AMERICANA

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. 

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.

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. 

JEFFERSON DAVIS —  SCARCE ALS WRITTEN WHILE STILL UNDER INDICTMENT FOR TREASON, UNTIL ANDREW JOHNSON ISSUED, JUST 7 WEEKS LATER, ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 1868   — A PRESIDENTIAL “PARDON AND AMNESTY” FOR THE OFFENSE OF TREASON TO “EVERY PERSON WHO DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PARTICIPATED IN THE LATE INSURRECTION OR REBELLION”.

DAVIS, JEFFERSON.  (1808-1889).  First and only President of the Confederate States of America (1861-1865).  Uncommon Autograph Letter Signed twice; “Jefferson Davis” and “J.D.”, while still under indictment for treason in the US.    Four pages, octavo.  “Sunday evening”, [England], November 1, 1868.  To “James Spence Esq., Abercromby Square, Liverpool”.

HARRY HOUDINI —  ON HIS MAGNIFICENT TWO PAGE, COLOR PICTORIAL LETTERHEAD!

HOUDINI, HARRY.  (1874-1926).  Legendary American magician.   Early Typed Letter Signed, on a wonderful pictorial illustrated letterhead showing a young Houdini in a full-face bust pose.  One page, large quarto, [with a second integral internal page printed in red and black detailing Houdini’s feats of magic and his tour schedule].  Dortmund, Germany, June 21, 1901. 

SAMUEL COLT:   THE INVENTOR OF THE REVOLVER

COLT, SAMUEL.  (1814-62).  American inventor of the revolver.  Rare, and early, Autograph Document Signed, “Samuel Colt”.  One page, small octavo.  New York, October 15, 1836. 

GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER WANTS HIS ‘ARMY AND NAVY JOURNAL’ DELIVERED TO HIS NEW POSTING IN THE DAKOTA TERRITORY

CUSTER, GEORGE ARMSTRONG (1839-1876)  U.S. Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars;  best remembered for his disastrous engagement at the ‘Battle of Little Bighorn’.  Boldly penned Autograph Letter Signed, “G.A. Custer, U.S. Army”.  Very full page,  quarto.  “Elizabethtown KY.,  “June 8, 1872.”