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SIMON BRADSTREET — LAST COLONIAL GOVERNOR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY

BRADSTREET, SIMON.  (1603-1697).  His very scarce Signature, “Simon Bradstreet”, as cut from a letter, on a slip of paper.  Approximately 2 ¼ x 1 inches.  Very fine condition.  

RARE SIGNATURE OF THE NOTED ENGLISH JURIST SIR WILLIAM BLACKSTONE

BLACKSTONE, SIR WILLIAM. (1723-1780) English jurist, judge, and professor; Blackstone produced Commentaries on the Laws of England, a highly successful treatise on common law that remains an important source on classical views of the common law.  His rare Signature, and sentiment: “Your most obedt. Servt. W. Blackstone,” as cut from a larger letter / document.  Approximately 2 ¼ x 1 inch.

MARIE ANTOINETTE  —  QUEEN OF FRANCE, ORDERS PAYMENT OF 60 POUNDS TO ONE OF HER COURT COURRIERS

MARIE ANTOINETTE.  (1755 –1793) Queen of France; born archduchess of Austria, youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I; she became dauphine of France upon her marriage to Louis-Auguste, [LouisXVI] heir apparent to the French throne (1770); during the French Revolution, she was convicted by the Revolutionary Tribunal of high treason and executed, by guillotine, [2 days after her husband, Louis XVI] at the Place de la Revolution. (14 October 1793).  Scarce Manuscript Document Signed, “Payez / Marie Antoinette”, as Queen.  One page, large legal folio, vellum.  Versailles, April 1, 1783. 

BERTRAND RUSSELL TO HIS TYPIST: ”…YOU WERE GOOD AT DECIPHERING BAD HANDWRITING. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE ENCLOSED MANNUSCRIPT”.

RUSSELL, BERTRAND [EARL]. (1872-1970). British philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate. Typed Letter Signed, ”Bertrand Russell”, on imprinted Telegraph House stationery. One full page, octavo. ”Harting, Petersfield”, March 12, 1937.

JOHN HANCOCK  —  A 1765 LOTTERY TICKET FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FANEUIL HALL

ISSUED TO EDWARD PROCTOR, WHO LEAD A GROUP OF MEN ON THE NIGHT OF THE ‘BOSTON TEA PARTY’ TO DUMP INTO THE SEA THE TEA CHESTS SECURED ABOARD THE ‘DARTMOUTH’ WHILE SHE LAY MOORED AT GRIFFIN’S WARF IN BOSTON HARBOR.   BOLDLY SIGNED BY PROCTOR ON THE VERSO AND STRONGLY SIGNED BY HANCOCK ON THE RECTO —   A SIMPLY SUPERB, AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE, COMBINATION OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOT SIGNATURES

HANCOCK, JOHN (1737-1793)   President of the Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation; Governor of Massachusetts; first Signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Scarce Partly-printed “Faneuil-Hall LOTTERY, No. Five” ticket, boldly signed “John Hancock”, at the lower center right.

SUPERB LETTER FROM THEODORE ROOSEVELT COMMENTING ON HENRY CABOT LODGE’S ADVICE TO HIM & HIS ROLE BEHIND THE SCENES IN PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS  —  AS HIS OWN POLITICAL FUTURE IS IN FRONT OF HIM T.R.  NOTES HE WAS CAUTIONED THAT:   “I MUST NOT TAKE AN OPEN PART IN POLITICS”

ROOSEVELT, THEODORE (1858-1919) President of the United States. Superb Autograph Letter Signed, “Theodore Roosevelt.” Three full pages, octavo. Washington D.C.  No date. [but from the handwriting and content we are assigning an approximate date of late 1891 /early 1892, while TR was serving on the US Civil Service Commission].

PAUL MAUSER, THE NOTED GUN DESIGNER AND DEVELOPER,  TRANSFERS 16 OF HIS GUN PATENTS TO A U.S. MANUFACTURER  ~~ AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AUTOGRAPH

MAUSER, PAUL   (1838-1914)   German weapon designer and manufacturer on verso. Surprizing scarce, Typed Document Signed twice “Paul Mauser,” and again as “P. Mauser.”   Five full pages, legal folio.  [8¼ x 13 inches].   Stuttgart, Germany with U.S. Patent Office stamp.  January 10, 1905.