Done
New York, NY, United States
Auction Details
Autographs
It is doubtful that anyone needs to be reminded that the names of Americans have a surprising way of turning up on the pages of history. Foremost among them are the names of U.S. presidents, and the fall autographs auction includes some remarkable illustrations of this, including an extraordinary album of autographs by presidents—a continuous run of autograph letters, many outstanding in content and condition, from George Washington to Harry Truman—one of only a handful of such albums ever offered at auction (pictured left). Other important Americans in the sale include a Revolutionary War–dated letter signed by Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben concerning Cornwallis’s abandonment of his own troops; and an endorsement from Major General George Custer, signed by him during the Civil War.
The world is wide and there are heroes everywhere, like Marie Curie, whose uncommon autograph note signed to a dancer wanting help making her costume glow is available; or Florence Nightingale, who, in an attractive autograph letter, thanks an engineer for supplying equipment to a girls’ school in Sarajevo; or Rabindranath Tagore, who stole a moment to sign a photographic portrait of himself.
In addition to yet more exceptional autographs—such as a copy of Black Muslims in America signed and inscribed by Malcolm X, and the autograph notes by John Ford for his 1939 film Stagecoach—there are also notable items by writers, artists, entertainers, astronauts, scientists, musicians, and others.
Auction Curator:

Marco Tomaschett
Specialist, AutographsSold
0048: Thomas McKean. Partly-printed vellum Document Signed. [Lancaster?], 6 May 1800.Est. $800-$1,200
Sold
0049: James Monroe; and William Grayson. Endorsement Signed, by both ("Jas Monroe" and "Will'm Grayson"),Est. $700-$1,000
Sold
0050: John Morton. Endorsement Signed, twice (one in the third person within the text). Philadelphia, 18Est. $800-$1,200
0051: William Penn. Brief Autograph Letter Signed, to Robert Southwell. Walthamstow, 11 June 1676.Est. $3,500-$5,000Lot Passed
0051A: Richard Rush. [Jeremy Bentham.] Turth Versus Ashhurst. Signed, "R. Rush," with his holograph noteEst. $400-$600Lot Passed
Sold
0052: Samuel Francis Smith. Autograph Manuscript dated and Signed, "S.F. Smith." Np, 23 November 1886.Est. $1,500-$2,500
Sold
0053: Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Letter Signed, "Steuben Maj: Genl," to Brigadier General GeorgeEst. $4,000-$6,000
0054: (Americana.) Two letters, each Signed: John G. Walker * Horace Porter. New York, 17 April 1865; 17Est. $600-$900Lot Passed
0055A: (Album--Watergate.) Autograph album containing over 20 Signatures or inscriptions Signed, byEst. $600-$900Lot Passed
Sold
0056: (Astronauts.) Two items: Beta cloth signed by ASTP prime crew * Georgy Shonin. Autograph ManuscriptEst. $800-$1,200
Sold
0056A: (Astronauts.) Collins and Kraemer. Space: Discovery and Exploration. Signed and Inscribed by 10Est. $600-$900
Sold
0057: Sarah Bernhardt. Two items, each Signed: Autograph Letter * Photograph. Np, 3[?] September 1902; nd.Est. $600-$900
Sold
0058: Louis D. Brandeis; and Felix Frankfurter. Two Autograph Letters Signed, each by one. Washington, 21Est. $600-$900
Sold
0059: Paul Broca. Illustrated Autograph Letter Signed, "PBroca," to "My dear friend," in French, withEst. $800-$1,200
Sold
0060: Charles IX; King of France. Vellum Document Signed, "Charles." Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 1 May 1563.Est. $700-$1,000
Sold
0060A: Shirley Chisholm. Program Signed, "Congresswoman / Chisholm," in red ink, on the cover below herEst. $600-$900
Sold
0061: Winston S. Churchill. Closing the Ring. Signed and Inscribed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1951Est. $2,000-$3,000
Sold
0062: Charles Cornwallis. Autograph Letter Signed, "Cornwallis," to "Dear Turner." "Chatham" [Kent?], 15Est. $700-$1,000
Sold
0062A: Marie Curie. Autograph Note Signed, "M. Curie," to American dancer LoÔe Fuller ("Dear friend").Est. $2,500-$3,500
Sold
0062B: Stephen A. Douglas. Autograph Letter Signed, "S.A. Douglas," to a Tammany Hall committee. New York,Est. $600-$900
0062C: Jack Dempsey. Photograph Signed. Additionally signed by many others. [New York, 1942].Est. $600-$900Lot Passed
0063: Gabriele D'Annunzio. Group of 8 Autograph Letters Signed, to his secretary Giuseppe Bonaspetti, inEst. $2,000-$3,000Lot Passed
TOP



![Thomas McKean. Partly-printed vellum Document Signed. [Lancaster?], 6 May 1800.: Granted to Declaration of Independence signer and signed by engrosser of the Declaration Thomas McKean Partly-printed vellum Document Signed, "Tho McKean," as Governor, granting 988 acres to Charles](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603442_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)



![Richard Rush. [Jeremy Bentham.] Turth Versus Ashhurst. Signed, "R. Rush," with his holograph note: Richard Rush. [Jeremy Bentham] Truth Versus Ashhurst. Signed, "R. Rush," with his holograph note [to himself], "from the Author," on front cover. A few passages are marked in pencil, in unknown](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603446_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)







![Sarah Bernhardt. Two items, each Signed: Autograph Letter * Photograph. Np, 3[?] September 1902; nd.: Sarah Bernhardt Two items, each Signed: Autograph Letter * Photograph. The letter, to "My very dear Anton[?]," in French, a letter of introduction. 3 pages, 12mo, written on a folded sheet,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603454_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)
![Louis D. Brandeis; and Felix Frankfurter. Two Autograph Letters Signed, each by one. Washington, 21: Louis D. Brandeis; and Felix Frankfurter Two Autograph Letters Signed, each by one. Brandeis. To "Dear Louis Whicker[?]": "It was a great pleasure to get your birthday greeting with its reminder of](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603455_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)




![Charles Cornwallis. Autograph Letter Signed, "Cornwallis," to "Dear Turner." "Chatham" [Kent?], 15: Charles Cornwallis Autograph Letter Signed, "Cornwallis," to "Dear Turner," encouraging him to stay through the end of the month or longer, thanking for £200 and requesting that a document](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603460_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)


![Jack Dempsey. Photograph Signed. Additionally signed by many others. [New York, 1942].: Commander Dempsey Jack Dempsey Photograph Signed, full-length portrait by Apeda, showing him in boxing gloves, shorts and boots. Additionally signed by over 30 others, presumably graduates of the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603463_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)


