Signed Card, 1 ¾” x 3 ½”, “Thomas Bailey Aldrich.”

Light staining.

Union Lieutenant – Indiana; American Author

Bierce used his experiences with Company C, 9^th Indiana Infantry at Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga, Atlanta, and numerous other engagements as the basis for his macabre and bitterly sarcastic short stories, including An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Chickamauga, and The Coup de Grace.

Signature, in pencil, on an unused 6” x 9” book page, “Compliments of Ambrose Bierce.”

The sheet is lightly and evenly toned, with minor loss of paper in the upper right corner.

U.S. Postmaster General – 1857-59; Governor of Tennessee – 1845-47; U.S. Congressman – Tennessee – 1839-45

Signature, as U.S. Postmaster General, “Aaron V. Brown, Post Master Genl. U.S.,” on a 1” x 3 ½” slip of paper, removed from an 1857 letter.

U.S. Treasury Secretary - 1814-16

Autograph Letter Signed, 1 ½ pages, on front and reverse of the first page of a 4 ½” x 7 ¼” letter-sheet, concerning two legal cases.

“D[ea]r Sir, In Mr. Fitzsimons’s case I hardly know how to advise. It appears to me that the United States are not interested in pressing the business, and yet every thing is so caviled at now-a-days, that there is no safety but in a strict legal course. If you think it would be advisable to obtain the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, I will forward any communication you please. Or, if you do not like to press Mr. F. I will assist you by writing to him on the subject. In Mr. Harris’s case, I can obtain no relocation. The circumstances are very much on the part of Olden, if not of Harris. Any reasonable overture, however, to secure the debt, at a distant period, would be listened to. In the meantime, the Bail must be satisfactory to the Marshall. I am very sincerely Y[ou]rs, A.J. Dallas, 20 Aug. 1801.”

The integral leaf bears remnants of two wax seals, and is addressed by Dallas to “Mr. Rawle,” undoubtedly William Rawle, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1791-99, Dallas’s predecessor in that office. Appointed by Thomas Jefferson when he became President in 1801, Dallas served as U.S. Attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania until 1814, when he was named Treasury Secretary by President Madison.

The sheet bears general soiling and wear, along with the usual folds and light creases, and there is heavier toning in the margins.

U.S. First Lady – 1881

Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, on separate 3 ¾” x 5 ½” sheets of Mrs. Garfield’s monogrammed, black-bordered mourning stationery, sending an autograph of her late husband.

“West Mentor, O[hio], July 15^th 1902. Mr. Jesse W. Weik, Greencastle, Ind[iana]. Dear Sir, On my return from California I found your request for one of General Garfield’s autographs. I have very few left for distribution but inclose this token from a cancelled check. Very truly, Lucretia R. Garfield.”

Both sheets bear light, even toning, old glue staining on reverse, and a horizontal fold at the center. There are a few minor stains on the first page, along with two pinholes in the upper margin.

A Founder of the United States Steel Corporation; Gary, Indiana was Named for Him when Founded in 1906

Signature, with sentiment, “With Kind regards, E.H. Gary,” on a 3” x 5 ¼” sheet.

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few light creases.

U.S. First Lady – 1889-92

Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, undated, as First Lady on a 4” x 6” Executive Mansion letter-sheet. Writing to former Union General Lew Wallace, more recently the author of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, Mrs. Harrison discusses a social engagement at the Wanamaker’s, undoubtedly referring to noted merchant John Wanamaker, the U.S. Postmaster General during President Harrison’s four-year term in office.

“Washington. Dear Genl., I had expected to have gone with you to Genl. Wanamaker’s this evening but something has happened to prevent my doing so. But I have written her to see if tomorrow evening will be as convenient & I presume it will, as she will only arrive at home today. So if it is as agreeable to you, I will advise you of the hour later as Mrs. Wanamaker will probably not return before two o’cl[ock] today. The President has been enquiring for you. Very truly, Caroline S. Harrison.”

Accompanied by the Executive Mansion transmittal envelope, addressed by Mrs. Harrison, to “Genl. Lew Wallace, Ebbitt House.”

The letter bears light, even toning, and there is a horizontal fold at center, along with superficial paper loss at the upper left corner. Being situated on the first and final pages of the letter-sheet, the letter is illustrated in one image, unfolded.

U.S. First Lady - 1929-33

Signed White House Card, 2 ¾” x 4 ¼”, as First Lady, “Lou Henry Hoover.”

Overall condition is very good, both front and reverse, with light, even toning and an area or two of very minor soiling.

The card is sold with the transmittal envelope and a typed letter from Mrs. Hoover’s secretary, dated January 27, 1933, sending the autograph. Both pieces bear White House embossing and the typewritten address, “Mrs. J.G. McCreery, East Lawn Sanitarium, Northville, Michigan.”

Typed Letter Signed, 1 ½ pages on two 8” x 10” sheets, the first with the desirable imprint, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. COMMISSIONER TO THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES. This letter’s author, known only as “William,” writes playfully to a young sister, concluding with news of a smallpox outbreak in southeastern Indian Territory. The territory was admitted to the Union as Oklahoma, the forty-sixth state, the following year. In part:

“Atoka, Indian Territory, March 7, 1906…Small pox has broken out in Atoka now. I think there are seven or eight cases in town. I have been vaccinated three times within the last seven years so I am not very much worried about the disease…”

Both sheets are lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds, the second page having two small holes along the lower. There are small strips of tape in the upper left corners, by which the sheets were once attached.

American Actor

Autograph Letter Signed, four pages, on a “Buzzard’s Bay, Massachusetts” imprinted 5” x 6 ¼” letter-sheet, with the third and fourth pages written perpendicularly, thanking the recipient for a gift, and making tribute to the highly-reputed English actor, Edmund Kean.

“June 27^th 1901. My Dear Mrs. Kimball, I am charmed with the present you have made me. It is undoubtedly intended for Edmund Kean as Richard 3^rd and as you say he seems to exclaim ‘A Horse! A Horse! My Kingdom for a Horse.’ The only regret I have in receiving it is the fear that you have deprived yourself of a most valuable ornament. It is now before me on my writing table where I should keep it in view. About the year 1815 Edmund Kean was in the zenith of his fame and it is quite likely that this figure is one of his last having the crown mark. We all enjoyed your visit and only regret that it was so short. Mrs. Jefferson & Aunt Nells join me in wishing health and happiness to thee & thine. Faithfully Yours, J. Jefferson.”

Excellent condition, with a horizontal fold at center.

American Sculptor

Signed Photograph, 7 ½” x 10”, “To Charles C. Curran – The War Horse in Art. H.A. MacNeil, S.C.” The photograph is of MacNeil’s sculpture to the Confederate Defenders of Charleston, South Carolina during the American Civil War, and was inscribed to noted American artist Charles C. Curran shortly before the dedication of the monument on October 20, 1932.

The reverse bears MacNeil’s further handwritten notation, “Study. Defensive Monument, Sumter Park, Charleston, S.C. H.A. MacNeil, S.C. 1931,” and the stamp, “The Capitol Photo Studios, 617 – 2^nd Avenue, College Point, L[ong] I[sland].”

There are a few small stains in the margins, and the reverse bears heavier glue staining from past mounting.

Signatures, of six nineteenth-century Massachusetts politicians and abolitionists, on small slips of paper.

Everett, Edward – U.S. Statesman & Orator (preceded Lincoln at Gettysburg)
Garrison, William Lloyd – Abolitionist Newspaper Publisher
Choate, Rufus – U.S. Congressman
Wendell Phillips – Abolitionist
Banks, Nathaniel P. – Civil War Union General
Wilson, Henry – Vice President under Grant (died in office)

Most are closely clipped, with old glue staining from past mounting.

U.S. Secretary of War – 1877-79; Republican U.S. Representative – Iowa - 1869-77

Signature, as U.S. Secretary of War, “G.W. McCrary, Secy. of War, April 17, 1879,” on a 1 ½” X 3 ¾” slip of paper, inlaid to a period steel engraving.

U.S. Treasury Secretary – 1865-69 & 1884-85

Autograph Letter Signed, 1 ½ pages, on the first and fourth pages of a 5” x 8” letter-sheet, imprinted Jay Cooke, McCulloch & Co., 41 Lombard Street, London, E.C. As a partner in the London banking house of noted financier Jay Cooke, McCulloch introduces and recommends a publisher to another company official, “F.O. French, Esq., Office of Jay Cooke & Co., Corner of Wall & Nassau St., New York.”

“April 26, 1873. My Dear Mr. French, I have pleasure in introducing to you T.D. Galpin, Esq. of the firm of Messrs. Cassel Pettis & Galpin, which is said to be one of the largest publishing houses in the world. Mr. Galpin is you will perceive instructed in the question of ‘International Copyright’ upon which he is thoroughly informed. Mr. Galpin is an able man and I shall be obliged to you for such courtesies as may render his visit to New York agreeable and such introduction as may be of service to him. Very Truly Yours, H. McCulloch…”

Ruined by speculation in the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Jay Cooke & Co., along with McCulloch’s London branch, closed its doors later in the year, bringing about the downfall of numerous other banking houses and contributing to the Panic of 1873.

The letter is easily displayable as one piece when unfolded, as illustrated.

Owner of “McPherson’s Farm” – Where the Battle of Gettysburg Began; U.S. Congressman – Pennsylvania – 1859-63

The owner and editor of several Pennsylvania newspapers, both before and after the Civil War, McPherson served in the U.S. Congress from 1859 to 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg was begun when dismounted cavalry under Union General John Buford first confronted the Confederates on the farm he owned, just northwest of the town, on July 1, 1863. From then until his death in 1895, McPherson served several terms as clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and returned to run a newspaper in Gettysburg for the last fifteen years of his life.

Autograph Letter Signed, on imprinted 5” x 8” stationery as Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, directing a change in his Washington, D.C. address.

“Washington, D.C., July 11, 1882. My dear Major, If in time please change my City address to No. 1701 Massachusetts Av[enue] N.W. Edwd. McPherson.”

Light, even toning and a few small stains detract very little from very good overall condition.