At his Burton Mine, Louisiana Territory, Austin co-signs the promissory note of Joseph Whittlesey. Promissory Note signed: "Moses Austin", Jos. Whittlesey", a page, 8x5¼. Mine au Burton [Louisiana Territory], 1806 October 24. Moses co-signs a $70 promissory note for Joseph T. Whittlesey, on a sum borrowed from John Baker: "On condition Mr. Whittlesey should not be capable to pay the above I will on the condition pay the sum of Seventy Dollars." 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 au Burton (named for Francis Burton, who had discovered the lode in1763) was the first of 10 mines Austin opened in what would become Missouri, near the town of St. Genevieve, on the Mississippi.…"

His signature on a rare Cuban bond issued in May 1960. Rare Engraved Bond signed: "Che" as Fiduciary Agent of Banco Nacional de Cuba, 1p, 14x10¾. Havana, 1960 May 30. Countersigned by the Minister of the Treasury. Certificate No. M-152-V. Provisional Certificate of "Issuance of Bonds of Partial Funding/of the Public Debt 4% 1960-1971" for $1,500,000. Ornate brown border, 12 "L" shaped cut cancellation marks in the center from top to bottom; only four touch printed text. "CANCELADO" rubber stamped across center. Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928-1967), an Argentine-born Communist revolutionary and guerrilla leader, helped organize Fidel Castro's coup in 1959. He became a prominent member of Castro's new government following the successful overthrow of Batista's 30,000-man army by Castro's band of 800 guerillas. In 1965, he left his government posts to engage again in guerrilla activities, going first to the Belgian Congo where he helped other Cuban revolutionaries organize the Patrice Lumumba Battalion. In 1966, he went to Bolivia to direct the guerrilla movement. He was captured by the Bolivian Army and executed in 1967. He was 39.

Ink signature on a printed German-language form letter announcing the agenda of a 1902 Zionist meeting Printed Form LS: "Herzl" in ink in German, 1 page, 8x10¾. Vienna, 1902 August 10. Announcing the agenda of an upcoming Zionist meeting. In part: "Esteemed Colleague!...we have already invited you to the meeting...at large to be held on Tuesday, October 28, 1902. The agenda is as follows: 1. Report of the...Chairman regarding the political situation as well as discussion and passing of resolutions to further actions. 2. Report and passing of resolutions about the agenda of the annual conference...." In 1896, Theodor Herzl wrote Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) advocating the founding of a Jewish State in Palestine. He organized the Zionist World Congress in Basel, Switzerland in 1897 and was President of the Zionist Organization from 1897 to his death in 1904. In Europe, Herzl kept in contact with many leaders. In 1901, England offered the Jewish people land in British East Africa. This divided many Zionists who wanted a home in Palestine. Extreme worry over the dispute injured Herzl's health and hastened his death in 1904 at the age of 44. 3 file holes at left margin, 2 are torn. Creased. Folds. Lightly foxed at blank areas.

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.

As King he orders payment of £20 to Hugh Browne, countersigned by Lord Danby as Lord High Treasurer. Danby would soon land in the Tower of London, charged with corruption and abuse of office. Manuscript Document signed: "Charles R" as King of England and "Danby" as Lord High Treasurer, 1 page, 9x11¾. Wallingford House (London), 1876 March 22. The King orders payment of £20 to Hugh Bane, former Provost of Strabane in Ireland. CHARLES II (1632-1712) claimed the English throne after the execution of his father, Charles I in 1649.  The Scottish Parliament recognized his kingship, but that of England did not. Defeated by Oliver Cromwell on the battlefield, he fled to France in 1651. He was returned to the throne in 1660, although Charles dated his monarchy from 1649. Charles II's reign is known as The Restoration, and he was called the Merrie Monarch. He presided over a nation grateful for a return to normalcy after the conflict and puritanism of the Cromwell's Commonwealth. While executing some of those who had sanctioned the execution of his father, Charles II was careful not to make sweeping claims of absolute monarchy.

Typed 1980 appointment letter signed by Saddam in red ink Rare Typed DS: "Saddam Hussein" in red ink, as Head of the Revolution's Supreme Council, in Arabic, 1 page, 8x11. Baghdad, Iraq, 1980 May 22. Not translated. "Decided" that Lieutenant Colonel Ali Omran Mosa be appointed to a civilian post at the Ministry of Transportation. Saddam Hussein (b. 1937) joined the Pan-Arab socialist Baath Party in 1957 and fled Iraq. He was wounded two years later, after attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Kassim.  Returning to Iraq after Kassim's overthrow in 1963, he rose rapidly in the Baath revolutionary apparatus and by 1968 was a Vice President with broad authority over the secret police.  Saddam seized full power in 1979 and conducted a ruthless purge of opponents inside and outside the Baath Party.  He dealt brutally with political, ethnic and religious opponents, real or imagined, throughout his reign.  In September, 1980, four months after signing this order, Saddam Hussein began an eight-year war with Iran which began well but soon turned into a stalemate costly in lives and money.  It was partly to recover from the resulting financial crisis that Saddam invaded Kuwait in 1990.

Supporters of the Melchett Memorial Fund signed this letter to the editor of The Times in 1933 Typed Letter Signed: "Percy W. Greenaway", "R. Blumenfeld", "Mount Temple", "G. Midlowsky", "Ch. Higham", "H. Austin", "Ebbisham", "H. C. Nathan", "Barnett Janner", "W. J. O'Donovan M.D. M.P.", "C. Weizmann", "Ethel Snowden", "Hugo Hirst", "H. Newman" and one unidentified. Two pages. 7½x9¾. London, E. 1. Christian Street. Dated March 21, 1933. On imprinted letterhead to The Editor, The Times, E.C.. In full: "We should feel indebted if you will through your columns afford us the opportunity of informing the public and those of your readers who knew the late Lord Melchett and the many kind things he did during his life, that it is proposed to raise a Fund to establish a Memorial to him. This will be of a living nature since it is the intention of endowing the Commercial Road Talmud Torah, an institution which was so near to his heart.…"