AMERICANA
ALEXANDER HAMILTON — HIS BOLD FREE-FRANKING SIGNATURE ON A TREASURY LETTER ADDRESSED TO CHARLES LEE
HAMILTON, ALEXANDER (1755-1804) U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Founding Father, political philosopher and economist. His Free-Franking Signature, “A. Hamilton,” on an integral address leaf of a Treasury Letter, addressed to “Charles Lee Esquire, Collector at Alexandria.” With straight “New York Sept 25,” and “Free” cancellations.
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.”
CHECK SIGNED BY POET AND ABOLITIONIST JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
LOWELL, JAMES RUSSELL. (1819-1891). Poet, Critic, Satirist, Diplomat, and noted Abolitionist. Attractive Partly-printed Check Signed: “J.R. Lowell”.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN – PENS A RECEIPT FOR 30 POUNDS PAYMENT, FOR ONE YEAR’S INTEREST ON A BOND
FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN. Attractive Autograph Document Signed, “B. Franklin”. One page, oblong octavo. [Philadelphia]. July 3, 1789.
JOHN AMHERST TO JEFFERY AMHERST — BEST KNOWN FOR HIS SUCCESSFUL SERVICE DURING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, AND DURING THE PONTIAC REBELLION, AMHERST AGREED TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF SMALL POX INFECTED BLANKETS AMONG THE NATIVE AMERICAS, THE ONLY RECORDED CASE OF BRITISH SOLDIERS GIVING SMALLPOX-CONTAMINATED BLANKETS TO NATIVE AMERICANS.
AMHERST, JOHN (1718- 1778). Brother of Lord Jeffrey Amherst, Admiral in the British Navy who went on to serve as Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. Uncommon Autograph Letter Signed, “John Amherst.” Two very full pages, large quarto. “Thatched House, St. James Street, [London] April 10, 1760”. Very fine condition. To his brother JEFFERY AMHERST, 1ST BARON AMHERST (1717-1797).
PRE-REVOLUTIONARY WAR MASSACHUSETTS PAY WARRANT — SIGNED BY SIR FRANCIS BERNARD
BERNARD, SIR FRANCIS. (1712-1779). Governor of New Jersey and Massachusetts. Partly-printed Document Signed, “Fra Bernard”, as Governor of Massachusetts, on a pay order. One page, octavo. Cambridge, January 27, 1769.