13 minute read
Presidents and First Ladies
CONTENTS
Presidents and First Ladies...................................................................................................................3 Notables ..............................................................................................................................................14 Military ................................................................................................................................................ 49 Space ................................................................................................................................................. 55 Art, Architecture, and Design...............................................................................................................57 Comic Art and Animation .....................................................................................................................70 Literature .............................................................................................................................................71 Music ...................................................................................................................................................80 Classic Entertainment .........................................................................................................................91 Sports ................................................................................................................................................104 Conditions of Sale .............................................................................................................................105
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Robert S. Eaton Sr. 1940–2001
presidents and first ladies
President 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. Starting Bid $1000
1768 Washington signature clipped from a Mountain Road Lottery ticket
2. George Washington Signature. Crisp ink signature,
“Go: Washington,” on an off-white 3.25 x .75 sheet clipped from a 1768 ticket for the ‘Mountain Road Lottery.’ Archivally mounted, matted, and framed with an engraving, medallion, caption, and two patriotic ribbons to an overall size of 12.5 x 19.25; reverse of frame contains a printed copy of the lottery ticket. In fine condition. With Captain Thomas Bullitt and others, Washington conceived a lottery as a way to raise funds to build a road through the Allegheny Mountains in Virginia and to construct a resort in the area now known as The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia. Owing to competition from other lotteries, the Mountain Road Lottery failed, and King George III then banned all lotteries in 1769. Although 6,000 of these lottery tickets were originally slated to be sold, only about 25 are known to exist today. Starting Bid $500
Weeks before Thanksgiving, President Adams dispatches a shipment of “Turkies” abroad
3. John Adams Document Signed as President. Partly-printed DS as president, one page, 19.25 x 15.5, October 30, 1797. A four-language ship’s papers issued to “James Humphrey, master or commander of the Brig’t called Hiram…lying at present in the port of Derby bound for St. Bartholomew and laden with Oxen, Pork, Beef, Corn Meal, Rye flour, Pottatoes [sic], Staves & Candles, Sheep, Swine, Poultry & Turkies.” Prominently signed at the conclusion by President Adams and countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. The white paper seals affixed at the center remain intact. In very good to fine condition, with a few tears and areas of paper loss repaired and reinforced by complete professional backing on the reverse. Adams’ signature is large, bold, and completely unaffected by any flaws. Starting Bid $500
Executive intervention at West Point: “My venerable friend President Adams will frank this for me”
4. John Adams Signed Free Frank. Full free frank, measuring 9.75 x 7.75 unfolded with a 5 x 3.25 center panel, addressed in another hand to “Capt Partridge at the Military Academy, West Point, State of New York,” franked in the upper right by Adams, “Free,” and signed on the left side, “J. Adams.” The original adjoining letter remains attached, written by “John Marston,” August 8, 1813, requesting a thirty day furlough for his son, Ward Marston, recently commission to be a cadet at West Point, reasoning, “I wish my son to be more perfect in some of the studies he is now pursuing, before he goes to the academy.” He writes that he had forwarded a letter through Vice President Elbridge Gerry two weeks earlier and had received no response, adding, “I fear that I omitted to pay the postage of my last letter…My venerable friend President Adams will frank this for me.” In fine condition, with seal-related paper loss on the integral address sheet. Starting Bid $200
Handwritten letter by Governor Jefferson on the movement of Benedict Arnold’s forces through Virginia
lutionary War-dated ALS signed “Th: Jefferson,” one page, 8 x 12.75, January 11, 1781. Addressed from Richmond, a handwritten letter to Brigadier General George Weedon, in part: “The enemy moved down the river from Westover yesterday. I wrote by express to Genl. Nelson this morning to desire that if they should pass Burwell’s ferry (which would prove that they mean nothing against Wms’burg or York) he would in that point of time send off an express to you that you might thereby know that your whole attention should be pointed to Fredsbg. They have had the winds at their command and I am persuaded are at this moment either past Burwell’s ferry or in Williamsburg. If the former I expect you will receive notice by tomorrow night. Should you not I suppose you may presume the enemy have not passed that point but on the contrary have invaded Williamsburg and that you should move that way. By halting a day you will refresh your men, and perhaps increase your numbers so as to render your approach to Williamsburg more safe and more effectually relieving...I cannot do better now than leave you master of your own actions, as events may become known to you sooner than to me which might render any thing positive not only proper but mischievous.” Framed to an overall size of 15.25 x 20.25. In fine condition, with slightly rough edges, and a missing upper right corner tip affecting one word of that date. Starting Bid $2500
Granting a pension to an artillery officer “shot through the body at the battle of Monmouth,” Jefferson affirms the new nation’s obligation to its veterans
6. Thomas Jefferson Document Signed as Secretary
of State. DS, signed “Th: Jefferson,” one page, 8 x 13, December 16, 1791. An Act of the Second Congress, in part: “An Act for the relief of David Cook and Thomas Campbell. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That David Cook, a captain of artillery in the late war, and who, being shot through the body at the battle of Monmouth, is rendered incapable to obtain his livelihood by labor, shall be placed on the pension-list of the United States, and shall be entitled to one third of his monthly pay, as a captain of artillery…Thomas Campbell [shall] be placed on the pension-list, and…the half pay of a captain of infantry be allowed to the said Thomas Campbell, who has been so injured by repeated wounds in the service of his country, that he is unable to support himself by labor.” Signed at the conclusion by Jefferson as Secretary of State, with typed signatures of George Washington, John Adams, and Jonathan Trumbull also present. Elegantly double-cloth-matted and archivally framed with a color portrait of Jefferson and a small plaque to an overall size of 27.25 x 24.25. In fine condition, with light soiling, minor corner loss, and indications of being mounted to a same-size sheet (not examined out of the frame). Starting Bid $1000
Jefferson and Madison approve a ship’s pass for the ‘Mary’
7. 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, 10.25 x 15.5, June 22, 1805. Scalloped-top ship’s papers issued to the “Ship Mary of Charleston, Gilbert Fuller, master and commander…mounted with no guns navigated by thirteen men to pass with her Company Passengers, Goods and Merchandise without any hindrance, seizure or molestation.” Signed at the conclusion by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The lower left corner retains the original white wafer seal. In fine condition, with trimmed edges, two small holes to the upper left corner, and Madison’s signature quite light but fully legible. An attractive example with a particularly bold presidential Jefferson signature. Starting Bid $500
Uncommon Polk–Buchanan pardon for a troublesome ship’s captain
8. James K. Polk and James Buchanan Document Signed as President and Secretary of State. Manu-
script DS, signed “James K. Polk” as president and “James Buchanan” as secretary of state, one page both sides, 9.5 x 14.5, July 1, 1846. In part: “The British Barque Mary Harrington, Charles McFee [sic], master arrived at the port of New York… with an excess of passengers…Said barque was measured at Charlestown S. C…difference of admeasurement in the two ports, is the cause of the excess of passengers…I, James K. Polk...do hereby remit...the penalty incurred.” Boldly signed at the conclusion by President Polk and countersigned by Secretary of State James Buchanan. The crisply embossed white paper seal affixed to the upper left remains fully intact. In fine condition, with repairs to folds and a slightly rough left edge. Starting Bid $300
9. James Buchanan Autograph Letter Signed. ALS, one
page both sides, 6.5 x 8, June 28, 1856. Handwritten letter to a young friend and supporter, commenting on his recent nomination for president and offering advice. In part: “You have proved a true prophet in regard to the nomination; but according to the old proverb, no man can tell who will be chosen until after the election. I rejoice to learn that you are studying hard, because I feel a deep interest in your welfare. The boy who does not study in his youth when he has the opportunity will bitterly resent this in after years.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Eleven days after Lincoln’s assassination—and on the day of Booth’s apprehension and death— President Johnson tends to official business
10. Andrew Johnson Document Signed. DS as president, one page, 13.25 x 9.25, April 26, 1865. President Johnson appoints David Batchelder as “Deputy Postmaster at Amesbury, Massachusetts.” Neatly signed at the conclusion in bold ink by President Jackson, and countersigned by Acting Secretary of State William Hunter. The embossed white seal affixed to the lower left is toned but intact. Handsomely matted and framed with an engraved portrait (bearing a facsimile signature) to an overall size of 24.5 x 14. In fine condition, with intersecting folds. This historic document dates to just eleven days after Andrew Johnson took office upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln; Secretary of State William H. Seward, who had been attacked as part of the assassination conspiracy, was still recuperating, with Hunter acting in his stead. On this date, John Wilkes Booth was apprehended and killed after a days-long manhunt that ended in Port Royal, Virginia. Starting Bid $200
Rare presidential pardon from Franklin Pierce for a counterfeiter of coin
11. Franklin Pierce Document Signed as President.
Manuscript DS as president, one page both sides, 10.75 x 15.75, April 4, 1856. An official pardon issued by President Pierce for John Batz, who “was sentenced to be imprisoned in the penitentiary for a period of six years, under conviction of counterfeiting coin.” Signed at the conclusion by Franklin Pierce, and countersigned by Secretary of State William L. Marcy. The signed reverse bears the original embossed seal to the upper left hand corner. In very good to fine condition, with a tear to the left edge, passing through one word of text, repaired with archival tape on the reverse. Starting Bid $200
Rare FDR letter on the “one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner, inspired by the bombardment of Fort McHenry”
12. Franklin D. Roosevelt Typed Letter Signed as President on Star Spangled Banner. Important TLS as
president, one page, 7 x 8.75, White House letterhead, May 16, 1939. Letter to W. Tilghman Hemsley, chairman of the executive committee of the Star Spangled Banner Regatta. In full: “Please accept my thanks for your kind letter of May twelfth inviting me to attend the celebration of the one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner, inspired by the bombardment of Fort McHenry. I regret exceedingly that circumstances make it impossible to accept this invitation to participate in person. I hope, however, the celebration will be a successful one and one that will inspire all who participate with a new sense of appreciation of the stirring events it commemorates.” In fine condition, with light edge toning. Accompanied by photocopies of associated correspondence (Hemsley’s letter inviting him to the event, an internal White House memo, and their retained copy of this reply), provided to the consignor by the FDR Presidential Library & Museum. According to the consignor’s research, this is the only presidential letter on White House stationery mentioning the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ ever to come up for auction. A remarkable and patriotic piece. Starting Bid $300
13. Franklin D. Roosevelt Signed Oversized Photo-
graph. Exceptional vintage matte-finish 15 x 10.5 Harris & Ewing photo of Franklin D. Roosevelt seated at his desk, signed boldly in the lower border in fountain pen. In fine condition, with a small tear to the bottom edge. An ideal uninscribed portrait of FDR, made all the more impressive by its uncommonly large size. Starting Bid $200 14. Harry S. Truman Signed Photograph. Vintage
8.75 x 12.5 Harris & Ewing photo of Truman in a handsome bust-length pose, signed and inscribed in the lower border in fountain pen, “Best wishes & kindest regards to Dr. Edward H. Pruden on his tenth year at the First Baptist Church, Harry S. Truman.” Framed and in very fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Virtually unobtainable White House card signed by LBJ
15. Lyndon B. Johnson Signed White House Card. Extremely rare official White House card signed in bold fountain pen, “With best wishes—Lyndon B. Johnson.” In very fine condition. White House cards signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson are, without hyperbole, in a class of their own. RR Auction has offered just two others in its history—the first of which was, at the time, the only known authentic example and described in Charles Hamilton’s 1983 authoritative publication, American Autographs, and in Larry F. Vrazlik and Michael Minor’s 1991 book From the President’s Pen. Only a scant few have come to market in the meantime; it remains an excessively rare presidential prize. Starting Bid $300
16. Ronald Reagan Signed Book. Signed book:
An American Life. Deluxe first edition set, limited issue, numbered 718/2000. NY: Simon & Schuster, 1990. Leatherbound hardcover, 6.5 x 9.5, 748 pages. Signed on the colophon in black felt tip by Reagan. Housed in its original finely crafted publisher’s oak presentation case with brass handles and inlaid presidential seal; a separate drawer contains a sixcassette audio version of Reagan’s Speaking My Mind. In fine condition, with some blurring to the edition numbers. Starting Bid $200
