Lafayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad" letterhead, 11.25 x 8.5 inches, Indianapolis, Indiana, November 13, 1877. Written to a party that had rented a train from him that then mysteriously vanished during rate re-negotiations, in part: "...I heard it stated the order of I.O.O.F. made application to your people for a special train, but could not get it. I know nothing of the correctness of this report..." Usual folds; five irregular punch holes along the left..... More
1850. Autograph quote signed. 7 1/4" X 2 1/4", written in brown iron gall ink, January 15, 1850, at the very height of the heated debates in the United States Senate that would eventually culminate into the Compromise of 1850; less than two weeks before Henry Clay's fiery speech before the Senate and just three months before Daniel Webster's resignation. In full: "Equal Rights for All: The first political lesson of Americans not fully learned as yet. Senate Chamber, January..... More
Cleveland: 1903. Typed letter to his daughters with a two-page handwritten continuation and signature. The letter concerns the rents his family has been charging tenants, in part: "...I am sorry we have to reduce rents but the only way to get along in this world is to adjust ourselves to the conditions as they are forced upon us. If a merchant holds up to high prices when everybody around him is making low prices he will soon be left without..... More
Galveston: 1866. Autographed letter signed "H.G. Wright" by the Major-General of the Union Army sent from his headquarter in Texas to a colleague in New Orleans regarding an update on an Inspection report. 1 page on lined, Headquarters, District of Texas letterhead. 4to. Galveston, Aug. 25, 1866. "...The report for June was forwarded...two or three days ago; its completion having been delayed for the correction of certain discrepancies in the reports of Dist. Inspectors..." More
Appleton, WI: 1863. Fine content A.L.S. 4to., 2 pages, Appleton, WI, January 27, 1863, providing news of troop movements and the firing and replacement of several Generals, in part: "...I suppose Rosecrans Army is at Murfreesboro yet. You see they cashiered and dismissed Porter. They ought to do the same with Buell or shoot him. When such traitors are out of the Army, we shall do better. I believe Rosecrans to be a true good officer. I understand he has..... More
New York: 1861. Excellent group of signatures with rank and command, on various sized paper (the largest measuring 2.5 x 5 inches), comprising the earliest known autographs of the founding three officers of Battery G, First New York Light Artillery, along with the last Captain to take command through attrition. Includes: J.D. Frank "Very respectfully - Your Obdt. Servt. - Captain, 1st N.Y. Artillery"; M.H. Rundell "Lieutenant - 1st N.Y. Artillery - Camp Barry - Dec. 5th 1861"; Nelson Ames..... More
1865. On the day the war ends, a volunteer enlists in the Union Army and collects his $300 bounty! 1 page, 6.75 x 8.5 inches -- a Statement of Recruitment, whereby Freuter, a New York City druggist, age 30, is allowed to join the Union Army and receive his $300 bounty, on the very day the war has ended, April 10, 1865. Also signed by the Mustering Officer, Captain S. C. Wagner. Note: in the very last days of the..... More
Gorham, Maine: 1864. Union patriotic cover with a large imprint of an angry Heraldic Eagle with stars & stripes shield, holding arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other, draped with a banner marked "E. Pluribus Unum." Postmarked: "Gorham, Maine, July 13" with a cancelled 3c Washington (A-25) stamp, pink variety. No year, circa 1864, 3 x 5.5 inches. Small quarter-inch stain on the irregularly cut left margin, not affecting postmark. Good condition. More
1864. Union Navy A.L.S. 8vo. 2 pages, August 27th 1864, Aboard the USS Elfin. Just three months before she would be destroyed by bombardment while in service on the Tennessee & Cumberland Rivers. Letter from a sailor who is trying to get his Land Grant application to Wisconsin, but he can't raise the $11.00 application fee on his ship. In part: "I received the papers alright and I signed an affidavit before my Commanding Officer - and I signed them..... More
1862. 1 page, 1.75 x 7.75 inches, no place, no date, circa 1862. Strip of lined paper cut from larger sheet -- an endorsement to the Governor of Maryland for the (unnamed) bearer. Probably signed during Stonewall Jackson's assault of 1862 during which Cooper briefly commanded Sigel's division. Several folds; very good condition. More
Macon, Georgia: 1864. 1 page, 10 x 7.75 inches, C.S. Arsenal, Macon, Georgia, August 17, 1864. In part: "...Mr. J.E. Montfort...contractor with US for tanning leather...is a practical tanner and his services are absolutely necessary for the fulfillment of his contract - he has been hereto relieved from conscription in consequence of bad health. I respectfully request his exemption from military service..." Docketed on the back by General Wayne just two weeks before being dismissed. Edges browned; small puncture holes..... More
Macon: 1864. 1 page, 10 x 8 inches, with a large watermark, Macon, Georgia, July 18, 1864. Rare war-date letter written within days of the evacuation of the Macon Arsenal, requesting that S.E. Jordan, a skillful and practical tanner with this arsenal, be exempted from being taken to the field because he had a contract with the Macon Arsenal. It is highly unlikely that Cuyler's request was processed as this is one of the last communications from the Macon Arsenal..... More
Mansfield, LA. Exceptional black ink signature: "J. B. Elam - Mansfield - Louisiana", executed on a 5.5" x 2.5" slip of paper. Fine condition. American politician who was a delegate to the Confederate Constitutional Convention, and who signed the Louisiana Ordinance of Secession on January 26th 1861. Elam was later elected Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives (Confederate States of America, serving from 1862-1864). More
1861. 1 page, 3.5 x 6 inches, written to his friend Nathanial Lyon, the first Union General killed during the Civil War, undated but almost certainly 1861, the year Lyon was killed, in full: "My Dear Lyon: For your uniform courtesy and kindness toward me. I give all I have to bestow -- good wishes. Yours Sincerely, James E. Estabrook." Note: Lyon was killed on August 10, 1861, and Estabrook's injuries forced him to resign several months later. Very good..... More
Augusta: 1864. 1 page, 8 x 5 inches on "State of Georgia Assistant Quartermaster's Office" letterhead, Augusta, January 7, 1864. Exceedingly rare war-date letter signed "Geo. W. Evans," written to Governor Joseph E. Brown, in part: "...This will be handed to you by Maj. B. Lanchis...He visits you in reference to an agency in the importation business which he will explain himself...I think he is eminently qualified to the business which he seeks..." Very good. Several folds; very good condition..... More
1951. 1 page, 8.25 x 6 inches, removed from an 1851 Yale yearbook, the year he graduated. Written to a fellow classmate, staunch unionist and future judge Marcus Lyon, in part: "...Flattery, dear Lyon, has been repugnant to me, but let me assure you that I shall ever look back upon our friendship with the highest pleasure and only regret that I have not been more intimate with one whom as a man and a gentleman I have always admired...J...... More
I have received my book, and it is a beautiful copy! It was very lovingly wrapped, and arrived in great shape. Thank you so much! I will definitely consider you for my next order.
The Michener book arrived today in great shape!! It's what I wanted and I do appreciate your professionalism in handling this transaction for me!!! Thanks, again, and I'll look forward to any future transaction.
