SEVEN WEEKS AFTER SURRENDERING FORT SUMTER, COLONEL ROBERT ANDERSON WRITES TO GENERAL LORENZO THOMAS ABOUT A RECENT MEETING WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S LIFELONG FRIEND, JOSHUA SPEED   ROBERT ANDERSON. Important ALS: "Robert Anderson/Col. USA", 1p, 7¾x9¾. Cincinnati, Ohio, 1861 June 4. To General Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant General USA, Washington, D.C. In full: "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Genl Orders (Adjt Genls Office) No 25.6&7 and G.O. No. 7 Hd Qrs of the Army, and also of a letter from the Hon. J.K. Moorehead to the Hon. Secy of War, with enclosures, referring to certain parties in Louisville Ky reported to be engaged in furnishing or forwarding, Revolvers, Tents, Knapsacks &c to the rebels, Mr. Joshua Speed, a firm Union Man and a man of sound judgement, to whom I showed these papers, advises that no steps be now taken in this matter-greater harm than benefit to the cause would result from it. A letter from Surgeon Wright USA. the Senior Medical Office in this Dept. is, herewith, forwarded. 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...

FOUR STARS WORN BY GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF!   H. NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF. TLS: "N Schwarzkopf" as General, U.S. Army, Retired. 1p, 7x8½. Tampa, Florida, 1998 April 16. To Ken. In full: "This is in response to your letter of 15 February in which you asked that I send you a piece of memorabilia. Enclosed is one set of the stars that I wore during the time I was a general officer. I hope it will find a place in your extensive collection." General Schwarzkopf has added the word "set" in his hand and the four silver stars (one set) is present. Each star is approximately one square inch in size. Almost immediately after receiving his first star in 1983, Brigadier General Schwarzkopf was leading troops into battle. A coup had taken place on the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada. Grenadian revolutionaries were building an airfield which U.S. intelligence suspected would be used to supply insurgents in Central America. General Schwarzkopf was placed in command of U.S. ground forces. The coup was thwarted. Schwarzkopf was promoted to Major General (second star) and given command of the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division, at Fort Stewart, Georgia. read more...

NEIL ARMSTRONG Two years before his first spaceflight, and five years before he set the first human foot on the moon, Armstrong fills out a flight plan, preparing to pilot a NASA jet from Ohio to Texas. Document signed twice: "N. A. Armstrong", 1 page, 8x12¾. Port Columbus, Naval Air Station [Ohio], 1964 June 25. Department of Defense flight aircraft clearance form. Details filled in by another hand, including mileage, transponder code, and equipment, but Armstrong has penned this notation: "Request radar vector climb on course." Armstrong plans to pilot a T-33 ("Shooting Star") aircraft from Port Columbus to Ellington Air Force Base in Texas, by way of Dayton. The co-pilot is J. F. Stegall, another NASA employee. Civilian Neil Alden Armstrong (1930-2012) had entered the U.S. space program as a senior NASA research pilot in 1962. A fan of aviation from the age of nine, Armstrong had his pilot's license by the age of 16, and, after studying aeronautical engineering at Purdue for two years, went to Pensacola, Florida for Navy flight training. Serving in Korea at the age of 21, Armstrong flew 78 combat missions and won three Air Medals. read more...

ADOLF HITLER and ALBERT SPEER Original architectural drawing by Der Führer, with a signed authentication by his chief architect and armaments minister, illustrating Hitler's vision for Linz as the cultural capital of the Third Reich. Comprises: (1) Original drawing by Adolf Hitler, 11¾x8¼, blue lined page affixed to 12¼x9 sheet. Unsigned but published sketch, in pencil, of the Halls of Columns of the Linz Opera, numbered "8" in an unknown hand in upper right corner. Glue stains at edges. Fine condition. (2) Typed DS: "Albert/Speer" in English, 1 page, 5¾x8¼ affixed to 7¾x10¼ sheet. Heidelburg, 1979 January 3. In full: "I declare that this sketch was made by Adolf Hitler in my presence at the Obersalzberg in July 1940. Sketch for crowning the Hall of Columns of the Linz Opera. The crown was to consist of sculptures, arranged in the pattern of the columns. Below, suggestion for stylized Ionian capitals. Further right, decorated wallpanels, behind which box office and stairs were situated. read more...

GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER Handwritten letter, signed in the text as "General Custer" (even though he had reverted to his pre-war rank), written in the Dakota Territory two years before his death at the Little Big Horn. Letter includes Custer's stab at poetry. Third Person Autograph Letter, 1 page, 7¾x6¼. Fort Lincoln, D.T. [Dakota Territory], 1874 June 5th. Unknown addressee. In full: "Gen Custers compliments his regrets likewise, in response to your kind invitation. His absence should never create surprise except from his own habitation. This being written his duty might end. With no fear of being called Alfred Tennyson. He simply desires, however to send you, the accompanying leg of venison." George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876) graduated last in his class at West Point in 1858, but promptly redeemed himself through his brave and aggressive cavalry leadership during the Civil War. Earning the confidence of cavalry commanders Pleasanton and Sheridan, he rose swiftly to the rank of brevet major general by war's end. read more...

GEORGE WASHINGTON Four years before he took command of American forces at Boston, the future President signs a receipt for the purchase of oyster shells Receipt signed in text: "George Washington", 1 page, 6½x2½. Matted and framed to an overall size of 13¼x20½. No place, 1771 July 10. In a business dealing with an illiterate man, Washington writes his own name and also the name of the oyster dealer, next to the latter's mark. In full: "Received from George Washington One pound seven shillings and three pence in full for the within shells. Chas his mark [showing] Lewis". Also docked by Washington at right margin: "No. 68 Ch Lewis/L1"7"0/10 July 1771/L". George Washington (1732-1799), who became known as the "Father of His Country", set precedents for future Presidents by limiting his service as first U.S. President to two terms, and - indeed - by refusing to seek a kingship. A delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia (1774-1775) and member of the U.S. read more...

WILLIAM F. "BUFFALO BILL" CODY His autograph letter, signed as Cousin Will, asking to be sent "some more headache powders" to relieve the headache caused by his financial woes Autograph Letter signed: "Cousin Will", 1 page, 8x10. New Rochelle, N.Y., no date. To "Dear Frank and Nellie". In full [spelling errors in original]: "I've had a lot of hard upset. Twice I've had moneyed men who were ready to put up a $150,000 to back me with a new show. And that man Tammen has scared them out by telling them he had a contract for my services for 1916 which he hasent. But he still thinks if I cant get out with a show I come back and make more money for him, which will never do. However, I haven't given up. But will stay here until know what I can do. The men are still working at the mines. Say, please send me some more headache powders. This nervous strain makes my head ache. I am living here at Rochelle with my nephew and neice. Its only 45 minutes from New York. Love ever." 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. read more...

APOLLO 11: NEIL ARMSTRONG and MICHAEL COLLINS Framed 26x26 display featuring signed space suit fabric with the mission patch Ephemera signed: "Neil Armstrong", "Michael Collins", 6x6 strip of space suit fabric bearing 3¼-diameter Apollo 11 mission patch. The fabric was originally signed by the third astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, but Aldrin's signature has faded and is now almost invisible. The signed fabric is matted and framed to an overall size of 26x26 with the following items: 1) backdrop photo of lunar landscape with Earth above the horizon, and separate photo cutout of space-suited figure with lunar lander (LEM) reflected in the faceplate; 2) set of 3 inset, unsigned photos (each color, 3x2½) of the astronauts Armstrong, Collins and Buzz Aldrin; and 3) metallic plaque imprinted with caption: "Apollo 11 - Patch printed on genuine space suit material. Apollo 11 crew Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins. The historic Apollo 11 spaceflight, the fifth manned flight in the Apollo series, took human beings to the surface of the moon for the first time. Launched from the Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969, the spacecraft entered lunar orbit on July 19. read more...