THE ASTRONOMER ROYAL SIGHTS A COMET! ~~ “ON SUNDAY NIGHT THE 8TH INSTANT, A COMET EQUAL IN LIGHT TO A STAR OF THE FOURTH MAGNITUDE, WITH A LARGE COMA, BUT NO NUCLEUS OR TAIL, WAS OBSERVED AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AT GREENWICH”.
MASKELYNE, NEVIL. (1732-1811). English astronomer. Significant Autograph Letter Signed, “N. Maskelyne”, accompanied by a holograph article for inclusion in the next day’s daily paper penned under Maskelyne’s statement. One page, quarto. Greenwich, December 9, 1805.
ATTRACTIVE WAR OF 1812 JAMES MONROE FREE FRANK, WITH MILITARY ORDERS NOTATION ABOUT THE RULES FOR THE GRANTING OF COMMISSIONS TO PRIVATEERS
MONROE, JAMES. (1758-1831). Fifth President of the United States. Autograph Document Signed, ”Jas’ Monroe”, as Secretary of State under James Madison. On folded cover, January 21, 1814. Addressed to ”The Collector of the Customs, Marblehead, Mass.”
HENRY CABOT LODGE WRITES ABOUT A BILL COMING BEFORE CONGRESS FOR: “THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN COMPENSATION FOR POSTAL EMPLOYEES”
LODGE, HENRY CABOT. (1850-1924). American statesman. Typed Letter Signed, “H.C. Lodge”, on imprinted United States Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations letterhead. One full page, quarto. May 26, 1920.
THREE YEARS BEFORE PUBLISHING ALICE IN WONDERLAND, LEWIS CARROLL OFFERS EDITING ADVICE ON A POEM SUBMITTED TO HIM FOR REVIEW, AND ACCEPTS CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS NEWLY PUBLISHED WORK ENTITLED: COLLEGE RHYMES
DODGSON, CHARLES L. [LEWIS CARROLL]. (1832-1898). English logician, mathematician, photographer, and novelist, especially remembered for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass (1871). Good, early Autograph Letter Signed, “C.L. Dodgson”. Four full pages, octavo. “Ch[rist] Ch[urch] Oxford”, England, December 1, 1862.
COLONEL THEODORE ROOSEVELT — DISCHARGES THE “CHIEF TRUMPETER” OF THE ROUGH RIDERS
ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. (1858-1919) 26th President of the United States; Vice President under McKinley; Colonel of the Rough Riders at the Battle of San Juan Hill; recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Exceedingly-scarce partly-printed Document Signed, twice. Once as “T. Roosevelt / Col. 1st U.S.V. cavalry [commanding] Rg 1”, and “T. Roosevelt” Col/ U.S.V.C. Two full separate pages, quarto. ‘Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point, New York. September 15, 1898’.
GRIEG MUST CANCEL HIS CONCERT DUE TO HIS POOR HEALTH
GRIEG, EDVARD. (1843-1907). Norwegian composer. Autograph Note Signed, “Edvard Grieg”, in Norwegian, on an octavo post card. London, November 28, 1892.
EXCEPTIONALLY EARLY, GRAHAM GREENE LETTER ANNOUNCING THE SUCCESS OF HIS FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEL: THE MAN WITHIN ~~ ACCOMPANIED BY A LONG, DETAILED AND INSIGHTFUL LETTER FROM HIS WIFE
GREENE, GRAHAM. (1904-91). British novelist; known for: The Confidential Agent (1939), The Power and the Glory (1940), The Third Man (1949), The End of the Affair (1951), Our Man in Havana (1958), amongst many others. Enlightening and early Autograph Letter Signed, “Graham Greene”, to his uncle. One full page, octavo. “8 Heathcroft, Hampstead Way, N.W.11.” [September 30, 1929].