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U.S. Vice-Presidents, Supreme Court Justicies and Other Statesmen |
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| Lot 249 |
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Nance, Wallace, and Rockefeller. Three items Signed by three Vice Presidents: A block of 15 First-Day-of-Issue stamps (U.S. #776, 3¢ Texas) commemorating the 180th anniversary of the independence of Texas from Mexico, Signed by native Texan John Nance Garner ("Jno. N. Garner") as Vice President, 1936; Garner served during Franklin D. Roosevelt's first two terms. First Day Cover commemorating the death of FDR Signed "Henry A. Wallace", postmarked "Warm Springs GA, Aug 24 1945"; Wallace served during FDR's third term. Document Signed "Nelson A. Rockefeller" as Governor of New York (Albany), May 27, 1965, nominating Frank J. McMullen as a member of the Public Service Commission; Rockefeller served as Gerald Ford's Vice President. All in Fine condition (3 items) (Photo).
Estimate $250-350. |
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| Lot 250 |
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Quayle, Dan. Magazine Page Signed, n. p., n.d (c. 1992). One page quarto. Signed in the upper right corner of an article titled Dan Quayle Center & Museum, Chronicling the Life of Indiana's Newest Favorite Son. Article has a photo of Quayle, his wife and three children. Fine.
Estimate $75-100. |
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| Lot 251 |
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Holmes, Oliver Wendell (1841-1935) Associate justice, U.S. Supreme (1902-32), known for vigorous, lucid arguments, often in dissent; he promulgated the "clear and present danger" test for freedom of speech; author of The Common Law (1881).
Scarce Autograph Quotation Signed, on a 3 x 5¼ in. card, no place, June 12, 1901. Written as chief justice of the supreme court of Massachusetts, in recognition of American Revolutionary War patriots, and especially of the contributions of John Marshall, who was the principal founder of the American system of constitutional law and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1801-35. The quotation undoubtedly rings with special resonance today, but when the words were uttered, they may have been in response to a contemporary story of questionable accuracy: It was said that some protesting strikers had wrapped a baby in an American flag and threatened to place it on railroad tracks in front of an approaching train.
"The flag is but a bit of bunting to one who insists on prose. Yet, thanks to Marshall and to the men of his generation - and for this above all we celebrate him and them - its red is our life-blood, its stars our world, its blue our heaven. It owns our land. At will it throws away our lives. Oliver Wendell Holmes / June 12, 1901." Extremely Fine (Photo).
Estimate $1,500-2,000. |
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| Lot 252 |
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Jay, John (1745-1829) American jurist and statesman. Partly-printed Document Signed as Governor of New York, Albany, April 18, 1803. One page oblong folio. A military commission for William Clapsaddle as "Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Militia in the County of Herkimer...." Countersigned by Secretary of State Jasper Hopper. Overall age toning and light soiling. Scalloped lower edge and paper seal is intact. Jay's signature is nice and bold. Suitable for framing and display.
John Jay served in the Continental Congress (1774-77, 1778, 1778, as President 1778-79). He drafted New York's first constitution and was chief justice of the state supreme court (1777-78). He was appointed American minister to Spain in 1779, but was called to Paris by Franklin to help negotiate the peace treaty with Great Britain. He served as U.S. secretary of foreign affairs (1784-80) and, with Hamilton and Madison, wrote The Federalist . From 1789-95 he was Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He negotiated Jay's Treaty with Great Britain, settling outstanding disputes (1794-95), and was Governor of New York (1795-1801). Truly a great American (Photo).
Estimate $1,500-2,000. |
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| Lot 253 |
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Taney, Roger B (1777-1864) Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1836-64); best known for rendering the Dred Scott decision that made slavery legal in all territories. Manuscript Document Signed ("R.B. Taney") as attorney for the plaintiff , Frederick County (Maryland), February 14, 1804, 1 page, folio. An early legal document, missing 2 or 3 lines of text at lower edge, not affecting signature on top verso. Very Good. Dred Scott was a slave whose master had taken him from a slave state (Missouri) to a free state in 1834, then back to Missouri. Scott sued for his freedom in 1846, but Taney declared in 1857 that Scott had "no rights which any white man was bound to respect," and that the Missouri Compromise, which prohibited slavery in the territories, was unconstitutional (Photo).
Estimate $250-300. |
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| Lot 254 |
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Fish, Hamilton. Autograph Letter Signed as Secretary of State, Washington, Dec. 3, 1869. On Department of State letterhead. One page octavo. Marked "Personal" to David Reed in Boston, thanking him for a note and an article in the Advertiser, and informing him that the Danish treaty for the cession of St. Thomas is still before the Senate. Also, Free Frank ("H. Fish") in upper right corner of the envelope to David Reed, under "Department of State." Black circular postmark. Both Fine. Also included are three Autograph Letters Signed by Wilfred T. Grenfell, medical missionary and author, to Reed, dated 1908 and 1909, on various subjects; one is on letterhead for Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. All about Fine (5 items).
Estimate $200-300. |
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| Lot 255 |
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(Hamilton, Alexander) (1755-1804) Secretary and aide-de-camp to Washington; first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury; leader of Federalists. July 18, 1804 issue of the Columbian Centinel & Massachusetts Federalist, Boston, 4 pages, large folio. In honor of the death of Alexander Hamilton, all columns on pages 2 and 3 are black bordered. A page 2 report is headed "DEEP LAMENTATIONS" and begins, "Died, at New-York on the afternoon of Thursday last, General ALEXANDER HAMILTON, of a wound which he received on the morning of the preceding day, in a duel with Col. Burr. Never was a death more sincerely and justly lamented and his loss will be sensibly felt throughout the United States...." "Funeral Honors" just below this report lists the "Funeral Procession" and includes a woodcut of a casket. "Correspondence" in the next column has reactions to Hamilton's untimely death. Small hole near the top of the first leaf affects the "M" in Hamilton in the first passage above; the bottom of page 2 has a small archival mend. Some overall toning and foxing. Very Good (Photo).
Estimate $500-700. |
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| Lot 256 |
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Kennedy, Robert F (1925-68) American politician; assassinated while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. Original 1968 Campaign Photograph Inscribed and Signed to Burton Drucker, a Democratic power broker in Arizona: "For Burt - I recognize you - but who is the fellow on the left? With best wishes Rob. Kennedy." The "fellow on the left" was obviously a Kennedy man; both he and Robert Kennedy wore PT 109 clips. RFK always wore his, in tribute to his brother. Small blemish in left border, else Fine (Photo).
Estimate $300-500. |
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| Lot 257 |
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Powell, Colin L (1937 -) U.S. Secretary of State; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Under Presidents Clinton and Bush. Autograph Letter Signed, n.p., March 16, 1994. One page, large octavo. Responding to a letter of support should he decide to run for office, Powell writes, "...At this time, politics is not in my future...." Accompanied by a "Decision 92" photo card of Powell as a "Possible Republcan VP Selection." Both Extremely Fine (2 items) (Photo).
Estimate $150-200. |
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| Lot 258 |
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Report From The Secretary Of The Treasury On U.S. Mint Operations For 1815. Letter From The Secretary of the Treasury Transmitting Statements Relative To the Operations Of The Mint Of The United States, For The Year 1815, Washington: William A. Davis, 1816. Transmitted by Secretary of the Treasury A.J. Dallas, April 4, 1816, six pages with two large pull-outs stating various operations of the U.S. Mint, including records of silver and gold bullion, as well as copper for future coinage. Age toning and some staining across upper portion of pages, not affecting legibility. Very Good (Photo).
Estimate $200-300. |
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| Lot 259 |
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Welles, Gideon (1802-78) Union Secretary of the Navy. Autograph Letter Signed as Secretary of the Navy (Washington), October 4, 1862. 1½ pp quarto. Addressed to Major Wm. B. Slack, Quartermaster Marine Corps, regarding a contractor with rebel proclivities. Light toning. Very Fine. In full:
Sir: The Secretary of the Treasury has enclosed to this Department a letter from the Collector at Baltimore, stating that Wm. War, contractor for furnishing rations at Norfold, 'is represented to be one of the most outspoken rebel proclivities. If not himself a rebel sympathizer he at least persistently refuses to subscribe the oath required by your regulations and places his refusal so to do , to the Surveyor, upon the distinct grouund that he has sons in the Rebel Confederacy and is unwilling to take an oath or do any act which would preclude his extending to them aid and assistance.' Your attention is called to the matter." (Photo).
Estimate $800-1,000. |
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| Lot 260 |
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Wells, Gideon (1802-78) Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy. Manuscript Letter Signed ("G. Wells") as Secretary of the Navy, on Navy Department letterhead, Washington, June 16, 1865. To Edward F. Davison, Consul, Argentine Republic, New York, informing him that the resignation of Acting Honorary Ensign William Brown of the U.S. Navy "has this day been accepted, agreeably to your request...and has been delivered to him." Very Fine. Matted with an image of Welles and framed to an overall size of 15 x 19 in (Photo).
Estimate $350-450. |
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| Lot 261 |
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Kennedy, Joseph P. Sr (1888-1969) American businessman and diplomat; father of President John F. Kennedy. Mimeographed Document Signed ("J. Kennedy") as Ambassador to Great Britain, London, September 27, 1939. One page quarto. Headed "American Embassy" and prepared by the Ambassador just 26 days after Germany invaded Poland and 24 days after Britain declared war on Germany. Kennedy advises Americans to leave Europe immediately: "It has come to our attention that many Americans are delaying their departure for home. The Embassy is compelled to point out that, in our opinion, nothing has happened to impair the soundness of the advice which was given to American citizens...that those who do not have any pressing reason for remaining should return at once to the United States." Kennedy advises that special ships have been sent to aid in the repatriation, but counsels, "The special ships, it should be remembered, will not return to England. It should also be remembered that the pending neutrality legislation contains provisions which, if passed, might prevent any other American vessels from entering British ports....Those who reject an opportunity to leave now, when conditions are favorable and accommodations available, are running the risk of inconvenience and delay, of added expense and possibly danger." A rare example from a critical point in history (Photo).
Estimate $1,500-2,000. |
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| Lot 262 |
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Macy, William Marcy "Boss" (1823-78) Corrupt New York politician who headed Tammany Hall. Partly-printed Document Signed ("W.W. Tweed") as street commissioner for New York, July 1, 1869. 1 page, quarto. Approving expenditures for the Bureau of Wharves, Piers and Slips. Light toning, else fine. Tweed was in absolute control of Tammany Hall from 1868, controlling nominations and patronage; he and the New York City politicians who made up "The Tweed Ring" swindled the city treasury of millions of dollars (Photo).
Estimate $300-400. |
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| Lot 263 |
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McCarthy, Joseph (1908-57) U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. As chairman of the Senate 's subcommittee on investigations, he held hearings and questioned government officials and others suspected of communist activities. His irresponsible and oppressive tactics led to the term "McCarthyism." He was censured by the Senate for his conduct in 1954. Typed Letter Signed ("Joe") on U.S. Senate letterhead, Washington, March 11, 1957, one page quarto. Written the year he died to Winston Smith of Milwaukee. In part, "...the Select Committee which has been organized to look into the improper activities in the labor-management field has been holding meetings daily, morning and afternoon, which has kept me out of the office a good bit...." Fine (Photo).
Estimate $200-300. |
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| Lot 264 |
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Smith, Alfred E (1873-1944) New York Governor; Democratic candidate for President against Herbert Hoover in 1928, the first Roman Catholic to be nominated for that office. Typed Letter Signed as Governor of New York, Albany, April 29, 1925, 2½ pp. quarto on State of New York Executive Chamber stationery with gold-embossed seal. To the Sheriff of Albany County, a position Smith previously held, concerning the "Albany baseball pool" and the need to prosecute offenders. "I am of the opinion that it is operating in violation of the law and the State of New York cannot be the headquarters for the operation of pools of any kind...." He quotes the state constitution and state statutes to support his opinion. Light toning and a couple of rust marks from paper clips at top of first page; otherwise Fine (Photo).
Estimate $300-500. |
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| Lot 265 |
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Austin, Stephen F (1793-1836) Texas colonizer; secretary of state of the Republic of Texas. Document Signed ("S.F. Austin") as a commissioner on the part of Texas, New Orleans, January 11, 1836. A certificate headed "Texian Loan," noting receipt from Robert Triplett of $32, "the First Instalment on a Loan of Three Hundred and Twenty Dollars, made by him this day to the Government of Texas....For the amount paid, Land in Texas may be taken at FIFTY CENTS per Acre...." The document is countersigned by B.T. Archer and Wm. H. Wharton. A triangular area, from cancellation, is missing. A decorative border has "Government Of Texas" on one side and "Six Hundred And Forty Acres Of Land" on the other. Light toning; one small edge tear and a couple of wrinkles in the left margin, else Fine (Photo).
Estimate $700-1,000. |
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