WORLD HISTORY
GEORGE WASHINGTON GOETHALS ~ THE CHIEF ENGINEER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PANAMA CANAL
GOETHALS, GEORGE WASHINGTON. (1858-1928) U.S. Army officer and Civil Engineer; best known for his administration and supervision of the construction and the opening of the Panama Canal. Uncommon Typed Letter Signed, “G. W. Goethals,” on Isthmian Canal Commission letterhead. One page, quarto. Culebra. December 4, 1913. Fine condition.
KING GEORGE VI., DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, B.L. MONTGOMERY, LOUIS MONTBATTEN, CLEMENT ATLEE, MARK CLARK, ERNEST KING, CARL SPAATZ, JAN MASARYK, THE ENTIRE RUSSIAN DELEGATION TO THE WORLD TRADE UNION CONFERENCE, AND DOZENS MORE WWII ERA PERSONALITIES SIGN A GUEST BOOK WHEN ATTENDING VARIOUS CERMONIES AT OXFORD UNIVESITY
WORLD WAR II ERA PERSONALITIES. A simply remarkable assemblage of dozens of prominent persons who have signed a guest book kept by a hotelier who ran an establishment near Oxford University in the years 1944-1948.
NELSON WRITES TO ADMIRAL LORD HOOD ~~ FROM ABOARD THE AGAMEMNON, ANCHORED IN GENOA MOLE — HOOD HAD BEFRIENDED AND GUIDED THE YOUNG NELSON WHEN THEY BOTH SERVED IN THE CARIBBEAN YEARS BEFORE AND BOTH ACHIEVED DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SUCCESS IN THE CORSICA CAMPAIGN
NELSON, HORATIO, [VISCOUNT]. (1758-1805). British naval commander. Good Autograph Letter Signed, “Horatio Nelson”. Four full pages, quarto. “Agamemnon, Genoa Mole”, September 20, 1794. To Admiral Lord Hood.
EXTREMELY-RARE, EARLY 18TH CENTURY OATH OF ALLEGIANCE SWEARING FIDELITY TO KING GEORGE II ~~ SIGNED BY 14 COLONIAL JURISTS & STATESMEN
MANY OF WHOM WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEIGE OF LOUISBOURG, THE PIVOTAL OPERATION OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR IN 1758, THAT ENDED THE FRENCH COLONIAL ERA IN ATLANTIC CANADA AND LED TO THE SUBSEQUENT BRITISH CAMPAIGN TO CAPTURE QUEBEC IN 1759
AN EXTREMELY RARE PRINTED SIGNED OATH PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE TO KING GEORGE II — bearing fourteen signatures of major Colonial Jurists and political figures. One page, tall folio. No place, [Massachusetts Bay Colony], Undated, but most likely accomplished between 1727 and 1731.
KING KAMEHAMEHA IV ~~ HIS AUTOGRAPH TRANSLATION OF THE “PRAYER FOR ALL ESTATES OF MEN,” LIKELY A WORKING MANUSCRIPT FOR HIS 1862 SELF-TRANSLATED BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, THE FIRST IN THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE!
KAMEHAMEHA IV. (1834-1863) Fourth king of the united Kingdom of Hawaii (1855-1863). Exceedingly-rare Autograph Manuscript, in pencil, Unsigned. One page, full legal folio. [Approximately 8 ½ x 12 inches] No place [Hawaii] No date [circa 1862].
SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN ~~ THE FAMED BRITISH ARCHITECT, RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL IN LONDON, IN HIS ROLE AS DIRECTOR OF HIS MAJESTIES ROYAL HOSPITAL IN CHELSEA
WREN, CHRISTOPHER (1632-1723). English architect, who played a leading role in the rebuilding of London following the devastating Great Fire of 1666, and whose St. Paul’s Cathedral takes a place among the greatest designs in the history of architecture. Scarce Manuscript Document Signed, “Chr. Wren.” One page, large folio. [9.75 x 15 inches]. No place [London]. March 11, 1698.
A 17TH CENTURY LETTER OF CREDIT WITH GOOD NUMISMATIC OVERTONES
VYNER, SIR THOMAS. 1ST BARONET (1588–1665). Wealthy English businessman and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London; James I appointed Vyner to the office of comptroller of the mint; under Oliver Cromwell, Vyner and a partner purchased a large quantity of Spanish bullion to be converted into coins for both the English government and the East India Company; in 1656, he became the Lord Mayor of London and was knighted by Cromwell. Exceedingly-rare Autograph Letter Signed, “Thos. Vyner”. 1/3 page, legal folio. London, September 1, 1653.