AMERICANA
JOHN HANCOCK — AS PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS — IN PHILADELPHIA — IN 1776! SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN BOSTON AFTER THE BRITISH EVACUATION & INQUIRES ABOUT THE FLEDGLING AMERICAN NAVY WHILE SENDING ALONG PRIVATEEERS COMMISSIONS
HANCOCK, JOHN. (1737-1793) President of the Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation; first Governor of Massachusetts; first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Historic, apparently unpublished, Autograph Letter Signed, “John Hancock” [with paraph], as President of the Continental Congress. One full page, quarto. Philadelphia, April 12, 1776.
A DOCUMENT FROM LINCOLN’S DAYS ON THE ILLINOIS CIRCUIT COURT, ONCE OWNED BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. (1809-1865). Sixteenth President of the United States (1861-1865). Autograph Document Signed, “Lincoln & Herndon p.q.” One full page, folio.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY — “I AM SORRY THAT OUR WORK FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN COMES IN COLLISION WITH THE BIG RECEPTION – BUT THOSE EARNEST TO HELP IN THE CAUSE WILL GO TO OUR MEETING FIRST & TO THE RECEPTION LATER & SO TAKE IN BOTH…”
ANTHONY, SUSAN B. (1820-1906). American woman-suffrage advocate. Autograph Letter Signed, “Susan B. Anthony”, on imprinted Woman Suffrage New York State Constitutional Convention letterhead. Four very full pages, octavo. Rochester, N.Y., Feb 3, 1894.
A LAW BOOK FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON’S LIBRARY WITH HIS CLASSIC BOOK OWNERSHIP SIGNATURE — PURCHASED BY HIM IN 1775 FROM PEYTON RANDOLPH’S ESTATE AND ALMOST CERTAINLY REVIEWED BY HIM DURING HIS WRITING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
JEFFERSON, THOMAS. (1743-1826). Third President of the United States (1801-1809) and author of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson’s copy of Sir John Davies’”Le Premier Report des Cases & Matters en Ley resolves adiudges en les Cours del Roy en Ireland, DUBLIN, Printed by John Franckton Printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie. Anno.1615.” The first book on Irish case law.
THE PARDON OF A SLAVE. 1766 — “THE PROPERTY OF MR HUGH HOPEWELL; HIS CRIME NOT BEING OF A VERY HEINOUS NATURE, & HIS MASTER DESIROUS OF SAVING HIM… I AM NOT FOND OF HAVING ROGUES ESCAPE PUNISHMENT, BUT ON THE CONTRARY ( I SHOULD RATHER CHOOSE THEY SHOULD SUFFER AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS (PARTICULARLY NEGROES) AMONG WHOM VILLAINY AND ROGUERY IS BUT TOO COMMON….)
PLATER, GEORGE. (1735–1792). American statesman from Saint Mary’s County, Maryland; he represented Maryland in the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1780, and briefly served as the sixth Governor of Maryland in 1791 and 1792. Uncommon Autograph Letter Signed, “Geo Plater”. One full page, legal folio. No place, June 22, 1766. To Maryland Governor, Horatio Sharpe.
SCARCE STATE OF OHIO INDEBTEDNESS BOND — SIGNED BY WILLIAM MCKINLEY
MCKINLEY, WILLIAM. (1843-1901). Twenty-fifth President of the United States (assassinated); Governor of Ohio; Congressman. Partially Printed (red and blue inks) Document Signed, “Wm McKinley,” as Governor of Ohio. One page, oblong large folio. Columbus, Ohio. May 12, 1894.
VARINA DAVIS TO THE LADIES OF COLUMBUS: “OUR CHILDREN SHALL BE TAUGHT TO REVERE THE MEMORY AND REMEMBER THE FRIENDSHIP SHOWN BY THESE TRUE FRIENDS IN THE DAY OF OUR ADVERSITY.”
DAVIS, VARINA. (1826-1906). Wife of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America. Autograph Letter Signed, “Varina Davis”, on monogrammed stationery. Two full pages, octavo. ” Fortress Monroe, Virginia, May 2, 1867″. Very fine condition.