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.

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed

Early in the American Civil War, Ashby’s 7^th 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 16^th 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

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed

Autograph Letter Signed, 7” x 9”, on “Head-Quarters King’s Division” imprinted stationery, directing the encampment of his corps, shortly after the conclusion of the Shenandoah Valley campaign.

“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] 2^nd 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] 9^th 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] 9^th 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 24^th 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 1^st to the 31^st 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] 6^th 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 31^st 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.