PRESIDENTS
PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS IN THE WAKE OF THE “X,Y,Z AFFAIR” ADDRESSES THE CITIZENS OF HAMILTON, MASSACHUSETTS: “DURING MY ADMINISTRATION; THE ZEAL TO CONVINCE THE WORLD, THAT WE ARE NOT A DIVIDED PEOPLE; THEIR OFFER OF THEIR PROPERTY AND LIVES, TO SUPPORT THE HARD-EARNED LIBERTY OF THEIR COUNTRY; AND THEIR CONFIDENCE UNDER HEAVEN, THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE MOST POWERFUL EFFORTS, AND MACHINATIONS OF FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC ENEMIES”
ADAMS, JOHN. (1735-1826). Second President of the United States, Signer of Declaration of Independence. Exceedingly choice Manuscript Letter boldly Signed, “John Adams”, as President, just days after making the details of the ‘X,Y,Z Affair’ known to Congress. One full page, small quarto. Philadelphia, May 19, 1798. To: ‘The Inhabitants of: The Town of Hamilton in the State of Massachusetts”.
PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON AT WAR! — WITH THE BARBARY PIRATES — DURING A LULL IN THE TRIPOLITAN WAR, HE ASSURES MARYLAND CONGRESSMAN NICHOLSON THAT HE EXPECTS NO EXPANSION OF HOSTILITIES, AND IS THEREFORE REDUCING AMERICA’S NAVAL FORCE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN — “CERTAINLY NEITHER ECONOMY NOR PRUDENCE PERMITS TO KEEP IN ACTUAL SERVICE ALL THE FORCE WHICH MIGHT BE NECESSARY IN THE WORST STATE OF THINGS; FOR THEN WE OUGHT TO KEEP A LARGE STANDING ARMY…”
JEFFERSON, THOMAS. (1743-1826). 3rd President of the United States; and principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Important Autograph Letter Signed, as President, to Joseph H. Nicholson, noted politician and statesman from Maryland. Washington, D.C. February 23, 1803. One very full page, quarto.
JOHN ADAMS — WRITES GENERAL BENJAMIN LINCOLN — SEEKING AN APPOINTMENT FOR CAPTAIN LEMUEL CLARK WHO LEAD THE FIRST MARINES STATIONED ON BOARD THE “USS CONSTITUTION”
ADAMS, JOHN. (1735-1826). Second President of the United States (1797-1801), Vice President under George Washington; Signer of the Declaration of Independence; U.S. Minister to Holland, France, and England. Autograph Letter Signed, “John Adams”. One full page, quarto. “Quincy”, October 25, 1802. Fine condition. To “General [Benjamin] Lincoln”.
VERY RARE ZACHARY TAYLOR MILITARY AUTOGRAPH ORDER — SIGNED WHILE OCCUPING MEXICAN TERRITORY DURING THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR IN 1846
TAYLOR, ZACHARY. (1784-1850). Twelfth President of the United States (1849-50). Autograph Note Signed, “Z. Taylor, Genl., U.S.A Comdg.” One page, oblong octavo. “Matamoros, Mexico”, July 27, 1846.
ANDREW JACKSON ORDERS THAT PROVISIONS BE PROVIDED FOR “NEGRO BOB” – A FINE PRESIDENTIAL / BLACK-AMERICANA ITEM FROM 1813
JACKSON, ANDREW. (1767-1845). Seventh President of the United States (1829-37). Interesting, and historically important, Manuscript Document Signed, “Andrew Jackson, Major Genl”. One page, oblong narrow octavo. No place, March 31, 1813.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT: THAT IS A GREAT QUOTATION FROM WOODROW WILSON… I HAVE FELT RATHER IMPATIENT WITH HIS RECENT ATTITUDE ON CERTAIN MATTERS, NOTABLY THE EFFORT TO CONTROL CORPORATIONS.”
“CONGRESS DECIDED THAT UNDER THE CONDITIONS IN THAT CASE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD NO POWER TO ACT.
I WILL SEE IF I HAVE POWER TO ACT IN THIS CASE.”
ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. (1858-1919). 26th President (1901-1909), and first American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1906). SuperbTyped Letter Signed “Theodore Roosevelt,” as President on imprinted The White House, Washington embossed stationery, with hand written corrections to his type and a seven line Autograph Postscript following his signature. Two pages, small quarto. Oyster Bay, N.Y., August 29, 1908.
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.