JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN He signs a handwritten 1871 letter responding to a bill for nautical equipment, complaining that some of it was faulty. ALS: "J L. Chamberlain", 2 pages, 5x8. Brunswick, Maine, 1871 September 23. To C.S. Donnelly, Esq. In part: "Your bill is received as requested, & is I believe correct. I don't know anything about the Notch Boom but suppose Capt. Stover got it. It never came to my yacht, but if it was got for me, I will be accountable for it...Also I may mention that I found the pump, when I came to set it, in two pieces, never having been properly soldered or brazed. & I had to pay $1.00 to have it done...But the pump was an imperfect one, & I would have returned it if I could have done so. Please inform me if I am at liberty to make deduction accordingly...." Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828-1914) commanded the 20th Maine in its famous defense of Little Round Top in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Chamberlain was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for this action. read more...

ADOLF HITLER Not yet the Führer, Chancellor Hitler thanks a Lutheran minister and his family for birthday greetings. Rare Typed Letter Signed: "Af Hitler" as Chancellor, 1p, 7¾x9¾. Berlin, 1933 May 10. On his personal stationery to Minister Sauerteig, Ansbach, Germany. In German with full English translation. In full: "I thank you and your family for you congratulations which you sent me on my birthday. With German greetings!" Hitler has added a word in his handwriting: "Heartfelt" above his closing. ¼-inch separation at blank right horizontal fold. Fine condition. With original postmarked envelope with German stamp picturing President Paul von Hindenburg, addressed to "Minister Sauerteig and Family". Torn at top flap, else fine. Ansbach is 25 miles southwest of Nuremberg. Hitler had celebrated his 44th birthday on April 20th. Born in Braunau, Austria, he was an intense nationalist, closing his letter "with heartfelt German greetings" in Suetterlin "Old German". In January 1933, Hindenburg had named Hitler Chancellor. read more...

JOHN STEINBECK Remarkable Holiday letter to a friend, reporting that his dog was poisoned and that he himself had shot Santa Claus Autograph Letter signed: "John Steinbeck", 1 page, 5½x8½. No place, December 17, n.y. To "Dear Ballou", in full: "I had intended to acknowledge your good letter, and then didn't because we were subjected to a maddening tragedy. For it developed that Tillie had been given ground glass. It took her two weeks to die of it and we only knew what it was after she was dead. It made me very said and quite tired. I gave her salt injections every fifteen minutes for almost sixty hours. No chance of knowing who did it of course as I might get a little national publicity for an ax murder. I don't know whether you celebrate Christmas. If you do I hope it's a good one. We shot Santa Clause and are having him for dinner. His skin is pretty good too if the hair doesn't slip. By the way (not by the way at all of course) Mc & O in a letter of the middle of November, said a check would be forthcoming on the first of December. Can it be that this has been lost in the mail. Would you mind asking them whether or not they sent it? These are my Christmas cards. Have you heard of the one C. read more...

CHESTER NIMITZ Matte-finish 13x10 photo of Nimitz signing the Japanese surrender, inscribed once and signed twice by Nimitz, once as Fleet Admiral and again as US representative at the signing, matted to 19x16 Photograph inscribed, and signed twice: "To Lt. C. H. Garcia/C. W. Nimitz -/Fleet Admiral USN" and "C. W. Nimitz -/U.S. Representative". B/w 13½10¼ matted to 19½x16½. Shown aboard the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945, signing the instrument of Japanese surrender. Behind the seated Nimitz stand General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Admiral William F. Halsey, and Rear Admiral Forrest Sherman. Nimitz (1885-1966), Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet (1941-1945), was promoted to the newly created Five-Star rank of Admiral of the Fleet in December 1944. Assuming command immediately after Pearl Harbor, he led the successful naval, air and land campaign across the Pacific to assure Japan's defeat. Nimitz is especially remembered for "the incredible victory", at the Battle of Midway (June 1942) over greatly superior Japanese forces, the turning point in the war in the Pacific. read more...

KING GEORGE VI, CO-SIGNED BY: QUEEN ELIZABETH (THE QUEEN MOTHER) This exquisite presentation album - signed by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth as King and Emperor and as Queen Consort - contains an historic 78-RPM recording of the BBC radio broadcast of George VI's coronation and an address by him as king. It comes framed, Gallery of History Style, in a presentation case with a UV-resistant UF-3 Plex lid. Two items: 1) Album signed "George R I" by King George VI and "Elizabeth R" by Queen Elizabeth on vellum inside front cover. "14¼x12½x3¾. On cover: "The Coronation/of/The Majesties/King George VI and Queen Elizabeth/in/Westminster Abbey/and/H.M. The King's Broadcast Message/May 12th, 1937" in gilt. "R.I" stands for "Rex Imperator" (King Emperor), a title used from 1877, when Queen Victoria became Empress of India, to 1948, following Indian independence. Album has purple satiny-fabric endpapers. Contains 15 78-RPM records, 11¾ inches in diameter each by the Gramophone Co., Ltd. read more...

FUTURE CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT WRITES TO FUTURE CONFEDERATE OFFICER ABOUT THE STAFFING OF THE ARMORY AT HARPER'S FERRY, WHICH WAS RAIDED THREE YEARS LATER BY JOHN BROWN. JEFFERSON DAVIS. Manuscript LS: "Jeffn Davis" as Secretary of War, 2p, 7½x9¼ front and verso. War Department, (Washington), 1856 January 17. TO HON. C. J. FAULKNER. In full: "I find an unexpected delay has occurred in the completion of the new models; but have assurance that they will be finished this week, so as to be ready for inspection at the beginning of next week when those designed for Harper's Ferry will be sent thither after which we shall be able to resume full work at that Armory. That class of community who have been for a time suspended from employment will I hope then be relieved from this embarrassment to which you have called my attention. As to the number of clerks required at Harper's read more...

JULES MASSENET On the date of the premier of his comic opera masterpiece Manon, he penned and signed these four double bars from Act II. Autograph Musical Quotation signed: "J. Massenet”, in /Paris/1 er presentation op: comique/samedi 19 Janvier 1884 [1st presentation opera: comic/Saturday 19 January 1884]", in black ink, 9½x2½. The composer has drawn four double bars of music, and written in French: "Prelude de l'act II (Manon) [Prelude to Act II (Manon)]". This historical musical quote was written on the first performance of his comic opera, Manon, considered his operatic masterpiece. The opera, which premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, is a staple in the repertoire of many operatic companies and has been featured on numerous recordings, beginning with the historic first recording in 1923. Jules Massenet (1842-1912), who was extremely popular in his day, wrote numerous operas, but Manon established his reputation as a composer. Lightly creased with folds, vertical fold at 1 word of writing. read more...

ZACHARY TAYLOR Three months before his Presidential nomination and one year before his inauguration, Taylor writes military aide and political supporter J. B. Butler that he cannot come to Cincinnati because he may soon be ordered back to "the seat of war." Autograph Letter signed: "Z. Taylor", 2 pages (front and verso), 8x9¾. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1848 March 1. To Major J. B. Butler, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In full: "Your kind favor of Feb. 9 came duly to hand and I am truly indebted to you for the wish you have expressed that I should visit Cincinnati etc., but I assure you such a journey is at present quite out of the question as Rumors have been rife of the intention to order me again to the seat of war and tho' all is uncertain, I must maintain myself for a time at least where I may be readily accessible to the communications of the Dept. Accept my sincere thanks for the many kind sentiments of regard you have once and heretofore expressed towards me both those of a political & personal nature." The popularity of war hero Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) led to his election as the 12th U.S. President (1849-1850). read more...

ADOLF HITLER and RUDOLF SCHMUNDT Typed promotion order signed by Hitler, countersigned by a general killed 9 months later by the bomb intended to kill Hitler Typed DS: "A Hitler" as Führer and "Schmundt" as Lieutenant General, Chief of Army Personnel, 2½ pages, 8½x11½ . Führer Headquarters, 1943 October (no day). Headed: "In the Name of the German People!" Promotions of Major Generals Melzer, Krause, Volckamer von Kirchensittenbach and Lüdecke to Lieutenant Generals and Colonels Freiherr von Pechmann, von Plehwe and Herfurth to Major Generals. On July 20, 1944, nine months after Hitler and Schmundt signed this document, a bomb exploded at Hitler's secret headquarters in an assassination attempt by a group of his senior officers. Hitler was slightly hurt. Rudolf Schmundt was killed. Lightly creased. Numerous pinpoint-size impressions, probably impressions of periods, in the type. Fine condition. read more...