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Military
440. Robert Anderson Autograph Letter Signed. Union general
(1805-1871) in command of Fort Sumter who refused a formal demand for his surrender, leading to the bombardment of the fort and start of the Civil War. Civil War-dated ALS, one page, 3.75 x 6, January 18, 1862. Handwritten letter to A. T. Goodman of Cleveland, in full: “The four letters, you mention in your note of the 15th inst., as having been written, requesting my autograph, were never received.” In fine condition, with light soiling. Starting Bid $200
Rare 40˝ Confederate Signal Corps brass telescope
441. Confederate Signal Corps Telescope.
Exceedingly rare Confederate Army Signal Corps four-tiered brass-bodied telescope, measuring 40˝ long at full extension with a 2.5˝ diameter objective lens, engraved near the eyepiece, “Signal Corps, C. S. A., No. 15,” and “Negretti & Zambra, Instrument Makers to Her Majesty, London.” In very good condition, with general wear from use, a cracked objective lens, various dents and dings, and some tarnishing. In 1864, the Confederate government contracted with well-known Negretti & Zambra to provide twenty-five telescopes to the Signal Corps. These were extremely high quality optical instruments for their time, providing an approximately 40x magnification with a range of fifteen miles. Very few of these Signal Corps telescopes are known extant and such instruments are of the utmost desirability. Starting Bid $300
Choice twice-signed letter regarding a West Point professorship
442. Jefferson Davis Autograph Letter Signed Twice. Bold ALS signed twice, “Jeffer. Davis,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 9.75, August 26, 1856. Letter to John W. French, in part: “For the reasons set forth in the endorsement and a desire to save you from any annoyance I determined to send the application of Mr. Sprole to the Engt. bureau.” Signed below by Davis, who goes on to pen a copy of his endorsement: “The interest of the Academy being paramount it is deemed better that the application should be decided by the Superintendent than be left to the generosity and kindness of the Professor.” This is also signed at the conclusion. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
443. Robert E. Lee Signed Carte-de-Visite Photograph. Uncommon
2.25 x 3.5 carte-de-visite photo of Lee in formal attire, boldly signed in ink, “R. E. Lee.” Displayed in a hand-cut mat and framed to an overall size of 11.75 x 7.75, with a typed provenance note: “This picture was given to my grandmother Annis Adaline McCarty when she was a girl by Robert E. Lee. She was born October 1, 1829, the year Robert E. Lee graduated from West Point with honors. She married September 18, 1855 to Lewis Leander Poats, V.” In very good condition, with fading to the image and clear tape over most of the signature. Starting Bid $300
444. William T. Sherman TwiceSigned Photograph. Exceptional 4.25
x 6.5 cabinet portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman in uniform with his arms folded in impatience, signed in black ink, “W. T. Sherman, General, 1888.” Sherman adds his signature and an inscription on the back, “To Colonel W. B. Henderson, Dubuque, Iowa, with compliments of W. T. Sherman, General—New York, Aug. 14, 1888.” Published by the Otto Sarony Studio of New York. In fine condition, with an old tape stain to the upper left corner. Accompanied by a Sarony cabinet portrait of Francis B. Spinola, who has signed and inscribed below, “Gen. F. B. Spinola to his friend Gen. Henderson.” Starting Bid $200
ate brigadier general (1812-1862) who was killed in action at the Battle of Mill Springs, making him the first Confederate general to die in the Western Theater. Rare 2.5 x 4 carte-devisite photo bearing an artistic portrait of Felix Zollicoffer in his military uniform, signed in ink, “Zollicoffer.” Published by Fisher & Denison of Baltimore, Maryland. In fine condition, with scattered faint foxing. Our first signed photo of Zollicoffer. Starting Bid $200 446. Georges Guynemer Signed Photograph. The
second highest-scoring French fighter ace (1894–1917 MIA) who tallied 54 victories during World War I, and was a French national hero at the time of his death at the young age of 22. Very rare vintage sepia matte-finish 3 x 3 lightweight photo of Georges Guynemer posing in his military uniform next to another gentleman, both of whom are standing in front of a pair of biplane fighter aircraft, signed in fountain pen, “15 mars 17, G. Guynemer.” In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, and a diagonal crease to the lower right. The first item we have ever offered signed by Guynemer; this photo was autographed a little less than six months before he went missing and was presumed dead. Starting Bid $200’
447. Iwo Jima: Joe Rosenthal Signed Photograph.
Vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 photo of Rosenthal posing next to the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, signed and inscribed in the lower border in black ballpoint, “Best wishes to Marc Conkling, from Joe Rosenthal.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200 448. Douglas MacArthur Signed Photograph. Vintage
matte-finish 8 x 10 close-up military portrait, signed in fountain pen, “Douglas MacArthur, Tokyo-1947.” In very good to fine condition, with a light central vertical crease passing through MacArthur’s face. Starting Bid $200
449. World War II: Bernard J. Jensen’s B-17 ‘Skippy’ A-2 Bomber Jacket. A WWII USAAF 8th Air Force B-17
(42-3329) A-2 bomber jacket belonging to Corporal Bernard J. Jensen, tailgunner on ‘Skippy’ (390th Bombardment Group, 570th Bomb Squadron), a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress whose crew were forced to bale out when the aircraft’s number one engine caught fire en route to Romilly-sur-Seine, France, on February 5, 1944; the ‘Skippy’ crashed in Salehurst, East Sussex, England. The jacket, size 36, was made by J. A. Dubow Mfg. Co. of Chicago, IL, and is stamped with the contract number. The inner collar is stamped and the left chest bears hand-painted calligraphic script, “B. J. Jensen.” The back is prominently embellished with the aircraft name in blue and white paint, “SKIPPY,” and a cluster of 30 yellow bombs and a single white parachutist, signifying his 30 flown missions and his safe and successful bale out. The condition of the exterior leather is a blend of being both supple and slightly rigid, with scattered marks, fading, and some flaking to front, back, and sleeves; the cuffs and hem feature some tears, small holes, and fraying; and the inner liner contains tears to collar section and right armpit; the paint to front and back is worn but still quite colorful and presentable. Starting Bid $200
450. World War II: Lawrence Hall’s USAAF 8th Air Force A-2 Flight Jacket. A WWII USAAF 8th Air
Force A-2 flight jacket belonging to Sergeant Lawrence Hall. This attractive dark brown leather, issue jacket with russet-brown elastique hem and cuffs has a single, original Talon front zipper with collar snaps, and a hook and eye fastener at the throat. The jacket, size 38, was made by J. A. Dubow Mfg. Co. of Chicago, IL, and has the one-piece label peculiar to Dubow jackets made under the W535 AC 27798 contract. The inner collar is stamped with Hall’s name, and the left chest bears a leather name patch, “SGT. Lawrence Hall,” between hand-painted Air Force wings and calligraphic script, “Larry Hall.” The exterior leather is still supple with scattered marks to front and back, as well to the sleeves, which bears light creases to backs of forearms; the cuffs and hem feature some tears, small holes, and fraying; and the inner liner, which may need to be replaced or professionally serviced, is scattered with mold spots from prior water damage and dampstaining. Starting Bid $200
451. André Masséna Document Signed. Military com-
mander (1758–1817) during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, who was named as one of Napoleon’s original 18 Marshals of the Empire; Napoleon referred to Masséna as ‘the greatest name of my Military Empire.’ Manuscript DS in French, signed “Massena,” one page, 8.25 x 12.75, January 24, 1800. Untranslated letter signed by Massena as commander of the French Army of Italy. In very good to fine condition, with some creasing to corners and paper loss to left margin. Starting Bid $200
452. Napoleon Autograph Endorsement
Signed. Untranslated autograph endorsement signed “Bonaparte,” penned at the top of a partial ‘Republique Francaise’ document, 8 x 5.25, Ventose (February) 27, 1802. In very good to fine condition, with two areas of loss along the bottom edge, and a tiny edge tear above the endorsement. Starting Bid $200
