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HUDSON MAXIM:  “A MOMENT WHEN THE WORLD IS TEETERING ON THE RIM AND VERGE OF … HELL.”

MAXIM, HUDSON (1853-1927) U.S. inventor and chemist who invented a range of explosives, including a high power smokeless gunpowder. The book: Capitalism vs. Bolshevism by George L. Walker Inscribed on front free endpaper: “To my friend Dr. W.R. Whitney with great regards and all best wishes for Christmas 1919 – a moment when the world is teetering on the rim and verge of … hell…”

“ONE PENNY” DREADFUL OF DICKENS’  OLIVER TWIST  —  WITH A DEROGATORY BLACK ‘CHARACTER’ ADVERT FOR A HUMOR BOOK ENTITLED: “MATRIMONIAL THERMOMETER’ AND ‘AFRICAN MIDGET’ OFFERED WITHIN

DICKENS, CHARLES. (1812-1870). English novelist.  “The Story of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens”, being ‘The Penny Library of Popular Authors, Edited by Charles H. Ross, and published by Henry Vickers, 317 Strand [London].’  No date, but circa 1881.  Large folio, approximately 9 ½ x 11 inches.  20 pages total. 

QUEEN ANNE INSTRUCTS THE DUKE OF ARGYLE UPON HIS APPOINTMENT AS HER NEW AMBASSADOR TO THE SPANISH COURT  ~~  A REMARKABLE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNICATION

ANNE, QUEEN. (1665-1714). Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Superb and Important Manuscript Document Signed, “Anne R”, and also “A. R.”, as Queen. Nine very full pages, folio. The “Court at St. James’s, February 20, 1710”.

AS LORD NELSON AND LADY HAMLTON BEGIN THEIR LOVE AFFAIR

NELSON WRITES TO THE HUSBAND OF HIS MISTRESS, SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON A FULL RECOUNTING OF THE BRITISH FLEET’S ACTIVITIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AGAINST THE FRENCH FLEET.  HIS PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION IS EVIDENT, STATING: “I AM SERIOUSLY UNWELL…I KNOW NOT WHAT SLEEP IS SINCE I LEFT PALERMO”

NELSON, HORATIO. (1758-1805).  Legendary British Naval officer;  Admiral.  Intriguing and Important Autograph Letter Signed “Nelson”, with a lengthy Autograph Postscript also Signed “Nelson”.  To Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803).   Written aboard his ship, The Vanguard, “off Trapani, 27 May [1799]”. Three very full pages, quarto.

OPPENHEIMER TO LILIENTHAL  —   HIS BOOK: THE FLYING TRAPESE: THREE CRISES FOR THE PHYSICIST – INTIMATELY INSCRIBED:  “WITH AN OLD, CONSTANT AND GRATEFUL LOVE,  ROBERT”.   

OPPENHEIMER, ROBERT J.  (1904 –1967)  American theoretical physicist; director of the Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II; credited as the “father of the atomic bomb” for his role in the Manhattan Project, the research and development project that was responsible for the first nuclear weapons.   His book:  The Flying Trapeze: Three Crises for the Physicist. 1964, Oxford University Press, London. Red cloth covered boards.  Octavo, 65 pages. Very fine condition.  Inscribed on half title page: “with an old, constant and grateful love,  Robert”.  

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, THE GRANDSON OF JOHN ADAMS AND THE SON OF JOHN QUINCY DETAILS HIS EUROPEAN TRAVELS AND COMMENTS ON THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCENE

ADAMS, CHARLES F.  (1807-1886).  American diplomat and editor, grandson of John Adams and son of John Quincy Adams;  during the American Civil War, served as United States Minister to the United Kingdom, and was crucial to Union efforts to prevent British recognition of the Confederate States and to maintain European neutrality; featured and had major roles in national and state politics before and after the Civil War.  Good Autograph Letter Signed, “C.F.A.”, on blind-embossed Bath stationery.  Four very full pages, octavo.  Venice [Italy], May 23 and 24, 1868. 

THEODORE ROOSEVELT  ~~  TO HIS SECRETARY OF WAR,  REQUESTING THAT THIS FORMER CONFEDERATE SOLDIER, NOW SERVING IN HIS CABINET, REFRAIN FROM PUBLIC APPEARENCES WITHOUT SPEAKING TO HIM FIRST

ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. (1858-1919). Historian, naturalist, 26^th President (1901-1909), and first American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1906). Revealing Typed Letter Signed, “Theodore Roosevelt,” as President, on White House, Washington letterhead. Marked ‘Personal’.  One page, quarto. ‘Oyster Bay, N.Y.’, August 29, 1908.