These are our most recently listed items, in all categories.
Signature, “Benj[amin] Alvord,” a frank on a 1 ½” x 5 ¾” portion of an imprinted “Paymaster General’s Office” envelope; marked “Personal” by Alvord, with a Washington, D.C. postmark at mid left.
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining.
Early in the American Civil War, Ashby’s 7th Virginia Cavalry functioned primarily on scout and outpost duty along the Potomac. In the spring of 1862, Colonel Ashby served with distinction in the Shenandoah Valley campaign as head of Stonewall Jackson’s cavalry. Only two weeks after his promotion to brigadier general, Ashby was killed-in-action.
Autograph Letter Signed, 5 ¾” x 7”, an important, confidential early-war strategic communication, directing the destruction of a dam on the Potomac, between Martinsburg, Virginia and Williamsport, Maryland.
“Camp Jefferson, Sept[ember] 24, [18]61. Col[onel] Riley. Dear Sir, I shall need your cooperation in a few days to destroy the Dam No. 4 – by throwing such force as you can safely send out from Martinsburg towards the Dam to be between that point and the crossing opposite Williamsport, but near enough to be supported by the whole body with me if you should be threatened. When I am prepared for the work I will inform you – Do not let this be known as secrecy is important. Respectfully, Turner Ashby, L[ieutenan]t Col[onel] Com[mandin]g.”
Extremely rare, as no other such examples have been offered for sale in the recent past.
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few stains, and there are inconsequential pinholes and minor breaks at the intersections of several folds.
Signed Card, 1 ½” x 3”, “C.C. Augur, Maj[or] Gen[era]l U[nited] S[tates] V[olunteers].”
Evenly toned, with minor chipping at the lower edge.
Early War-Date Franked Patriotic Envelope
Franked Patriotic Envelope 3” x 5 ½”, “Free, E.D. Baker, U.S. Senate,” with a May 27, 1861, New York postmark. Addressed in another hand to “P. Willard George, Esq[uire], No. 257 North 16th St[reet], Philadelphia, P[ennsylvani]a.”
Expected toning, soiling, and wear, with several chips and small tears at the edges.
Veteran of the Mexican War; U.S. Congressman – Illinois – 1845-47 & 1849-51; U.S. Senator – Oregon – 1860-61; Close friend of Abraham Lincoln
“Warrenton [Virginia], 25 – 6 [June, 1862]. P.M. Major Perkins, A[ide] D[e] C[amp], Etc. Select a good position and camp our Corps where they are. I return in an ambulance. Truly Yours, N.P. Banks, M[ajor] G[eneral] C[ommanding].”
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few light stains; minor bleeding of ink on several letters; two horizontal folds.
Signed Card, 2 ¼” x 4”, as Tennessee Governor, “Executive Office, Nashville, Tenn[essee], Wm. B. Bate.”
Excellent.
Signature, probably war date, with the rank Bates held from enlistment until October 3, 1862, “Wm. B. Bate, Col[onel] 2nd Tenn[essee] Inf[antry],” on a 1 ¼” x 3 ½” slip of paper.
Lightly and evenly toned, with old mounting remnants on the reverse.
Signed Card, 1 ¾” x 3 ¾”, bevel-edged, “John Beatty.”
Excellent.
Signed Card, 2 ½” x 3 ½”, “G.T. Beauregard, 1891.”
Exceptional.
Franking Signature, “Frank P. Blair, Jr.” on a ½” x 3 ¾” portion of an envelope, a Washington, D.C. postmark intersecting the signature. Affixed to slightly larger backing, with minor glue staining at the edges.
Signed Photograph, 6” x 8”, a silver-print image of Blanchard as a young man, circa 1900. Signed in pencil on the reverse, “J.H. Blanchard, Greenwood, Miss[issippi],” with pencil notations in another hand just above, seemingly indicating an obituary or biographical placement in a local newspaper.
Excellent, with light toning and old mounting remnants on the reverse.
Civil War-Date Signed Envelope
Signed Envelope, 3” x 5 ¼”, “J.D. Blanding, Col[onel] 9th Reg[imen]t S[outh] C[arolina] V[olunteers],” also addressed by Blanding, to “Wm. F.B. Haynesworth, Esq[ui]r[e]…Sumter, South Carolina.” An indistinct postmark, undoubtedly Tudor Hall, Virginia, and Due “10” markings at upper right; with vertical pencil notations, in an unknown hand, “from Col[onel] 9th Rec[eive]d Oct[ober] 29, 1861” along the left edge.
Somewhat lacking in contrast, with moderate toning throughout and the expected wear, soiling, and edge chips.
Signature & Rank, probably war date, “E.B. Brown, Brig[adier] Gen[eral] Vol[unteer]s,” on a 1” x 3 ¾” slip of lined paper; affixed to slightly larger backing.
Lightly and evenly toned.
A staunch proponent of states’ rights, Governor Brown clashed repeatedly with Confederate President Jefferson Davis and became a major impediment to the prosecution of the American Civil War.
Document Signed, Atlanta, Georgia, February 3, 1879, “Joseph E. Brown,” a partly printed 2 ¾” x 7 ½” check with an imprinted revenue stamp, drawn on The Citizens Bank of Georgia for $220.84.
Excellent. The signature and text are unaffected by a punch cancellation, with no loss of paper, at mid left.
Signature, with date and place of residence, “O.H. Browning, Quincy, Illinois, Aug[us]t 10, 1874,” on a 3” x 7 ¾” slip of lined paper; affixed to heavier backing.
Excellent.
Letter Signed, on imprinted stationery as U.S. Interior Secretary, promoting a clerk in the General Land Office.
“Washington, D.C., March 24th 1868. L. Harreson of Pennsylvania, is hereby promoted to a Clerkship of the Second Class in the General Land Office to take effect from the first instant. O.H. Browning, Secretary of the Interior.”
Lightly toned, with a few stains and two horizontal folds; trimmed slightly at the left edge; old mounting remnants on the reverse.
Signature, with sentiment and date, “very Respectfully yours, O.H. Browning, Feb[ruar]y 1, 1867,” on a 2 ¼” x 4 ¾” slip of lined paper; penned as U.S. Interior Secretary.
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor show-through of old mounting remnants on the reverse.
Civil War-Date Document Signed, 7” x 9”, “S.B. Buckner, Maj[or] Gen[era]l Commanding,” a manuscript listing of rations, “Abstract of Provisions issued from the 1st to the 31st day of December 1863 to the troops of the Confederate States stationed in the field by Capt[ain] I. Shelby, Jr…”
Lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds.
Civil War-Date Document Signed by a Killed-in-Action Union General
Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 12”, “Approved, Hiram Burnham, Col[onel] 6th Maine Vol[unteer]s,” a manuscript “Abstract of articles expended in the public service at Camp near Bell[e] Plains, V[irgini]a…in the month ending on the 31st December 1862.” Countersigned three times, front and reverse, by Lieutenant Addison P. Buck.
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few superficial stains and three horizontal folds.
Civil War-Date Document Signed Twice by a Killed-in-Action Colonel, later promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
Document Signed, 8” x 10”, Camp Griffin, Virginia, February 28, 1862, “Hiram Burnham, Col[onel],” a partly printed requisition for personal wood fuel the month. Signed twice, at the mid and lower right.
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few superficial stains and two horizontal folds.
Early Civil War-Date Pass
Autograph Document Signed, 3” x 5”, a rare handwritten pass from Burnside’s early-war encampment near Washington, D.C., named for Rhode Island Governor William Sprague.
“Camp Sprague. Washington, June 6th 1861. Pass Serg[ean]t Crandall till eleven o’clock. A.E. Burnside, Col[onel] Com[man]d[in]g.”
Pencil notations in an unknown hand on the reverse list several identified enlisted men of the 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry. The 1st Rhode Island Infantry under the command of Colonel Burnside was actively engaged at the Battle of First Bull Run, July 21, 1861 and returned to Providence, Rhode Island, where the unit was mustered out on August 2, 1861. Colonel Burnside re-entered Union service soon afterward and was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, effective August 6, 1861.
Lightly toned, with somewhat heavier soiling and wear at vertical and horizontal fold lines; a few small tears and minor chips at the edges.
Document Signed, 9 ½” x 11”, Boston, Massachusetts, April 17, 1869, “A.E. Burnside,” as company president, a partly printed $500 “First Mortgage Bonds” certificate for the Narrangansett Steamship Company. Countersigned by four company officials. A five-cent revenue stamp is affixed at upper right, with an embossed seal at lower right.
Lightly toned, with the usual folds; a few tears and cuts at the lower edge; show-through along the lower edge from glue staining on the reverse.
A Handwritten Civil War Pass for Butler’s Brother-in-Law
Civil War-Date Autograph Document Signed, on official 5” x 8” stationery, imprinted “HEAD QUARTERS, Department of Virginia and North Carolina.”
“In the field, June 10, 1864. Pass Fisher A[mes] Hildreth, Esq[uire] and his wife to visit my Head Q[uarte]rs at Fortress Monroe. Benj[amin] F. Butler, Maj[or] Gen[era]l Com[mandin]g.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining at the left edge and the expected folds.
Franking Signature, “Free, S. Cameron,” on a 3 ¼” x 5 ¾” portion of a postal cover; also addressed by Cameron, to “Dr. H. Byerly, Linglestown, Dauphin Co[unty], Penn[sylvania].”
On brown paper, with an obscure early postmark at left; old mounting remnants on the reverse.
Signed Card, 2 ¼” x 3 ½”, “Very respectfully & truly, James Campbell, March 26, 1875.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with old mounting traces and pencil biographical notations on the reverse.
Document Signed, an endorsement on the reverse of an imprinted 9 ¾” x 16 ¼” U.S. Army form, “Examined & approved, Ed. R.S. Canby, M[ajor] G[eneral] Com[mandin]g,” approving expenditures for the month of November 1867.
Illustrated in its folded state. Very good overall condition, with the expected folds.
Document Signed, New York, July 5, 1898, “Joshua L. Chamberlain,” a partly printed 2 ¾” x 6 ½” check, also accomplished by Chamberlain, payable to one H.C. Orr in the amount of ten dollars. A two-cent revenue stamp is affixed at upper left.
Lightly toned, with a few stains, soiling, wear, numerous folds, and a few tiny edge chips; three hole-punch cancellations, well away from the signature.
Signature, “John Coburn, Indianapolis, Indiana,” as U.S. Congressman on a 2 ½” x 5” portion of an album page.
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few minor stains; original binding traces at the left edge.
Document Signed, 3” x 8 ½”, Northampton, Massachusetts, March 29, 1929, “Calvin Coolidge,” a partly printed check, also accomplished by Coolidge less than a month after leaving office as U.S. President, drawn on The Hampshire County Trust Co. and made payable to one Mary Ahearn for thirty dollars.
The check is in very good condition, with minor smudging of ink to several letters, a small tear in the upper margin, and a few light vertical folds. The hole-punch cancellation at center affects an insignificant part of the beginning of Coolidge’s signature.
Vice President Coolidge Thanks a Journalist from The Nation
Typed Letter Signed, 7” x 9”. Writing on imprinted official stationery, U.S. Vice President Coolidge thanks Marian Tyler, a journalist with The Nation, a liberal weekly magazine first published in 1865, for her letter.
The letter is lightly toned and soiled, with a horizontal fold at the center.
The Vice President-Elect Thanks a Supporter – Just Two Days after the 1920 Election
Typed Letter Signed, 7 ¼” x 9 ½”, on imprinted stationery as Massachusetts Governor. During the second year of his short tenure as governor - just two days after election to U.S. vice president on the Warren G. Harding ticket - Coolidge thanks “Mr. Ernest M. Hortmann, Boston, Mass.,” for a letter.
Signature, as U.S. Representative, “Saml. R. Curtis, Keokuk, Iowa,” on a 1 ½” x 4” portion of an album page.
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining.
Signature, dated from the former Confederate president’s post-war home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, “Jefferson Davis, Beauvoir, Miss[issipp]i, 4th March 1882,” on a 1 ¾” x 4 ¾” slip of paper. Affixed to heavier backing.
Lightly toned; the signature is noticeably light and lacking in contrast.
Autograph Note Signed, 4 ¾”x 7 ¼”, undoubtedly a page from her book, “McLoughlin and Old Oregon.” Published in 1900, the book portrayed and romanticized the life of Dr. John McLoughlin, early Oregon settler later known as “The Father of Oregon,” whose general store in Oregon City was the last stop on the Oregon Trail.
“May we all emulate the virtues of this benevolent despot. Your friend, the author, Eva Emery Dye. Oregon City, Oregon, July 31, 1924.”
The page is lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining in the margins and at the edges.
Signed Album Page, 5 ¾” x 7 ¼”, “Millard Fillmore, Buffalo, N[ew] York,” as U.S. Representative from New York, circa 1840. Undoubtedly taken from a period autograph album, the single sheet is also signed, front and reverse, by eight of Fillmore’s colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives: Christopher Morgan, New York; Richard Wigginton Thompson, Indiana (U.S. Navy Secretary - 1877-80); John Maynard, New York; Francis Granger, New York (U.S. Postmaster General - 1841); Samuel Lewis Hays, Virginia; John Campbell, South Carolina; John Patterson Bryan Maxwell, New Jersey; Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan, Pennsylvania (U.S. Secretary of the Interior – 1850).
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining; old binding chips at the left edge.
Signature, an early frank as U.S. Representative from New York, circa 1840, “Free, M. Fillmore, M[ember] C[ongress],” on a 1 ½” x 4 ½” portion of a larger postal cover.
On brown paper, with several creases.
Document Signed, 8 ¼” x 10 ¼”, as U.S. President, a partly printed “affix the seal” document.
“I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to the remission of the remaining portion of the term of imprisonment, imposed upon Jacob Rowles, convicted of petit larceny; dated this day, and signed by me; and for so doing this shall be his warrant. Millard Fillmore, Washington, October 3, 1850.”
Light soiling and wear, with a few edge chips and tears; weakness and minor paper separation at the edges of two horizontal folds.
Signature, from a reunion event, “Clinton B. Fisk, Seabright, N[ew] J[ersey], Army of the Tennessee Reunion, Sept[ember] 26, 1889,” on a 2 ¼” x 3 ½” slip of paper; affixed to a larger sheet
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few minor stains; old binding holes at the left edge of the attached album page.
Just days after the capture of Fort Donelson, Foote makes an appointment in the Western Gun Boat Flotilla, while General Ulysses S. Grant emerges as a champion of the Union.
Civil War-Date Document Signed, 8” x 12 ½”, a manuscript order appointing one G.B. Simmonds to the rank of second master. Fort Donelson, at the time a Confederate installation on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, was surrendered on February 16, 1862, just three days prior to this order. Union forces, including Flag Officer Foote, were under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant, whose action during the siege, battle, and capitulation – specifically his demand for “unconditional and immediate surrender” of the Confederate command at the fort - propelled him into national prominence.
“Be it known that reposing trust in the honor and ability of G.B. Simmonds, I do hereby appoint him a Second Master in the United States Gun Boat Flotilla on the Western Water to hold authority as a Second Master and to be obeyed by all persons under him in the service. The appointment to hold good during the pleasure of the Commander in Chief of the Gun Boat Flotilla for the time being. Given under my hand this 19th day of February A.D. Eighteen hundred and Sixty two. A.H. Foote, Com[man]d[in]g U.S. Naval Forces in the Western Waters.”
Overall condition is very good, with light, even toning, a few minor stains, and the expected folds.
Document Signed, Burlington, Vermont, July, 18, 1878, “Geo. P. Foster,” a partly printed 2 ¾” x 7 ½” check, also accomplished by Foster, payable to “Myself” for seventy-five dollars.
The signature is unaffected by several bank cancellations.
Civil War-Date Signature
Signature, with rank in another hand, “J.G. Foster, Major Gen[era]l Com[mandin]g,” on a 1 ½” x 2 ½” slip of paper.
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining and wear; affixed to a larger, heavier card, with old mounting remnants on the reverse.
Signature & Rank, “Edmund P. Gaines, Major General,” on a 1” x 3 ½” slip of paper, removed from a larger document; affixed to slightly larger backing.
Lightly toned, with light soiling and wear.
Signed Card, 3 ½” x 5 ¼”, as U.S. Senator from Georgia, “I am, Sincerely Yours, Walter F. George, U[nited] S[tates] S[enate], G[eorgi]a. Sept[ember] 4, 1937.”
Very good condition overall, with several small stains.
Signed Card, 1 ½” x 3”, as U.S. Senator from Georgia, “J.B. Gordon, G[eorgi]a.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few ink stains; old mounting traces on the reverse.
Document Signed, Everett, Washington, January 13, 1898, “D.C. Govan, U.S. Indian Agent,” a partly printed 2 ¾” x 6 ½” check, also accomplished by Govan, drawn on The Everett National Bank for fifteen dollars. Signed a second time on the reverse, “Witness, D.C. Govan.”
Lightly and evenly toned; punch cancellation at the center, with minimal loss of paper, affects neither signature.
Signature, “Horace Greeley, 6am, Amherst, N[ew] H[ampshire],” on a 2 ¾” x 3 ¾” slip of paper.
Signature, “Ebenezer Hazard,” on a 1 ¼” x 3 ¼” slip of paper, an uncommon full signature removed from a larger letter or document.
Lightly and evenly toned, with a slightly irregular right edge; old pencil biographical notations on the reverse.
Signed Card, 1 ¾” x 3 ¾”, bevel-edged, “W.B. Hazen, Br[i]g[adier] & B[re]v[e]t Maj[or] Gen[era]l, Chief Signal Officer U.S.A.”
Rectangular area of uneven toning from past framing surrounds the signature, along with general wear and soiling throughout; surface abrasion at the lower right; old mounting traces on the reverse.
Civil War-Date Endorsement Signed – Just six weeks before Hill’s death at the Battle of Petersburg
War-Date Endorsement Signed, on a 3 ¾” x 7” portion from the reverse of a medical furlough document. Signed beneath by an adjutant, and on the reverse by two surgeons and 47th North Carolina Infantry Sergeant Joseph Young Moss.
“H[ea]d Q[uarte]rs 3rd Army Corps, Feb[ruar]y 17, 1865. Res[pectfully] forwarded approved, A.P. Hill, Lieutenant Gen[era]l.”
A.P Hill was killed-in-action at the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia just six weeks after the signing of this endorsement. Modern records indicate that Sergeant Moss was wounded and captured during the Battle of Gettysburg, later exchanged, and was again captured on the day of Hill’s death at Sutherland’s Station, Virginia.
On the medium-brown paper often used by the Confederates, thus a bit lacking in contrast, with the expected light fold creases.
Signature, with sentiment, “Yours Truly, J.B. Hood,” on a 2 ¼” x 4 ½” slip of paper.
A large, exceptional example.
Civil War-Date Signature & Rank
Signature, with sentiment and early-war rank, “Yours Sincerely, Joseph Hooker, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l,” on a 2” x 3 ¼” slip of lined paper, affixed to heavier backing of the same dimension.
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor wear and staining; portions affected by brushing and bleeding of ink, along with surface abrasion.
Signed Card, 2 ½” x 3 ¾”, “Charles E. Hughes.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining.
Signature, as U.S. Congressman, “Eppa Hunton, Warrenton, V[irgini]a,” on a 2” x 5” portion of an album page.
Excellent.
War-Date Letter Signed – City Point, Virginia, September 1864 – Bills of Lading for the “Steamer Charlotte Vanderbilt.”
Civil War-Date Letter Signed, on an imprinted 7 ½” x 9 ½” form. Partly printed, with the manuscript portions also being accomplished by James.
“Assistant Quartermaster’s Office, Fort Monroe, V[irgini]a, Sept[ember] 26th 1864. Captain Col[onel] P.P. Pilkin, A[ssistant] Q[uarter] M[aster] City Point, Va. Col[onel], I have the honor to enclose herewith, duplicate Bills of Lading for Public Stores, shipped this day per Steamer Charlotte Vanderbilt. Please endorse and return one at your earliest convenience. Very respectfully Your Ob[e]d[ien]t Servant, Wm. L. James, Capt[ain] and A[ssistant] Q[uarter] M[aster].”
Lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds; there is a small tear, with minor paper loss, in the upper left corner.
Signed Album Page, 4 ¾” x 7 ¼”, “Andrew Johnson.”
Excellent, with light, even toning and original binding holes at the left edge.
Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 14, 1828, “H. Johnson,” as governor on an imprinted form with a beautifully embossed seal at lower left, appointing a judge in West Feliciana Parish.
A seldom-seen document, with light, even toning; minor separation, with no loss of paper, at the usual vertical and horizontal folds; a few chips at the uneven left edge.
Signed Program, 4” x 6”, as President on the front cover, “Lyndon B. Johnson,” for a White House event honoring the President of the Philippines, October 5, 1964, featuring The Harkness Ballet.
On heavy paper, lightly and evenly toned, with superficial wear and soiling.
Signed Gilt-Edged Card, 1 ¼” x 3 ½”, “J.E. Johnston.” Affixed to a 4” x 6 ¾” album page, with the violet-ink notation, “January/[18]82” in another hand at lower left. An unrelated clipping in an unidentified hand and from a larger document or letter is affixed at lower right.
Excellent.
Mexican War-Date Signature & Rank
Signature & Rank, “P. Kearny, Jr., L[ieutenan]t 1st Dr[agoon]s Com[man]d[ing]…” on a 1 ½” x 5” slip of paper; a portion of the document from which Kearny’s signature was removed is included, and bears the manuscript heading, in an unknown hand, “Date. 31st December 1846. Station. Saltillo, (Mexico).”
Minor wear and staining, with two pinholes at the left edge of the dated slip of paper.
Document Signed, Richmond, Virginia, February 6, 1886, “J.L. Kemper,” a partly printed 2 ½” x 8” check, also accomplished by Kemper, payable to “Cha[rle]s J. Kemper,” thus incorporating a second partial signature; drawn on The State Bank of Virginia for one hundred dollars. The reverse is endorsed by Charles J. Kemper.
Very good overall, with light vertical fold creases; minimal loss of paper from barely noticeable cross-cut and punch cancellations which intersect Kemper’s signature.
Signature, “L.Q.C. Lamar,” with the notation “Sec[retary] of Interior” in an unknown hand, on the reverse of his engraved 1 ¾” x 3 ½” personal calling card.
Excellent, with light, even toning and a few superficial stains.
A Requisition for Hampton’s Legion
Civil War-Date Document Signed, 8” x 11”, Petersburg, Virginia, August 31, 1863, “Approved, T.M. Logan, L[ieutenan]t Col[on el] Com[man]d[in]g Reg[imen]t,” a partly printed requisition “For Quartermaster’s Stores for Hampton Legion, Stationed at Petersburg, V[irgini]a.”
On the brown “necessity paper” commonly used by the Confederate Army at the time, with several minor stains throughout; small tears and chips at the right edges. While manuscript portions are somewhat light, Logan’s endorsement, at left center, is quite legible.
Signature, with sentiment, “Respect[full]y Your Ob[edien]t Serv[an]t,” on a 1 ½” x 5 ½” slip of lined paper, possibly removed from a letter.
Lightly and evenly toned, with a vertical fold at mid left.
War-Date Autograph Letter Signed – to Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard
Autograph Letter Signed, on a 5” x 8” folded lettersheet, with exceptional early-war content, to General P.G.T. Beauregard, commander of the Confederate Army at Manassas, Virginia. As newly commissioned major general, Longstreet informs and seeks Beauregard’s direction in the placement of “blackened logs,” commonly referred to as “Quaker Guns” at the time, designed to deceive the Union Army into believing that they faced the heavy artillery of a well-equipped foe on the banks of the Potomac.
“Taylors, Dec[ember] 6th 1861. My Dear General, But two of the Redoubts have been set apart for the batteries of my Division. I have ordered sheds over the embrasures of these and blackened logs put in there; no others. If you desire me to have others fixed please advise me. Very Sincerely Yours, J. Longstreet. [to] Gen[eral] G.T. Beauregard.”
Beauregard makes initialed notation, in pencil, at the bottom edge:
“Ans[wer]. Arrange all to be garrisoned by the 2nd Division. G.T.B.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature, with the rank held from June 11, 1851 through the outbreak of the American Civil War, “N. Lyon, Capt[ain], 2nd Inf[antr]y, Com[mandin]g Comp[an]y ‘B’”, on a 3” x 4 ¼” slip of lined paper.
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few superficial stains; old mounting traces on the reverse.
Autograph Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, requesting a cask of wine be sent to Fort Independence, Massachusetts.
“Boston, 5th July, 1849. Major Wm. D. Fraser, U.S. Corps Engineers, N[ew] Y[ork]. D[ea]r Sir, I will thank you to forward to this place by first packet convenient one cask Gaudron for the service of Fort Independence. Gaugeret & his Assistant joined me from St.[?] Newton on the morning of the 3rd July. Very Respectfully, Your Ob[edien]t Jos. K.F. Mansfield, Capt[ain]…& B[re]v[e]t Col[onel].’’
Overall condition is very good, with heavier wear and toning at the usual vertical and horizontal folds.
Signed Card, 1 ¾” x 3 ½”, with Confederate rank, “Will T. Martin, Maj[or] Gen[era]l Cav[alry], Wheeler’s Corps, C.S.A.”
Lightly toned, with minor staining and a few surface abrasions and indentations; old mounting remnants on the reverse and minor bumping at the corners.
Civil War-Date Endorsement Signed
Endorsement Signed, on a 3” x 3” slip of lined paper, removed from a larger Confederate document.
“H[ea]d Qu[arte]rs Maury’s Div[ision] A[rmy of the] West, Camp Rogers, Octo[ber] 28th 1862. Respectfully forwarded, D.H. Maury, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Comm[an]d[in]g.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining.
Autograph Letter Signed, 6 ¾” x 8”, as U.S. Congressman, to one Augustus Gamble. The attached leaf of the same dimension, stamped “FREE” and bearing a Chillicothe, Ohio postmark, is franked and addressed by McArthur: “Free. D. McArthur, M[ember] C[ongress]. Augus[tus] Gamble, Esquire, x roads Ann Arundel County, Maryland.”
“Chillicothe [Ohio], Nov[embe]r 8th 1824
Dear Sir,
Your favour of the 4th Ult[imo] came duly to hand.
The surveys in the name…Young Wilkins have been made…ground and the plats forwarded…office of Col[onel] Richard C. Anderso…principal surveyor who resides ne[ar]…Louisville, Kentucky, for record. So soon as recorded, he has been requested to forward them, to the Gen[era]l Land Office at the City of Washington.
I trust that you will…your Patents in the course of the ensuing winter, and be ready to convey to my son the part which will be due for his services. respectfully yours, Duncan McArthur.”
Moderately toned throughout, with general soiling and wear. The upper edge is somewhat irregular, having been hand torn for use. Paper separation at the usual folds has resulted in the loss of paper at the right edge, containing words from six lines of text.
Civil War-Date Signature
Signature, with sentiment and Civil War date, “very truly yours, Geo[rge] B. McClellan, Jan[uary] 16, 1865,” on a 2” x 4 ½” slip of embossed paper. Affixed to heavier backing of the same dimension.
Lightly and evenly toned, with scattered glue staining.
Autograph Letter Signed, 4 ½” x 7”, two pages on the first and third leaves of a folded lettersheet. On black-bordered mourning stationery, Mrs. McClellan responds to a request for her husband’s autograph, probably just months after his death on October 29, 1885.
“32 Washington Square, Jan[uar]y 20th. Wm. H Jones, Esq[uire]. Dear Sir, Mr. Curtis writes me that you would like an autograph of General McClellan to put in Mr. Curtis’ little book. I have no note or letter that I can [s]end, but I enclose his signature which I have cut from a check. Yours truly, Ellen M. McClellan.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with a horizontal fold at the center; there are a few minor chips to the black border, and a diagonal horizontal fold transverses the lower portion of both pages.
Document Signed, 4 ¾” x 7 ½”, St. Louis Missouri, September 4, 1861, “J. McKinstry,” accomplished in another hand, a partly printed pass for a “Mrs. Sarah McIntyre to pass beyond the limits of the City and County of St. Louis, to go to Ohio.”
A rare autograph on an interesting, seldom-seen form, this being the first McKinstry piece we have encountered. Moderate toning throughout, with several stains; heavier wear and soiling along two vertical folds, with negligible separation at the edges.
Signature, with closing and rank, “Respectfully, L. McLaws, 2nd Lieut[enant] 7th Inf[antry]” on a 1” x 3 ¼” slip of paper removed from a Mexican War-era letter; affixed to a larger, heavier card. McLaws held the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Seventh U.S. Infantry from March 16, 1844 until February 16, 1847.
Moderately toned, with minor staining and soiling; closely clipped at the upper edge.
War-Date Confederate Bond
Document Signed, 14” x 17”, April 1, 1861, “A.B. Moore,” a partly printed $1000 bond “ISSUED FOR MILITARY DEFENSE” of the state of Alabama, serial number 314. Countersigned by State Comptroller W.J. Greene, with a pink embossed seal at the lower left. Thirteen of the original coupons remain attached at the bottom. Supporting material states that this issue is given the highest rarity rating of “R11” by Confederate Bond Authority Grover C. Criswell.
Lightly toned, with tiny holes at the intersections of the expected folds and a few small tears at the edges.
Civil War-Date Document - Pay for a 101st Indiana Infantry soldier who died one week later.
Document Signed, 8 ¼” x 10”, Nashville, Tennessee, May 30, 1863, “James D. Morgan, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Commanding Post,” a partly printed “Certificate to be Given to Discharged Volunteers to Enable them to draw their Pay” for Merrill Ransey (possibly Ramsey), a private in the 101st Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Further described, “Disease contracted prior to enlistment,” Private Ransey died in Nashville on June 8, 1863, just one week later.
Lightly and evenly toned, with scattered staining; somewhat heavier wear at two horizontal folds.
Civil War-Date Document Signed
Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ½”, Chattanooga, Tennessee, December 24, 1863, “James D. Morgan, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Com[man]d[ing],” a partly printed requisition for corn, in the amount of $35.00.
Lightly and evenly toned, with scattered staining, two horizontal folds, and a few small tears at the edges.
Signed Card, 2 ½” x 4 ¼”, imprinted as U.S. Postmaster General, “H.C. Payne.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with old mounting traces on the reverse.
MILLER, MADISON (1811-96) Union Brevet Brigadier General; Colonel of the 18th Missouri Union Infantry; Late-war Brigadier General in the Missouri State Militia; President of the St. Louis & Iron Mountian Railroad Company
Document Signed, 9 ¼” x 11 ¼”, Jefferson City, Missouri, October 27, 1856, “Sterling Price,” as Missouri Governor, a partly printed $1000 bond of the Saint Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad. Countersigned below by Missouri Secretary of State Benjamin Franklin Massey, along with Railroad President Madison Miller, future Brevet Brigadier General in the Union Army, on the reverse.
Significant trimming of the ornate original borders also affects the printed text on the reverse; some separation at the expected fold creases, with negligible loss of paper; all signatures are unaffected by cancellation holes and chipping at the edges.
Letter Signed, 5 ¼” x 8”, as company president on official stationery, a pass for one Hattie Fitch from Chicago to New York.
“PULLMAN’S PALACE CAR CO., OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, CHICAGO, Oct[ober] 15th, 1879. To the Conductor Hotel Car via Pittsburgh: This will be presented by Miss Hattie Fitch, who is on her way to New York. Please make her journey as comfortable as possible, and on arrival send a Porter with her to the Windsor Hotel. Geo. M. Pullman, President.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with vertical and horizontal folds at the center.
Signed Card, 3” x 4 ¾”, dated and inscribed, “James R. Randall, Augusta, G[eorgi]a. March 21, 1891. For Miss Louise Parkinson.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with several minor stains; bumping at the upper left corner; old mounting remnants on the reverse.
Signature & Rank, “B.S. Roberts, B[reve]t Brig[adie]r Gen[era]l U.S.A.,” on a 1 ½” x 4 ¾” slip of paper.
Excellent.
Civil War “Special Order,” directing a 13th U.S. Army Officer, mortally wounded at Vicksburg six months later, to report to Camp Butler
Document Signed, 8” x 10”, a manuscript special order, signed twice by Scates at the conclusion, directing 13th U.S. Infantry Captain Edward Crawford Washington, mortally wounded in the May 19, 1863 assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi, to report immediately to Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois, to enlist and pay bounty to the newly formed 128th Illinois Infantry.
“Head Quarters Springfield, Ill[inois], December 1, 1862. Special orders No. 63. Capt[ain] C. Washington, 13th Infantry, U.S.A. Disbursing Officer & c. Will proceed immediately to Camp Butler and pay bounty & premium to all the enlisted men of 128th Regiment Ill[inoi]s Infantry who have been mustered into the Service of the United States & report to these Head Quarters without delay. By order of Major General John A. McClernand. Walter B. Scates, Major & A[ssistant] A[djutant] Gen[era]l. L[ieutenan]t G.W. Hill Will furnish Capt. Washington transportation. W.B. Scates, Major & A.A. Genl.”
Exhibits the expected soiling, toning, and wear; water staining and clean separation, with no loss of paper, at the upper of two horizontal folds.
Franking Signature, as a post-war U.S. Representative from Ohio, “Robt. C. Schenck, M[ember] C[ongress],” on a 1 ½” x 5 ¼” portion of an envelope, with portions of the recipient’s address in Schenck’s hand beneath and a Washington, D.C. postmark at left.
Irregularly torn at the lower and left edges.
Signature, as U.S. Representative, “Robt. C. Schenck, Ohio,” on a 5 ¾” x 8 ¾” portion of an album page.
Excellent.
Appointing an Officer in the 61st Virginia Infantry
Civil War-Date Document Signed, on imprinted 8” x 10” Confederate War Department stationery, Richmond, Virginia, May 12, 1864, “James A. Seddon,” a partly printed appointment for William Henry Stewart to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 61st Virginia Infantry. The unit was heavily engaged at the Civil War battles of Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Court House, and Cold Harbor, Stewart being wounded at all three.
Lightly and evenly toned, with scattered stains and several chips at the corners and edges; there is a water stain at the lower left, well away from Seddon’s signature, and clean separation at two horizontal folds has been reinforced with archival tape on the reverse.
Signed Card, 2” x 3 ¼”, with rank, “P.H. Sheridan, L[ieutenan]t General, U.S.A.”
Excellent, with light, even toning and several small areas of very minor bleeding of ink.
Signature & Rank, “M.L. Smith, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Vol[unteers],” on a ¾” x 2 ¼” slip of paper, probably removed from a war-date document. Affixed to slightly larger backing.
General soiling, staining, and wear.
Franked Envelope, 3” x 5 ¼”, “Free, Alexander H. Stephens, M[ember] C[ongress],” also addressed by Stephens, to “John L. Stephens, La Grange, G[eorgi]a,” a recurring correspondent. Stephens was frail and frequently ill, even as a young man, this atypical signature being an obvious example from one of his unsteady periods.
General soiling and wear, with numerous small tears and breaks at the edges.
Signature, as post-war U.S. Representative, “W.B. Stokes, Alexandria Tenn[essee],” on a 3” x 5” portion of an album page.
Lightly and evenly toned, with old binding traces at the left.
Signed Card, 2” x 3 ¼”, “Harlan F. Stone.”
Excellent, with light, even toning.
Civil War-Date
Signed Postal Cover, 3 ¼” x 5 ¼”, homemade from a printed 1862 Confederate military document, addressed to his wife, “Mrs. Flora Stuart, H[ea]d Q[uarte]rs Cav[alry] Div[isio]n, Army N[orthern] V[irgini]a.” Also signed at the upper left corner by Confederate Colonel and Aide-de-Camp Samuel Bassett French.
Front and reverse portions are detached, from heavy wear at the edges; several chips and tears at the edges affect none of the text.
Civil War-Date Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 10”, partly printed, “Geo[rge] H. Thomas, Maj[or] Gen[era]l U[nited] S[tates] V[olunteers], Received in the Field the 10[th] of May, 1862…,” a requisition for a tent and tent supplies; countersigned by Captain Oscar Addison Mack of the 13th U.S. Infantry, a New Hampshire native who died on October 22, 1876.
Lightly and evenly toned, with a few scattered stains and the expected horizontal creases.
Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 12 ½”, March 15, 1879, Lawrence County, Alabama, “Jos. Wheeler,” a partly printed legal document; accomplished in a clerical hand and signed by Wheeler beneath.
Moderate toning and wear, with a few small holes along the usual horizontal folds; heavier staining at center; chipping and irregularity at the edges and corners.
Signed Card, 2 ¼” x 3 ¼”, “John G. Whittier,” in violet ink.
Excellent, with light, even toning.
Civil War-Date Signed Envelope - Addressed to his Wife
Signed Envelope, 2 ¼” x 4 ¼”, “Wm. C. Wickham, L[ieutenan]t Col[onel] 4th V[irgini]a Cavalry,” a second partial signature being incorporated into Wickham’s address to his wife, “Mrs. Lucy P. Wickham, Hanover C[ourt] H[ouse], V[irgini]a.” With postal markings “Tudor Hall, V[irgini]a, Feb[ruary] 22, 1862,” and a “Due 5” hand stamp; there are several pencil dealer notations on both front and reverse.
Lightly and evenly toned, with the expected soiling and wear; slight fading of ink and lack of contrast in the manuscript portions, also quite commonly seen on similar war-date items.
Franked Envelope, 2” x 4 ¾”, in violet ink as U.S. Representative from Georgia, “P.M.B. Young, M[ember] C[ongress],” with the pencil notation “Decemb[e]r 22nd [18]69” in another hand in the upper left. Portions of a Cartersville, Georgia postmark of the same date intersect the first two letters of Young’s frank, and the envelope is addressed in an unidentified hand to prominent North Carolina politician Samuel Finley Patterson, 1799-1874.
Lightly and evenly toned, with somewhat heavier wear and soiling at the edges.