SAMUEL F.B. MORSE One year before his first successful telegraph message, Morse signs an autograph letter to Treasury Secretary John Spencer, explaining that the cost of preparing the wire will be $10 more than his previous estimate. He'll still come in under budget! ALS: "Saml F.B. Morse", 1 page, 8x10. New York, 1843 May 1. To Secretary of the Treasury John C. Spencer. In full: "In my letter of the 29th ulto accompanying the contracts for the Telegraphic Wire, and the expenses of covering, I left a blank in the former which I observed was to be filled with a sum not exceeding 24 cents pr.lb. I have this moment heard from Paterson, and am enabled to fill the said blank with 22 cents. This varies the expense of Preparation of the Wire as given in my letter to the Department of 26th ulto from $1900 to $1910 - making the contracts for this part of the work of $690 less than the original estimates, instead of $700 - as therein stated." Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872), a portrait painter and a founder and first President of the National Academy of Design (1826-1845, 1861), interested himself in the possibilities of a magnetic telegraph in 1832. He developed the Morse Code for use in the telegraph instrument. read more...
Business & Finance | Poems
Top Signers
Style
Price
Signer Country
Document Types
-
ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN The final lines of her well-loved poem "Rock Me to Sleep", signed as Elizabeth Akers Autograph Poem signed: "Clasped to your heart in a loving embrace,/With your light lashes just swiping my face,/Never hereafter to wake or to weep. read more...
Sale Price $552.50
$650.00
-
PARK BENJAMIN SR. Handwritten copy of his well-known poem "The Departed", signed in black ink. Extremely rare! Autograph poem signed: "Park Benjamin/ Norwich, March 25, 1848" in black ink. 1 page, front and verso, 7½x9¼. March 25, 1848. Norwich, New York. read more...
Sale Price $324.00
$360.00
-
MORRIS FISHBEIN Doctor and JAMA editor Morris Fishbein wrote a short four-line poem on this guestbook page Autograph poem signed "Morris Fishbein.". With two other unknown signatures on verso. 1 page, 7¾x2½. Dated: "Nov. 9". read more...
Sale Price $108.00
$120.00
-
THEODOR KIRCHHOFF The German born author signs a short poem, written in purple ink. Extremely rare! Poem signed: "Theodor Kirchhoff", in purple ink, 8x6¼. Roughly translated: "Like the waves steady running, is my life, much behold: Soon by joy over swept, soon by storm wind fevered" read more...
Sale Price $288.00
$320.00
-
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN His autograph poem, a toast celebrating death (1865) Autograph Poem signed: "Geo. Francis Train", 1 page, 5x7½. Arlland (?), 1865 March 6. His poem titled "Eternity" read more...
Sale Price $378.00
$420.00
-
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN He subtly misquotes John Greenleaf Whittier, perhaps to make the verse apply to himself. Autograph Poem signed: "Ah well! The world is discreet./There are many who pause, and wait. read more...
Sale Price $324.00
$360.00
-
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN The eccentric nineteenth-century American businessman writes a short poem to an autograph seeker, signs name twice in black ink Autograph poem signed twice: "Geo. Francis Train" and "Geo. Francis Train" in black ink. 1 page, 5x8. Madison Square, New York City. September 18 P.E. read more...
Sale Price $378.00
$420.00
-
LOUIS UNTERMEYER Louis Untermeyer pens and signs four lines of his poem Prayer. Autograph Poem signed: "Louis Untermeyer", 1p 5x7 on personal note paper. Prayer. In full: read more...
Sale Price $378.00
$420.00
-
LOUIS UNTERMEYER Louis Untermeyer signs his poem Scarcely Spring. Printed Poem signed: "Louis Untermeyer", 1p 5½x8¼. Scarcely Spring. In full: "Nothing is real. The world has lost its/edges;/The sky, uncovered, is the one thing clear./The earth is little more than atmosphere/Where yesterday were rocks and naked ridges. read more...
Sale Price $324.00
$360.00
-
LOUIS UNTERMEYER Louis Untermeyer signs his poem The Garland for Debs. Printed Poem signed: "Louis Untermeyer", 1p 8½x11. The Garland for Debs. In full: "Here, in our easy chairs, we sit and choose/Words for a garland woven of our praise;/The fluent metaphor, the striking phrase,/Inserted gracefully, are what we use .... read more...
Sale Price $324.00
$360.00