Rutherford B. Hayes sends an autograph letter of regret that Mrs. Hayes will not be able to visit. Autograph Letter Signed: "R.B. Hayes" as President, 1p, 5x7¾. Executive Mansion, Washington, 1877 May 6. To Edward T. Steel. In full: "I received from Mr. Justice your note of the 4th and am exceedingly obliged for your kindness in this matter. Our stay will be so short and the presence with us here of a number of friends, will prevent Mrs. Hayes from being one of our party." Written just two months after Hayes took office. The election of Rutherford B. Hayes brought a new image to the White House. Rutherford and Lucy Hayes represented wholesomeness and decency. Mrs. Hayes was a popular hostess, but by the time of this letter both she and the President decided not to continue to have alcohol at White House functions. Interestingly, just one month before this letter, at the first state function at the White House, six wines were served at a dinner held in honor of the son of the Czar of Russia. Thereafter, no spirits were served and Mrs. Hayes became the champion of suffragists and was called "Lemonade Lucy". Light ink transference at blank areas. Fine condition.

Rare handwritten letter to his friend Charles Fletcher, smuggled out of the jail by his wife, signed by him in 1883 while he awaited trial for robbery and murder Rare ALS: "Frank" with "Direct to Mrs. Frank James" to left of signature, 1 page, 7¾x10½. In Jail at Gallatin, Missouri, 1883 April 7. To his friend, Charles Fletcher. In part: "I should of written you before this but all my mail had to be inspected by the Sheriff. But as my wife is now with me and can smuggle this through the linens and she can receive letters…hence this letter. I am getting on as well as one could suppose in Jail…You have so proved yourself, I hope you will be so situated as to be able to attend my trial in June. I am expecting to be acquitted if justice prevails I will be undoubtedly. My wife sends kindest regards to you and family. Hoping to hear from you soon…." Frank and Jesse James had been Confederate guerrillas under the leadership of William Quantrill during the Civil War. They joined Cole Younger and others in 1866 and formed a gang of which Jesse was usually regarded as the leader. At first, they specialized in bank robberies, but in 1873 they held up a train.

His signature in red ink on a typed housing document 2 months before he invaded Kuwait Rare Typed DS: "Saddam Hussein" in Arabic in red ink as President of Iraq, 1 page, 8x11. Baghdad, Iraq, 1990 June 2. Not translated. A decree revising paragraphs in the real estate register for the city of Ebril. Saddam Hussein 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, 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 on August 2, 1990, just two months after signing this decree.

As President of Columbia University, he signs a typed letter to Robert Cutler concerning University projects to be funded by the Harriman brothers. TLS: "Ike" as President of Columbia, with ALS: "DE" on first page of 1½ pages (separate sheets) typed letter, 7¼x9½. Columbia University, New York, 1950 December 13. To Robert Cutler, Old Colony Trust Company, Boston, about planning and financing The American Assembly, an affiliate of Columbia University founded by Eisenhower in 1950 "to illuminate issues of public policy". The ALS on the first typed page, in full: "Dear Bobby-This formal dissertation was, as is obvious, prepared by a staff assistant. If you knew how pressed I am, almost to the point of panic, you'd forgive me for not re-writing it. So far as meaning goes, it expresses my sentiments very well indeed!" The typed letter, in part: "Since our delightful Boston visit, we have gone ahead rapidly with the plans for The American Assembly…Mr. W. Averell Harriman has given us a home for the Assembly and he, together with his brother, E. Roland Harriman, are providing the funds to adapt the property and to furnish it for conference purposes.…"

As US Army Chief of Staff, he writes to his newly appointed French counterpart, General Gamelin, whose military career would prove rather less successful than MacArthur's. Accompanied by a manuscript translation of MacArthur's letter, and by a typed transcript of Gamelin's reply Typed Letter signed: "Douglas MacArthur" as US Army Chief of Staff, 1 page, 7x8¾. Washington, D.C., 1935 January 18. To "My dear General [Maurice]Gamelin, Chief of Staff, French Army, Paris. In full: "I deeply appreciate your splendid note of comradeship and felicitation, which has just reached me. I think you know without my saying how entirely the American Army and I, myself, personally reciprocate. It is a peculiar pleasure to me to be able at this time to extend my most cordial congratulations on your advancement to head of the French Army. Your friends of the American Army rejoice with you in this signal recognition of your outstanding professional attainments. With renewed expressions of greetings and friendship, very cordially". Accompanied by two items: 1) Manuscript, 2-page copy of MacArthur's letter, translated into French; 2) Typed copy, unsigned of Gamelin's reply, originally dated 1935 February 11.…"

JOHN ENDECOTT This exceedingly rare document is from the very earliest history of the American colonies and Massachusetts!  It's a five-line complaint signed by John Endecott, colonial governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1649. Documents from this early in American history are rarely seen outside of private collections and are highly desirable! Framed to 10x6½ in a gold-colored frame with cream-colored matte. Document signed "Jo: Endecott Gov.". Brown ink and lead pencil notations in top left corner and at left edge. 1 page, 5½x1¼. Framed to 10x6½ in a gold-colored frame with cream-colored matte. Marblehead, Massachusetts, April 24, 1649. Five-line complaint. Endecott (c. 1588-1665), also spelled "Endicott", was a colonial governor (1629-1630, 1644-1645, 1649-1650, 1651-1654 and 1655-1664) and deputy governor (1641-1644, 1650-1651 and 1654-1655) of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the New World. Endecott arrived with 60 other settlers in the Naumkeag, future site of Salem, Massachusetts and already settled by seceders from the Plymouth colony, led by Roger Conant.

His handwritten March 1783 letter as Governor of Massachusetts, instructing a garrison commander to forbid a ship full of Tories to disembark, requiring them to sail instead for New York (still in British hands) Autograph Letter, unsigned, 1 page, 7¾x12. Written as Governor. Boston, Massachusetts, 1783 March 27. To William Gordon, Commander of the Garrison in Dartmouth. In full: "I have this moment received your Letter by Express, giving information of the arrival of a Flag with a Number of Persons on board who were desirous of remaining some time at Dartmouth. I have laid the state of this Flag before the Council, & in consequence of their advice you are hereby Directed upon no pretense whatever, to suffer any of the Persons or any of the Effects brought in the Flag to be Landed at Dartmouth, or in any other place, but that you give immediate Directions for the Departure of the Flag with the Persons, & their effects to New York, and that after the Receipt of this Letter you make a point of Embracing the first fair wind to put her under Sail for New York, as no circumstance can possibly induce me to Deviate from this order. I am Sir your very humble servant.…"

The Nation's bicentennial President signs a commemorative printer's plate. Commemorative Metal Printer's Plate inscribed and signed: "To Robert L. White, best wishes,/Gerald R. Ford" as 38th President, 14¾x 6½. Printer's plate for the production of commemorative matchbooks. A sheet of completed matchbooks (two rows of seven covers per row) are displayed beneath the plate. The covers for the matchbooks, which are made of blue silk, bear gold foil impressions reading "The President and Mrs. Ford", a facsimile signature of Gerald Ford and the image of the White House. The commemorative matches were presented to the President by the Maryland Match Corporation in Washington, D.C. As the President and First Lady during America's bicentennial celebration, Gerald and Betty Ford were deluged with "birthday presents", such as this printing plate. Nearly two years earlier, upon becoming the 38th U.S. President (1974-1977) upon the resignation of Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006) attempted to bring a quick end to the Watergate Scandal by pardoning Nixon (September 8, 1974).

Historically fascinating collection of late 19th century U.S. military cadet uniform attire which includes a pressed felt hat with brass buttons made at famed New York City military supply store Ridabock & Co., a brass and steel sabre with the Great Seal of the United States on crossguard, and a 13¾x16¾ framed albumen photograph of a young military cadet in uniform posed with two other men dressed in Victorian clothing. An extremely rare compilation! Three items: 1) Saber unsigned. 35¼ inches long x 4½ inches wide x 2¼ inches deep with 30 inch long x ¾-inch wide blade and 31 inch long x 1 inch wide scabbard. Brass grip, crossguard, knuckle guard and pommel. Straight etched steel blade. Metal scabbard with brass belt loops and fittings. Grip is grooved and has brass wire wrapped in loops. Knuckleguard has "US" etched into it. Great Seal of the United States on crossguard. Brass parts and scabbard are tarnished. Blade is dull and rusted, but has sharp point. Otherwise in fine condition. 2) Cadet cap unsigned. 5 inches high x 6¼ inches wide x 9 inches deep. Pressed black felt cap with black leather brim and trimmings, brass buttons and brass starburst with "PM/A" at center. Paper label inside says: "From/Ridabock & Co./Successors to/J. H. McKenney & Co.…"

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.

Handwritten letter to former rival - now partner - Pawnee Bill Lillie -  outlining plans for a California tour of their wild west show. "And if all goes well we could clean up a wagon load of money." Autograph Letter signed: "Col.", 1 page, 8½x11. Saco, Maine, May 30 (circa 1908). On letterhead of Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Far East to "Dear Major" [William Lillie]. In full: "The reason I would not sign up with Craft. They went back on the Contract they had Bacon draw and sent two of their own fixing. You see by the route of Sells Floto that they are playing all of the Country west of the Rockies and North West. And I think we should do it. I think the summer of the Great Panama Fair at San Francisco we could show all that Country. In the Spring three shows. San Francisco July, Aug. Sep. Then Southern Cal. Oct. And if all goes well we could clean up a wagon load of money." William Frederick Cody (1846-1917) earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868. Cody had begun his Wild West career herding cattle at age nine. Five years later, he became the Pony Express' youngest rider.

This huge 17¾x26 engraving of the Union Army general is signed by him and framed Annotated Engraving Signed: "Wm. T. Sherman. 1890". 17¾x26. The engraving appeared in Colliers Once A Week, a popular New York-based magazine. Printed in the white margin below the engraving appears: "From 'ONCE A WEEK,' 65 Warren Street, New York." This engraving was signed the year before his death. General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891) is perhaps the best-known Union Army general besides Ulysses S. Grant. Sherman's "March to the Sea" from Atlanta, Georgia, resulted in millions of dollars in property damage and the draining of Confederate resources. When offered a promotion to the same rank Grant (then Commander of the Union Army) in 1864, Sherman refused out of respect to Grant. Five years later, Sherman replaced Grant as Commanding General when Grant became President. During Sherman's 14 years in command, he worked to resettle the Native Americans throughout the West. In brown ink. Framed handsome South American rosewood frame, engraved historical plate. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 25¼x41.