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Sale 73
The Manuscript, Space & Collectibles Auction
| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 51 |
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Roosevelt, Theodore, Typed letter signed on "The Outlook / Office of Theodore Roosevelt" letterhead, with three holograph corrections, 1 page, 7¾ x 9½ in., Phoenix, Arizona, 21 March 1911. To "Phil": "I was so pleased to learn from Kermit that you were in the Dickey. I think that at Harvard there is a very exaggerated estimate placed on membership in the different clubs and societies, but I do think that such membership is a good thing in so far as it gives a place where a man can meet people who are congenial with [ "with" is crossed out and replaced with "to"] him: and, as Kermit says, there is now a place where you and he can meet and take lunch or dinner - and, I may add, where you can have me join you at lunch or dinner if I am on. Good luck! Your affectionate cousin, Theodore Roosevelt." A colon and comma are in Roosevelt's hand. Overall toning, normal folds, and a few creases. Nice large signature. Kermit was Theodore's second son. Theodore was a member of the Porcellian Club, the oldest and most prestigious social club at Harvard.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500
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| Realized
$945 |
Lot 52 |
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Taft, William H (1857-1930) 27th President of the United States (1909-13); Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1921-30). Typed letter signed ("Wm H. Taft") as Chief Justice, 2 pages, on "Supreme Court of the United States" letterhead, 8 x 10½ in., Washington, D.C., Dec. 25, 1924. To Edward W. Bok (1863-1930), reform-minded Dutch American editor and publisher who was editor of the very influential magazine, "The Ladies Home Journal," for 30 years (1889-1919); Bok won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for his autobiography, "The Americanization of Edward Bok." Taft refers to a $2,000,000 gift made by George Eastman (of Eastman Kodak) for "negro" education, as part of a $5,000,000 fundraising goal, and quotes Eastman: "Almost the entire attention of educators has been this far devoted to the white race, but we have more than 10 per cent negro population in the United States, most of whom are densely ignorant. They constitute what is known as the negro problem…."
Taft tells Bok, "…those of us who have given it considerable study regard the negro problem as one of the gravest which confronts the United States to-day. The present campaign of Hampton and Tuskegee provides a practical opportunity to do something big for the ten million negro citizens in this country….To raise the remaining sum needed, $2,500,000, we are organizing campaigns in the leading cities throughout the United States. We are calling upon thoughtful citizens in each of these cities to head the local committees….To make the campaign in Philadelphia the success that it deserves to be, we must have individuals like yourself on our committee…." He asks Bok to accept the honorary chairmanship in Philadelphia and assures him that if he needs more information on the two institutions (Hampton and Tuskegee) before accepting, Taft will be happy to send a trustee "to discuss the entire negro problem" with him. Fine.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500
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| Realized
$1,320 |
Lot 53 |
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Taylor, Zachary (1784-1850) 12th President of the United States (1849-50). He served in the U.S. Army for 40 years, participating in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican-American War. His victories in the latter war led to the popular acclaim which took him to the White House. Document signed ("Z. Taylor Majr. Comdy"), 1 page, 7 x 6 in., n.p., n.d. As Major Commanding, Taylor approved a requisition for one quire of folio paper for the use of Capt. Gray's 3rd Infantry. Light toning; one fold repair on verso.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500
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| Realized
$960 |
Lot 54 |
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Truman, Harry (1884-1972) 33rd President of the United States. World War II Victory Proclamation Broadside signed as President, 13 x 20 in., Washington, n.d. This impressive document, bearing a six-inch signature by Truman, is printed on a 14½ x 21¾ in. leaf of heavy-stock presentation paper, dated in print May 8, 1945, the date the unconditional surrender of Germany to the Allies was ratified in Berlin. Across the top of the page, in blue lettering is: "By The President Of The United States Of America." The initial "T" in the first paragraph is gold and each paragraph thereafter begins with either a blue or red letter, two paragraphs having three words in red lettering. The proclamation begins: "The Allied Armies, through sacrifice and devotion and with God's Help, have wrung from Germany a final and unconditional surrender…." While celebrating the victory in the West, Truman acknowledges, "The victory won in the West must now be won in the East. The whole world must be cleansed of the evil from which half the world has been freed…." and the President appoints Sunday, May 13, 1945, as a day of prayer.
President and Mrs. Truman's 1945 Christmas gift to their White House staff was an embellished scroll of the V-E Day Proclamation, signed by the President. President Truman was delighted that V-E Day arrived on his birthday, May 8th. This document is in superb condition and is handsomely matted and framed to an overall size of 20 x 27 in.
Estimated Value $7,500 - 10,000
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| Unsold |
Lot 55 |
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Truman, Harry S, Typed letter signed as President on The White House / Washington letterhead, 1 page, 7 x 8¾ in., 25 Feb. 1950. To Congressman Usher L. Burdick of North Dakota, discussing a book called The Last Chance, by John Myers, about Tombstone, Arizona and "the happenings in that wild-west city." He writes, in part: "…I think you would be particularly interested in what he has to say about some of Wyatt Earp's activities in Deadwood, South Dakota, in the late sixties….Wyatt was forehanded enough to get sufficient feed in storage to take care of a team of horses through a terrible winter at Deadwood, and that he made seven thousand dollars that winter hauling wood for the miners who couldn't work on account of the immense snowdrifts….You and I are both interested in that period between 1865 and 1890 when the West was being first settled and brought under the law of the land. I don't think there is anything in the traditions of the history of the world that can equal some of the tales that come out of that period…" Very fine. An unusual letter reflecting President Truman's personal interests.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500
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| Realized
$900 |
Lot 56 |
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Truman, Harry S, Black and white 8 x 10 in. photo signed as President, in black ink below his feet. Also signed and inscribed by James A. Farley to John B. Wells. Photo has "Daily Mirror Photo" stamped on verso. Photo is in good condition, with overall wear, a large crease at left and a closed tear at upper right, but a wonderful photo of Truman.
Farley (1888-1976) had been FDR's Postmaster General and was the Democratic party boss of New York. In 1947 he was appointed by Truman to the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government, also known as the Hoover Commission, which would lead to the development and ratification of the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, establishing the modern executive term-limit laws.
Estimated Value $200 - 250
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| Unsold |
Lot 57 |
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Truman, Harry S, Photograph of President Truman being administered the Oath of Office by Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson on 20 January 1949, signed and inscribed "To Claude Harkins From: Harry S. Truman," n.p., n.d. Signed by President Truman after he retired to Independence, Missouri. The photo is an official U.S. Army photo; stamped information on the verso is headed "Inauguration Day in Washington, D.C. 20 January 1949." Fine condition. Ex Claude Harkins Collection.
Estimated Value $200 - 300
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| Realized
$240 |
Lot 58 |
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Van Buren, Martin (1782-1862) 8th President of the United States (1837-1841). Autograph endorsement signed, "Ref.d to the Sec.ry of War. M.V.B." as President (July 1838), on the address leaf of a letter addressed to him by a member of Congress (Boon) recommending Dr. John W. Davis of Indiana for the position of surgeon in the Army. Some toning and soiling to the address leaf but clearly written.
Estimated Value $300 - 500
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| Realized
$720 |
Lot 59 |
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Washington, George (1732-1799) 1st President of the United States (1789-1797); Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Letter signed ("G:o Washington"), 1 full page, Headqtrs. New Windsor, 8 July 1779. Matted with an engraving and framed to an overall size of 22¾ x 20½ in. The letter is written in the hand of Robert Hanson Harrison, to Brigadier General John Glover or Officer Commanding His Brigade, directing him to prepare against a British attack.
"Sir I have received intelligence that a body of the enemy embarked on the 4th Instant at Frog's Neck and have proceeded eastward up the sound. It is uncertain what their object is; but as they may intend to make a sudden incursion into the state of Connecticut, or to commit some ravages on their coast, it is my wish that you direct your march by some rout not far from the sound, that you may with the greater facility form a junction with the militia in case they make a descent and take measures with them for counteracting & repelling their attempts. The sooner you direct your march near the sound, the greater protection you will afford. I am sir, with great regard yr. most obed. servt. G:o Washington."
The war altered with the conclusion of America's alliance with the French in the spring of 1778. The British Army in Philadelphia feared that it would be blockaded by the French and retreated from New York City. Washington made his headquarters at New Windsor, New York, in the highlands of the Hudson River, and distributed his troops around the city and in New Jersey.
Some of the Connecticut towns along Long Island Sound had been supplying the Continental Army with small vessels and whaleboats and large supplies of provisions were drawn from the adjacent countryside. British commander- in-chief, Lt. Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, ordered New York Governor Major General William Tryon to launch a punitive strike against some of the Connecticut towns along Long Island Sound. When news of the expedition reached Washington's headquarters, he was at Stony Point and Verplank's Point, formulating an attack (the battle of Stony Point took place on July 16 under the command of Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne); consequently, Washington did not receive the intelligence for two days.
Not being sure where the British would strike, Washington ordered Glover to march near Long Island Sound to help the Connecticut militia repel the attack. Between July 5 and 11, the British raided New Haven, Fairfield, and Norwalk and burned numerous houses, churches, public buildings, barns, and supplies. Glover's force was still too far away to render any assistance.
Tryon's raid was supposedly part of Clinton's strategy to draw Washington's troops away from the Hudson Valley onto terrain where they could be effectively engaged in a decisive engagement. Washington, however, did not move his troops and the raid brought the British little other than opprobrium for waging war on women and children.
Gen. John Glover's regiment, called the "amphibious regiment" because it was made up mostly of Marblehead fishermen, was responsible for rescuing 9,000 patriots from the British after the battle of Long Island, in a surprise retreat across the East River under cover of darkness. It was also Gen. Glover's men who carried Washington and his troops across the icy Delaware River to surprise the Hessians at Trenton on Christmas night 1776. Purchased from The Scriptorium, Los Angeles, 1972. It has not been on the market for the past 41 years.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 30,000
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| Unsold |
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