AMERICANA
“I WENT TO JEFFERSON DAVIS, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMM[ISSION] AND ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD DO ME THE PERSONAL FAVOR TO REPORT THE BILL. HE DID SO ON THE 23RD OF FEB. ON THE 26TH AT MY REQUEST HE MARRIED IT AS AN AMENDMENT UPON THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL…”
WILSON, HENRY. (1812-1875). 18th Vice President of the United States. Good Autograph Letter Signed, “Henry Wilson”, as Senator from Massachusetts. Four full pages, quarto. Natick [Massachusetts]. June 3, 1869.
“THE ELECTIONS IN THE STATES HAVE GONE AS WAS FEARED,…I AM UNABLE TO SEE THE GOOD WHICH WE USUALLY STRIVE TO FIND IN WHATEVER IS IRREVOCABLE” — “IT IS OFTEN EASIER TO PRONOUNCE A THING WRONG IN THE BEGINNING THAN TO SHOW THAT ITS REMOVAL WOULD BE FOR THE PERMANENT GOOD.”
DAVIS, JEFFERSON. (1808-89). First and only president of the Confederate States of America (1861-1865). Revealing Partial Autograph Letter Signed, “J.D.” One full page, octavo. No place, no date. Fine condition.
AMERICAN EXPLORER ~~ ZEBULON PIKE, ORDERS PAYMENT FOR A COURIER JUST TWO MONTHS BEFORE HIS HEROIC AND UNTIMELY DEATH
PIKE, ZEBULON M. (1779-1813). American explorer and soldier. Rare Autograph Endorsement Signed, “Z[ebulon] Pike C[ommanding] O[fficer]”, on verso of a manuscript pay order. One page, oblong octavo. February 18, 1813.
LIEUTENANT ZACHARY TAYLOR — IN HIS HOME STATE OF KENTUCKY – 1824
TAYLOR, ZACHARY. (1784-1850). Twelfth President of the United States (1849-1850). Early Autograph Letter Signed, “Z. Taylor, Lt. Col. 1st Regiment U.S. Infantry S.R. Service”. Two full pages, quarto. Louisville, Kentucky, December 15, 1824.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON ~~ HIS LECTURING SCHEDULE FOR 1905
WASHINGTON, BOOKER T. (1856-1915) Black American educator. Typed Letter Signed, “Booker T. Washington”, on his name imprinted Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute/ For the training of Colored Young Men and Women letterhead. One full page, quarto. Tuskegee, Alabama, March 31, 1905.
SAMUEL CLEMENS WRITES A CHECK FOR $750 TO HELP BUY A PIPE ORGAN FOR THE PARK CHURCH IN ELMIRA, N.Y. — A PLACE THAT WAS TO BE CENTRAL TO HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE
CLEMENS, SAMUEL L. [MARK TWAIN]. (1835-1910.) American humorist, lecturer and writer. Partly-Printed Check Signed, “S.L. Clemens”. One page, oblong octavo. New York, January 31, 1907. Fine condition. Drawn on Knickerbocker Trust Company and made out to ‘The Hope-Jones Organ Co.’ in the amount of “seven hundred fifty” dollars.
THE SIGNED HANDPRINT OF CECIL B. DEMILLE ~~ ACKNOWLEDGED FATHER OF AMERICAN CINEMA
DeMILLE, CECIL B. (1881–1959). Legendary American film director, producer and actor; between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 feature films, both silent and sound; acknowledged as a founding father of the American cinema; his films are distinguished by their epic scale and by his cinematic showmanship. His right handprint, boldly signed, “C.B. DeMille” in the right margin, aligned below his handprint.