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  Historic, apparently unpublished, Autograph Letter Signed, “John Hancock” [with paraph], as President of the Continental Congress.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. 

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.

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. 

NATHANAEL GREENE  — A SCARCE ALS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOST TRUSTED MAJOR GENERAL   —  SENDING A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR A PRINCETON GRAD WHO WAS TO STUDY WITH GEORGE WYTHE

GREENE, NATHANAEL.  (1742-86).  Major General of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War; he emerged from the war with a reputation as General Washington’s most talented and dependable officer, and is known for his successful command in the southern theater of the war.  Scarce Autograph Letter Signed, “Nathanael Greene”.  Two pages, quarto.  Savannah, April 13, 1786.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS SIGNED DOCUMENT

DOUGLASS, FREDERICK (1818-1895)  American abolitionist, editor, orator, author and statesman.  Partly-printed Document Signed  “Fredk Douglass,”  in his capacity as Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia.  Three pages, folio.   October 30, 1885.