Autographs and Historical Documents

Vonnegut, Kurt [David Hayman].

Kurt Vonnegut Signed David Hayman Portrait.

1971.

Rare original pastel on paper portrait of the drawing’s recipient, David Hayman. Inscribed by Kurt Vonnegut at the bottom left corner, “Dear David, You said you wanted a picture by me. But I haven’t made any pictures for three or four years. Last night (New Year’s Day, 1971) I suddenly made one. This is it.Continue reading "Kurt Vonnegut Signed David Hayman Portrait."

Felton, Cornelius C.; [Fred Fraley]; [Ino Welsh].

Centennial International Exhibition Capital Stock Certificate.

Philadelphia: Centennial Board of Finance, 1877.

Rare Centennial International Exhibition lithographic capital stock certificate. Elephant folio, one page, the certificate is dated April 24, 1877 and grants one share of stock in the Centennial Board Finance to Cornelius C. Felton, illustrated with impressive engraved vignettes of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a Native American mourning the progress of industrialization, RomanContinue reading "Centennial International Exhibition Capital Stock Certificate."

Doyle, Arthur Conan; Craigie Aitchison [Lawyer]; [Oscar Slater].

Arthur Conan Doyle Signed Photograph.

Exceptional vintage photograph of the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Black and white matte-finish vintage full-length photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle standing beside top criminal lawyer Craigie Aitchison outside of the Edinburgh High Court in 1928. Inscribed by Doyle below the photograph on the original presentation mount in black ink, “Arthur ConanContinue reading "Arthur Conan Doyle Signed Photograph."

Vonnegut, Kurt [David Hayman].

Kurt Vonnegut Signed Photograph.

1974.

Rare original photograph of award-winning author Kurt Vonnegut. Black and white photograph of Vonnegut smiling with a cigarette in hand. Inscribed below the portrait in the margin, “Love to David and Loni – Dec. 27, 1974 Kurt Vonnegut Jr. *” The recipient, David Hayman, was a professor of English and Comparative Literature at the UniversityContinue reading "Kurt Vonnegut Signed Photograph."

Hitchcock, Alfred.

Alfred Hitchcock Signed Oversized Photograph.

Large vintage matte-finish portrait photograph of one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, signed and inscribed by him, “To Rob, from, Alfred J. Hitchcock.” In near fine condition. The photograph measures 11 inches by 14 inches.

Churchill, Winston S.

Winston Churchill Typed Letter Signed.

July 30, 1958.

Typed letter signed by Winston Churchill to Edward J. LaVallin, president of the Philadelphia Business Club. One page, typescript on Churchill’s Hyde Park Gate letterhead, the letter is dated July 30, 1958, addressed to Mr. Edward J. Vallin, President, Philadelphia Business Club and reads in full: “Thank you so much for your most agreeable letter tellingContinue reading "Winston Churchill Typed Letter Signed."

Washington, Booker T.

Booker T. Washington Typed Letter Signed.

Alabama: January 6, 1896.

Typed letter signed by Booker T. Washington to American mining engineer John Birkinbine. One page on Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute stationary, square octavo, the letter reads in full, “I shall be willing to abide by your decision in the matter of the souvenir and will be willing to pay whatever extra tax necessary.” JohnContinue reading "Booker T. Washington Typed Letter Signed."

Cruise, Tom; Jeanne Tripplehorn; Sydney Pollack [Director]; John Grisham [Author].

The Firm Signed Half-Title Page and Theatrical Poster.

Paramount Pictures Corporation,

Theatrical release poster for John Grisham’s classic legal thriller, The Firm, basis for the classic film. Framed with a half-title page from Grisham’s novel of the same name and boldly signed by Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Sydney Pollack, and John Grisham. Double matted and framed. In fine condition. The entire piece measures 34 inches byContinue reading "The Firm Signed Half-Title Page and Theatrical Poster."

Wells, H.G.

H.G. Wells Autograph Letter Signed.

Autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of H.G. Wells. One page, hand-written and signed, “Yours sincerely, H.G. Wells.” Matted and doubled framed with a bust portrait and drawing of Wells. The entire piece measures 17.5 inches by 14 inches.

Morgan, John Pierpont [J.P.].

John Pierpont Morgan Autograph Signature.

Rare autograph signature from American financier and banker John Pierpont Morgan. Boldly signed in ink on an off-white slip clipped from a document, “J. Pierpont Morgan.” In fine condition. Matted and framed with a large portrait of Morgan and a biographical placard. The entire piece measures 14.75 inches by 25 inches.

Lincoln, Abraham.

Abraham Lincoln Portrait.

Cincinnati : E.C. Middleton, 1864.

Rare oleographic portrait of Abraham Lincoln by E.C. Middleton. With Middleton’s Warranted Oil Colors imprint to the verso of the frame dated 1864. Between 1861 and 1873, E.C. Middleton of Cincinnati published a series oval oleographic portraits intended to have the appearance of oil paintings including thirteen “Portraits of American Statesmen and Heroes.” Middleton inventedContinue reading "Abraham Lincoln Portrait."

Jefferson, Thomas and James Madison.

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Signed Ship’s Passport.

September 10, 1802.

Rare four-language ship’s passport signed by Thomas Jefferson as President and James Madison as Secretary of State. One page, partially printed and accomplished in manuscript, dated September 10, 1802. The passport contains four columns, one in English and three translations in French, Spanish, and Dutch, and gives leave and permission to “John H. Milliken, masterContinue reading "Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Signed Ship’s Passport."

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."

Nixon, Richard; Gerald R. Ford; Jimmy Carter; Ronald Reagan; George Bush; Bill Clinton; George W. Bush.

Official Seal of the President of the United States Photograph Signed By Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

Rare photograph of the official seal of the president of the United States signed by seven American presidents. Color glossy photograph of the official seal of the president of the United States covering 40 consecutive years of presidential administrations. Boldly signed by Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, andContinue reading "Official Seal of the President of the United States Photograph Signed By Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush."

Aldrin, Buzz.

Buzz Aldrin Signed Apollo Saturn V Launch Vehicle Diagram.

Rare Apollo Saturn V Launch Vehicle diagram. Oversized print diagram of the Apollo Saturn V Launch Vehicle, boldly signed by Buzz Aldrin in black felt tip toward the top, “Buzz Aldrin, Apollo XI.” Framed. In near fine condition. The entire piece measures 16.75 inches by 42.5 inches.

Cary, George; John and William Cary.

Cary’s New Terrestrial and Celestial Library Globes.

London: J. & W. Cary: 1818; G. & J. Cary, 1833.

Fine pair of early 19th century celestial and terrestrial table globes published by John and William Cary, generally regarded as the greatest British globe makers of the late Georgian period. Comprised of Cary’s New Terrestrial Globe, Drawn from the most recent Geographical works, shewing the whole of the New Discoveries with the Tracks of theContinue reading "Cary’s New Terrestrial and Celestial Library Globes."

Lincoln, Abraham.

Broadside Advertisement of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace, The Lincoln Spring Farm.

LaRue County, Kentucky: August 28, 1905.

Rare original broadside advertisement of the bankruptcy sale of Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, The Lincoln Spring Farm. One page, printed broadside advertisement by L.B. Handley, Special Commissioner of the LaRue County, Kentucky, and dated August 28, 1905. The headline states, “Commissioner’s Sale! Of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace.” Thomas and Nancy Lincoln moved into the home inContinue reading "Broadside Advertisement of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace, The Lincoln Spring Farm."

Keynes, John Maynard [J.M.}.

Caricature Portrait of John Maynard Keynes.

London: The New Statesman and Nation, October 28,1933.

Rare caricature portrait of the “father of macroeconomics.” Pencil portrait print of John Maynard Keynes sitting in a chair next to a stool stacked with books and papers. Boldly signed by Keynes next to his facsimile signature on the lower margin. Portrait by Low for The New Statesman and Nation magazine dated October 28, 1933.Continue reading "Caricature Portrait of John Maynard Keynes."

Taft, William H.; William R. Day; Joseph McKenna; Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.; Willis Van Devanter; Louis Brandeis; Mahlon Pitney; James C. McReynolds; and John H. Clarke.

William H. Taft Supreme Court Signed Photograph.

c. 1921.

Large photograph of the 1920’s Taft Court, signed by nine justices. Large silver gelatin print depicting the Supreme Court in their black judicial robes. The justices are William H. Taft, William R. Day, Joseph McKenna, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Willis Van Devanter, Louis Brandeis, Mahlon Pitney, James C. McReynolds, and John H. Clarke. Matted and framed. InContinue reading "William H. Taft Supreme Court Signed Photograph."

[A.R. Sharples].

Collection of Photographs and Eyewitness Account Letters of the First Bikini Atoll Nuclear Bomb Tests.

1946.

Rare collection of photographs of the first atomic bomb test “Able” at Bikini Atoll with letters of eyewitness accounts of the first atomic bomb testing and the second test “Baker” at Bikini Atoll. Four photographs of the detonation of the first atomic bomb test, “Able.” Two depicting mushroom clouds in the ocean above an island.Continue reading "Collection of Photographs and Eyewitness Account Letters of the First Bikini Atoll Nuclear Bomb Tests."

Lovell, James; Fred Haise; Jack Lousma.

James Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Lousma Signed First Edition Apollo 13 Trajectory Plotting Chart.

Aeronautical Chart and Information Center: Department of Defense ACIC 3-70, March 16, 1970.

Rare lithographed ‘Apollo Translunar/Transearth Trajectory Plotting Chart’ for the Apollo 13 mission. Color ‘Apollo Translunar/Transearth Trajectory Plotting Chart’ for the Apollo 13 mission, displaying a polar view of the lunar mission profile for Apollo 13 and showing the various significant events during the 10-day mission, signed by James Lovell, “‘Houston, we’ve had a problem!’ JamesContinue reading "James Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Lousma Signed First Edition Apollo 13 Trajectory Plotting Chart."

Brown, James [Rosa Parks].

Portrait of James Brown.

c. 2000.

Portrait of “The Godfather of Soul” inscribed twice by James Brown to Civil Rights legend Rosa Parks. Digital color portrait of James Brown. Inscribed twice, first on the lower margin in black ballpoint, “My best, I Feel Good, James Brown,” and second to the left in black felt tip to Rosa Parks, “To Mrs. Parks, I’mContinue reading "Portrait of James Brown."

[Hondius, Jodocus].

Terra Sancta quae in Sacris Terra Promissionis olim Palestina [Holy Land Map].

Amsterdam: Blaeu, Willem, 1629.

Copper engraved, hand-colored map of one of the most decorative maps of the Holy Land of the 17th century. One page with hand-colored borders, the map depicts the tribes of Israel and the route the Israelites took from Egypt through Sinai into Canaan. In the sea there are three sea monsters, one of which hasContinue reading "Terra Sancta quae in Sacris Terra Promissionis olim Palestina [Holy Land Map]."

Jackson, Andrew.

Proclamation by Andrew Jackson, President of the United States.

10 December 1832.

Rare broadside containing the entirety of President Andrew Jackson’s Proclamation to the people of the United States in the wake of the Nullification Crisis of 1832. Dated December 10, 1832, one page, typescript. The Nullification Crisis of 1832-1833 was a confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government over tariffs, where South Carolina declared federalContinue reading "Proclamation by Andrew Jackson, President of the United States."