Military

304. Marquis de Lafayette Autograph Letter Signed. ALS

signed “Lafayette,” one page, 6.75 x 8.5, October 8, 1786. Handwritten letter written from Paris, in part: “Give me leave to introduce to you Mr. Le Coulton…He intends settling in your State, and I beg you will favour him with your advice.” He goes on to provide instructions for an advance of money. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200

305. Marquis de Lafayette and Benjamin Constant Document Signed. Manuscript DS in French, signed “Lafayette,”

one page both sides, 8 x 9.75, June 6, 1819. Untranslated document signed at the conclusion by the Marquis de Lafayette, political theorist Benjamin Constant, and two others. In fine condition, with small areas of paper loss, and writing showing through from opposing sides. Starting Bid $200

306. Jefferson Davis Autograph Letter Signed as

Secretary of War (1853). ALS signed “Jeffer. Davis,” one page, 7.75 x 9.75, April 4, 1853. Handwritten letter to Archibald Campbell, the Chief Clerk of the War Department, in full: “I wish you would send to the Sect’y of the Interior the statement of the clerks of the War Dep’t., marked by their political distinctions and oblige.” In fine condition. After winning the 1852 presidential election, Franklin Pierce appointed Jefferson Davis as his Secretary of War on March 7, 1853, less than a month before he wrote this letter. Starting Bid $200

Jefferson Davis responds to an article on “the battle of Manassas”

307. Jefferson Davis Autograph

Letter Signed. ALS, one page, 5 x 8, July 31, 1889. Handwritten letter to Mr. S. S. S. West, in full: “Accept my thanks for your very interesting article on the battle of Manassas. Your criticism I think it entirely correct & though much has been written to explain why the fruits of victory were not gathered, there were many who feel like yourself & are consequently disappointed.” Corner-mounted, matted, and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 18.75 x 14.75. In fine condition, with scattered small stains. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Davis’s hand. Starting Bid $200

308. Nathan Bedford Forrest Document Signed. Confederate general (1821-1877) who earned a reputation as the greatest cavalry officer of the Civil War. DS, signed “N. B. Forrest,” one page, 8.25 x 3.5, September 1, 1870. Reverse of a clipped mortgage bond from the Selma, Marion and Memphis Railroad Company, which states that the company “agrees and binds itself to pay the principal and interest of the within Bond in Gold Coin of the United States.” Signed at the conclusion in crisp black ink by Nathan Bedford Forrest as the company’s president. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200

Image larger than actual size.

309. Robert E. Lee Signature. Ink signature, “R. E. Lee,” on an off-white 3 x 1.75 card. In fine to very fine condition. A superb example—essentially as nice a Robert E. Lee autograph as can be found. Starting Bid $200

Gen. MacArthur boards the USS Cleveland to observe the last major amphibious landing of World War II

310. Douglas MacArthur Signed Photograph. Historic vintage matte-finish 10 x 8 photo of Douglas MacArthur boarding the USS Cleveland in 1945, beautifully signed in fountain pen, “Douglas MacArthur, Borneo 1945.” Reverse is stamped: “Official Photograph, U.S.S. Cleveland.” In very fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA.

In the closing chapters of the Pacific Theater of World War II, the USS Cleveland put out from Subic Bay on June 7th to act as part of the covering force and provide fire support for the invasion landings at Brunei Bay, Borneo, on June 10th. She returned to Subic Bay on June 15th, then sailed to Manila to embark General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and his staff as observers of the assault on Balikpapan, the last major amphibious landing of World War II. Just weeks later, the atomic bombs would be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the long conflict would draw to a close. A remarkable, historic photograph of MacArthur in action at war’s end. Starting Bid $500

While preparing the Allied tank invasion of North Africa, Patton offers words of encouragement to an overlooked Major: “I would not be downhearted just because I have been jumped. I was jumped in the last War and in this one, and have not suffered by it in the end”

311. George S. Patton Typed Letter Signed. World War

II–dated TLS signed “G. S. Patton, Jr.,” one page, 7.25 x 10.5, colorful Headquarters I Armored Corps letterhead, February 18, 1942. Letter to Major L. M. Grener of the 6th Armored Division, in part: “It is my understanding that anyone promoted by selection had to have had five consecutive superior ratings. I do not know what your ratings were prior to entering the Armored Force, nor do I remember what they were...I know that some battalions are now being commanded by captains who will shortly be promoted to majorities. Personally, I should be very glad and, in fact, delighted to have you as a battalion commander, because I believe your experience should be very helpful. I would not be downhearted just because I have been jumped. I was jumped in the last War and in this one, and have not suffered by it in the end.” In very good to fine condition, with overall creasing and a few small stains. Commanded by Patton, the I Armored Corps would make landfall in Morocco during Operation Torch in November 1942, beginning the Allied invasion of French North Africa. This was the first all-American force to enter the war against the Germans. Starting Bid $200

312. Maxwell D. Taylor’s Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Paperweight.

Handsome polished sterling silver paperweight by Tiffany & Co., measuring 4.5˝ in diameter and weighing 37.85 ounces, engraved on the face: “To General Maxwell D. Taylor, who has served his country magnificently on the battlefield and as Army Chief of Staff. From his admirers at the Calvin Bullock Forum.” Stamped on the edge: “Tiffany & Co. Makers Sterling 56111.” In very good to fine condition, with adhesive residue to reverse and overall scratches to the polished mirror finish. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Taylor’s grandson. Starting Bid $200

313. Napoleon Letter Signed. LS in French, signed “Bonaparte,” one page both sides, 9 x 10.5, General en Chef de L’Armee d’Italie letterhead, March 6, 1797. Untranslated military order to “Sibille, Commandant La Marine.” In very good to fine condition, with scattered small stains, and reconstruction (with a few small text embellishments) to the top edge. Starting Bid $200

Wellington draws £63,000 to pay his troops

315. Duke of Wellington Document Signed. Manuscript DS,

signed “Wellington,” one page, 8.25 x 12, November 25, 1809. Document issued during the Peninsular War, directing Deputy Paymaster General John Paramor Boys “to receive from John Murray Esqr. Commissary General the sum of Sixty Three Thousand Pounds Sterling for the ordinary services of the Forces under my Command.” In very good to fine condition, with scattered light foxing. Starting Bid $200

Lord Nelson responds to an accusation of cowardice by his greatest adversary: “If my character is not established by this time for not being apt to run away it is not worth my time to attempt to put the world right”

314. Horatio Nelson Autograph Letter Draft. Autograph

draft of an important letter by Horatio Nelson, one page both sides, 7.25 x 9.5, [August 12, 1804]. Nelson’s unsigned handwritten draft of a letter to First Secretary of the Admiralty William Marsden, defending himself against accusations that he ‘ran away’ from Vice Admiral Louis-Rene de Latouche-Tréville off Toulon in June 1804. In part: “Although I most certainly never thought of writing a line upon Mons’r La Touche’s having cut a caper a few miles out of Toulon on the 14th of June where he well knew that I could not get at him without placing the ships under the Batteries which surround that port and that had I attacked him in that position that he could retire into his secure nest whenever he pleased, yet as that gentleman has thought proper to write a letter stating that the fleet under my command ran away and that he pursued it, perhaps it may be thought necessary for me to say something but I do assure you Sir that I know not what to say…If my character is not established by this time for not being apt to run away it is not worth my time to attempt to put the world right.” In fine condition. The final draft of this historic letter, penned in a secretarial hand but signed by Nelson, is held by the United Kingdom’s National Archives. Starting Bid $500