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...

THOMAS A. EDISON The famous inventor penned a section of answers on this questionnaire! Printed Questionnaire filled out by an assistant who has signed: "Thomas A. Edison" at the conclusion, but with 11 words in Edison's hand, 1p, 7¾x10½. J.K. Macomber, Professor of Physics at the Physical Laboratory Agricultural College in Ames, Iowa, sent Edison and other authorities in the field, a printed questionnaire, dated September 27, 1879. Macomber message, in part: "The people of the Western States have been imposed upon by lightning-rod peddlers more, perhaps, than by any other class of swindlers. Among other rods being sold in Iowa is one known as the 'Chambers' rod, widely has been patented by the 'Chambers' National Lightning Protection Company,' of Cincinnati, Ohio. Briefly, this system consists on an Iron rod running along the ridge of the building with points at each end projecting upward…Many public buildings in thus State have been furnished with these rods…I beg leave to submit the following interrogations." Macomber lists seven questions for Edison to answer. read more...

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER and HENRY M. FLAGLER 1878 stock for Standard Oil Company, eight years after the company was incorporated and from before it became oil giant Standard Oil Trust Stock Certificate signed: "JD Rockefeller" as President and "H M Flagler" as Secretary of the Standard Oil Company, 1 page, 10½x5¾. Cleveland, Ohio, dated April 29, 1878.  Certificate No. 157 for 84 shares issued to John Huntington. Total capitalization was $3.5 million, total shares issued were 35,000 with a value of $100 each. On verso (visible through open area on back of frame), Huntington authorizes Flagler for value received to "surrender this certificate upon the delivery to me of 1680 Standard Oil Trust witness my name this 5th day of April A.D. 1882". Signed "John Huntington". The STANDARD OIL TRUST, created in January 1882, placed all stocks and properties of more than a dozen oil companies (including J.D. ROCKEFELLER's read more...

GEORGE “BUGS” MORAN The Chicago mobster who waged a city-wide war with fellow mafioso Al Capone signed this petition. Extremely rare! Typed Document Signed: "George Moran", 1p, 8x3¾. No place, but probably Chicago, 1938 November 28. Co-signed: "Lillian E. Cohen" as Notary Public. In Full: "GEORGE MORAN being first duly sworn, states that he has read the above and foregoing petition, signed by him, and that the same is true except for those matters stated by him to be upon information and belief, and that as to those matters this affiant states that he believes them to be true." George "Bugs" Moran (1893-1957) had committed more than 20 known burglaries and was imprisoned three times before he was 21. He became the head of Dion O'Banion's North Side gang in Chicago in 1926. For three years, Moran's gang and Al Capone's gang were bloody adversaries. Their rivalry climaxed on February 14, 1929 in a Chicago garage when seven members of Moran's gang were machine gunned to death on orders from Capone in what became known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. 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...

SAMUEL F.B. MORSE One year before he sent his first telegraph message, Morse signs an autograph letter to Treasury Secretary Spencer, requesting $600 to cover the cost of his lab and office. Important ALS: "Saml F.B. Morse", 1 page, 8x10. New York, 1843 May 18. To Secretary of the Treasury John C. Spencer, who has penned: "Approved/J.C.S." on verso of the integral sheet. In full: "I have engaged eligible rooms for my laboratory and Office at the rate of Four hundred dollars pr annum from the 1st of May instant, which I have the honor to submit for the approbation of the Honorable the Secretary. The sum contemplated in my estimates of the 10th of March handed in to the Department is Six hundred dollars." On March 3, 1843, Congress granted Morse $30,000 to build a telegraph line on poles. The law provided the money "for testing the capacity and usefulness of the system of electro-magnetic telegraphs invented by Samuel F.B. Morse of New York" so any other funds, such as rent for his laboratory and office, had to be applied for by Morse. read more...

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN and JAMES TRIMBLE As President of Pennsylvania (1786), the Founding Father of the United States signed this pay warrant for the Council door keeper Manuscript DS: "B Franklin Presdt." as President of Pennsylvania and "James Trimble", 1 page, 7½x4¾. Pay Warrant for Frederick Sneider "For his attendance as Door keeper to Council from the first until the twenty eighth day of February 1786 - 28 days - at 10pr - £ 14..0..0" All in the hand of Trimble who has signed next to the word "Examined". Autograph Docket signed: "J. Trimble" on verso. In full: "Frederick Sneiders/accounts/Read in Council/Febry 28th 1786/approved and an order/drawn". During the American Revolution, FREDERICK SNEIDER was in the Sixth Company of the 2nd Battalion Pennsylvania Militia. When Timothy Matlack (engrosser of the Declaration of Independence) became Secretary of the Commonwealth on March 6, 1777, JAMES TRIMBLE was appointed Deputy Secretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council. Alexander J. read more...

WALT DISNEY Signed reproduction of an original celluloid drawing used in Alice in Wonderland. Printed Image Mount signed: "Walt Disney" in green crayon. Color, 11x8, matted to 17x20 (two surfaces). The success of Walt Disney's first full-length cartoon feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (December 1937), led to additional cartoon films, including the popular Alice in Wonderland, released in 1951. This printed illustration was most probably released by Walt Disney Productions in Burbank, California. Typical of these reproductions is a label affixed to their backs issued by Walt Disney Productions in Burbank. There is a remnant of a label on the verso of this image that appears to be the same size as ones we have previously seen. These labels are the official information and authenticity that accompany the print. The studio typically issued only 100 of the reproductions for a specific image. The labels always stated: "This is a reproduction of an original celluloid drawing, actually used in the Walt Disney production...Celluloid paintings are the final step in the creation of the Walt Disney animated picture." This charming print is signed by the innovative American animator. read more...

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER 10¼x14, Sepia photograph of the world's first billionaire shown in a suit and tie from the waist up. Photograph signed: "John D Rockefeller/May 7th 1923", Sepia, overall, 8x10 image, one surface. Merchant and businessman John D. Rockefeller, Sr. (1839-1937) established his first oil refinery in 1863 near Cleveland, Ohio. His enterprise became the largest in the region within three years; he incorporated the Standard Oil Company of Ohio in 1870 and bought out all of his major competitors by 1872. Rockefeller was a shrewd - critics claimed unscrupulous - business man - but the only legal problems he faced were anti-monopoly legislation and litigation, which he resisted through the use of holding companies. Rockefeller was the first billionaire, and the richest man of his time. Adjusted for inflation, he may have been the richest man of all time. From 1885 to 1910, he founded four philanthropic institutions, eventually contributing more than one-half billion dollars. The Rockefeller wealth, channeled through several foundations and trusts, remain major philanthropies. Borders toned and soiled - affecting signature at very end of "ller". read more...