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Presidents and First Ladies
president and first ladies
President George Washington approves passage for “the Sloop called the George,” bound for Demerara
1. George Washington Document Signed as Presi-
dent. Highly desirable partly-printed DS as president, signed “Go: Washington,” one page, 13 x 16, June 9, 1795. Three-language ship’s papers issued to “James Humphrey, master or commander of the Sloop called the George…lying at present in the port of Darby, bound for Demerara, and laden with stock beef, cornmeal, butter lard, dry goods…clothing, leather, spirits.” Boldly signed in the center by President Washington and countersigned by Secretary of State Edmund Randolph. The embossed white paper seals affixed to the left and right sides remain intact. In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, stains to the seals, and small areas of paper loss repaired by complete backing. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. When France declared war on England in February of 1793, the US was put in a precarious position, proclaiming neutrality but still formally allied with France under the treaty of 1778. Both sides harassed and seized American ships—especially those carrying provisions to colonial ports in British Guiana, where the George was bound. Used to establish proof of nationality and guarantee protection for ships, these documents were signed in bulk by Washington and Randolph, then forwarded to the collectors of customs at different ports for distribution. There, local officials would confirm the legitimacy of the vessels, their cargo, and their personnel. Starting Bid $1000
President Adams issues a 1000-acre land grant for a Lieutenant of the Revolution
2. John Adams Document Signed as President. Partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 12.25 x 14.75, December 27, 1798. President John Adams, “in consideration of military service performed by Ballard Smith (a Lieutenant three years) to the United States, in the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment,” grants a plot of land to an assignee containing “one thousand acres situate between the little Miami and Sciota Rivers, north-west of the River Ohio.” Signed at the conclusion by President Adams and Secretary of State Timothy Pickering, and countersigned on the reverse by Secretary of War James McHenry. The lower left corner retains the original white seal. In very good to fine condition, with scattered staining and toning, and Adams’ signature rather light but fully legible. Starting Bid $500
Jefferson Randolph (1829). Four-volume set of The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, entitled ‘Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson,’ Edited by Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Early printing published in Charlottesville, Virginia, by F. Carr and Co., in 1829. Hardcovers half bound with green morocco leather and marbled textblock and boards, 5.75 x 8.5, 2017 total pages, with the first volume containing an engraved frontispiece of Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of Jefferson, and the fourth volume concluding with a four-page facsimile of the Declaration of Independence. Opening pages of the third and fourth volumes bear the ownership signature of Richmond journalist and bookseller Thomas Ritchie. Book condition: G+/None, with wear and rubbing to boards and extremities, moderate mottled foxing throughout, and general overall wear. Starting Bid $200
Jefferson and Madison approve an 1802 land grant for “a Captain for the War”
4. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Document Signed as President and Secretary of State. Partly-
printed vellum DS, signed “Th: Jefferson” as president and “James Madison” as secretary of state, one page, 12 x 14.75, November 15, 1802. A land grant for “Five hundred and eighty six acres,” issued to “Reuben Briscoe (a Captain for the War)” under the provisions of “An Act to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment.” Signed at the conclusion by Thomas Jefferson and countersigned by James Madison. The lower left corner retains the original white paper seal. In very good to fine condition, with slightly irregular toning, skipping to Madison’s signature, and Jefferson’s signature just a bit light. Starting Bid $500
5. John Quincy Adams Document Signed as President. Partly-printed vellum DS as president, signed “J. Q. Adams,” one page, 14.5 x 9, April 2, 1828. President Adams grants William Ladd of Dallas County a parcel of land “offered for sale at Cahaba, Alabama, containing Eighty three acres and seventy five hundredths of an acre.” Neatly signed at the conclusion by President Adams and countersigned by Commissioner of the General Land Office George Graham.” The white paper seal affixed to the lower left remains intact. Archivally matted and framed under TrueVue Conservation Grade glass to an overall size of 21.75 x 16. In very good to fine condition, with staining along the heavy intersecting folds, not at all affecting the signature. Starting Bid $200
6. John Quincy Adams Document Signed as Sec-
retary of State. Partly-printed DS as secretary of state, signed “J. Q. Adams,” one page, 8 x 10, September 3, 1824. Department of State document that reads: “I certify, that J. N. Moulder and Enoch Reynolds whose names are subscribed to the annexed Instrument of writing, are, and were at the time of the signing the same Justices of the Peace for Washington County in the District of Columbia, and that full faith is due to all their acts as such.” Signed at the conclusion by John Quincy Adams. Framed to an overall size of 13.75 x 15.25. In very good to fine condition, with light creasing and minor edge chipping. Starting Bid $200
7. John Tyler Autograph Letter Signed as President. ALS as
president, one page, 5 x 8, no date. Handwritten letter to Secretary of War John Bell, in full: “Will you at some moment of leisure give to Mr. Woodside an interview, or what might be better, direct the head of the Engineers bureau to have such interview, and report its result. I think it well to look into such matters Mr. W. has in hand, as something valuable might accrue to the public.” Nicely mounted and framed with a color portrait to an overall size of 12 x 21.5. In fine condition, with a light paperclip impression to the left edge, and a small stain touching the first letter of the signature. Starting Bid $200
Pierce promotes a Civil War naval hero
8. Franklin Pierce Document Signed as President.
Partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 15 x 18, October 13, 1855. President Pierce appoints William D. Whiting as a “Lieutenant in the Navy.” Signed at the conclusion by Franklin Pierce and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy James C. Dobbin. The orange Navy Department seal remains affixed to the lower vignette. In fine condition, with the signature quite faded but mostly legible. Starting Bid $200
President Lincoln appoints a “Lieutenant Colonel” to the ‘Tomahawks,’ the courageous 10th Infantry Regiment
9. Abraham Lincoln Document Signed as President.
Civil War-dated partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 15.75 x 19.5, February 5, 1862. President Lincoln appoints William S. Ketcham as a “Lieutenant Colonel in the tenth Regiment of Infantry in the service of the United States.” Signed at the conclusion by Abraham Lincoln as president and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Upper left retains the original blue War Office seal. Mounted and matted to an overall size of 24 x 28. In fine condition, with several horizontal folds and some light skipping to the signature. Starting Bid $1000
Amazing Civil War autograph album, with Lincoln, Custer, Grant, and Sherman
10. Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Grant, George A. Custer, and Civil War Figures Signed Autograph Album.
Spectacular leather-bound autograph album, 5.75 x 8.75, signed inside in ink by 50 Civil War–era figures, highlighted by Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, U. S. Grant, George Custer, and William T. Sherman. Additional signers include Philip H. Sheridan, George G. Meade, Winfield Scott Hancock, Lew Wallace, Benjamin F. Butler, William W. Belknap, David Hunter, Christopher C. Augur, Alexander B. Dyer, Edward P. Doherty, Mortimer D. Leggett, William Dwight, John F. Miller, Benjamin F. Potts, Henry Warner Slocum, William Hays, Charles H. Tompkins, and August Kautz. A small albumen image of Lincoln is affixed above his signature. In overall fine condition, with all signatures bold and beautifully penned. An astounding array of the politicians and generals that won the Civil War. Starting Bid $1000
Beautiful military commission from President Johnson, promoting a Civil War veteran to “Major General by Brevet”
11. Andrew Johnson Document Signed as
President. Partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 15.75 x 19.5, May 8, 1866. President Johnson appoints William S. Ketcham of the Army of the United States as a “Major General by Brevet.” Signed nicely at the conclusion by Andrew Johnson as president and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Upper left retains the original blue War Office seal. In fine condition, with some light skipping to the signature. An unusually crisp and well-preserved example, with uncommonly bold vignettes and a near-perfect, striking blue government seal. Starting Bid $200
12. U. S. Grant Signature. Clean ink signature, “U. S. Grant,” on an off-white 4.5 x 2.25 sheet. In fine condition, with light staining to the end of the signature from old mounting residue on the back edge. Starting Bid $200
13. Rutherford B. Hayes Document Signed as
President. Partly-printed DS as president, signed “R. B. Hayes,” one page, 20 x 15, November 10, 1877. President Hayes appoints Frederick A. Pratt as “Collector of Customs for the District of Newport in the State of Rhode Island.” Signed neatly at the conclusion by Rutherford B. Hayes as president and countersigned by John Sherman as secretary of the Treasury. In very good condition, with staining and soiling, fading to the signature, and areas of paper loss repaired with complete backing. Starting Bid $200
Diplomatic letter by President Roosevelt conveying “the best wishes of this Government for the prosperity of the Dominican Republic”
14. Theodore Roosevelt Letter Signed as President. Manuscript letter of state signed as president, one page both sides, 10.5 x 14, February 2, 1907. Letter to the President of the Dominican Republic, in part: “I have made choice of Fenton R. McGreery, one of our distinguished citizens, to reside near the Government of Your Excellency in the quality of Minister Resident and Consul General of the United States of America…I have charged him to convey to you of the best wishes of this Government for the prosperity of the Dominican Republic.” Prominently signed at the conclusion by Roosevelt, and countersigned by Secretary of State Elihu Root. In very good to fine condition, with foxing, toning, and intersecting folds; Roosevelt’s signature is bold and uncommonly large. Starting Bid $200
15. Theodore Roosevelt Signature. Nice
fountain pen signature, “T. Roosevelt,” on an off-white 3.75 x 2.5 card. In very fine condition. Starting Bid $200
“It is men of your type whom I hope to have compose my entire division”—Roosevelt on reforming the Rough Riders for World War I
16. Theodore Roosevelt Typed Letter
Signed. TLS, one page, 8.25 x 10.25, personal Metropolitan letterhead, February 8, 1917. Letter to John J. Richards of the U.S. Marshal’s Office, in part: “Ordinarily, I have to have the mass of letters sent me about my division answered by someone else, but yours is a special case. I have no question that I could use both you and your brother to great advantage. I shall hope to be able to have you take part in raising a squadron, of which you would be Major, and I should like your judgment as to at least some of the officers who you would wish to have under you...It is men of your type whom I hope to have compose my entire division.”Framed to an overall size of 13.5 x 15.75. In fine condition, with upper part of frame loose.
In March 1917, Congress authorized Roosevelt to raise a maximum of four divisions similar to the Rough Riders. His zeal was quickly dashed, however, when President Wilson announced that he would not send Roosevelt and his volunteers to France, but instead would send an American Expeditionary Force under the command of General John J. Pershing. Starting Bid $300
17. Warren G. Harding Document Signed as Presi-
dent. Partly-printed DS as president, one page, 11.5 x 14.75, April 27, 1921. President Harding appoints James William McAndrew as a “Major General in the Regular Army of the United States.” Signed nicely at the conclusion by Warren G. Harding and countersigned by Secretary of War John W. Weeks. The upper left corner is embossed with the War Office seal. In fine condition. An uncommon presidential commission from Harding, which is smaller than typically seen and sans a bottom vignette. Starting Bid $200
18. Warren G. Harding Signed Photograph. Vintage
matte-finish 7.5 x 9.5 Harris & Ewing portrait photo of Warren G. Harding in a clear bust-length pose, affixed to the original 9 x 12 studio presentation mount, which is signed and inscribed in black ink, “To H. W. Smith, With high esteem and good wishes, Warren G. Harding.” The lower right corner of the photo bears the Harris & Ewing blindstamp. In very good to fine condition, with a small dampstain beneath the signature, light trimming to the edges of the mount, and light silvering to the perimeter of the image. Starting Bid $200
Fresh off his historic reelection, Truman finds time to write an old comrade, “Now that things have settled down somewhat”
19. Harry S. Truman Typed Letter Signed as
President. TLS as president, one page, 6.75 x 8.5, White House letterhead, November 13, 1948. Letter to his friend and former comrade Fred J. Bowman, in part: “Now that things have settled down somewhat, I want to let you know how deeply I appreciate your assistance during the campaign. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to know that all my old friends kept faith with me during these past months. It made the fight a lot easier to make and I shall never forget it.” Truman strikes through the recipient’s surname in the valediction and writes “Fritz” in his own hand. Framed with an engraved portrait to an overall size of 20.75 x 16.25. In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Starting Bid $200
Eisenhower’s commentary on the 25th Amendment
20. Dwight D. Eisenhower Typed Manuscript
Signed. Desirable typed draft of his preface to One Heartbeat Away: Presidential Disability and Succession by Senator Birch Bayh, signed “Dwight D. Eisenhower,” three pages, 8.5 x 11, no date but circa 1968. Eisenhower discusses and offers his support for the 25th Amendment, which establishes procedures for an orderly transition of power in the case of the death, disability, or resignation of the President of the United States, and which Senator Birch Bayh authored as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments. The amendment was adopted on February 10, 1967, and Bayh’s book on the topic was published in 1968.
Eisenhower’s preface, in small part: “The subject of Presidential succession and disability, which Senator Birch Bayh probes in this book, is a matter that has interested and concerned presidents, congressmen, lawyers and other scholars for many years…The amendment itself embraces and bridges two constitutional gaps. First, in keeping with our traditional constitutional notions of checks and balances, it assures that the country shall always have a Vice President. This seems to me an important consideration, particularly when it is realized that the Vice Presidency has been vacant, for one reason or another, on sixteen different occasions—for a total of more than 38 years.” Signed at the conclusion in black felt tip by Dwight D. Eisenhower, with ink and pencil annotations made throughout in an editor’s hand. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
21. Richard Nixon Typed Letter Signed as President.
TLS as president signed “RN,” one page, 6.75 x 8.75, White House letterhead, November 6, 1969. Letter to Ohio Congressman Wayne Hays, in full: “The strong support which you and so many of your colleagues in the House offered following my Monday evening message to the Nation should serve as ample evidence to the leaders of North Vietnam that the time has come to move forward at the conference table to end this tragic war. Your expression of confidence that our course will lead to peace is a source of deep encouragement.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Rare ‘Friends of Barack Obama’ check donating to the campaign committee of a fellow Illinois senator
22. Barack Obama Signed Check. Friends of Barack Obama check, 8.25 x 3, filled out in type and signed by Obama, payable to Friends of Dick Durbin for $500, September 27, 2002. In very fine condition.
Friends of Barack Obama was his official campaign committee; at the time he signed this check, Obama was preparing for his third straight election to the Illinois Senate, which he won for the newly configured 13th district unopposed on November 5, 2002. Also of note is the payee, the campaign committee for Dick Durbin, a fellow Illinois senator who introduced Obama on the final night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Extremely rare in this format, this is only the second Barack Obama check we have offered. Starting Bid $500
