ANDREW JOHNSON Attempting to fill Lincoln's shoes in the White House, President Johnson signed this tracing of his shoes, intended for making a new pair (1865). Shoe print signed twice: "Andrew Johnson", 2 pages, 9x14 ½. Washington City, District of Columbia, 1865 December 12. Page one is a tracing of a pair of shoe soles, signed inside each tracing by the President. Additional markings (unknown hand) are measurements, including an apparent overall she size (13½). Accompanied by 2-sided tracing of same dimensions, bearing the foot measurements of Major Andre K. Long of the Executive Mansion, dated December 12, 1865; and of Major R. Morrow, A. A. G. (Assistant Adjutant General), dated December 14. Andrew Johnson represented Tennessee in the U.S. House (1843-1853) and Senate (1857-1862, 1875) and served twice as that State's Governor (1853-1857, 1862-1865). His second term was as a Military Governor appointed by President Lincoln. A pro-war Democrat fiercely opposed to secession but also opposed to imposition of a stringent Reconstruction 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...

ANDREW JACKSON and JOHN H. EATON The friends discuss their shared passion for race horses, and Eaton sends Jackson a gift of a pipe. When President Jackson appointed Eaton to his Cabinet, it triggered a major political scandal which changed the course of American history. Autograph Letter Signed: "A.J." on lower half of concluding page of 2½p Autograph Letter Signed (separate sheets) of John H. Eaton to Jackson, 8x9¾. Eaton's letter is written from Granville, North Carolina, 1826 September 12. Integral address leaf addressed by Eaton to General Jackson at "Hermitage, Davidson County, Tennessee" noting that it would be delivered by "Rev'd H.M. Cryer". In part: "The Sir Archie Horse sold to Mr. Cryer was bred by me-his Dam and grand Dam were very fine mares, of Roanoak's color-five feet three inches high ellegant (sic), compact and active...I am quite partial to old Archie, but think the Dam of Roanoak was certainly as fine or a finer Nag. In the Autumn of 1819 after covering some mares in the early part of the Spring, this Horse was trained & run at Warrenton. He was beaten by Mr. Drummonds Napoleon. read more...

JEB STEWART Note handwritten as a lieutenant in the US Army, on duty at Fort Riley, Kansas Territory, signed in the text and accompanied by the original $3 bank note Stewart enclosed with it. Third Person Autograph Note, 1 page, 8x5. In full: "Be sure to direct $6 Lieut. J. E. B. Stuart Fort Riley K. T. P. S. I enclose also $3 more for which please send the Congressional Globe & appendix t P. L. Taylor, Fort Riley K. T. [Kansas Territory]." Accompanied by the $3 demand note, issued by the Phoenix Bank of Hartford, which Stewart forwarded with this letter. James Ewell Brown (J.E.B.) Stuart (1833-1864), called Jeb by his friends and by history, graduated from West Point in 1854, serving on the Western frontier. He participated in the capture of John Brown at Harper's Ferry. When he signed this note, Stewart was serving as Quartermaster of the 1st Cavalry, stationed at Fort Riley in the Kansas Territory. "Bleeding Kansas" was aflame with pro- and anti-slavery forces, seeking to determine by which system the Territory would enter the Union. read more...

1904: THEODORE ROOSEVELT's ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE CERTIFICATION Official Electoral College certification by the President of the Senate, William P. Frye, also signed by tellers of the US Senate and House of Representatives Printed Declaration signed: "Wm. P. Frye/President pro tempore" of the U.S. Senate and "Julius C. Burrows" and "J.W. Bailey" as tellers on the part of the Senate and "Joseph H. Gaines" and "Gordon Russell" as tellers on the part of the House of Representatives, 1p, 11½x28, Washington, District of Columbia, not dated. Certificate of the Electoral College votes deciding Theodore Roosevelt as President and Charles W. Fairbanks as Vice President. According to the 12th Amendment to the U.S. read more...

PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT This large 14½x18¼ sketch of the President who was elected to four terms in office is signed by him! Sketch Signed: “Franklin D. Roosevelt” in pencil. Also signed by the artist and dated circa 1941. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) is one of the best-known Presidents in United States history. Before his tenure in the Oval Office, he served as Governor of New York. This position gave him valuable experience working with progressive-minded individuals to improve the economy. He served in the position for just over 12 years, dying 11 weeks into his fourth term. Roosevelt oversaw the U.S. during the Great Depression and World War II. His progressive platform introduced Social Security and the first national minimum wage. During his first term as Commander-in-Chief, he ended Prohibition. This decision is largely credited with helping him to a landslide 1936 election victory. Frame slightly chipped at corners. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 26¾x37. read more...

HEINRICH HIMMLER This very rare piece is a letter written by Heinrich Himmler to his mistress Maria Podhorzer in 1940, the year that he separated from his wife Margarete Siegroth. It's written on the back of a b/w picture post card of Himmler with two children in Krakow, Poland, which German had conquered the year before. Autograph letter signed "*" in pencil. Pencil notations in unknown hand in top left corner. 1 page, 5¼x4 with scalloped edges. Written on the back of a picture post card of Himmler with two children in Krakow, Poland, which was conquered by Germany in 1939. Card by the Photo Department of the Krakow District. Jan. 28, 1940. Addressed to his mistress Maria Podhorzer. Written in German, translated: "I am very well. The trip was very interesting. I was very happy with both letters. All dear and good things to you". In 1940, Himmler separated from Margarete Siegroth, his wife since 1926. Himmler (1900-1945) became Chief of the Gestapo in 1936. He was second only to Hitler in power. Himmler was in charge of the establishment of concentration camps and the internment of Jews and others and directed Hitler's extermination campaign. read more...

ADOLF HITLER This extraordinary - and very rare - signed German picture postcard has a b/w bust photograph of a young Adolf Hitler in a suit and tie and a Nazi swastika pin. It shows the dictator as a surprisingly young man, before the strains of World War II had taken their toll on him. Picture postcard signed "Af Hitler". Pencil notations on verso in unknown hand. B/w, 3½x5½ overall, 3¼x5¼ image, one surface. Captioned on image: "Adolf Hilter". Published by Verlag Hoffman (Hoffman Publishing House) of Munich, Germany. Blank on verso except for pencil notations. Hitler (1889-1945), the Nazi leader who would forge a ruthless campaign during WWII that included the genocide of the Jewish people, began his rapid rise to power in 1919, becoming the undisputed leader of the National Socialist Party by 1921. Hitler wrote Mein Kampf during nine months spent in prison in 1924 after an unsuccessful coup against the Bavarian government in Munich. He rebuilt the party and was named Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Hitler assumed the role read more...

MUSSOLINI INSCRIBED A PHOTOGRAPH TO MARY PICKFORD!   BENITO MUSSOLINI. Large Photograph Mount inscribed and signed: "Alla Signora Mary Pikford/cordialmente/Roma 10 maggio 1926 Mussolini" in Italian. B/w, 15x22 overall, image 9½x15 (two surfaces). Photograph by V. Lavoisa, Roma. Water staining on "cordialmente" and "maggio" does not affect the inscription, just stains the surface it's written on. Mussolini is known to have been a fan of Mary Pickford which he has spelled "Pikford". According to Eileen Whitfield in Pickford: The Woman Who Made Hollywood (1997), Pickford praised both Mussolini and Hitler. In the 1998 DVD Mary Pickford: A Life on Film, the filmmakers briefly mention Pickford's "momentary flirtation" with Mussolini's fascism. In 1923, Mussolini appeared in Samuel Goldwyn's film, The Eternal City. BENITO MUSSOLINI was Prime Minister of Italy from October 31, 1922 when he was asked by King Victor Emmanuel III to form a government, until July 25, 1943 when he was deposed. read more...