‎Autographs‎

‎KENNEBACK George R. 1892 1969‎

‎Signature and Rank‎

‎This U.S. Air Force career officer served with the American Expeditionary Forces 1919-20 and in the Panama Canal Zone in the 1930s -- as a DENTIST! Appointed Chief of Dental Services in the Office of the Air Surgeon in 1942 he rose up through the ranks to major general 1949 and is considered a pioneer in developing the Army Air Force Dental Services program. Full signature and "Major General U.S.A.F. DC" in black ink irregularly clipped heavy stock 3�" X 1" slip n.y. post 1949. Very good. Small tape stain at each end one touching the "G" in "George" the other the "" of the parentheses. Nice example. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31698

‎MILLER Dewitt 1857 1911‎

‎Autograph Letter Signed‎

‎Methodist minister turned popular lecturer journalist and librarian -- often remembered for his fanatical book collecting. ALS 2pp 5" X 7 3/4" Philadelphia PA n.y. Addressed to "Anton." Very good. Mildly age toned. On letterhead of "The Union League / Philadelphia" of which he was long a member Miller sends cryptic persnickety instructions to his bookbinder: "Please make me two scrapbooks. The Stage. Letter at bottom: Dewitt Miller. Be sure you are right -- before you go ahead. Letter at bottom: Dewitt Miller. Insert in the stage the enclosed by Daly. Insert in. Be sure you are right. The helpful Woman." Though signed twice in full within the text as part of giltstamping instructions the letter itself he signs off with initials "Yrs: D.W." Typically odd! unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31734

‎FLORENCE William J. "Billy" 1831 91‎

‎Photograph Signed‎

‎This American actor playwright and songwriter was the toast of the New York stage starting with "A Row at the Lyceum" in 1851 also touring England Europe and even the Middle East to great acclaim often performing the dialect routines so popular at that time; in 1870 in York Florence and a noted physician named Walter Fleming founded the Shriners the masonic service organization. Incredibly unusual PS 5" X 4�" Philadelphia PA n.y. ca. 1875 March 16. Good plus. Lightly soiled with couple of edge chips along the top. Custom-printed envelope of the popular actor featuring his head-and-shoulders portrait printed in blue filling the leftmost third of the envelope. Below this he signs boldly and also addresses the envelope to B.E. Woolf of the Saturday Gazette in Boston. Stamped and bearing partial circular postal inkstamp at upper right. Editor Woolf was also a critic musician composer and playwright and in 1875 his play "The Mighty Dollar" featuring Florence in the lead premiered. Along the top on the verso Florence pens: "We play in Hartford / New Haven / Providence / Next week. / F." Given Florence and Woolf's relationship it's likely he was reporting on the touring schedule for "The Mighty Dollar" or another Woolf play. Extremely interesting and attractive item. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31701

‎O'HAY Patrick Irving 1870 1944‎

‎Signature and Inscription‎

‎This Irish soldier of fortune fought under General Gomez in Cuba in 1897 in the Spanish-American War as one of Roosevelt's "Rough Riders" in a Canadian cavalry regiment in the South African War in the Balkans in 1903 with the Princess Pat regiment in 1914 with the United States Army in 1917 and elsewhere; he called himself an "apostle of discontent" complaining it was hard to feed himself between wars; he tried his hand at acting in later years and even became a race horse trainer; at his death he owned a filling station in Taos New Mexico. Boldly pencilled "Yours for 'peace' / Patrick Irving O'Hay / Capt Inf. U.S.A ret" heavy stock 5" X 3" card n.p. n.y. Very good. Faintly age toned; minor mounting traces on verso which bears printed text of a poem "Worcester Town". Nice example. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31732

‎GIRDNER John H. ca. 1857 1933‎

‎Typed Letter Signed‎

‎This prominent New York physician a close friend of William Jennings Bryan was brought in as a consultant after the assassination attempt on President Garfield and was the last survivor of the four physicians brought in to attend the president; he took part in Alexander Graham Bell's disastrous attempt to use metal detection to pinpoint and extract the bullet causing a fatal infection; later he developed the Girdner telephonic bullet probe supposedly plagiarizing the concept from Bell; in 1869 he was the first physician to use cadaver skin to cover a burn wound on a 10-year-old child. TLS 1p 8�" X 11" New York NY 1912 March 22. Addressed to Charles White of the New York Hall of Records later a noted Abraham Lincoln scholar. Very good. Moderately age toned. Chatty note to the tax commissioner on his medical office letterhead reading in part: "I regret as much as you can that we do not see more of each other but I have got an endless job on my hands which requires all my time sleeping and waking." Of his profession Girdner remarks: "You remember I used to want to reform other people and things: well one day I looked myself over and I have been a busy man ever since and the end of the job is not in sight. You call me a 'rich physician' and so I am but my wealth is not of the kind your office recognises as taxable fortunately for me. I think you do yourself an injustice when you speak of having 'slipped back'. You know the old Methodist doctrine that one 'cannot fall from grace' and I am certain that when I knew you you were so well grounded in the faith that not even the temptations etc. of your present occupation and environment can drag you down." Bold full signature. Most unusual. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31730

‎WHITE William Allen 1868 1944‎

‎Typed Note Signed‎

‎"The Sage of Emporia" a Pulitzer Prize-winning American newspaper editor and author whose frequent pronouncement made him John Q. Public's spokesman for many years; he published and edited "The Emporia Gazette" from 1895 until his death. Clipped Typed Note Signed irregularly trimmed 8�" X 2" Emporia KS 1926 January 4. Very good. The closing paragraph only with an intriguing comment: "I am glad you liked my Christmas editorial. It circulated pretty much all over the world. Thanks to the United Feature service." Large bold signature in blue ink. Comes with the upper letterhead portion of the TLS from which this was clipped 8�" X 2�" with "The Emporia Gazette" imprint and typed date. Nice little sentiment accompanied by three near fine First Day Covers for the 3-cent "William Allen White" U.S. postage stamp released 1948 July 31 each featuring a different pictorial cachet at left and each bearing typed recipient's address: Ralph G. Newman 1912-98 founder of Chicago's famed Abraham Lincoln Book Shop. A fun assemblage. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31712

‎ABBOTT Lyman 1835 1922‎

‎Autograph Note Signed‎

‎Influential Congregational clergyman and author who co-edited "Christian Union" with Henry Ward Beecher and succeeded Beecher as pastor of Brooklyn's famed Plymouth Congregational Church. ANS 1p 5" X 8" Cornwall-on-Hudson NY n.y. 1878 November 25. Addressed to showman P.T. Barnum 1810-91. Very good. Lightly age toned. Intriguing if brief: "Your letter respecting Popular Amusements was received too late for this week's issue. It will go in next week & the papers shall be sent as requested." In Abbott's 1922 book "Silhouettes of My Contemporaries" he devotes a chapter to Barnum of whom he was a great admirer. In 1878 Abbott wrote Barnum requesting information about Tom Thumb and on 5 October 1878 received a cordial note in reply from Barnum. Meanwhile in the November 6th and 13th issues of "Christian Union" Reverend Samuel Scoville published a two-art article titled "The Christian View of Popular Amusements." Barnum took issue with some of this Congregationalist minister's views and in the December 4th issue his rebuttal titled simply "Popular Amusements" was published in "Christian Union." This letter then is the magazine's initial response to Barnum's reply to Scoville's criticisms. The article was republished a number of times in other publications and also found its way into Barnum's 1880 autobiography "Struggles and Triumphs; or Forty Years' Recollections." unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31715

‎GRANT Ulysses S. Jr. 1852 1929‎

‎Signature‎

‎Known as "Buck" the second son of General and President U.S. Grant also rose through the ranks to became a general in the U.S. Army but he made his mark as an attorney; the Grant & Ward brokerage firm he founded with a partner lost all his and his father's money but he became wealthy in California real estate. Bold signature in black ink clipped 3�" X 1" n.p. n.y. Very good. Grant signs boldly on a printed line below which is the printed word "Secretary" -- likely clipped from a financial document. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31740

‎BELAUNDE Victor Andres 1883 1966‎

‎Signed First Day Cover‎

‎This Peruvian diplomat served as president of the General Assembly of the United Nations from 1959 to 1960. Signed First Day Cover 6�" X 3�" cancelled at the United Nations in New York on 23 October 1959 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Near fine. Single 4-cent "Trusteeship Council" stamp at upper right and large printed Artmaster cachet at left. No distracting recipient's name/address. Near the center above the postal cancellation Belaunde signs in blue ballpoint. Rather uncommon. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31521

‎DALZELL John 1845 1927.‎

‎Partly-Printed Autograph Document Signed‎

‎Known as the "Father of the House of Representatives" for his lengthy 13 terms service this Pennsylvania representative served from 1887 to 1913. Partly-printed ADS 1p 3�" X 8�" n.p. Washington DC n.d. 1895 September 25 inkstamped. Near fine. Partly-printed Bureau of Pensions form for Congressional use. Dalzell pens in Loveina M. Kunkle of Pittsburgh as the claimant for soldier Jacob L. Kunkle of Company "I" 11th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers and requests to be advised on "present status claim" signing boldly. A private named Jacob L. Kunkle 1843-63 is known to have enrolled at Kittanning Pennsylvania in 1862 and died of "Congestion of the Brain" in Virginia in 1862; Loveina was obviously next of kin though her relationship is unclear and presumably petitioned her congressman to find out if she could receive any pension because of this relationship. It's not believed Jacob Kunkle was married so perhaps she was a sister. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31608

‎DELP George C. 1909 2001‎

‎Typed Letter Signed‎

‎In 1940 this business executive with the Dellinger Manufacturing Company and some colleagues bought the small town New Holland Machine Works in Pennsylvania; he became president and transformed it into an international farm equipment manufacturing giant. TLS 1p 7�" X 9�" New Holland PA 1959 September 15. Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Bruno J. Gianetti. Very good. Cordial note on "New Holland Machine Company" letterhead reading in part: "With a mother and father who are as anxious to assist their son as you very obviously are young George is going to have a high standard to meet if he's to come up to your hopes and aspirations. I sincerely hope that he will succeed in doing so and wish both you and him every success." Huge full signature in blue ink. A lovely example. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31638

‎RUSSELL George 1906 90‎

‎Inscribed Photograph Signed‎

‎This auto executive served General Motors for more than half a century beginning in the 1920s becoming vice president in 1956 executive vice president in 1958 and vice chairman in 1967. IPS 8" X 10" n.p. n.y. ca. mid-1950s. Fine. Heavy high-quality mat-finish half-length photograph of Russell in suit and tie hands intertwined gazing thoughtfully. In a dark area at lower right he signs and inscribes handsomely in white ink making for superb contrast: "From one George / to another / with best wishes / George Russell." Unusual and quite handsome. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31632

‎WITSELL Edward F. ? ?‎

‎Typed Letter Signed‎

‎This career Army officer was a major general with The Adjutant General's Office. TLS 1p 8" X 10�" Washington DC 1948 April 2. Addressed to Mrs. Otto Elaine Madlener noted Chicago collector and officer of The Manuscript Society. Very good. Lightly age toned with touch of edgewear. On letterhead of "The Adjutant General's Office" Witsell responds to a request for "a list of all three four and five star generals and admirals who served during World War II. there are no such compiled lists available. However I am enclosing in lieu thereof a list of all officers who served in the grades of General of the Armies General of the Army General and Lieutenant General from the period of the Revolutionary War to the present time." Bold full signature. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31633

‎GILFALLEN George 1813 78‎

‎Autograph Note Signed‎

‎This Scottish cleric made his mark as a literary critic and poet best known as author of the popular poem "Bards of the Bible" 1851 as well as "Gallery of Literary Portraits" 1846 plus two sequels "Martyrs and Heroes of the Scottish Covenant" 1852 "History of a Man" 1856 and the 48-volume "Library Edition of the Briths Poets" 1846 which he edited; he's often remembered as the subject of "An Address to the Rev. George Gilfallen" the first poem penned by Scottish poet William McGonall 1825-1902. ANS 1p 5" X 8" Edinburgh Scotland 1860 January 28. Addressed to "George." Very good. Light age toning and touch of mild wear; printed slip from late 19th century autograph catalogue 4" X 3/8" tipped to top edge. On "Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway" letterhead an odd little note in brown ink perhaps hastily scribbled as Gilfallen awaited a train: "I am called today but too early I find you dont come till ten Give my kind regards to Mrs. I and believe me yours affectly." Below his full signature he adds "I am just starting for home." unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31636

‎TELLER Henry M. 1830 1914‎

‎Signature‎

‎This long-time Colorado senator 1876-82 1885-1909 interrupted his lengthy Senate years to serve as Arthur's secretary of the interior 1882-85. Huge bold signature and "Sec of the Interior" beneath penned in rich brown ink 6 3/4" X 2" n.p. n.y. Fine. Undated but obviously signed during his years as a cabinet member. An especially large and attractive example. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31655

‎OLSEN Merlin 1940 2010‎

‎Signature‎

‎This college foot star joined the Los Angels Rams in 1960 playing there until 1976; he was elected to both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame; as an actor he is best remembered as Jonathan Garvey on the television series "Little House on the Prairie." Bold signature in black marker heavy stock 5" X 3" card n.p. 1974 November 5. Fine. With original envelope. Choice example from his heyday as a player. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31649

‎REID Ogden Mills 1882 1947‎

‎Typed Note Signed partial‎

‎The son of "New York Tribune" editor and publisher Whitelaw Reid himself became that newspaper's editor and publisher in 1913 and under his direction they acquired the "New York Herald" in 1924 becoming the "New York Herald Tribune." Partial TNS 1p 4 3/4" X 1 3/4" New York NY 1913 January 23. Very good. Small straight pin rust mark not affecting text. Clipped from a TNS the remaining text reads "Hoping that I may have the chance of seeing you soon I am Yours sincerely" below which is Reid's bold full signature in brown. Clipped letterhead portion 4 3/4" X 1 3/4" bearing printed "7 West Fifty-First Street" and typed date is also present. Both pieces bear a black mourning border for Reid's father Whitelaw had died on 15 December 1912. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31669

‎BURTON Frederick R. 1861 1909‎

‎Signature and Salutation‎

‎This American composer was an authority on Native American music and authored the 1909 "American Primitive Music: With Especial Attention to the Songs of the Ojibways"; he composed the Native American cantata "Hiawatha" and other songs with Indian themes. Bold "Very truly yours" and full signature in brown ink 4�" X 1�" n.p. n.y. Very good. Faint age toning; mounting traces on verso. Rather uncommon. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31668

‎CHALMERS Thomas 1780 1847‎

‎Signature and Salutation‎

‎This popular and influential Scottish theologian was a professor of moral philosophy and mathematics; as leader of the evangelical section of the Church of Scotland he became first moderator of the Free Church of Scotland. Signature and salutation 4�" X 2 3/4" tipped to slightly larger leaf n.p. n.y. Very good. Faint bit of age toning and foxing. Attractive portion presumably clipped from an ALS penned boldly in dark brown ink and reading in full: "him. / I am / Sir / Yours truly / Th Chalmers / John D. Muskie Esqr." unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31651

‎PEARSON Paul M. 1871 1938‎

‎Signature‎

‎This noted Quaker educator and editor was a professor at Swarthmore College before being appointed the Virgin Island's first civilian governor by President Hoover in 1931 a post he held until 1935; he was a leader in the Chautauqua movement -- and the father of journalist Drew Pearson. Small but neat and full signature in black ink clipped from a TLS 7�" X 5�" St. Thomas Virgin Islands 1932 January 22. Very good. Clipped upper portion of "Government House / St. Thomas / Virgin Islands of the United States" letterhead 7�" X 2 3/4" with typed date also present. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31666

‎McCRARY George W. 1835 90‎

‎Signed Calling Card‎

‎Rutherford B. Hayes's Secretary of War 1877-79 had been a four-term Iowa congressman 1868-76. Large and bold "Geo. W. McCrary / Secy of War / Nov 16 1877" penned in brown ink on the verso of his printed "The Secretary of War" calling card heavy stock 3�" X 2�" n.p. Near fine. A superb example signed in office. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31679

‎BIRD Charles 1838 1920‎

‎Signature‎

‎This career Army officer served with the 9th Delaware Infantry and elsewhere during the Civil War fighting at Fredericksburg Spottsylvania and Petersburg; he rose up through the ranks to lieutenant colonel and quartermaster of U.S. Volunteers and was named brigadier general in 1902. Large and bold clipped signature in black ink 4�" X 1�" n.p. n.y. ca. 1900. Very good. Minor mounting traces on verso. "Respectfully" typed in blue above Bird's signature and "Colonel & quartermaster U.S. Vols." below. Nice example. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31678

‎KOCHAN Bernice 1926 ?‎

‎Signed First Day Cover‎

‎This Cleveland artist "whose designs are among the most reproduced in the nation" according to one authority is only the second female in postal history to have designed two U.S. stamps; in 1969 she designed the Alabama statehood stamp the W.C. Handy stamp and the tuberculosis Christmas seals. Signed First Day Cover 6�" X 3�" cancelled in Memphis Tennessee on 1969 May 7 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Near fine. Single 6-cent "W.C. Handy Father of the Blues" stamp at upper right. Simple blue and gold "First Day Cover" printed cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address present. Near the center above the cancellation Kochan signs small but bold in blue ballpoint. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31498

‎RAMSAY George D. 1802 82‎

‎Note Signed‎

‎This Union general became an ordnance expert in command of various U.S. arsenals; in 1863 he was promoted to brigadier general and named chief of ordnance of the Union Army serving until September 1864. NS 1p 7 3/4" X 9" Washington DC 1838 August 19. Addressed to Sanders Lansing Jr. Very good. Bit of mild age toning; slight mounting traces on verso. Handsomely penned in brown in a bold flamboyant script: "I have the honor to transmit herewith duplicate receipts of Musket & Rifle Powder 150 Barrels which are found to be correct." Large full Ramsay signature beneath which he adds his title "Cap Ord. Comdg." A quite attractive example. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31488

‎TURNER George T. 1906 79‎

‎Signed First Day Cover‎

‎As stamp collectors go Turner was about as famous as you can get: America's foremost philatelic librarian holding the greatest philatelic library in the country; member of the United States Stamp Society Hall of Fame; president of the American Philatelic Congress and the American Academy of Philately; director of SIPEX Sixth International Philatelic Exhibition in 1966. Signed First Day Cover 6�" X 3�" cancelled in Washington DC on 23 May 1966 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Special 5-cent "Sixth International Philatelic Exhibition" stamp at upper right. Near fine. Superb printed Art Craft "Official SIPEX First Day Cover 1966" decorative cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address. At the bottom center Turner signs in full in blue ballpoint. Unusual. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 31506