Washington, George

George Washington Letter Signed.

Mount Vernon July 28, 1785.

Rare letter signed by George Washington to his land agent in Virginia, Battaile Muse. Quarto, three pages on a single folded leaf, the letter is addressed to Mr. Battaile Muse. The body of the letter, in a secretarial hand, reads in full: “Mount Vernon, July 28, 1785 Sir: A few days ago by a Mr.Continue reading "George Washington Letter Signed."

Cain, Alfred E. [Martin Luther King Jr.] [Sammy Davis, Jr.]

The Winding Road to Freedom: A Documentary Survey of Negro Experiences in America.

Yonkers : Educational Heritage, Inc, 1965.

First edition of this comprehensive anthology that compiles historical documents, speeches, and firsthand accounts to trace the evolving struggle for African American freedom and equality. Quarto, original publisher’s orange cloth boards, with black and white illustrations. Association copy, inscribed by Martin Luther King Jr. to Sammy Davis Jr. on the front free endpaper, “To myContinue reading "The Winding Road to Freedom: A Documentary Survey of Negro Experiences in America."

[Lincoln, Abraham]

The Proclamation Of Emancipation, By The President Of The United States, To Take Effect January 1st, 1863.

[Boston : John Murray Forbes, 1862].

First and only printed pamphlet of the Emancipation Proclamation, produced for distribution to Union soldiers and African Americans (both enslaved and free) in December of 1862; the month preceding the issuance of the executive order. 16mo, original salmon wrappers as issued. In 1899, the publisher’s daughter recalled the genesis of this pocket-sized edition: “With the view of placing the Proclamation of Emancipation in the hands of the negroes themselves, my father had printedContinue reading "The Proclamation Of Emancipation, By The President Of The United States, To Take Effect January 1st, 1863."

Melville, Herman

Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1851.

First edition, first issue binding of Melville’s masterpiece. Octavo, original red variant cloth (BAL’s A grain), covers stamped in blind with Harper’s circular device at the center of the front panel within a heavy blind ruled frame, plain orange endpapers. Issued in a single volume, in black, green, blue, red, purple, slate or brown cloth,Continue reading "Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale."

Ruth, Babe; Lou Gehrig; Hank Aaron; Jimmie Foxx; Al Simmons; Connie Mack; Lefty Grove; George Earnshaw

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, Connie Mack, Lefty Grove, and George Earnshaw Signed Baseball.

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Rare Reach Official American League Baseball signed by a legendary group of baseball legends and Hall of Famers. Signed by Babe Ruth on the sweetspot, setting the tone for one of the most remarkable gatherings of baseball legends captured on a single ball. Surrounding the “Sultan of Swat” are the signatures of Lou Gehrig, JimmieContinue reading "Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, Connie Mack, Lefty Grove, and George Earnshaw Signed Baseball."

Rowson, Susanna Haswell

Charlotte. A Tale of Truth.

Philadelphia : Printed by D. Humphreys for M. Carey, 1794.

Exceedingly rare first American edition (and the earliest obtainable example) of the first American bestseller. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in three quarter calf over marbled boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers. Although the first American edition was preceded by the first English edition published in 1791, no examples of theContinue reading "Charlotte. A Tale of Truth."

[Washington, Martha; George Washington]

Martha Washington Silk Wedding Dress Fragment.

1759.

Original swatch from Martha Washington’s golden yellow silk wedding dress, given by her as a gift to Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth, and handed down through generations of the Hamilton family. The silk swatch measures roughly 2.75 inches by 2 inches, mounted on a stiff paper card inscribed in pencil on the verso, “A bit ofContinue reading "Martha Washington Silk Wedding Dress Fragment."

Ames, Joseph Alexander. [George Washington]

Portrait of General George Washington.

1862.

Fine oil portrait of George Washington as General and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army by Joseph Alexander Ames. Oil on canvas, the portrait depicts Washington in profile in his Continental Army uniform. Signed and dated by the artist in the lower right corner, “J. Ames 1862.” Ames, a self-taught artist born in 1816 in Roxbury,Continue reading "Portrait of General George Washington."

Paine, Thomas

Large Additions to Common Sense; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America.

Philadelphia : Printed and sold, by R. Bell in Third-Street, 1776.

Scarce 1776 separate edition of the Large Additions to Common Sense. The title reads in full: Large Additions To Common Sense: Addressed To The Inhabitants Of America On The Following Interesting Subjects. I. The American Patriot’s Prayer. II. American Independancy, defended by Candidus. III. The Propriety of Independancy, by Demophilus The dread of Tyrants, andContinue reading "Large Additions to Common Sense; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America."

Fanning, David

The Narrative of Colonel David Fanning: (A Tory in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain): Giving an Account of His Adventures in North Carolina, From 1775 to 1783 as Written by Himself, with an Introduction and Explanatory Notes.

Richmond, VA : Printed for Private Distribution Only, 1861.

First edition of the first book printed in the Confederacy. Quarto, original stiff paper wrappers, one of approximately 50 copies issued on regular paper. Ten being issued on thick paper, and twenty copies destroyed in a fire. In very good condition, reinforcement to the hinges. Housed in a custom full morocco clamshell box. Howes F26.Continue reading "The Narrative of Colonel David Fanning: (A Tory in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain): Giving an Account of His Adventures in North Carolina, From 1775 to 1783 as Written by Himself, with an Introduction and Explanatory Notes."

Roosevelt, Theodore and Craig W. Wadsworth

Theodore Roosevelt and Craig W. Wadsworth Rough Riders Collection.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1899.

Craig Wharton Wadsworth’s personal collection of books, letters and photographs from his time as a Sergeant in Roosevelt’s Rough Riders cavalry. The collection includes a first edition of Roosevelt’s best-selling work, The Rough Riders (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1899) signed by Roosevelt, “Theodore Roosevelt” and Wadsworth, “Craig W. Wadsworth Sergeant-Troop K”; Wadsworth’s 14-leaf photographContinue reading "Theodore Roosevelt and Craig W. Wadsworth Rough Riders Collection."

Paine, Thomas

Common Sense: Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, Plain Truth, Rights of Man Parts I & II, and An Answer to Pain’s Rights of Man.

J. Almon, J.S. Jordan, and J. Stockdale : London, 1776-1793.

Finely bound collection of the works of Thomas Paine, including the rare first British editions of Common Sense and Plain Truth (London: J. Almon, 1776), second editions of Rights of Man Parts I & II (London: J.S. Jordan, 1791-1792), complete with half-titles present, and a rare early printing of John Quincy Adams’ response to Paine’sContinue reading "Common Sense: Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, Plain Truth, Rights of Man Parts I & II, and An Answer to Pain’s Rights of Man."

Washington, George

George Washington Autograph Letter Signed.

January 24, 1790.

Rare autograph letter signed by George Washington as the first President of the United States. Quarto, one page, the letter reads in full, “New York Jany 24th 1790 Sir Capt. Burnett delivered me your letter of the 18th and is so obliging as to take charge of this answer – It is my sincere opinionContinue reading "George Washington Autograph Letter Signed."

Cambridge, Richard Owen [Benjamin Franklin]

An Account of the War in India, Between the English and French, on the Coast of Coromandel, From the Year 1760. Together with A Relation of the late Remarkable Events on the Malabar Coast, and the Expeditions to Golconda and Surat; with the Operations of the Fleet. Illustrated with Maps, Plans &c. The Whole Compiled from Original Papers.

London : Printed for T. Jefferys, 1761.

Benjamin Franklin’s first edition copy of Cambridge’s account of the progression of the Seven Years’ War in India, from Franklin’s private library. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 12 engraved maps and plans and 6 plates, mostly folding. From the private library of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s contributions to science and politicsContinue reading "An Account of the War in India, Between the English and French, on the Coast of Coromandel, From the Year 1760. Together with A Relation of the late Remarkable Events on the Malabar Coast, and the Expeditions to Golconda and Surat; with the Operations of the Fleet. Illustrated with Maps, Plans &c. The Whole Compiled from Original Papers."

[Lee, Richard Henry]

Observations Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government, Proposed by the Late Convention; and to Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in it. In a Number of Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican.

New York 1787.

Rare first edition of the definitive and most important work in the Anti-Federalist canon; the antithesis of the The Federalist Papers. Octavo, bound in half calf over boards with six raised bands, edges speckled red. In very good condition. An exceptional example.

Lincoln, Abraham

Abraham Lincoln Amnesty Proclamation and Signed Pardon of December 8, 1863.

Washington, D.C. : War Department, Adjutant General's Office, 1864-1869.

Rare autograph Oath of December 8 endorsement signed and entirely in the hand of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln with an exceedingly rare contemporary printing of Lincoln’s Amnesty Proclamation which includes the wording of the oath itself and a rare carte-de-visite of Lincoln [Providence, RI: Salisbury, Bro. & Co., n.d.]. OneContinue reading "Abraham Lincoln Amnesty Proclamation and Signed Pardon of December 8, 1863."

Journal of the United States In Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings From the Sixth Day of November, 1786, to the Fifth Day of November, 1787. Volume XII.

New York : Published by Order of Congress, 1787.

Rare first edition of Vol. VII of the Journal of Congress; containing the first official Congressional Journal publication of the proposed Constitution of the United States. Octavo, original boards. Contains the first Congressional Journal publications of the proposed United States Constitution (pp. 149-166) and the Northwest Ordinance (pp. 85-93). In very good condition. Small lossContinue reading "Journal of the United States In Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings From the Sixth Day of November, 1786, to the Fifth Day of November, 1787. Volume XII."

Washington, George; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; James Madison; James Monroe; John Quincy Adams; Andrew Jackson; Martin Van Buren; William Henry Harrison; John Tyler; James Polk; Zachary Taylor; Millard Fillmore; Franklin Pierce; James Buchanan; Abraham Lincoln; Andrew Johnson; Ulysses S. Grant; Rutherford B. Hayes; James Garfield; Chester A. Arthur; Grover Cleveland; William McKinley; Theodore Roosevelt; William H. Taft; Woodrow Wilson; Warren G. Harding; Calvin Coolidge; Herbert Hoover; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Harry Truman; Dwight D. Eisenhower

Autographs of the Presidents of the United States of America.

1783-1956.

Elaborately bound collection of Presidential autographs, containing the autograph of each of the first 34 Presidents of the United States from George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Quarto, bound in full red morocco by Riviere & Son with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt presidential sealContinue reading "Autographs of the Presidents of the United States of America."

Corbin, Jacques. [George Washington]

Le Code Louis XIII. Roy De France Et De Navarre. [From the Library of George Washington].

A Paris : Chez Pierre Billaine, 1628.

First edition of Corbin’s legal compilation of ordinances and judgments issued during the reign of Louis XIII of France, from the library of General George Washington. Folio, bound in full mottled calf, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling andContinue reading "Le Code Louis XIII. Roy De France Et De Navarre. [From the Library of George Washington]."

Washington, George; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; James Madison; Andrew Jackson; Martin Van Buren; William Henry Harrison; James Tyler; James H. Polk; James Buchanan; Zachary Taylor; Millard Fillmore; James Buchanan; Franklin Pierce; Abraham Lincoln; William Seward; Andrew Johnson; Ulysses S. Grant; James Garfield; Chester A. Arthur; Grover Cleveland; Benjamin Harrison; Grover Cleveland; William McKinley; Alexander Hamilton

Autograph Album of the Presidents and Cabinet Officials of the United States of America.

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Rare late 19th century folio album containing an extensive collection of Presidential autographs, letters, carte-de-visites, and portraits in addition to those of each Cabinet. Folio, bound in three quarter morocco with five raised bands and gilt titles to the spine. The album contains: a clipped signature of President George Washington with a four-page letter ofContinue reading "Autograph Album of the Presidents and Cabinet Officials of the United States of America."

[Jefferson, Thomas]

Second Congress of the United States: At the First Session, begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the twenty-fourth of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one. An Act to extend the Time limited for settling the Accounts of the United States with the Individual States.

Philadelphia : Childs & Swaine, 1792.

Scarce printing of an early United States law providing for the funding of the national debt, signed by Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State. Folio, one page. The document, which also carries the printed signatures of President George Washington, Vice President John Adams, and House Speaker Jonathan Trumbull, was approved January 23, 1792. Individual actsContinue reading "Second Congress of the United States: At the First Session, begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the twenty-fourth of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one. An Act to extend the Time limited for settling the Accounts of the United States with the Individual States."

Cooke, William. [Alexander Hamilton]

The Bankrupt Laws.

London : Printed for E. and R. Brooke, Bell-Yard, near Temple-Bar, 1793.

Third edition of this important late-eighteenth-century legal treatise from the library of Alexander Hamilton, signed twice by him and additionally by his eldest son Philip Hamilton. Octavo, bound in full calf with stamping to the spine and panels in blind. Signed by Alexander Hamilton on the title page, “A. Hamilton” and again on the finalContinue reading "The Bankrupt Laws."

Adams, John

John Adams Autograph Letter Signed.

1809.

Exceptionally rare 16-page autograph letter signed by and entirely in the hand of Founding Father John Adams defending the ultimate necessity of American sovereignty and its precedence over international alliances. Sixteen pages, entirely in the hand of John Adams and written on both the recto and verso of each page, the letter is dated JanuaryContinue reading "John Adams Autograph Letter Signed."

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano; Winston S. Churchill. [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]

Sail On, O Ship of State! The Longfellow Verse in Mr. Roosevelt’s Message to Mr. Churchill.

: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., [1941].

Rare lithographic broadside signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt as the thirty-second President of the United States and Winston S. Churchill as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the Atlantic Conference; one of only two known examples of this broadside specially printed at Churchill’s direction and signed by both world leaders at their first wartimeContinue reading "Sail On, O Ship of State! The Longfellow Verse in Mr. Roosevelt’s Message to Mr. Churchill."