Chastened by a messy divorce from his first wife, the famed director signs a prenuptial agreement with his bride to be, Evelyn Baldwin, who has also signed here. Document signed: "David Wark Griffith", "Evelyn Baldwin", 2 pages, 8½x13. No place, 1936 March 2. In anticipation of his pending marriage to Evelyn Baldwin, Griffith irrevocably transfers to her all rights to an annuity contract with the Aetna Life Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, yielding annual income of $5,632.80 for the rest of her life. In exchange, Baldwin releases Griffith, along with his heirs and assigns, from any additional claims except for assets freely given to Baldwin by Griffith. The agreement is to become effective only on the consummation of the Griffith-Baldwin marriage. David Llewelyn Wark GRIFFITH (1875-1948) directed his first film in 1908, and in 1910 became the first to shoot a film in Hollywood. His Judith of Bethulia (1914) was among the first feature films, and the controversial Birth of a Nation (1915), became the first blockbuster movie hit, inspiring the movie industry that we have known since. Griffith co-founded United Artists studio with Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Five of his movies are deemed important enough for preservation in the US Film Registry.

Stock certificate signed by Robert Morris and James Marshall sign a stock certificate for 10 shares. Partly Printed Stock Certificate signed: "Robt Morris" as President and "James Marshall" as Secretary of the North American Land Company, 1p, 12x9¼. Philadelphia, 1795 April 4. Certificate No. 888 certifying "that Bourdieu, Chollet & Bourdieu of London are entitled to ten shares in the entire Property of the NORTH AMERICAN LAND COMPANY: the dividend whereof shall not be less that Six Dollars on each Share Annually...." The ten shares represented by this certificate were numbered 13,623-13,632. In February 1795, two months before this certificate was issued, Robert Morris (who had completed his term as U.S. Senator in March 1795), John Nicholson and James Greenleaf had organized the North American Land Company to develop and sell six million acres of land (valued at 50 cents per acre) in Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. To pay taxes on the land and to finance land development, the partners offered 30,000 shares at $100.00 per share; they guaranteed that investors would receive at least a six-percent annual dividend.

The founder of the Chrysler car manufacturer signed this printed pencil sketch in ink on January 27, 1934 Printed Art Signed in Ink: "W. P. Chrysler 1/27/34". Original pencil sketch was drawn by M. H. Herrin; this is a printed copy of that sketch. Sketch is 5¼x8¼ on a sheet, 7¾x10½ of which is visible. Features plaque. Walter P. Chrysler Sr. (1875-1940) began his professional career with an apprenticeship as a railroad mechanic. He got his start in the automotive industry in 1911 with Buick in Flint, Michigan. By the end of the decade he was one of the wealthiest men in the United States due to his skills at mechanical engineering and cutting costs. After gaining control of the Maxwell Motor Company, he formed Chrysler Corporation in 1925 and later bought Dodge. He built New York City's Chrysler Building in 1960. Frame lightly chipped in one spot towards bottom left corner. Image lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 19x29.

This extraordinary letter was handwritten, signed and dated by Barnum. It's written on unique letterhead that incorporates a flyer from his Gallery of American Beauty and talks about his financial woes and about Charles Stratton - better known as General Tom Thumb, one of Barnum's biggest attractions. Autograph letter signed "P.T. Barnum". 1 page, Barnum's American Museum, New York, February 28, 1856. To Messrs H.B. Curtis & Scribner. The letterhead that this was written on is unusual and increases this piece's interest. It was written on letterhead from Barnum's American Museum, New York. The right side, which is overall 4¾ x 7½ has a 3½ x 7½ blank area for writing and a left margin promoting Barnum's subsidiary enterprises. The integral leaf at left is a handbill promoting Barnum's "The Gallery of American Beauty,/One Hundred Premiums presented to the Handsomest Women In America!" In full: "As I am in debt to you for professional services I send you by Express my account books which I assign to you. I trust in the course of time you will be able to collect something handsome & if you do not obtain sufficient to pay what I owe you, I still hope to be able to pay the balance.…"

Typed DS: "Thos A Edison" as Director, 1¼p, front and verso, 8x11. West Orange, N.J., 1925 June 11. Countersigned: "Charles Edison" as Chairman, "Fred W. Roh" as Assistant Secretary (initialed "HE" by Howard Eckert, Secretary) and "H.F. Miller", "J.V. Miller" and "Henry Lanahan" as Directors. "Minutes of a Meeting of the Board of Directors of/the Edison Storage Battery Company". Two resolutions were passed, one concerning the leasing of a portion of the second floor at 702 Beacon Street, Boston for three years at $170 per month, the other relating to tax audits and Internal Revenue Laws. The Edison Storage Battery Company was organized in New Jersey on May 27, 1901 to develop, manufacture and sell Edison's alkaline storage batteries. It produced batteries for mining lamps, train lighting and signaling, submarines, electric vehicles and other uses. The company had its own research department and sales force, but it also sold batteries through separate sales companies, including the Edison Storage Battery Supply Company and Miller Reese Hutchison, Inc. Thomas A. Edison, Inc. was incorporated on January 27, 1896 as the National Phonograph Company, then reorganized and newly incorporated as Thomas A. Edison, Inc.

Signed autograph letter (1871) to an experimenter, in which Morse discusses "the present Science of Electro-Magnetism." ALS: "Saml F.B. Morse". 1½ pages, 5 x 8, front and verso. New York, 1871 February 22. The inventor of the Morse Code and the Electromagnetic Telegraph writes to G.W. Varnum, M.D., Montgomery City, Mo. In full: "I received yesterday through my friend & your Cousin J.B. Varnum, Esq your letter of the 16t. instant. In regard to the experiment mentioned in your letter, it is by no means new. Indeed it was from observing this effect, upon a needle, of the magnetism of an electric current (not indeed upon the modern electromagnet, which was the result of his observation,) that Oersted founded the present Science of Electro-magnetism. The use made also of this effect of the magnet upon the needle, to indicate the presence of an electric current upon the telegraph wires, is almost universal in the Offices in Europe; every instrument being furnished with a Galvanometer for the purpose, So although although (sic) not new, you have at least the satisfaction of having independently Suggested a valuable use of the magnetic needle. With respect Yr. Ob. Serv."  G.W.

Frederick Samuel Duesenberg wrote this letter on Duesenberg Motor Company letterhead in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1916. In it, he talks about his family and the engines he was building, including one for Barney Oldfield, the first man to drive a mile a minute in 1903. ALS: "F. S. D & family" in pencil, 2p, 8¼x10¾, front and verso. St. Paul, Minnesota, 1916 February 5. On letterhead of Duesenberg Motor Company to "Dear George Mrs B. & Mary", the Bird family of San Diego, California. In full, with original spelling and grammar: "Your most welcome letter rec'd several weeks ago and it found me in bed but was about over my pneumonia got out of bed three weeks ago and was out for two weeks & then had a touch of rhuematism & went back to bed for a week & this is my first day up. I havent been out of doors since the middle of Dec. We were sure pleased to get your letter I have spoken of you people so often that Mrs D feels she knows you quite well. We did think of coming out west this winter and should have done so but for the fact that we are so busy getting out motors for various purposes. We are building one for Barney Oldfield at Los Angeles. We are building some motors for the Navy Sea planes for the U.S.…"

Letter by Charles Babbage, signed as C Babbage, dated June 11 from Manchester. Expressing pleasure in seeing Miss Manwaring at his party and commenting on the weather for the Horticultural Exhibitions. Babbage is known as the "Father of Computing." ALS: "C Babbage", 1p, 3½x4. 1 Dorset St (Manchester, England), June 11 (no year). Begins: "My dear Madam". In full: "It will give me great pleasure to see Miss Manwaring at my party to night. I am glad on awakening this morning to find the clouds promise a fine day for the Horticultural Exhibitions. Shall we meet there." Charles Babbage (1791-1871) is known as the "Father of Computing" for his ideas about building an "analytical engine", the predecessor of the digital computer. He proposed operations research that involved the idea of using machines to perform routine mathematical operations, eliminating errors in human calculation. Although he never built his computer, his ideas influenced those who later carried out his ideas. Lightly creased, soiled and stained. Upper-right corner is missing. Top-right corner of frame is splintered.  Framed to an overall size of 28x18.

McLeod signs a document detailing the expenses and commitments required of a guide on an upcoming fur trapping trip. Partly Printed DS: "A.N. McLeod", 1p, 6½ x 11¾. Montreal, Canada, 1820 October 20. In French, translated. In full: "BEFORE THE NOTARIES of the Province of Lower-Canada in Montreal, residing there, undersigned: was present Joseph Alexis Jeussaume de Rigaute Who has voluntarily committed himself and commits himself by these presents to Messrs. William McGillivray, Simon McGillivray, Archibald Norman McLeod, Thomas Thain, and Henry Mackenzie, of Montreal, Merchants and associates, under the name of McTAVISH, McGILLIVRAYS & Co.…"

Hughes loans actor Louis Wolheim to Samuel Goldwyn for The Awakening. Document signed: "Howard Hughes", 3p, 8½x12½. Los Angeles, California, 1928 April 28. Hughes' Caddo Company loans actor Louis Wolheim to Samuel Goldwyn Inc. to appear in a film titled The Innocent. (The film was released later that year by United Artists as The Awakening.) Signed on p3. Also signed by a representative of Samuel Goldwyn Inc. (name illegible). Some dates added in ink (unknown hand). Accompanied by typed letter signed "Jos. W. Engel" on letterhead The Caddo Company, dated 1928 May 12, delaying by one day the period of Wolheim's loan-out so that he can spend an extra day filming The Racket. Larger than life HOWARD HUGHES (1905-1976), movie mogul, aircraft designer and builder, political intrigue, and the world's richest man at the time of his death, dashing lothario turned ultra-eccentric recluse, continues to fascinate, as evidenced by a recent film biography (The Aviator, 2004), and even a film about a fake biography (The Hoax, 2007). JOSEPH W. ENGEL (1883-1939), a movie executive, was production manager on Hughes's air combat extravaganza, Hell's Angels (1930). He went on to produce many films for Fox, mostly Westerns, in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The famous lock inventory writes a letter to his wife, complete with printed drawings of some of his locks. Autograph Letter signed: "Linus," (and "Linus Yale Jr." on verso) 1¼ p, 3½ x 8. Johnson's Hotel, 1856 January 9. The inventor of the cylinder lock and combination lock writes to his wife, Kate. In full: "Here I am at Johnson's Hotel 9 o'clock Wednesday evening. Got along tolerably well on the only train through from Philad. Left at 2 P.M.- Found the MS. and brot (sic) it on asked John to send the note which accompanies it out to you. Did you get it? What do you think of the modification? Don't it show the way the wind blows? I think it is clear he thinks well of it or is at least anxious it should not come to N. York but I shall take it up to the Founders and try. I had much rather they would publish it. I am sorry we can not push it although it will by management go without. Got orders from Hull & Dodds for two more locks. Oseur is not in yet so don't know what is the news. My appointment with the Bank of Commerce is for tomorrow. Hope to succeed. Morris thinks it's a good idea to keep Remington in the business. Love to Children and much love to you always.…"

TLS: "R.J. Gatling", 1p, 8½x11½. Hartford, Conn., 1885 April 14. As President, on stationery of The Gatling Gun Company. To Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford. In full: "The Chief of Ordnance, State of New York, advises us that he has sent two Gatling Guns here for repairs, and that if anything is needed in the way of appendages or spare parts, that he be furnished with a list of the same, before he gives the order for them. As soon as the guns are received, please put them in good working order, and furnish us with a list of the articles required as above." Exactly 20 years before this letter was written, John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln with a Derringer pistol. Twelve days later, U.S. Cavalry Sgt. Boston Corbett shot Booth with a Colt revolver. By the 1850s, Richard J. Gatling (1818-1903) had become wealthy from agricultural inventions such as machines for sowing rice and wheat. He is best known for inventing the rapid-fire Gatling gun, the first practical machine gun, patented in 1862, the year The Gatling Gun Company was founded in Indianapolis.