AMERICANA
“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.
LINCOLN / JOHNSON — ELECTION OF 1864 ELECTORAL UNION ‘TICKET’
[PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1864]. Printed electoral college ‘ticket’ from the 1864 election. One page, narrow tall octavo [approximately 3 x 6 ½ inches]. This ‘ticket’ represents those electors for Lincoln and Johnson, evidently from the state of Ohio. A scarce piece of presidential electoral Americana.
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.