AMERICA’S FIRST MILLIONAIRE WRITES A CHECK
ASTOR, JOHN JACOB (1763–1848). First millionaire in the United States. Autograph Check Signed, “John Jacob Astor”. Oblong narrow octavo. [8” x 3” inches]. New York, December 30, 1816.
WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST MAKES HIS POSITION CLEAR: “I WRITE THIS SO THAT THERE MAY BE NO DOUBT AS TO WHO IS MY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE”
HEARST, WILLIAM RANDOLPH. (1908-1993) American publisher. Autograph Letter Signed twice “W.R. Hearst” on his imprinted Cosmopolitan Productions letterhead. One page, quarto. New York City, June 1st, 1921.
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL — HIS REMARKABLE ASSESSMENT OF THE FUTURE OF THE AIRPLANE:
“HOW TO PRODUCE FLYING MACHINES SO THAT ANYONE CAN FLY.”
“THE CLOSE OBSERVATION OF LITTLE THINGS IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS IN BUSINESS, IN ART, IN SCIENCE, AND IN EVERY PERSUIT OF LIFE”
BELL, ALEXANDER GRAHAM (1847-1922) Scientist, inventor, and engineer who is credited with inventing the telephone. Partial Typed Letter Signed “Alexander Graham Bell.” One page, small quarto. No place. No date.
CHARLES DARWIN — TO EDWARD BARTLETT — 1871
DARWIN, CHARLES. (1809-82). British scientist and founder of evolutionary theory. Manuscript Note Boldly Signed: “Ch. Darwin / Down / Oct[ober] 17” no year, [but 1871 — from postal cancelations], penned on the verso of an imprinted UK 1/2 penny Postcard. Addressed to: “E[dward] Bartlett, 70 Delancey Street, Regent’s Park, N.W. [London]”.
ALLEN GINSBERG – TYPED SIGNED FAIR-COPY OF HIS POEM: KADDISH
GINSBERG, ALLEN. (1926-97). American Beat poet. Typed Fair-copy Poem Signed, “Allen Ginsberg” from his “Kaddish”, the remembrance poem written by him on his mother’s death. One page, quarto.
JAMES ABBOTT MCNEILL WHISTLER GRACEFULLY ACCEPTS AN INVITATION
WHISTLER, JAMES ABBOTT MCNEILL (1834-1903) American Artist, who exerted a profound influence on his contemporaries and on the course of American art. Autograph Note Signed “J. McNeill Whistler”. One page, oblong octavo. No date, no place.
T.S. ELIOT OFFERS TO SIGN SOME OF HIS BOOKS
ELIOT, T[HOMAS].S[TEARNS]. (1888-1965). American-born writer and poet. Typed Letter Signed, “T.S.E.”, on imprinted Faber and Faber Ltd. letterhead. One full page, small quarto. “24 Russell Square, London, W.C.1”, December 5, 1946.