AMERICANA

JOHN HANCOCK  —  A 1765 LOTTERY TICKET FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FANEUIL HALL

ISSUED TO EDWARD PROCTOR, WHO LEAD A GROUP OF MEN ON THE NIGHT OF THE ‘BOSTON TEA PARTY’ TO DUMP INTO THE SEA THE TEA CHESTS SECURED ABOARD THE ‘DARTMOUTH’ WHILE SHE LAY MOORED AT GRIFFIN’S WARF IN BOSTON HARBOR.   BOLDLY SIGNED BY PROCTOR ON THE VERSO AND STRONGLY SIGNED BY HANCOCK ON THE RECTO —   A SIMPLY SUPERB, AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE, COMBINATION OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOT SIGNATURES

HANCOCK, JOHN (1737-1793)   President of the Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation; Governor of Massachusetts; first Signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Scarce Partly-printed “Faneuil-Hall LOTTERY, No. Five” ticket, boldly signed “John Hancock”, at the lower center right.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS   —  POSSIBLY UNIQUE SIGNED CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPH  —   TAKEN BY ABOLITIONIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER  —  JOHN HURN, WHO HELPED DOUGLASS ESCAPE TO CANADA, AFTER JOHN BROWN’S ARREST AT HARPER’S FERRY

DOUGLASS, FREDERICK.  (1817-1895).  The most prominent African American abolitionist, orator, journalist and antislavery leader of the 19th century.  Superb, and unquestionably extremely-rare Signed Carte-de-visite Photograph.  Douglass is depicted in a 4/5 full face, bust pose.

SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE — SAMUEL ADAMS — AS GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS

ADAMS, SAMUEL. (1722-1803). American patriot and Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Partially-Printed Document Signed, ”Samuel Adams”, as Governor of Massachusetts. One page, oblong folio. Boston. September 8, 1796. Countersigned by John Avery, as secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

FILLMORE — AS PRESIDENT — AUTHORIZES THE AFFIXING OF THE SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE REMISSION OF A FORFEITURE FOR THE SHIP ‘ST. GEORGE’ — WHICH, JUST 2 WEEKS LATER, WAS LOST AT SEA, IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, WITH A HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE!

FILLMORE, MILLARD. (1800-74). Thirteenth President of the United States (1850-3). Most unusual, Partly-Printed Document Signed, ”Millard Fillmore”, as President. One page, quarto. Washington, D.C., December 11, 1852. Very fine condition. The document reads: I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to the remission of the forfeiture granted to the Ship St. George

LINCOLN APPOINTS: WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE RENSHAW — A COMMANDER IN THE NAVY — AN IMPORTANT CIVIL WAR NAVAL COMISSION

LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. (1809-1865). Sixteenth President of the United States (1861-1865). Superb and important partly engraved Document Signed, ”Abraham Lincoln”, as President. One page, tall folio, vellum. Washington, August 5, 1861. Countersigned by GIDEON WELLS, Secretary of the Navy. President Lincoln appoints WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE RENSHAW a Commander in the United States Navy.

CLARA BARTON —  FOUNDER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, PENS AN ODDLY ETHEREAL AND REFLECTIVE LETTER,  IN THE YEAR OF HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY

BARTON, CLARA.  (1821-1912).  American humanitarian and founder of the American Red Cross; Her book: the Story of My Childhood was publishe din1907.   Interesting series of two letters written on the same piece of paper.  One: Autograph Letter Signed, “Clara Barton” and the other: “C.B.”  Four very full pages, octavo.  (each letter is 2 pages in length).  Meriden, Connecticut, June 3, 1907. Very fine condition. 

GENERAL CHENNAULT,  OF “FLYING TIGERS’ FAME,  WRITING FROM TAIWAN, RECALLS HIS PREDICTIONS ABOUT RED CHINESE INVOLVEMENT IN THE KOREAN WAR

CHENNAULT, CLAIRE LEE.  (1890-1958).  American Army officer;  best known for his leadership of the “Flying Tigers” and the Republic of China Air Force in World War II. Typed Letter Signed, “C.L. Chennault”, on his name-imprinted “The Orient’s Own” CAT Civil Air Transport letterhead.  One page, quarto.  Taipei, Taiwan, February 24, 1953.