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Presidents and First Ladies
Rare and historic handwritten ledger by George Washington, taking slaves as collateral at Mount Vernon in 1769
1. George Washington Autograph Document Signed.
ADS, signed “Go: Washington,” two pages on two adjoining sheets, 6 x 7.5, September 19, 1769. A financial ledger document headed “Capt’n Posey,” transactions made between 1765 and 1769, including “Security on his Lands and Negroes for £750,” “A subsequent & further security on ye above Negroes for £70,” and “a Bill of Sale for Sundry stock, goods & chattels as a…security to me against a joint bond of his & mine to Colo. Mason for £200.” On the right side, a £3 cash payment is recorded, below which Washington writes: “Note, besides ye above Capt’n Posey may have some trifling demands against me that I know nothing of at present & which may be showed when properly ascertained.” Washington signs at the conclusion with errors excepted, “E. Excepted pr Go: Washington, Copy of an Acc’t given to Mr. Grayson, Sept’r 19th 1769.” Professionally restored to near fine condition, with toning, light foxing and staining, and professional repairs to two areas of paper loss (which affect none of the handwriting).
Captain John Posey was George Washington’s next-door neighbor at Mount Vernon, and the two formed a friendship. However, Posey was a heavy drinker and failure in business, constantly falling behind in his debts and frequently turning to Washington for loans. Some of their several transactions— which often included slaves as collateral—are recorded here. In one instance in 1767, Posey made a bond with Col. Mason with George Washington as security, much to Washington’s reluctance—in exchange for Washington’s participation, Posey executed a bill of sale which covered 25 slaves, 40 head of cattle, 20 horses, 40 sheep, 80 hogs, and lots of household goods including silver of various descriptions. Washington acquired his slave Hercules Posey as part of these transactions, who went on to become one of eight enslaved Africans brought by President Washington to Philadelphia to serve in the executive mansion during his presidency.
Capt. John Posey was never financially solvent enough to make good on his obligations to Washington, and his account with the future president was settled by the forced sale of property in October 1769—just weeks after Washington penned the present document. Hercules Posey, after serving as a cook during Washington’s term in office, would escape to New York City in February 1797, where he remained a fugitive slave until January 1, 1801, when he was manumitted under the terms of Washington’s will. A fascinating inside look at Washington’s business dealings and his participation in the heinous institution of slavery. Starting Bid $5000
President Washington asks Robert E. Lee’s father, ‘Light Horse’ Harry Lee, to act as host for “a gentleman of fortune from England”
2. George Washington Autograph Letter Signed as President. ALS as president, signed “Go: Washington,” one
page, 7.25 x 9, March 30, 1795. Letter to General ‘Light Horse’ Harry Lee. In full: “If this letter should be received by you, it will be from Mr. Strickland, a gentleman of fortune from England who is desirous of seeing a little of Virginia (having already passed through the Eastern States) before returning to his own country. As you are now returned, or returning to the pursuits of rural life, Mr. Strickland who is in that line himself can give you some useful information in the practice of husbandry, but not so much on that as on acc’t of his merits I beg leave to introduce him to your civilities.” Second integral page bears a panel addressed in Washington’s hand, “Gen’l Lee, Richmond, Virgina,” and in the lower left of the panel, “Favored by Mr. Strickland.” Another portion of the second integral page is docketed in Lee’s hand. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light staining, minor edge chipping, and seal-related paper loss to the integral address leaf. Starting Bid $2500
3. James Madison and James Monroe Document Signed as President and Secretary of State. Partly-printed
vellum DS, signed “James Madison” as president and “Jas. Monroe” as secretary of state, one page, 10.75 x 15, February 14, 1815. Scalloped-top ship’s pass issued to the “Brig Avon, Joel Manlove master of commander…To Pass with her Company Passengers Goods and Merchandize without any hinderance seisure or molestation.” Signed at the conclusion by President Madison and Secretary of State Monroe. The white paper seal affixed to the lower left remains intact. Handsomely mounted, cloth-matted, and framed with portraits and engraved nameplates to an overall size of 30.5 x 21.5. In very good to fine condition, with overall wrinkling and rippling, and all of the handwriting a couple of shades light. Starting Bid $200
4. Andrew Jackson Document Signed as President.
Partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 14.75 x 18.25, December 22, 1832. President Jackson appoints Peter Turner as “Lieutenant in the Navy, to rank as such from the 20th of December 1832, in the service of the United States.” Signed at the conclusion by Andrew Jackson and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy Levi Woodbury. The embossed Navy Department seal remains affixed to the lower vignette. In fine condition, with the signature several shades light, but entirely legible. Starting Bid $200
5. John Tyler Signed Free Frank. Hand-
addressed and free franked mailing envelope, 5 x 3, addressed in Tyler’s hand to “Thomas Bradford, Esq’r, Philadelphia,” and franked in the upper right, “J. Tyler.” Postmarked “Free” at Washington, March 6, [no year]. In fine condition, with two stains, one of which touches the signature. Starting Bid $200
6. Millard Fillmore Autograph Letter Signed. ALS signed “Fillmore, Hall & Haven, Per. Millard Fillmore,” one page both sides, 7.5 x 9, July 19, 1836. Addressed from Buffalo, New York, a handwritten letter from Fillmore to William Campbell, the Surveyor General, inquiring whether his client can obtain title to a small portion of land then owned by the state. At the conclusion, Fillmore signs in his capacity as the partner handling the case. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Handwritten document by Lincoln as a ‘prairie lawyer’
7. Abraham Lincoln Autograph Document Signed.
ADS, signed “Lincoln,” one page, 7.75 x 4, no date but circa 1855. Handwritten legal document accomplished entirely in the hand of Abraham Lincoln, in the case of Samuel Hitchcock, administrator of Isabella Hitchcock, v. William C. Glasgow, an action of “debt upon record.” In full: “And the said defendant comes and defends, the wrong and injury, when, where &c. and says the plaintiff actio now because he says there is no such record, as the plaintiff in his declaration, has alledged; and this he prays may be enquired of by the court &c.” In fine condition, with trimmed edges. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder. Lincoln had appeared for Glasgow in two cases heard before the Tazewell County court in October 1854. The court decided against Glasgow in one decision, awarding the plaintiff $387.45 plus costs. The second case, Hitchcock v. Glasgow, was continued until spring 1855, when Lincoln filed this pleas, arguing that the Hitchcocks could not recover “Debt upon Record” as there was no valid “record.” Glasgow was an Illinois resident at the time the Ohio court awarded the Hitchcock estate its judgment, and had ‘never appeared in person to said suit, nor authorized any person to appear for him, therein; and this he is ready to verify.’ As a result of Lincoln’s successful defense, the plaintiff dismissed the action on May 1, 1855. Starting Bid $1000
8. U. S. Grant Signature. Choice ink signature, “Yours truly, U. S. Grant, Lt. Gen. U.S.A., Washington, D.C., March 31st 1866,” on an off-white 4.25 x 3 slip. Mounted, matted, and framed with a carte-de-visite portrait of Gen. Grant to an overall size of 10.5 x 13.5. In fine condition, with light toning along the left edge. Starting Bid $200
9. William McKinley Signed Photograph. Uncommon
matte-finish 5.5 x 8 head-and-shoulders photo of McKinley by Courtney of Canton, Ohio, affixed to its original 8.5 x 11 mount, signed and inscribed in ink, “For Miss Mary Harter, With sincere regards, W. McKinley.” In fine condition, with some subtle soiling to the mount and evidence of mounting to reverse. An unusually large and well-preserved signed portrait of the president. Starting Bid $200
10. Franklin D. Roosevelt Signed
Photograph. Superior vintage mattefinish 11.75 x 11 Harris & Ewing photo of Franklin D. Roosevelt seated at his desk, signed in the lower border in fountain pen, “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” In fine condition, with trimmed borders, and toning from prior display. Starting Bid $200
11. Harry and Bess Truman (2) Signed Photographs. Two oversized signed portraits: a vintage matte-finish 9.25 x 13.25 photo of President Truman by Harris & Ewing, signed and inscribed in the lower border in fountain pen, “Kindest regards to Mrs. Stewart, from Harry S. Truman”; and a vintage matte-finish 10.5 x 13.25 photo of Mrs. Truman by Chase of Washington, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “With love to Louise, from Bess.” In overall fine condition, with trimmed edges. Starting Bid $200
“Dewey Defeats Truman”— a one-of-a-kind Chicago Daily Tribune front page dual-signed by the 1948 presidential candidates
12. Harry S. Truman and Thomas E. Dewey Signed
Newspaper. Incredibly rare front page of the Chicago Daily Tribune of November 3, 1948, 16.5 x 23.25, featuring the iconic banner headline “Dewey Defeats Truman,” signed below their respective surnames in black ink by the two candidates: “Truman hasn’t found it out, Harry S. Truman” and “Thomas E. Dewey.” Rolled and in very good to fine condition, with small areas of paper loss, and expertly reinforced via professional silking to both sides.
When the decision to print this paper was made, returns were coming in very slowly and time was running out before the deadline for the edition. The Tribune staff, based on the early returns, decided Dewey would be the next President. After the newspaper was delivered to the street, more returns came in and showed that Truman would in fact be reelected, winning the electoral vote with a 303-189-39 majority over Dewey and Dixiecrat candidate Strom Thurmond. Widely regarded as the most notorious journalistic blunder in the history of American newspapers, the ‘Dewey Defeats Truman’ front page holds a unique place amongst the long list of famous front page headlines. This example being signed by its two subjects can be chalked up as an inconceivably rare occurrence—this is the only Truman-Dewey dual-signed item we have ever encountered. Starting Bid $1000
Jackie Onassis writes to JFK, Jr.’s house counselor at Phillips Academy: “He certainly has grown up so much—and is so much happier in his shaky semi maturity”
13. Jacqueline Kennedy (3) Autograph Letters Signed. Three ALSs from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sent to Meredeth Price, the house counselor of John F. Kennedy, Jr., during the latter’s tenure at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, from 1977 to 1980. The correspondence consists of three handwritten letters, two full and one partial (missing the first page), six total pages, signed either as “Jacqueline Onassis” or “Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.” Letter highlights:
July 13, 1977: “I think that the year ended on a pretty good note…it seems to me to have been a year of enormous growth for John. He has matured so much.”
August 6, 1978: “He certainly has grown up so much—and is so much happier in his shaky semi maturity…What pleases me most about John is that he no longer looks on figures of authority as his natural enemies, but now more as his allies.”
No date: “I hope that in his great relief, he won’t revert to his breezy ways. Please remind him for me, that though this makes life easier for him in one way, it makes it more difficult in another.” In overall fine condition, with some light creasing, and small smudges to two words on the last letter. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the son of the original recipient. Starting Bid $300
14. Jacqueline Kennedy Signed Photograph. Outstanding glossy 7.5 x 9.5 close-up photo of President John F. Kennedy, signed and inscribed in black felt tip to his esteemed White House photographer by the former first lady, “For Cecil Stoughton, whose talent and friendship meant so much to President Kennedy and myself, always devotedly, Jacqueline Kennedy.” In very fine condition, with uniform light fading to the image. Cecil W. Stoughton (1920–2008) served as the official White House photographer throughout Kennedy’s administration, capturing some of the most iconic and intimate moments of JFK’s historic term in office. A wonderful, warm inscription from the first lady to the important American photographer. Starting Bid $200
One month after winning his first election, the 29-yearold “Jack Kennedy” pledges to donate to the East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library
16. John F. Kennedy Typed Letter Signed. TLS signed “Jack Kennedy,” one page, 7.25 x 10.5, North Ocean Boulevard, Palm Beach letterhead, December 9, 1946. Letter to Bill Kelly in Boston, in part: “I received your letter in regard to the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the first Branch Library in the United States...As you know, for the last year or so this Kennedy family has been channeling all its resources into the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, which gave its first donation to the Archbishop last August and will give a large gift to some organizations every year on the anniversary of my brother’s death. For this reason, I have been forced to turn down most requests because I think it more important to help the Foundation on a few big projects...However, because I recognize that this district has in it the first Branch Library, which is certainly something which we should all be proud of, I shall be glad to make some personal contribution to the project. If you will tell me how much you are planning to pay for the victrola, I will work out some sort of contribution which I hope will be helpful.” In fine condition, with two file holes to the top edge. Starting Bid $300
Remarkably unique collection of JFK’s speeches signed by John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Buzz Aldrin, and others
15. John and Jacqueline Kennedy Signed Books.
Extraordinary pairing of two books highlighting John F. Kennedy’s presidential speeches, signed by their authors and affiliated figures—John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Buzz Aldrin, John W. Gardner, and Nicholas Katzenbach. Includes:
Signed book: To Turn the Tide. First edition. NY: Harper & Brothers, 1962. Hardcover with dust jacket, 6 x 8.5, 235 pages. Signed and inscribed on the first free end page in fountain pen by the president, “For Rosalinde Kaufman—with thanks and best regards, John Kennedy,” and the editor, “To Lin— with my sincere thanks for your valuable help in preparing this volume, John Gardner.” Kaufman is one of four people thanked in Gardner’s editor’s note that opens the book. The volume collects several of Kennedy’s greatest speeches and addresses, ranging from his oft-quoted inaugural to his famous commitment to ‘landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth’—this speech signed at the conclusion in blue ballpoint by America’s second moonwalker: “Mission Accomplished! Apollo XI achieved President Kennedy’s goal before the end of the decade, Buzz Aldrin, July 16-24, 1969, Apollo XI LMP.” Autographic condition: fine. Book condition: VG+/VG, with edge nicks and creasing to dust jacket.
Signed book: The Burden and the Glory. First edition, specially bound deluxe presentation issue. Hardcover bound in navy blue goatskin with gilt-stamped presidential seal on front board, all edges gilt, 5.75 x 8.25, 293 pages. Signed on the first free end page in black ballpoint, “Jacqueline Kennedy,” and on the first page of a speech entitled ‘The Moral Issue of Equal Rights for All Colors,’ JFK’s response to the desegregation crisis in Alabama, by JFK’s deputy attorney general, “Nicholas deB. Katzenbach.” Autographic condition: fine. Book condition: VG+/ None, with trivial spots of rubbing to spine head and corners. Both books are housed in handsome custom-made half-leather clamshell cases with marbled boards and gilt-stamped spines. Starting Bid $1000
Capitalism during the Cold War—a significant handwritten draft by John F. Kennedy concerning “private foreign capital” and investment abroad
17. John F. Kennedy Handwritten Speech Draft. Partial handwrit-
ten draft by John F. Kennedy, one page, 8 x 11.5, no date but possibly for a speech during his 1960 presidential campaign. Kennedy writes, in full: “If foreign countries wish private foreign capital invested, and this must be their decision, then I would think they have give reasonable assurances against confiscation. I emphasize that this is a decision for the country involved.” He strikes through the final phrase: “Private capital is free to invest or not to.” In very good to fine condition, with an old tape stain along the repaired tear at the top. A significant piece of Kennedy’s handwritten commentary on global capitalism. Starting Bid $200
18. John F. Kennedy Typed Note Signed. TNS
signed “John Kennedy,” one page, 4.25 x 2, no date. Humorous typed note, in full: “Sorry—I have a bad throat and have lost my voice—but please vote for me anyway.” In fine condition, with trimmed edges and light toning. One can imagine the campaigning Kennedy passing these out amidst throngs of supporters. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder. Starting Bid $200
19. John F. Kennedy Autograph Note Signed. ANS signed “J. K.,” penned in black ballpoint on an off-white 3.5 x 4.75 sheet of “From the Desk of John F. Kennedy” memo paper, stationery which dates to Kennedy’s tenure as a Massachusetts congressman; Kennedy’s stationery as a U.S. Senator was imprinted with his senatorial title letterhead. The handwritten note, in full: “Langdon, This is what I was talking about. J. K.” Matted and framed with a photo of Kennedy and his wife Jackie to an overall size of 14.75 x 12.25. In fine condition, with light creasing. Starting Bid $200
20. John F. Kennedy Original Homicide Report. Original homi-
cide report (form OP HB-403), one page, 8.5 x 11, November 23, 1963, documenting the assassination of President Kennedy. The form is filled out in type with relevant information and a description of the incident. The “Details of Offense,” in full: “The expired was riding in motorcade with wife and Governor John Connally, and his wife. Witnesses heard gun shot and saw the expired slump forward. More shots were heard and the expired fell into his wife’s lap. Governor Connally was also shot at this time. Car in which they were riding was escorted to Parkland Hospital.” The bottom of the report lists the suspect as “Lee Harvey Oswald,” a 25-year-old white male, arrested by officers “Lt. E. L. Cunningham 464” and “MN McDonald 1178,” charged with “Murder.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
21. Jimmy Carter Signed Photograph. Unique satin-finish
8 x 10 photo of President Carter presenting Apollo 11 moonwalker Neil Armstrong with the first-ever Congressional Space Medal of Honor, signed and inscribed in the lower border in black felt tip, “Best wishes to Neil Armstrong—Jimmy Carter.” In very fine condition. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder. Armstrong became the first recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on October 1, 1978, recognizing his exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions as an astronaut. Starting Bid $300
22. Joe and Jill Biden Signed Photograph. Color satin-
finish 8 x 10 photo of Joe and Jill Biden holding hands during the inaugural ball on January 21, 2013, signed by both in black felt tip. In very fine condition. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from JSA. Starting Bid $200
