These are our most recently listed items, in all categories.
Signature, as U.S. Representative, “F.C. Le Blond, Celina, Ohio,” on a 2 ¾” x 5” portion of an album page.
Lightly and evenly toned.
Autograph Letter Signed, 7 ¼” x 9 ¼”, thanking one “J.H. Coghill, Esq[uire], New York City,” for the gift of a book.
“Richland, Stafford Co[unty], V[irgini]a,
Feb[ruary] 10, 1880.
My dear Sir,
I beg that you will accept my thanks for the book you were kind enough to send me, and I must also tender my congratulations for the excellent manner displayed in grouping the material, you have so carefully gathered, in such handsome form.
Grateful too, for the Kind feelings expressed for myself,
I am very truly yours,
Fitzhugh Lee.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with the expected folds; tipped to slightly larger backing at the edges.
Autograph Letter Signed, 7 ¾” x 10 ¾”, one page. As Post Engineer at Fort Hamilton, situated at the mouth of New York Harbor in Brooklyn, Lee writes to a materials supplier, ordering hydraulic cement, commonly used to construct and repair stone and cement structures, even underwater. While serving as post engineer at Fort Hamilton, 1841-46, Lee is credited with the design and construction of several New York-area fortifications, notably Fort Richmond, Fort Tompkins, and the forts at Willetts Point and Sandy Hook.
“Henry Wilde, Esq[uir]e,
Sec[retar]y Newark L, & C, Ms. Co.,
Fort Hamilton, N[ew[ Y[ork],
11 April 1843.
Sir,
I have rec[eive]d your letter of the 18 Ult[im]o, offering to furnish me with fresh hydraulic Cement @ $1.25/100 per cask of 300 lbs., deducting 12 ½ c[ents] per cask for those returned. I will thank you to send me to this place 50 Casks with as little delay as practicable. The cement must be fresh, & the Casks light & strong. You may also send 10 Casks of Lime.
Very respectf[ull]y Your Ob[edien]t Serv[an]t,
R.E Lee,
Capt[ain] Eng[ineer]s.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with minor soiling and wear and the expected folds; the integral leaf, addressed in another hand, is bound by a paper strip at the left edge, and has a small hole well beneath the address from the opening of a no-longer-present wax seal.
As Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
LEE, ROBERT EDWARD (1807-70) Confederate General & Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
GARNETT, ROBERT SELDEN (1819-61) Confederate Brigadier General; Killed-in-Action at the Battle of Corrick’s Ford, Virginia, July 13, 1861 - the first general officer to be killed during the American Civil War; Veteran of the Mexican & Seminole Wars
TOTTEN, JOSEPH GILBERT (1788-1864) Union Brigadier General during the American Civil War; Veteran of the War of 1812 & the Mexican War
Endorsement Signed, as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, “Approved, R.E. Lee, Captain Corps Eng[ineer]s & B[revet] Col[onel, Sup[erintenden]t M[ilitary] A[cademy],” on a 3 ½” x 7” portion of a letter from Robert S. Garnett, whose signature and rank are at upper right: “R.S. Garnett, Capt[ain] 7th Inf[antry] & B[revet] Maj[or], Com[mandant] of Corps of Cadets.” Also endorsed by longtime U.S. Army Officer Joseph Totten beneath, “Eng[inee]r Department, July 7, 1853. Approved, Jos. G. Totten.”
Several light creases and a few minor stains detract very little.
Autograph Document Signed, 8” x 10”, Fort Hamilton, New York, June 2, 1846, “R.E. Lee, Capt[ain] Eng[inee]rs,” a partly printed requisition for supplies sold to the U.S. Army for use at the installation. The hardware being purchased is enumerated in Lee’s hand on the front, as is a three-line docket beneath his signature on the reverse. While serving as post engineer at Fort Hamilton, 1841-46, Lee is credited with the design and construction of several New York-area fortifications, notably Fort Richmond, Fort Tompkins, and the forts at Willetts Point and Sandy Hook.
Seldom seen in its entire form, as Lee’s signature and four lines of print preceding it are often excised and sold as a smaller document. Lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds, several minor stains and paper breaks.
Autograph Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, requesting a cask of wine be sent to Fort Independence, Massachusetts.
“Boston, 5th July, 1849. Major Wm. D. Fraser, U.S. Corps Engineers, N[ew] Y[ork]. D[ea]r Sir, I will thank you to forward to this place by first packet convenient one cask Gaudron for the service of Fort Independence. Gaugeret & his Assistant joined me from St.[?] Newton on the morning of the 3rd July. Very Respectfully, Your Ob[edien]t Jos. K.F. Mansfield, Capt[ain]…& B[re]v[e]t Col[onel].’’
Overall condition is very good, with heavier wear and toning at the usual vertical and horizontal folds.
Civil War-Date Document Signed
Document Signed, 8” x 10”, “Approved, Danl. McCook, Co[lone]l Com[man]d[in]g Brigade,” a requisition for service to the Quartermaster’s Department of the 52nd Ohio Infantry, August 30 to November 18, 1862.
Lightly and evenly toned, with heavier staining along two horizontal folds; water staining at the left and the center fold, well away from McCook’s endorsement.
Civil War-Date Letter Signed
Letter Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”, an early-ear communication regarding supplies needed for the Seventh Brigade, under General James Negley.
“Head Quarters Second Division, Camp Wood [Kentucky], Dec[ember] 16, 1861.
Capt[ain] J.F. Boyd
As[sistan]t Q[uarte]r Master.
Sir,
I have the honor herewith to enclose, a memorandum of the wants of the Q[uarte]r Masters Dep[artmen]t of the 7th Brigade. Gen[era]l Negley informs me he has, made several requisitions for the articles, without obtaining them. You will please ereport to these Head Quarters why the articles have not been furnished.
I am Sir, very respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
Danl. McCook
As[sistan]t Adj[utan]t Gen[era]l.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds, several light surface creases, and a few old paper and hinge remnants on the reverse.
Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed – from the Department of West Virginia
Autograph Letter Signed, 5 ½” x 7 ½”, responding to an autograph request from a noted Civil War-era collector.
“Head Q[uarte]rs 2nd Cav[alry] Div[ision] D[epartment] [of] W[est] V[irginia]. Front Royal, V[irgini]a, Nov[ember] 3rd 1864. Mr. C.L. Pascal, Philadelphia, P[ennsylvani]a. Sir, Your request bearing date Oct[ober] 22nd reached me this morning. Your request is hereby granted. I am dear Sir, Yours Respectfully, W.H. Powell, B[rigadier] G[eneral.”
Lightly and evenly toned; affixed to old heavier backing.
Letter Signed, 5 ¼” x 8”, as company president on official stationery, a pass for one Hattie Fitch from Chicago to New York.
“PULLMAN’S PALACE CAR CO., OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, CHICAGO, Oct[ober] 15th, 1879. To the Conductor Hotel Car via Pittsburgh: This will be presented by Miss Hattie Fitch, who is on her way to New York. Please make her journey as comfortable as possible, and on arrival send a Porter with her to the Windsor Hotel. Geo. M. Pullman, President.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with vertical and horizontal folds at the center.
Signed Card, 3” x 4 ¾”, dated and inscribed, “James R. Randall, Augusta, G[eorgi]a. March 21, 1891. For Miss Louise Parkinson.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with several minor stains; bumping at the upper left corner; old mounting remnants on the reverse.
Civil War-Date Document Signed - General Grant banishes Prostitutes from the District of West Tennessee
Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 10”, a manuscript special order, signed by Rawlins as assistant adjutant general on behalf of Major General Ulysses S. Grant. The order explicitly bans the unauthorized travel of women from northern rail points to the army’s encampments, along with their presence in camp.
“Head Quarters District of West Tennessee.
Corinth, Miss[issippi], July 20th 1862.
Special Order
No. 139.
No females will be allowed to leave Columbus, Kentucky, or any intermediate railway Station by Railroad, to join any part of the Army of this District without a special written permit from Department Head Quarters or these Head Quarters. All females from abroad remaining within Camp lines after the 31st instant, not having such permits, shall be arrested and sent out of the District. Division, Brigade, Port, Regimental, and Company Commanders will see to the faithful execution of this order throughout their respective Commands.
By Command of Maj[or] Gen[eral] U.S. Grant.
Jno. A. Rawlins,
Ass[istan]t Adj[uta]nt Gen[era]l.
As early-war offensives made inroads into Confederate territory, both east and west, the occupying Union Army was inevitably followed by another, consisting of profiteers and opportunists of all types, including prostitutes. By this order, Grant intends to thwart the proliferation of prostitution among army personnel in the newly occupied regions of Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and Alabama, secured by the recent Union victory at the Battle of Shiloh.
Excellent, with light, even toning and two horizontal folds.
Autograph Letter Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”. As a young, antebellum U.S. Army officer, Smith communicates regarding the conveyance of funds. Addressed by Smith to a banking company in New Orleans, the integral leaf bears a desirable postmark from West Point, New York, home of the U.S. Military Academy, where Smith was at the time employed as an instructor.
“West Point, N[ew] Y[ork], Dec[ember] 20th 1850.
Messrs. Watts & De Saulles,
Gentlemen,
I received yesterday yours of the 9th Dec[ember], enclosing “original of J. Corning & Co[mpany]’s check on Corning & Co[mpany] New York,” dated Dec[ember] 9th No. 27089 in my favor for five hundred dollars, $500. I will in compliance with your request acknowledge the receipt of the same to M.A. Smith by this days mail.
Very Respectfully Yours,
Gus. W. Smith,
Capt[ain] U.S. Army.”
_________________________
Heavier staining and wear at the edges, with the expected folds and a few chips at the edges; there is significant wrinkling of paper in the lower corners and edges, all well away from the text of the letter.
Civil War-Date
Signed Postal Cover, 3 ¼” x 5 ¼”, homemade from a printed 1862 Confederate military document, addressed to his wife, “Mrs. Flora Stuart, H[ea]d Q[uarte]rs Cav[alry] Div[isio]n, Army N[orthern] V[irgini]a.” Also signed at the upper left corner by Confederate Colonel and Aide-de-Camp Samuel Bassett French.
Front and reverse portions are detached, from heavy wear at the edges; several chips and tears at the edges affect none of the text.
Signature, “John M. Thayer, Nebraska,” an enormous example as U.S. Senator on a 4 ½” x 7” album page.
Excellent, with light, even toning.
Civil War-Date
Autograph Letter Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”, as early-war colonel of the 29th New York Volunteer Infantry, informing the New York adjutant general of an appointment.
“New York, June 4th 1861.
Gen[e]r[a]l S. Meredith Read, Jr., Adjutant General.
Sir,
I have the honor to inform you, that I have appointed Mr. Wm. Livingstone Rogers Paymaster of the 29th Regiment.
Mr. Rogers will present two sureties, recognizing in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars each, to his Excellency, Governor Morgan, for approval, and then report for duty.
Your very ob[e]d[ien]t Servant,
Col[onel] A. von Steinwehr,
Com[man]d[in]g 29th Reg[imen]t.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with the usual folds and light creases; paper loss at the lower left corner, well away from all text.
Signed Card, 2 ¼” x 4”, with rank, “J.F.Wade, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l U.S.A.”
Excellent, with light, even toning.
Signature, “Fitz Henry Warren,” on a 1” x 2 ½” portion of a document as “SECOND ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.”
Affixed to larger backing.
Signature & Rank, “J.D. Webster, B[rigadier] G[eneral],” on a 1” x 3” slip of lined paper.
Lightly and evenly toned, with old hinge remnants on the reverse.
Signature & Rank, “William D. Whipple, B[re]v[e]t Maj[or] Gen[eral] U.S. Army,” on a 3 ½” x 5 ¾” album page, with the signature and rank of Union Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Walter Burke on the reverse: “J.W. Burke, Col[one]l 10th Ohio Inf[an]t[r]y & Brevet Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Vol[unteer]s.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with several light creases; chips and pinholes at the formerly bound edge.