Signed letter from Paris written just weeks before his death in 1778, fearing that hypocritical priests will deny him a church burial. This letter to the Count of Rochefort, written in fine French (fully translated) and in a beautiful hand, shows that the sage had lost none of his mental acuity Letter signed: "V", 2 pages (integral leaf) 4½x7 folded, 9x7 open flat. Paris, 1778 April 16. To the Comte de Rochefort. In French, fully translated: "I must apologize for having written so formally to Madame Dix-Neuf Ans ["Nineteen Years"]. I apologize for taking so long to thank you for your pleasant letter, sir, but I have had lately a very violent fever, following two fatal illnesses from which I escaped. I think that Monsieur the Abbey of Beauregard, preacher of Versailles, so-called former Jesuit, would willingly refuse me a burial, which is very unfair, because they say that I would not ask for more than to bury him; and he owes me, it seems, the same courtesy. I do not think whatsoever that the master and mistress of the house mocked this abbey of Beauregard. It is good that they do not indulge in the fury of his zeal, which is that to which all honest persons limit themselves.…"

Typed letter in Hebrew, signed as President of Israel, thanking a retiring cabinet minister: "my friend and dear teacher" Yehuda Leib Fishman (Maimon). TLS: "Chaim Weizmann" in Hebrew as President of Israel, 1 page, 6½x8¾. No place, 1951 October 8. On letterhead of the State of Israel to the Honorable Rabbi Yehuda Leib Fishman (Maimon). In Hebrew, translated. In full: "It is not a parable to tell you your honor, my friend and dear teacher, that I have the privilege to work with you for more than 20 years, and I recognize and respect your actions for more than 40 years. Today, when you leave the table of government, I tell you what is in my heart. I don't know anyone from the senior office of the Zionist Movement that awakens in me more honor in his beliefs than you." A carbon copy of this letter was sent to Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Russian-born chemist and Zionist CHAIM WEIZMANN (1874-1952) was President of the World Zionist Organization (1920-1930, 1935-1946) and the first President of Israel from 1949 until his death on November 9, 1952, just 13 months after he signed this letter.

Cabinet card of the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the anti-slavery novel that contributed to the start of the Civil War Photograph signed "Harriet Beecher Stowe". B/w sepia tone, 3¾x5¼ cabinet card-style photograph mounted on 4¼x6½ card. Encouraged by her brother, temperance and anti-slavery Pastor Henry Ward Beecher, and her husband Calvin Elias Stowe, Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly. She wrote a number of other novels during her career, but she's known primarily for this book, her first. Uncle Tom's Cabin was drawn from her personal experience. Kentucky, the state across the Ohio River from her home in Cincinnati, was a slave state, and her research included interviews with fugitive slaves and slave owners. First published as a serial in an anti-slavery newspaper, the "National Era", in 1851-1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin reached millions, first as a novel and then as a play. It was first performed on stage in Troy, New York on September 27, 1852, where it ran for 100 nights. Uncle Tom's Cabin angered Southerners and was important in solidifying sentiment in the North against slavery.

Typed, unsigned speech with handwritten corrections read by Carter during his 1976 presidential bid in a predominantly black part of Los Angeles County. Typed speech unsigned, with handwritten corrections in black and blue ink. 8 pages, 8½x11. This speech was read during Carter's 1976 presidential run at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, now Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital. The hospital is located an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County near the Watts neighborhood, site of the Watts Riots of 1965, and the city of Compton, which had one of the highest concentrations of blacks - over 90 percent - in the United States at the time. Needless to say, Carter focused on race relations in this speech, specifically the impact of the civil rights movement. Carter and his running mate Walter Mondale ran against Republican candidates Gerald Ford, the incumbent, and Bob Dole, in 1976. Ford been appointed president in 1974 after the resignations of president Richard Nixon during Watergate and vice president Spiro Agnew and was the first person appointed president under the 25th amendment, which had been ratified less than 10 years earlier. He had served less than two years as president when the Democratic National Convention was held.

The iconic female author, her teacher, and various actors of the day signed this card to a newborn baby at the Beverly Hills Hotel Signatures: "Pauline Bush Dwan/ September 4th 1918", "Helen Keller/Oh dear wee Beverly. - I give you my love; It is the song in my heart; It is the music of my soul.", "Anne S Macy/7th Sept. 1918.", "Polly Thomson/7th Sept. 1918." and "Sallie Fisher/August 10th/Little new soul - At least you chose a good Birthday  -" and, on verso, "Henrietta Lombard/Sept. 11th '18/Little Beverly The pet and joy of Beverly Hills Hotel", "Roy Aitken/Sept 11th -18/I wish she could say Hello Roy -", "Dick Barthelmess/Sept. 11th -18/I'm going to give them away until I get me a girl.", "Ann M. Sarker/'Thy own wish, wish I thee' - 'Babee'", "Constance Talmadge/Sept 19th - 18/Just an 'Angel Tongue Pot Pie' that's all" and "May I have the first dance?/Sept 26-18/John Miltern", 2p, 6¼x9¼, front and verso (hinged to show verso).

Abolitionist and lead crusader of the Pottowatomie massacre signs a handwritten letter of receipt for his brokerage business with Simon Perkins in 1846. Autograph letter signed: "Perkins & Brown", ¼p, 7¼x12¼. Springfield, Massachusetts, 1846 July 11. To Henry J. Kirtland Esqr. In full: "Your splendid lot of wool has been received, & opened, together with the lots of Montgomery & Brown, John Livingston, Charles Long, & D. Summer. The prospects of sale are good notwithstanding there is some panic just now about the Tarriff (sic)." Integral address leaf addressed by Brown to: "Henry J. Kirtland Esqr/Poland/Trumbull Co./Ohio". "From/Old Ossawatomie" (sic) written in pencil at upper left (unknown hand). In an attempt to provide for his large family, JOHN BROWN, who was raising sheep after several previous business endeavors had failed, entered into a partnership with SIMON PERKINS. Their Springfield, Massachusetts brokerage for wool growers also ended in failure, resulting in a $60,000 break of contract suit. Brown then turned his attention full-time to abolitionist affairs. While in Springfield, he had organized the League of Gileadites to help Blacks protect themselves and to assist fugitive slaves.

Extraordinary photograph capturing the two innovators together. Rare Photograph signed: "Henry Ford" and "Harry Ferguson". Sepia, 13¾ x 11 overall, image 11 x 8 (one surface). HARRY FERGUSON, a manufacturer of tractors in England and Ireland, developed the Ferguson tractor, a scale model of which is shown on the table in this photograph. His system of tractor-implement integration utilized a hitch, the linkages, and controls of which made the tractor and implement work as a single unit operated almost entirely from the seat of the tractor. Seeking an American market for his product, Ferguson entered into an agreement with HENRY FORD and the Ford Motor Company. Ford, who had formed Ford Motor Company in 1903 and was noted for introducing the successful assembly-line method of production, was to manufacture and market the Ferguson tractor in the U.S. The company commenced making the tractors in 1938, but the agreement was terminated after WWII. Ferguson then began manufacturing his own equipment in Great Britain and the U.S. Portions of 3 middle letters of Ferguson's signature on dark portion (adequate contrast). Minor surface blemishes at blank margins. Fine condition. Frame has minor surface ships and wearing at corners.

Typed Letter Signed: "Bertrand Russell". 1p, 7½x9. Penrhyndeudraeth (Wales, United Kingdom), 1963 April 27. To Jack Benjamin, Brooklyn, New York. In full: "Thank you for all your recent newspaper cuttings, which are of great value to me in my work. If I have failed for some time to acknowledge your great assistance I assure you it is not for want of gratitude, but merely through pressure of events. As you know, I have recently written several articles for American publications, and I am most interested to see repercussions to these in editorial and letters columns. With warm good wishes, Yours Sincerely," Bertrand Russell signed this letter of April 27, 1963 thanking one of his many supporters for clippings sent to him of recent articles Russell had published in the New York Times and the fierce reaction they generated. Russell had written these articles denouncing the hard-line, anti-communist stance of the United States government and its role in the Vietnam War. His articles, specifically "Is Communism a Menace?" (April 7), received hostile public response from most quarters; however, they did help to inspire the burgeoning American peace movement.

Signed, typed letter in German (1901) TLS: "Herzl" as Chairman, 1 page, 8x8. Vienna, 1901 February 21. Countersigned by the Secretary. In German, not translated. To Mr. Gesinnungsgenosse regarding financial matters discussed at a Zionist meeting held in London. 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. Slight nick at left edge. Folds do not touch signature. Overall, fine condition.

Eloquently demands protection of the Red Cross symbol. Manuscript Signed: "Clara Barton" circa 1893, three typed pages, 8 x 10½. American Association of the Red Cross President Barton issues a call for a meeting of the Official Advisory Board to consider the protection of the Red Cross Insignia. Her fight had begun shortly after the First Geneva Convention attended by governments from around the world in 1864. Barton fought for the U.S. Congress to ratify the Convention but fearing foreign entanglements the government would not ratify and acknowledge the Convention until 18 years later. After the chartering of the society in 1882, the charitable and international neutral symbol was also used for everything from snake oils, cigars, alcoholic beverages and later, her fiercest adversary, the burgeoning conglomerate Johnson & Johnson Company. This overwhelming misuse and lack of congressional action led Barton to call the first meeting of the association's Board in 1893. Ultimately, the Red Cross would receive limited protection with the organization's official chartering in 1900. Barton's manuscript, in part: "...…"