ROBERT FULTON Fulton signed this document - buying 32 lots of land in the town of Jersey, New Jersey for $1,000 - in 1809. He signed it the same year that he filed his first patent for improvements in navigation by steam and one year after marrying his wife Harriet Livingston. Pieces by Fulton are rare in any form, and legal documents, like this, are doubly so. Accompanied by an unsigned engraving of Fulton based on an Alonzo Chappel portrait. Manuscript document signed "Robert Fulton". 3 pages plus docket, 7½x12¼, 2 sheets front and verso, with embossed Jersey Company seal and 1-inch square paper seal on page 3 by signatures. Nov. 3, 1809. This document was signed between Fulton and the president of the Jersey Company. Fulton agreed to buy a block of land containing 32 lots in the town of Jersey in Bergen County, New Jersey for $1,000. Fulton signed this document one year after marrying Harriet Livingston, his partner's niece, and the same year that he filed his first patent for improvements in navigation by steam. Fulton is scarce in any form and this is a fine example suitable for framing and display. Lightly toned, stained, soiled and creased. Random ink stains. Edges are torn. Pinholes in both sheets. read more...

EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Archive of 16 letters written by Tarzan's creator to his son Jack between 1923 and 1935, plus one letter from Burroughs to a film company. He writes in depth about family matters, but also about the filming of a Tarzan movie. The letters are signed "Papa" or "OB" (Old Burroughs). A rare insight into the private and public life of the prolific author. Collection comprised of 1) Autograph Letter signed: "Papa", 1 page, 8½x11. North Platte, Nebraska, 1923 February 16. To "Dear Jack", in full: "We are just leaving North Platte, Nebr. The train shakes so that I cannot draw very well. I couldn't if it didn't shake at all, so what's the difference. Did I tell you that I found your valentine in my grip? The one of the lady kicking. That must be the way she feels before breakfast. I wired ahead for reservations on the Broadway Limited on the Pennsylvania RR so we will arrive in New York at 9:40 Sunday morning. It will be nice & wintry and cold out. The air feels & tastes & smells good. Love & kisses to my dear children." At the top of this letter Burroughs has drawn a four-panel cartoon featuring his sons Jack and Hulbert. read more...

SAMUEL F.B. MORSE He signs an autograph letter (1854) to Samuel Colgate requesting proxy votes from him, apparently to forestall a hostile takeover. ALS: "Saml. F.B. Morse", 1 page, 7¾x9¾. Po[ugh]'keepsie, New York, 1854 June 21. To businessman and philanthropist Samuel Colgate. In full: "Will you and your brother give me your proxies in blank as below for the next meeting of the Stockholders of the New York Albany and Buffalo Teleg Co. We wish to be prepared against an intrigue of the pirates. I will explain more fully when I see you." Beneath his letter, Morse has written the sample form he mentions. In full: "We hereby constitute [blank] to be our proxy to vote our Stock at the next annual meeting of the N. York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company. New York June [blank] 1854". Note at bottom, probably by Colgate: "Ans 24 June/54...." In 1844, SAMUEL F.B. MORSE (1791-1872) had successfully sent the first telegraph message, "What hath God wrought!", from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore. In this letter, the "pirates" Morse mentions are probably Hiram Sibley and Judge Samuel L. read more...

LOUIS CHEVROLET Extremely rare letter written as President of the Chevrolet Aircraft Corporation to an Assistant Engineer at Pitcairn Field in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Typed Letter signed: "Louis Chevrolet" as President of the Chevrolet Aircraft Corporation, 1¼p, 8½x11, separate sheets. Baltimore, Md., 1930 November 18. On company letterhead to Walter C. Clayton, Asst. Engr., Pitcairn Aircraft, Pitcairn Field, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. In part: "In regard to the first paragraph of your letter, we do not know exactly how much of a head the gasoline tank should have over the carburetor float, not having tried anything of the kind, but should judge that a minimum of six to eight inches would work satisfactorily on climbing. In level flight you probably will have plenty of gas head, and we are sending you a new blue print showing you where the float level is...As stated before, we have never contemplated using the Haywood Starter, but if it fits your scheme we will send a cylinder head to the Sky Specialties Company of Detroit and have them advise us the best place to put a boss in our cylinder head for the installation of their starter. read more...

SAMUEL F.B. MORSE and SARAH E. MORSE The two sign a 3-page, handwritten 1863 letter to their son Willy, away at school Autograph letter signed: "Yr Affectionate Father/Saml F.B. Morse" and "Your loving mother/S.E. Morse", 1 page, 4½x7½. 5 West 32nd Street, 1863 November 22. To their son Willy. Samuel F. B. Morse married his second wife, Sarah Elizabeth Griswold, in 1848. In a three-page letter, Mrs. Morse writes about family affairs, about his pet "Spottie is full of mischief. He tears many things that comes in his way." She tells him she is "going to have somethings on Christmas" wanting to know if he has "enough handkerchiefs...." Beneath his wife's signature, Morse writes, in part: "I add a few lines to your dear mother's letter. She says the truth when she says she thinks of you every day. Both you & dear Arthur are constantly in our thoughts...You must do all you can to please Mrs. Charles, Mrs. Fay and the other teachers and be diligent in your Studies...." Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872) was an American painter and inventor. read more...

THE GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS URGES THE PRESIDENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE TO TAKE THE SAME STEPS AS MASSACHUSETTS HAD TAKEN IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE FISHING INDUSTRY ON THE MERRIMACK RIVER   JOHN HANCOCK. Autograph Letter, unsigned, 1p, 6¾x9. Boston, 1783 October 31. To "His Excellency Meshech Weare Esqr. President of the State of New Hampshire". Begins: "Sir". In full: "In compliance with the Request of the Two Branches of the General Court I inclose you Two Acts of this Government making provision to prevent the Destruction of Fish by Mill-Dams in Merrimack River & c - As the Design'd [illegible] of this Bill will much Depend upon the measures that shall be Adopted by the Legislature of your State, I am to Request that your Excellency will be pleas'd to lay those Acts before them, and cannot but flatter myself that they will Take such effectual Steps as will ensure the good Effects for which our Govt. Court had in View in passing the Bill - I am with Sentiments of [portion of word crossed out] Esteem, Sir, Your Excellency's Most Obedt & Humbl Servt." Hancock's retained copy of his letter to Weare. Docketed in unknown hand on verso. read more...

ORVILLE WRIGHT Orville Wright signed this document in 1945 to lease 135 acres of farm and pastureland that he owned in Indiana. This document was signed three years before Wright's death and offers a look into how he paid his bills late in life. Lease signed "Orville Wright" as Lessor. 2 pages, 8½x12¾, single-sided sheets, bound with two staples at top edge. Feb. 6, 1945. Wright signed this lease agreement to lease 135 acres of farm and pastureland in "Township 23 North", Indiana [possibly Fowlerton] to Clayton W. Dickerson of Jonesboro, Indiana. The lease's term was from March 1, 1945, to Feb. 28, 1946. Dickerson leased the farm - which included improvements like an orchard, garden lot and barn - for $6 per acre or a total of $810, paid in full to Wright on Sept. 1, 1945. This lease also laid out Dickerson's responsibilities. In short, he had to maintain the land and its buildings out of his own pocket and pay one-half the cost for seed and fertilizer and for threshing and hulling any crops, with Wright paying the other half. Wilbur (1867-1912, born near Millville, Indiana) and Orville (1871-1948, born in Dayton, Ohio) formed the Wright Cycle Company in 1892 and manufactured bicycles. read more...

HENRY FORD SELLS THREE ACRES OF LAND (NEAR HIS RIVER ROUGE AUTOMOBILE FACTORY) TO THE RAILROAD FOR ONE DOLLAR!   HENRY FORD and CLARA J. FORD. Partly Printed DS: "Henry Ford" and "Clara J. Ford", 2p, 8x13 (front and verso). Wayne County, Michigan, 1929 June 1. Henry and his wife Clara sell 2.964 acres of land in Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan, to the Michigan Central Railroad Company "for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) and other good and valuable considerations". The land is located adjoining the railroad's "original 100.00 feet right of way...1970.08 feet along the southerly line of said Michigan Central Railroad Company's original 100.00 feet right of way to a point marked by a concrete monument on the westerly lips of Southfield Road...to a point at the center of the Rouge River...." Also signed by two witnesses and a Notary Public. In 1917, Henry Ford built the huge River Rouge Plant to assemble his Model T's and tractors. One of the earliest schools in Dearborn was a one-room brick building known as the Dort School. It was located on the bank of the Rouge River, just south of the Michigan Central Railroad. read more...

AUTOGRAPH BOOK FROM THE HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN Scottish character actress Mary Gordon compiled this personal autograph book in 1944 at the celebrity-hosted, morale-boosting nightclub for soldiers and sailors of World War II. Book inscribed and signed: "Best Wishes!/Greer Garson", "Me too/Lt. Buddy Rogers", To Mary/I hope I'll always hear/that darlin' accent every/time I see you./Love,/Maureen O'Hara", "To darling Mary Gordon - a/great actress and a greater/Most sincerely/Claire DuBrey/1945", "To Mary -/One gr-a-a-nd Scout/Art Baker", "To Mary/Bing/Crosby", "To Mary,/with all my good wishes/Merle Oberon", "Ray Milland", "Grace Moore/1943", "Frank Morgan", "To Mary/For herself alone/Harry Davenport", "With all my love/Herb Doolittle", "Scotland forever!/John Loder", "Scots Wha Hac!/Hedy Lamarr", "Cpl. Camila Miranda Ramirez/The Shangrila Kid", "To my 'Dollfora/love/Keenan Wynn", "It was wonderful/knowing you/Doris Stein", "Well Mary/It has been good/knowing you and working with you/at the Hollywood Canteen/Evelyn Balcon", "To the/'beauty girl'/of all time/June Havoc", "C. read more...