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1. BRIDGMAN, Laura (1829-89). Signature.
In 1837 this American blind deaf-mute was taught an early form of Braille developed by Samuel G. Howe, making her the first blond deaf-mute successfully educated by systematic means -- long before Helen Keller. Large bold pencilled (as usual) signature, lined 5" X 2¼" slip, n.p., n.y. Above her signature, Bridgman pencils "20 cts." -- why she would be noting this is unclear, but perhaps this slip came from a ledger book of some sort.
Price: $50.00
2. CAVE-BROWN-CAVE, Reverend Sir Genille (?-?).
Autograph Letter Signed.
This English nobleman (12th Baronet of Stratton Hall) emigrated to America and played cowboy, among other things, before becoming a minister; authored the 1928 memoir "From Cowboy to Pulpit." ALS, 1p, 8½" X 11", ornate Salvation Army Industrial Home letterhead, Chester, PA, 1912 July 4. Addressed to Roddick W. Marten. Good. Acid transfer from newspaper clipping at upper right, some age toning. Has never met a man that Marten is seeking -- "it is very hard to trace a man in the West." Comes with newspaper clipping, "Girl Won Titled Cowboy Over to Salvation Army," darkened but not brittle. Most unusual and uncommon.
Price: $125.00
3. CUNARD, E. (?-?).
Autograph Letter Signed.
Member of the British shipping magnate family whose founder, Sir Samuel (1787-1865), established the first regular steamboat passenger service between Europe and North America in 1840. ALS, 1p, 8" X 10", New York, NY, 1859 July 29. Addressed to W.W. Greenough. Fine. Transmits two bank drafts to this Boston gas company executive. Bold and handsome.
Price: $125.00
4. HUTCHINS, Robert M. (1899-1977).
Typed Note Signed.
This wunderkind of educators had already served as dean of Yale Law School when named president of University of Chicago in 1929! With Mortimer J. Adler, he introduced the famed "Great Books" program, eliminated intercollegiate football and made other radical curriculum changes; he authored many volumes on education issues and served in other influential positions, including president of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, which he founded in 1969. TNS, 1p, 7" X 10½", Chicago, IL, 1941 January 23. Addressed to noted Abraham Lincoln scholar Arnold Gates. Very good. Three small edge tears along left margin, not touching text. Brief note thanking him for birthday greetings. "I hope that it will be possible for us to get together sometime. But let's not let anything interfere with the completion of your novel."
Price: $75.00
5. KEHR, Ernest A. (1911-86).
Signed First Day Cover / Typed Note Signed.
This giant of 20th century philately had numerous philatelic accomplishments: he was the hobby news editor of the "New York World-Telegram" in the 1930s, stamp news editor of the "New York Herald Tribune" (1939-66) and stamp columnist for "Newsday"; he authored such philatelic bestsellers as "The Romance of Stamp Collecting" (1947); 1987 he was elected to the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame. Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Hyde Park, New York on 29 January 1966 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Single 6-cent "Franklin D. Roosevelt" stamp at upper right. Fine. At left of center, below the postal cancellation, Kehr signs boldly in blue ballpoint. Also, a small TNS, 1p, 5¼" X 6¼", n.p., n.y. Near fine. "I'm flattered that you'd want my signature on the FDR cover you sent...." Signed simply "Kehr." Kehr was part of FDR's "stamp collecting family (along with Postmaster General James A. Farley, interior secretary Harold Ickes and treasury secretary Henry Morgenthau), so was on the inside for new stamp proposals and rough designs -- making his signature on the FDR First Day Cover particularly appropo.
Price: $35.00
6. MAY, Robert L. (1905-76).
Signed First Day Cover.
This advertising executive penned "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" for client Montgomery Ward in 1939, little knowing it would take off and become a timeless classic. Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled at Washington, DC on November 7, 1973 and with "First Day of Issue" noted. Near fine. Single 8-cent "Christmas" stamp at upper right. No decorative cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address -- instead, entire left side is filled with May's bold inscription and signature in blue ballpoint: "to / Paul Johnston, / wish best wishes from / Rudolph's 'Daddy,' / Robert L May." Quite scarce, quite desireable. Gives new meaning to the phrase "Who's your daddy?"
Price: $200.00
7. MOUTOUX, John T. (?-?).
Signed Postal Cover / Autograph Note Signed.
The famed Scopes Trial of July 1925 in Tennessee was first brought to national attention by this young "Nashville News-Sentinel" reporter, whose astute reports helped begin the snowballing that ended in a national debate on evolution, Clarence Darrow's victory and William Jennings Bryan's humiliation. Signed Postal Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Dayton, Tennessee on 5 May 1975. Near fine. Single 10-cent "United States" crossed flags stamp at upper right. Special "Scopes Trial / 50th Anniversary / 1925 -- 1975" postal cancellation. Across the "sweet spot," Moutoux signs boldly in blue ballpoint. With brief ANS, 1p, 4" X 6", n.p., n.y. "I'm happy to do this for you," signed simply "John." Original transmittal envelope (cancelled 11 October 1977) present, signed again by Moutoux with return address in his hand. An unusual trio.
Price: $50.00
8. PRESTON, Thomas (?-?).
Unsigned Autograph Document.
Tried for high treason by the British government. Unsigned AD, 1p, 8" X 12½", n.p., n.d. [post-1814]. Very good. A second unsigned AD in another hand that accompanies this item helps explain it. This second AD (1p, 8" X 10¼", n.p., n.d.) reads as follows: "This proposed Defence to the Charge of High Treason is in the hand of Thomas Preston (the Cobbler) who had the honor of being tried for High Treason. He with Thistlewood & c after being confined in the Tower -- Preston was certainly greatly disappointed -- he hoped to have died a Martyr, and made a speech on the Scaffold. The Verses are his, & also in his hand writing. If [deleted] & I should want I will tell him how these papers came into my possession -- I had them from Preston himself" Returning to Preston’s defense, it reads in part: "My Lords, and Gentelmen of the Jury, I imbrace with heartfelt satisfaction the indulgance Granted to me, to answer for my self Concearning the accusation against me... I Beseech your Lordships and you Gentlemen of the Jury to hear me Patently.... oh that natur as not Given us the oppertunity of seeing the featurs of the human heart so as to see the dark villainy that thear lyes hid, Gentelmen never was A Brittish subject more falsly accused then my self, no man living Ever can have the intrust of is Country more at heart then my self.... I have my mind unshaded with Dought the wisdom of your Decision will convince the world of my Innocence, and on theas Gronds I stand Fearless before you this Day, Gentelman it is to you that ingland looks, it is you that form the Bullwark of the Constitution the Bost of an Englishman and The Admeration of the world let your verdick be life or Death.... my only Object was to Partishon the Prince Reagent or the house of commons.... if it is the will of my god that I am to lay Down the Burden of this wareisum life is will and not mine be dun...." An unusual, strange item worthy of further research.
Price: $400.00
9. PUSEY, Nathan M. (1907-?).
Signature.
This noted educator served as the 24th president of America's oldest institution of higher learning, Harvard, from 1953 to 1971. Bold signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1987 October 22. Fine. With original envelope.
Price: $20.00
10. SADACCA, Albert V. (1902-?).
Signed First Day Cover.
Although Grover Cleveland had electric lights put on the White House Christmas tree in 1895, it was this 15-year-old Spanish immigrant who in New York in 1917 developed and popularized the modern concept of a string of small lights painted different colors to decorate trees and avoid the fires often caused by Christmas tree candles; his family firm (NOMA Electric Company) monopolized the industry for a time. Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled at Washington, DC on November 5, 1970 and with "First Day of Issue" noted. Fine. 6-cent "Christmas" stamp and 5-cent "Christmas 1963" stamp (featuring lit Christmas trees) at upper right. No decorative cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address. Across the horizontal cancellation lines around the words "First Day of Issue," Saddaca signs large and bold in blue ballpoint. Small portion of original transmittal envelope present. Very uncommon.
Price: $95.00
11. SCHUMANN-HEINK, Ernestine (1861-1936).
Photograph Signed.
Austrian-born American operatic contralto known for her Wagner roles and radio broadcasts. PS, 8" X 10", n.p., n.d. [dated 22 December 1927 on verso in another hand]. Near fine. Handsome sepia-tone head-and- shoulders portrait. Bold 5" full signature in black fountain pen. With front portion of original mailing envelope, addressed in another hand to Chicago pianist and music school founder John G. Leiser.
Price: $200.00
12. SHEEAN, David (?-?).
Partly-printed Autograph Document Signed.
Controversial Illinois Copperhead whose brief imprisonment along with Madison Y. Johnson by Lincoln without writ of habeus corpus became a cause celebre; upon his release, he received a hero's welcome in his (and U.S. Grant's) hometown of Galena, Illinois. Partly-printed ADS, 1p, 8½" X 14", Galena, IL, 1873 January 20. Very good. Lawsuit brought by a bank represented by Sheean against one Joseph N. Waggoner for payment of a promissory note, filled in and signed by Sheean. Interestingly, Waggoner's response, covering the lower third of the document, is signed by his attorney: Thomas J. SHEEAN, David's brother! Tipped to the top margin of this document is a second, smaller document, the "Judgment Note" in which Waggoner agrees to pay his promissory note. A fascinating piece. Uncommon.
Price: $150.00
13. SHOUSE, Catherine Filene (1896-1994).
Signed Postal Cover.
This philanthropist and patron of the arts was heiress to the Filene department store fortune, and in 1968 gave land in Virginia and two million dollars to the federal government to create Wolf Trap Farm Park, the first national park dedicated to the performing arts; she was the first woman to receive a M.Ed. degree from Harvard University, and the first woman appointed chairman of the Federal Women's Prisons for the Rehabilitation and Education of Women, named by President Coolidge. Signed Postal Cover. 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Vienna, Virginia on 1 March 1971 and with special cancellation: "Filene Center -- 1971 / Wolf Trap Farm PArk / for Performing Arts." Fine. Single 6-cent American flag stamp affixed. No decorative cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address. NOT a first day cover, but presumable the special cancellation marked the opening of the Filene Center. Shouse signs large and bold in blue marker in the "sweet spot." Small portion of original transmittal envelope present. Very handsome and most unusual.
Price: $50.00
14. WILLARD, Clarence E. (?-?).
Signed Broadside.
In the "Just Plain Weird" category, consider the man who from about 1925 on baffled the medical and scientific community with his ability to GROW. That's right, this famed sideshow performer appeared to grow inches taller on stage -- hence his nickname, "The Man Who Grows Before Your Eyes." Through the 1950s, Willard continued to amaze and confound, appearing on shows such as "The Ed Sullivan Show" (6 April 1958). What he signs here is as off-the-wall as what he did: a folded-down promotional broadside, single sheet (printed recto and verso), 27" X 18¼" (folds down to 9" X 6 3/4"), Grand Rapids, MI, n.y. [ca. 1934 or earlier]. Near fine. The front panel, which reads "The / Complete / Refrigerator / LEONARD / a name with more than a half / century of / REFRIGERATION BACKGROUND" in bold orange and black, bears his handsome large inscription in a blank area: "Clarence E. Willard / 'The Man Who Grows' / 1934." Unfolded, the broadside features numerous illustrations with captions front and back touting this product. Superb, clean condition with no edgewear whatsoever and no weakness along the original fold lines. Scarce and unusual -- as weird as it gets.
Price: $150.00
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