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1. ABBOTT, Henry (1850-?). Typed Note Signed.
One of the great unsung American inventors and timepiece pioneers was this New Jersey watchmaker, who held more than 40 patents but is remembered for the "calculagraph," a device that records times and calculates the difference; one of its first uses was in 1894 in New York, where it recorded the length of telephone calls and impressed AT & T so much they installed it nationwide; his other inventions include a watch winding system that resulted in watches being wound by their stem instead of with a key and a revolutionary method for making enamel watch dials. TNS, 1p, 8½" X 11", New York, NY, 1933 October 16. Addressed to Mary B. Day, librarian at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Near fine. On ornate Calculagraph Company letterhead (featuring at the bottom a faint engraving of the calculagraph machine being used, with its slogan "It Makes No Clerical Errors"), Abbott graciously notes: "It gives me great pleasure to comply with your request and I am sending in the same mail for filing in your library a copy of the pamphlet entitled: 'Watches and Men'...." Large, bold signature. Uncommon.
Price: $100.00
2. ABRUZZO, Ben (1930-85), ANDERSON, Maxie L. (1934-83), and NEWMAN, Larry (born 1925).
Signed Commemorative Postal Cover.
Abruzzo was an American businessman turned hot air balloonist; Anderson was a career balloonist with many "firsts" to his name; and Newman co-invented the ultra-light airplane, piloted the first balloon flight across the Pacific Ocean in 1981 and manufactured experimental aircraft. In 1978 these three piloted the Double Eagle II in the first Transatlantic balloon crossing, departing Maine on August 11 and landing in France six days later. For their achievement they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979. Signed commemorative postal cover honoring this achievement, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 20, 1979. Envelope bears the 13-cent "French Alliance 1778" stamp and 4-cent "A Public That Reads" stamp and a special postal cancellation featuring an image of the Double Eagle balloon and the caption "Double Eagle II / First Transatlantic Balloon Flight." No decorative printed cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address present. Newman signs boldly in black marker near the top, adding "Double Eagle II" below his signature; below this Abruzzo signs boldly, and below him Anderson too signs boldly. Anderson died in a balloon crash in Germany and Abruzzo in a plane crash -- the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is named in their honor. Also present is a small portion of the original mailing envelope used to transmit this cover(cancelled in Albuquerque July 26, 1976). An Albuquerque philatelic connection is relevant, for the Double Eagle II crew were among those who established this town as the ballooning capital of the world. Quite handsome -- and a scarce trio.
Price: $95.00
3. ANDERSON, "Maxie" (1934-83).
Signed Commemorative Postal Cover.
American career balloonist with many "firsts" to his name; in 1978 he Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman piloted the Double Eagle II in the first Transatlantic balloon crossing, departing Maine on August 11 and landing in France six days later -- for which they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979. Signed commemorative postal cover honoring this achievement, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 20, 1979. Envelope bears the 13-cent "French Alliance 1778" stamp and 4-cent "A Public That Reads" stamp and a special postal cancellation featuring an image of the Double Eagle balloon and the caption "Double Eagle II / First Transatlantic Balloon Flight." No decorative printed cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address present. Anderson signs boldly in black fineline near the center. Also present is a small portion of the original mailing envelope used to transmit this cover (cancelled in Albuquerque July 18, 1979). An Albuquerque philatelic connection is relevant, for the Double Eagle II crew were among those who established this town as the ballooning capital of the world. Anderson died in a balloon crash in Germany, making his a rather scarce signature.
Price: $75.00
4. BROWN, Mark (b. 1951).
Signed First Day Cover.
This American astronaut flew as a mission specialist aboard the Columbia (STS-28, August 1989) and the Discovery (STS-48, September 1991). Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½, cancelled in Washington, DC on 22 March 1988 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Single "Domestic USA" stamp (depicting the earth from space) at upper right. Fine. Dead center, below the postal cancellation, Brown signs boldly in black fineline. Obtained in person at a special presentation at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Valparaiso, Indiana -- where Brown was born and raised. Quite handsome.
Price: $35.00
5. CORRIGAN, Douglas "Wrong Way" (1907-95).
Photograph Signed.
This American aviator took off from New York in 1938, headed for Los Angeles -- and landed in Ireland, earning the moniker that insured his fame and lasted a lifetime; the 1939 film "The Flying Irishman" stars Corrigan himself. PS, 7½" X 5¼", n.p., 1987 February 4. Sepia-tone book photograph, proqably removed from a copy of his 1939 memoir "That's My Story," signed and dated at lower left.
Price: $125.00
6. DeGARMO, Alva R. (?-?).
Signed First Day Cover.
Commercial aviation history was made in 1925 when Western Air Express (W.A.E., predecessor of Western Airlines) began its route flying the U.S. mail between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City; its original "Four Horsemen" pilots included Captain DeGarmo. Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Chicago, Illinois on March 19, 1976 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Single 13-cent "Commercial Aviation" stamp at upper right. Fine. At upper left, boldly and in blue ballpoint, the pilot signs: "Captain Al DeGarmo / W.A.E." Unusual.
Price: $75.00
7. HEYERDAHL, Thor (1914-2002).
Signed First Day Cover.
This Norwegian anthropologist and explorer made a career for himself by recreating hazardous theoretical ancient sea voyages and chronicling them in bestselling books such as "Kon-Tiki" (1950) and "Aku-Aku" (1958). Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in New York, NY on 6 May 1970 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Single 6-cent "Haida Ceremonial Canoe" stamp at upper right. Fine. At lower left, beneath the postal cancellation, Heyerdahl signs large and bold in blue fountain pen. With original transmittal envelope. A beautiful example on an appropriate cover.
Price: $95.00
8. HILLARY, Edmund (1919-2008).
Signature / Unsigned Film Program.
In 1953 this New Zealand explorer and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay achieved mountaineering immortality when they became the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Large, bold "E.P. Hillary" in black ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1968 February 21. Fine. With original envelope. Accompanied by a superb German film program for "Die Bezwingung des Everest" (The Conquest of Everest) published by the Austrian newspaper "Illustrierter Film-Kurier" in 1954, 4pp, small 4to. Single leaf, folded to make four pages. Front cover shows the famous shot of Hillary standing atop Everest; inner pages give cast, a plot summary and smaller illustrations. Very good.
Price: $100.00
9. HOLLIS, Ira N. (1856-1930).
Typed Note Signed.
This influential naval engineer and engineering educator served as professor of mechanical engineering at Harvard and as dean of the Harvard University School of Engineering (1893-1913), then as president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1913-25). TNS, 1p, 8½" X 7¼", Worcester, MA, 1924 June 13. Addressed to the president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, noted physicist Samuel W. Stratton (1861-1931). Near fine. On Worcester Polytechnic Institute letterhead, Hollis simply notes, "Thank you for your letter giving me the name of Dr. Bowman as a reference for Dr. Brown." Bold, attractive signature.
Price: $75.00
10. HOWELL, Aaron (1910-?).
Signed First Day Cover.
This Manitou, Oklahoma postmaster and farmer bears the unusual postal and aviation distinction of being the only pilot to have flown both of the airplanes depicted on the 1976 13-cent "Commercial Aviation 1926-1976" U.S. stamp -- the "Ford Pullman" all-metal monoplane and the "Laird Swallow" biplane. Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Chicago, Illinois on 19 March 1976 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Single 13-cent "Commercial Aviation" stamp at upper right. Fine. At upper right, across a printed horizontal line below the cancellation, Howell signs boldly in black ballpoint. Small portion of original transmittal envelope present and 1976 newspaper article telling Howell's aviation story. A fun aviation/philatelic oddity.
Price: $30.00
11. HUNTINGTON, Ellsworth (1876-1947).
Typed Letter Signed.
This American geographer and explorer took part in important expeditions to the Euphrates River (1901), Russian Turkestan (1903-04) and Chinese Turkestan (1905-06), and authored many books such as "Civilization and Climate" (1915), "Earth and Sun" (1923) and "Mainsprings of Civilization" (1945). TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", New Haven, CT, 1935 April 15. Addressed to S.C. Gilfillan.Very good. Light age toning. Friendly letter on Yale University letterhead about many subjects, including (of all things) "the decline of the patent system... I have been impressed by the way in which recent inventions so largely take the form of individual adjustments by which old ideas are fitted to the needs of a particular factory or a particular product." Continues: "My book on Civilization progresses so slowly... I am sending you a copy of After Three Centuries, which includes the beginning of my study of names...." Interesting.
Price: $75.00
12. MacMILLAN, Donald (1874-1970).
Signature and Salutation.
This American explorer accompanied Robert Peary on his 1908-10 North Pole expedition. Attractive "Most Sincerely Yours" and full signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card (not lined), n.p., 1929 November 4. Very good. Light age toning; small mounting traces on verso. Nice, large example.
Price: $75.00
13. MacMILLAN, Donald B. (1874-1970).
Autograph Letter Signed.
American explorer with Peary on his north polar expedition. ALS, 1p, 7" X 10", pictorial Schooner Bowdoin letterhead, n.p., 1955 January 7. Addressed to Mr. Robinson. Fine. Details on booking lecture dates.
Price: $125.00
14. RONNE, Finn (1899-1980).
Signed First Day Cover.
This Norwegian-born explorer and geographer led nine Antarctic expeditions, the first in 1933, exploring over 3600 miles via dogsled; he proved that Antarctica is a continent; "Edith Ronne Land" he named after his wife, and the "Ronne Ice Shelf" is named after him; he recorded his exploits in his 1961 memoir "Arctic Command." Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Washington, DC on 23 June 1971 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Single 8-cent "Antarctic Treaty 1961-1971" stamp at upper right. At lower left, beneath the postal cancellation, Ronne signs large and bold in blue ballpoint. Below his handsome signature he inkstamped: "CAPTAIN FINN RONNE, USNR / Military Commander - Scientific Leader / Ellsworth Station, Edith Ronne Land / ANTARCTICA." He's also placed a large octagonal inkstamp on the cover's verso about the "International Geophysical Year." A superb signature on a superbly appropriate cover.
Price: $75.00
15. RONNE, Finn (1899-1980).
Signature.
This Norwegian-born explorer and geographer led nine Antarctic expeditions, the first in 1933, exploring over 3600 miles via dog sled; he proved that Antarctica is a continent; "Edith Ronne Land" he named after his wife, and the "Ronne Ice Shelf" is named after him; he recorded his exploits in his 1961 memoir "Arctic Command." Bold large signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1972 September 21. Below his handsome signature he inkstamped: "RONNE ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION / 1946 - 1948 / Captain Finn Ronne, USNR / Military Commander - Scientific Leader - Ellsworth Station, Edith Ronne Land / ANTARCTICA." Very picturesque. With original envelope. Also present is a printed postal card advertising his book "The Ronne Expedition to Antarctica."
Price: $50.00
16. STODDARD, John L. (1850-1931).
Signature and Salutation.
This explorer began traveling and writing about the world in 1874, and was a pioneer in the field of travel lecturing; his books include the oft-reprinted multi-volume "John L. Stoddard's Lectures." Bold "Yours truly / John L. Stoddard" in rich brown ink, 3½" X 2" heavy stock card, n.p., 1894 October 30. Good plus. Moderately age toned; heavy mounting traces on verso. A nice example.
Price: $25.00
17. TYRRELL, Henry Grattan (1867-?).
Typed Letter Signed.
This member of the famed Irish engineering family was probably the most famous bridge engineer in America in the early 20th century; his influential books include "A History of Bridge Engineering," "A History of Bridges," "An Irish Channel Railway," "Concrete Bridges and Culverts for Both Railroads and Highways," "Engineering of Shops and Factories" and "The Elizabethtown Bridge." TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Baltimore, MD, 1931 September 15. Addressed to Mary B. Day, librarian of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Very good. Slightest bit of age toning. On Grattan Tyrrell and Company Engineers letterhead, Tyrrell fulfills a request for a copy of his most important book: "I take pleasure in forwarding you a copy of the book ["A History of Bridge Engineering"], the price of which since it was printed twenty years ago having been increased to $6.00 instead of $5.00 originally... This book was published privately by myself and I still have the latest edition... I therefore take pleasure in calling your attention to seven other books written by myself on various branches of Architecture and Engineering." Large, bold signature. Interesting and unusual.
Price: $75.00
18. WEBB, Francis William (1836-1906).
Photograph Signed ("Eight-Wheeled Compound Express Passenger Locomotive").
Influential British locomotive engineer, executive and innovator; as Locomotive Superintendent of the London & North Western Railway Company from 1871 to 1903, his word was law and in the city of Crewe where the L. & N.W.R. operated its "Crewe Works" he was known as "The King of Crewe." Rare signed production photograph (most likely a heliotype), heavy stock 24" X 16", Crewe, England, 1891. Very good. Light, even age toning (except verso, where acidic backing has darkened unevenly); several small, archivally closed (on verso) edge tears; very slight waviness at some edges. This piece actually consists of three separate images tipped to the heavy 24" X 16" sheet: Center image (14" X 11½") shows this locomotive in close-up profile, left side image (3½" X 11½") shows a frontal view, and right side image (also 3½" X 11½") shows a rear view. Titled "Eight-Wheeled Compound Express Passenger Locomotive" in large typeface below the center image, with "F.W. Webb's System" below that in smaller typeface and two lines of technical statistics at the bottom ("High-pressure Cylinders 15 in. diam., x 24 in. stroke. Low-pressure Cylinder 30 in. diam., x 24 in. stroke. Driving Wheels 7 ft. 1 in. diam. / Leading Wheels radial. Fixed Wheel base 8 ft. 3 in. Trailing Wheels ½ in. side play."). In the latter part of the 19th century, Webb took a leading role in the development of compound locomotives -- those in which the steam operates more than one set of cylinders. The locomotive depicted here is part of the "Greater Britain" class, a type of eight-wheeled express engine featuring an extra long combustion chamber and distinguished by their 7 foot 1 inch driving wheel; of these Webb designed ten models. The first of these appeared in 1891 -- and may well be the version depicted in this print. At the lower right corner, above the printed text "Crewe Works, 1891," Webb signs, big and bold. Verso of this print bears an oval inkstamp of the L. & N.W.R. Mechanical Engineer's Office, dated 30 September 1893. A superb and significant piece, ideal for display.
Price: $1,750.00
19. ZIEGENBEIN, Leopold (1874-1950).
Signature and Rank.
Co-designer of the North German Lloyd's speedy liners "Bremen" and "Europa" and captain of the former, which made the fastest Atlantic crossing ever between Bremerhaven and New York in 1929. Bold signature and "Captain / S.S. Bremen," heavy stock 4" X 2¼" card, n.p., n.d. Near fine. Minor mounting traces on verso. Exceptionally handsome example.
Price: $75.00
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