ALS
DR. BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE. — A VERY RARE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED FROM THE PIONEER OF VACCINATION IN THE UNITED STATES — HE HELPED ERADICATE SMALL POX
WATERHOUSE, BENJAMIN. (1754-1846). American physician; co-founder and professor of Harvard Medical School; known for being the first doctor to test the smallpox vaccine in the United States, which he carried out on his own family. Very rare Autograph Letter Signed, “Benjn. Waterhouse”. One full page, quarto. Cambridge, January 5, 1799. Very fine condition.
A RARE LETTER OF MARY SHELLEY ~~ THE AUTHOR OF ‘FRANKENSTEIN’
SHELLEY, MARY (1797-1851) British novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer. Shelley is best known for her Gothic novel: Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus. Rare Autograph Letter Signed, “Mary Shelley.” One page, octavo.
ALLEN GINSBERG TO ISTVAN EORSI: ”I TAUGHT U.S. BLACK LITERATURE COURSE THIS SPRING AND LEARNED A LOT, IT CHANGED MY EYES FOR NEGROES MORE EMPATHY, THE LITERAL SHADOW OF SLAVERY’S STILL CAST IN PRESENT COUNTRY’S OSTRACISM ON THE STREET — (WORSE THAN 60’S HIPPIES!) & JOBS, THEY OFTEN INTERNALIZE IT — & US WHITE FOLKS RARELY LOOK INTO THE PIT OF THEIR GRIEF, IT’S MADE ME COME TO REALIZE THE LONG SUFFERING DECADES”.
GINSBERG, ALLEN (1926-1997) Outstanding Autograph Letter Signed ”Allen”. One full page, quarto. New York, June 18, 1989. To Hungarian writer, novelist, poet and political essayist and longtime friend of Ginsberg, ISTVAN EÖRSI (1931-2005)
JOHN HANCOCK — A SCARCE EARLY FINANCIAL SIGHT-DRAFT — BOLDLY SIGNED BY HIM
HANCOCK, JOHN. (1737-1793). American patriot and statesman, who was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. Autograph Endorsement Signed, “John Hancock”, on the verso of a sight-draft drawn for payment to John Hancock. One page, oblong octavo. Halifax, Nova Scotia, November 21, 1766.
THE AUTHOR OF VANITY FAIR AND BARRY LYNDON — SENDS THANKS FOR A BOX OF CIGARS AND RETURNS PROOFS OF ONE OF HIS WORKS
THACKERAY, WILLIAM MAKEPEACE (1811-1863) English novelist best known for Vanity Fair (1848); and The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844). Brief, but charming Autograph Letter Signed, “W.M. Thackeray.” One page, 16mo. [approx 4 x 4 inches]. No place. No date. Thackeray writes to “Dear Smith”.
BAYARD TAYLOR — AUTHOR OF ‘THE FIRST GAY NOVEL’ TO BE PUBLISHED IN AMERICA — PENS A FABULOUS EARLY ILLUSIONARY LETTER: “NOW, THAT YOU YOURSELF WEAR THE FETTERS MATRIMONIAL, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DREAM ME INTO THEM SO EASILY.”
TAYLOR, BAYARD. (1825-1878) American poet, literary critic, translator, and travel author. Exceptional and early Autograph Letter Signed “J. Bayard Taylor”. [Taylor was christened ‘James Bayard Taylor’ at birth, thus the “J” in his signature]. Two full pages, quarto. Phoenixville, June 16, 1847. To Taylor’s early friend and apprentice in the printing trade, Edward Paxson, (1824-1905), later Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
LINDBERGH RETURNS SOME AIR MAIL COVERS — THAT WERE SENT TO HIM EARLIER IN 1932, THE YEAR OF THE LINDBERGH BABY KIDNAPPING AND MURDER
LINDBERGH, CHARLES A. (1902-74). American aviator, engineer and Pulitzer Prize winner; the first person to make a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Uncommon Autograph Letter Signed, “C.A. Lindbergh”, on his imprinted Charles A. Lindbergh, 39 Broadway stationery. One page, small quarto. New York, November 18, 1932. Excellent condition.