JOHANN VON GOETHE While working on the second part of Faust, the author praised an associate for taking care of his property with this handwritten and signed letter Autograph Letter Signed: "JW Goethe", 1p, 8x9¾. Weimar, 1830 September 25. In German, with translation. To an unnamed associate in nearby Jena, Germany. In full: "The duty that you, my esteemed person, currently superintend so successful is of such value for the properties transferred to my care in Jena that I have, in any case, the authority to support you out of supervisory funds. Besides the present salary, you will therefore receive twenty-five Saxonian Thaler for which you only need write me a simple receipt, without indication of the purpose. Use them with assurance and report to me further from time to time. With esteem and trust". At the time of this letter, Goethe (1749-1832) was immersed in the second part of the most profound and critically praised work of his literary career, the poetic masterpiece, Faust (Part I, 1808; Part II, 1832). read more...

JOSÉ MARTÍ One day before he announced the creation of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, Martí signed this historic, Spanish-language autograph letter arranging tuition payments for the daughters of a friend and ideological rival, Miguel Figueroa. Historic ALS: "José Martí", 1 page, 7½x10¼. [New York], 1892 February 13. In Spanish, translated. In full: "Señora [Mother] Zulueta. My Dear Madam: I had wanted to go myself to put in the hands of Madam Treasurer the tuition payments for the Figueroa girls, and to discharge in person the errand with which their father entrusted me. But I have not been able to recover yet from my illness, so I am mailing the checks to Madam Treasurer, and if I am on my feet by Monday - and my health is not compromised by my attendance at a public meeting tomorrow - I hope to have the pleasure of personally greeting you and the Figueroa girls, to whom I beg you to give the enclosed letter." On the eve of his announcing the organization of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, formed to gain Cuba's independence from Spain, Martí helps his friend and sometime ideological opponent, MIGUEL FIGUEROA (1851-1892). read more...

FIDEL CASTRO Three weeks after gaining power, Castro signs a typed document authorizing transfer of documents and data to one of his lieutenants. Important Typed DS: "Fidel Castro", 1 page, 8½x11. Fortaleza de La Cabaña, Havana 1959 January 30. In Spanish. "From: Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz/To: All the Ministries". In full: "It is authorized to Captain Dr. ANTONIO NUÑEZ JIMENEZ to remove collections and documents and data to him, necessary for plans of the REVOLUTION." Dr. ANTONIO NUÑEZ JIMENEZ (1923-1998) served under Che Guevera in the revolution which brought Castro to power. He later organized geographic expeditions to locations around the world including the North Pole, Antarctica, the Andes, Amazon, Galapagos Islands and Africa. FIDEL CASTRO marched into Havana on January 9, 1959 and became Cuba's new leader. Fulgencio Batista had fled Cuba on January 1, 1959, after his government was overthrown by an armed revolt. After the fall of Batista, the Constitution of Cuba of 1940 remained in force for a very short period. It was almost immediately replaced by the Basic Law of February 7, 1959. read more...

FIDEL CASTRO and JUAN ORTA The Cuban dictator signed this 4¾x7 black and white photograph that includes a letter signed by his private secretary Photograph signed: "Fidel Castro/ Hab. Nov 19, 59" as Prime Minister. B/w, 4¾x7. Fine condition. Accompanied by TLS: "Juan Orta", Chief of the Prime Minister's Office, 1 page, 8½x10¾. On official letterhead. Havana, Cuba, 24 October, 1959 "Año de la Liberacion". To Eugenio Von Boeck, Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Bolivia, Montevideo, Uruguay. In Spanish, loosely translated: "On behalf of the Prime Minister, Dr. Fidel Castro, I am pleased to send you the photograph which you amicably requested in your letter dated the 15th of the current month." Date stamp in lower right corner. Lightly creased. Binder holes in left margin. Otherwise, fine condition. The letter is dated 26 days before the signature on the photo and was presumably forwarded to Castro to accompany it. On January 1, 1959, read more...

FRITZ SAUCKEL These incredibly rare documents are a handwritten, dated and signed account of Nazi Germany's forced labor and mass deportation operations by Germany's chief of slave labor recruitment. They were written by Sauckel for his lawyer during his trial before the International Military Tribunal in Nuremburg after World War II. They are important documentation of the 20th century's worst war and of some of the worst atrocities ever recorded in human history. They are also a typical example of the defense used by many defendants in the postwar Nuremberg trials: they were only following orders. This defense failed to sway Sauckel's tribunal; he was found guilty of war crimes and later hanged. Historically Important Autograph Manuscript signed twice (at top of first page and at bottom of last page): "Fritz Sauckel", in pencil, as war crimes defendant, 26 pages, 8x10½. IN GERMAN WITH 1945 ENGLISH TRANSLATION WITH FOOTNOTES AND COMMENTS. Nuremburg [Germany], 1945 July 15. This text was provided by Sauckel to his attorney as a means of fully describing the organization of the forced labor department, and Sauckel's duties and responsibilities. read more...

BENITO JUAREZ The 26th President of Mexico and one of the more important of the nation signs an 1849 proclamation honoring those who fought for Mexico at the Battle of Molino del Rey in 1847, signed in iron gall ink Document Signed: "Benito Juarez" as Governor of Oaxaca, 1 page, 10½x17½. Place: Oaxaca, Mexico. Date: August 8, 1849. In Spanish, not translated. Proclamation honoring officers and men of the Mexican National Guard who fought bravely for their country at the Battle of Molino del Rey, September 8, 1847. Benito Juarez had been elected Governor of Oaxaca in 1847. After being exiled in 1848 after the Mexican War, Santa Anna returned as President in 1853 and sent Juarez into exile. In 1855, Juarez returned, joined Alvarez in a revolution against Santa Anna, who was overthrown and once again, sent into exile. As Alvarez's Minister of Justice, Juarez in 1855 wrote "Ley Juarez", the law abolishing special courts and reducing the power of the army and the church. In 1858, Juarez proclaimed himself de jure President of Mexico, obtaining U.S. read more...

JOSEPH STALIN His very rare signature on an autograph note to Defense Commissar Voroshilov on a 1936 report concerning a new military technology! Rare ANS: "J. Stalin" in Russian in light green pencil at upper left of first page of Typed DS by two officials, 2 pages, 8¼x11½. U.S.S.R., 1936 January 13. Headed: "Report". Stalin has written, in full: "To Comrade Voroshilov/What does this mean?" The report (not translated) concerns the discovery of an infrared detector with military applications. Untranslated notes in red and blue pencil at top of first page. JOSEPH STALIN (1879-1953) was General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party from 1922-1953. After Lenin's death in 1924, he eliminated his opposition and established himself as dictator. Stalin's "Great Purge" from 1936-1938 rid the Communist Party of all the people who had brought him to power. Soviet Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov estimated that more than 1.2 million party members (more than half the party) read more...

MOSES AUSTIN and MOSES BATES Austin posts bond for his brother-in-law, Moses Bates with Sheriff (later US Senator) Henry Dodge Manuscript Document signed: "Moses Bates", "Moses Austin", 1 page, 7½x12½. Each has hand-drawn his seal to the right of his signature. Ste Genevieve, Missouri, 1812 April 5. Docketed on verso. In full: "Know all Men by these present that we Moses Bates and Moses Austin are held and formerly bound to H. Dodge Sheriff of the District of St. Genevieve in the kind sum of Eight hundred and forty Dollars lawful money of the United States to be paid to the said Dodge or his successor..The condition of the above obligation is such that a capias ad respondendum has Issued from the Court of Common Pleas for the District cop[ie]d at the suit of William C. Carr and Henry Elliott administrator of Earon Elliott deceased on which said suit bail is required for the sum of four hundred and Twenty Dollars and the said Dodge has arrested the said Moses Bates in his capacity as sheriff of the said Bates should be cast in the said suit he will pay read more...

MOSES AUSTIN He signs a demand promissory note arranging for payment in 142½ pounds of lead. Framed to 10½x8½. Promissory Note signed: "M. Austin", 1 page, 7¼x5¼, affixed to a larger off-white sheet and framed to an overall size of 10½x8½.  Mine A Burton, 1802 February 11. In full: "Please pay Mr. Jos. Pratt One Hundred & forty two pounds & half of lead out of the Lead in your hands of mine and this order shall be your Discharge for the same."  Moses Austin (1761-1821), the father of Texas pioneer Stephen F. Austin, was known as "the Lead King" of southwestern Virginia, where he owned mines and production facilities to make buckshot and other lead products. His business failed, and in 1798 Austin and his family moved to what is now Missouri, then Spanish territory. (Austin had purchased the land from Spain, but when he signed this note it was actually in French territory under a secret Franco-Spanish treaty, soon to be acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803). Mine a read more...