Framed Autographs and Historical Documents

Ortelius, Abraham

La Florida. [The Earliest Separately Printed Map of Florida from Oretlius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum].

Antwerp : Abraham Ortelius, ca. 1592-1601.

Abraham Ortelius’ seminal map of Florida and the North American south with additional maps of Central and South America from the 1609 Spanish edition of Oretlius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. One page, engraved map with hand-coloring, divided into three smaller maps of Peru, Florida, and Guasteca based upon Spanish sources, specifically Geronimo de Chaves, the RoyalContinue reading "La Florida. [The Earliest Separately Printed Map of Florida from Oretlius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum]."

Ancient Sumerian Cuneiform Tablet.

c. 2100 B.C.E.

Rare ancient Sumerian Cuneiform tablet recording religious offerings made to several deities including Nin-lil, Enlil, Nanaya, Inanna, and Nanna. Clay, Third Dynasty of Ur, the tablet measures 1.75 inches by 2.25 inches and documents the offerings of sheep issued by Enlil-zishagl, a well-known official involved in many other similar texts that date to the reignContinue reading "Ancient Sumerian Cuneiform Tablet."

Douglass, Frederick

Frederick Douglass Signed Property Deed.

Washington, D.C March 23, 1885.

Rare real estate document signed by famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass as Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C. One page, partially printed, the property deed agreement is signed by Douglass, “Fredk. Douglass” as Recorder of Deeds, certifying a deed transferring a plot of land in Washington, DC, from Joseph C.G. Kennedy to Thomas D. Bond. Following the Civil War, Douglass received numerousContinue reading "Frederick Douglass Signed Property Deed."

King Jr., Martin Luther; Coretta Scott King; Ralph Abernathy

Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Signed Kenyan Independence Day Invitation.

[Stockholm] [13 December 1964].

Rare invitation to a celebration of the first anniversary of Kenyan Independence in Stockholm, Sweden signed by Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, and Ralph Abernathy. The color-printed invitation to the event “Kenya Celebrates 1st Anniversary of Independence & Republic Day” held at the Hotel Malmen in Stockholm, signed at the upper left in ink byContinue reading "Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Signed Kenyan Independence Day Invitation."

Newton, Isaac

Isaac Newton Manuscript Land Indenture Signed.

November 11, 1719.

Rare and unrecorded 18th century legal document signed twice at the conclusion by Sir Isaac Newton as a witness to a land indenture. Manuscript document signed twice on the verso “Isaac Newton”, one vellum membrane, dated 11 November 1719, signed by Thomas Sturgess and with his seal, witnessed twice on the dorse (the sealing ofContinue reading "Isaac Newton Manuscript Land Indenture Signed."

A New and Accurate Map of East and West Florida. Drawn from the best Authorities. [18th Century Map of Florida].

London [c. 1765].

Engraved 18th century English map of the state of Florida; one of the earliest printed maps of the state which appeared in the London Magazine in March of 1765. One page, the map is divided into British East and West Florida, showing South Florida as a group of over 50 islands and a number ofContinue reading "A New and Accurate Map of East and West Florida. Drawn from the best Authorities. [18th Century Map of Florida]."

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."

Jackson, Andrew

Andrew Jackson Signed United States Patent.

Washington D.C. June 22, 1832.

Rare United States Patent signed by Andrew Jackson as the 7th President of the United States. One page, partially printed, the patent is dated June 22, 1832 and is issued to inventor Henry Koon for a fly net. In the nineteenth century, fly nets were protective mesh coverings designed to shield horses from flies andContinue reading "Andrew Jackson Signed United States Patent."

Creasey, John [John Ball]

John Creasey Autograph Letter Signed.

Bodenham August 9, 1967.

Autograph letter signed by English author John Creasey to American novelist John Ball with a review of the film based on Ball’s first ‘Virgil Tibbs’ novel. One page on Cunard Line R. M. S. Queen Mary letterhead, duodecimo, the autograph letter reads, “Dear John, Last night in New York, I saw ‘In the Heat ofContinue reading "John Creasey Autograph Letter Signed."

Roosevelt, Franklin D

Franklin D. Roosevelt Signed Commemorative WWI Lake Torpedo Boat Company Photographs.

Bridgeport, CT : Lake Torpedo Boat Co, c. May 20, 1918.

Rare vintage photographs of Franklin D. Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of the U. S. Navy, signed by him. Two gelatin silver photographs showing FDR on his May 20, 1918 visit to Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the first of Roosevelt seated next to various officials on the speaker’s stand, and the second ofContinue reading "Franklin D. Roosevelt Signed Commemorative WWI Lake Torpedo Boat Company Photographs."

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."

Mather, Cotton

Reverend Cotton Mather Autograph Manuscript of a Sermon.

[Boston] n.d. [1685–1723].

Rare late 17th to early 18th century autograph manuscript of a sermon or devotional essay in the hand of the “first American Evangelical” Puritan clergyman Cotton Mather. Duodecimo, comprising two bifolia prepared from a folded and cut sheet of paper to a total of 8 pages, penned in dark brown ink, very densely written (asContinue reading "Reverend Cotton Mather Autograph Manuscript of a Sermon."

Jackson, Andrew

Andrew Jackson Autograph Document Signed.

December 6, 1830.

Rare Presidential Land Grant signed by Andrew Jackson as President and countersigned by Commissioner of the General Land Office Elijah Hayward. One page partially printed on vellum the document is dated November 11, 1830 and officially grants Scott Riggs a 72-acre land parcel in Springfield, Illinois. Signed at the conclusion “Andrew Jackson” and “Elijah Hayward” withContinue reading "Andrew Jackson Autograph Document Signed."

Forty-Five Star American Flag.

[c. 1896].

Rare forty-five star American Flag. The forty-five star American Flag was in use between July 4, 1896 when the state of Utah was admitted into the Union and July 3, 1908 when Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state. In near fine condition. The flag measures 58 inches by 114 inches.

Haise, Fred

Fred Haise Signed Apollo 13 Module Oversized Photograph.

April 14, 1970.

Oversized photograph of the Apollo 13 Module. Black and white photograph of the Apollo 13 Module. Lenghthily signed by Fred Haise with a quote from his conversation with Capsule Communicator Jack Lousma. The full inscription reads, “Okay. Right now Houston, the voltage is- is looking good, and we had a pretty large bang associated withContinue reading "Fred Haise Signed Apollo 13 Module Oversized Photograph."

Douglass, Frederick

Frederick Douglass Document Signed.

July 6, 1881.

Rare Trustee’s Deed signed by famed American abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Manuscript document signed, “Fred’k Douglass, Recorder,” three pages, 8 x 12.5 inches, July 6, 1881. Trustee’s deed for a transaction between William Taylor Snyder and Nelson A. Ryon, signed on the docketing panel by Douglass as recorder of deeds, beneath a manuscript endorsement. Douglass servedContinue reading "Frederick Douglass Document Signed."

Roosevelt, Theodore; William Howard Taft

Theodore Roosevelt & William Howard Taft Signed Military Appointment.

Washington, D.C. July 1, 1904.

Rare military appointment signed by Theodore Roosevelt as President and William Howard Taft as Secretary of War. One page, partially printed and accomplished in manuscript, dated July 1 1904, the document appoints William L. Patterson as First Lieutenant in the Porto Rico Provisional Regiment of Infantry in the service of the United States. Signed, “Theodore Roosevelt”Continue reading "Theodore Roosevelt & William Howard Taft Signed Military Appointment."

[van Wytfliet, Cornelius]

Florida et Apalche. [Facsimile 16th Century Map of Florida].

[Louvain, Belgium] : Cornelius de Wytfliet, [1597].

Facsimile reproduction of the original Flemish 1597 Cornelius van Wytfliet map, one of only three maps printed prior to 1600 to depict the area with any accuracy and one of the earliest maps to refer to the region as Florida. One page, the map is based on Geronimo de Chaves’ map, which was copied byContinue reading "Florida et Apalche. [Facsimile 16th Century Map of Florida]."

Volkamer, Johann Christoph

Phaseolus Indic Cochleatus Hand-Colored Engraved Botanical Plate.

Nuremberg : Nürnbergische Hesperides, c. 1710.

Hand-Colored engraved botanical plate from Johann Christoph Volkamer’s ‘Nürnbergische Hesperides.’ Hand-colored engraved botanical plate of Phaseolus Indic Cochleatus, or the Runner Bean plant. In fine condition. Double matted with a gilt ornamental border and framed. This piece measures 21.5 inches by 16.75 inches.

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."

Roosevelt, Theodore

Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders Era Document Collection.

c. 1898.

Rare collection of original signed documents and photographs taken during President Theodore Roosevelt’s days as Colonel of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, or Rough Riders. The collection includes an original mounted photograph of Roosevelt in full uniform with his campaign hat; two cabinet card photographs of Albert S. Johnson, a member of the Cavalry; anContinue reading "Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders Era Document Collection."

Lincoln, Abraham; Gideon Welles

Abraham Lincoln Signed Naval Commission.

April 21, 1864.

American naval commission signed by Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States and Gideon Welles as Secretary of the Navy. Folio, partially engraved on vellum the document is dated April 21, 1864 and promotes Charles W. Tracy to the rank of Lieutenant. In near fine condition. Matted and framed with a portrait of LincolnContinue reading "Abraham Lincoln Signed Naval Commission."

Jocelyn, Nathaniel and Simeon Smith

Asia. [Nathaniel and Simeon Smith Jocelyn Nineteenth Century Engraved Map of Asia].

c. 1825.

Rare hand-colored engraved map of Asia by American cartographers Nathaniel and Simeon Smith Jocelyn. One page, hand-colored. In very good condition. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 13 inches by 11.5 inches.

Coolidge, Calvin

Calvin Coolidge Typed Letter Signed.

Northampton July 4,1930.

Rare typed letter signed by Calvin Coolidge to the Mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts Ralph Bauer. One page, octavo, the letter reads in full, “Thank you for the birthday remembrance. It was good of you to think of me.” In fine condition. Attractively matted and framed with a portrait and biographical caption. The entire piece measures 23.75 inchesContinue reading "Calvin Coolidge Typed Letter Signed."