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...

ADOLF HITLER and WILHELM BÜRGDORF Military appointments by Hitler five months before his suicide and the war's end, countersigned by a general who died with Hitler in the bunker. Typed DS: "A. Hitler" as Führer and "Bürgdorf" as Chief of Army Personnel, 1 page, 8¼x11¾. Führer Headquarters, 1944 December. In German with English translation. As of December 1, 1944, Hitler approves a transfer (General of the Panzer Forces Von Knobelsdorff), a commission (General of the Infantry Von Obstfelder to command the 1st Army) and an appointment (General of the Infantry Püchler to Commanding General of the LXXXVI Army Corps). General Wilhelm Bürgdorf (1895-1945) rose from command of a German infantry regiment early in World War II to become Chief of Army Personnel in October 1944. As a Hitler loyalist he played a key role in the final days of the Third Reich. On October 14 he personally delivered to General Irwin Rommel - implicated in the plot to assassinate Hitler - the ultimatum to take his own life or face a court martial and retaliation against his family. 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 The man known for his showmanship and scouting skills signed this handwritten letter concerning his financial issues. Various close associates liquidate Cody's assets so that he can pay his creditors. Autograph Letter Signed: "W. C. Cody" one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, Chicago Shan-Kive and Round-Up letterhead. Dated September 18, 1916. Letter to his attorney Henry Hersey regarding his grim financial situation. In Part: “They can explain this situation to you better than I care for they have not kept me well footed. But if you do not hear from them, I'll write you all I know. First Link got judgement for about $11,800. And sold the Irma hotel and four lots and bid it in him self. I have until Jan. 15th 1917. In which to reclaim the property. There separately he sold the fixtures, paintings, etc - I furnished the money and had W.L. Walls bid them in for me. Then Link advertised and sold a hotel of mine called Pahaska Tepee. I furnished the money and had Walls bid that in for me.” read more...

WILLIAM BARCLAY "BAT" MASTERSON This extraordinary document is a typed manuscript for Dodge City, The Cowboy Capital about Western lawman Bat Masterson, with a total of four handwritten corrections by him, including his very rare full signature. It was written by Robert M. Wright, former mayor of Dodge City, Kansas, and sent to Masterson, a former deputy in Dodge City, for his review. Annotated typed manuscript signed "William Barclay (Bat) Masterson". Black ink and lead pencil notations in unknown hand. 6 pages, 8½x11, bound with a needle at top edge. There are a total of four corrections on the first page. The first is Masterson's signature, correcting the title "W.B. Masterson (Bat)". He also corrected the initials "W.B." in the first sentence with "William Barclay". The other two corrections pertain to his candidacy for sheriff of Ford County, Kansas, which included Dodge City. He crossed out the "6" in "1876" and corrected it with "7". read more...

JOHN HANCOCK 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. read more...

GEORGE WASHINGTON Washington handwrote and signed this document, showing that he paid £100 for his neighbor's wheat, only five months after being selected to be a delegate at the Continental Congress. This document has his full name of "George Washington" instead of his more common signature of "G. Washington", which makes it especially rare. Autograph document signed in text: "George Washington". 1 page, 7¼x4¼. [Fairfax County, Virginia, 1774 December 23]. In Full: "Then Received from George Washington the Currt Sum of One hundred pounds in part payment for Wheat sold him by" to which the seller has signed: "Thomas Triplett". Penned at top left (unknown hand, possibly Triplett's): "Receivd Decr 23d 1774". THOMAS TRIPLETT was a descendent of French Huguenots who came to America to escape religious persecution. Triplett grew wheat on his plantation in Fairfax County, not far from Washington's Mount Vernon plantation. read more...

ANTICIPATING NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY A BILL, JUDGE JACKSON INFORMS HIS DEBTOR AND RECOMMENTDS A PLAN TO HONOR THE DEBT.   ANDREW JACKSON. ALS: "Andrew Jackson" as Judge and farmer, 1p, 7½x12½ inlaid on 9½x13¼ sheet. Wythe, (Tennessee), 1804 April 15. Integral leaf addressed by Jackson to: "Colo Francis Preston/Salt Works". No postal markings. In full: "On yesterday I called at your house and expected to have had the pleasure of seeing you there, was informed by Mrs. Preston you were at your iron works. I had a wish to have seen you upon the subject of the iron and castings, and receive information in whose possession they were stored. I am fearful there will not be a sufficient levell (sic) in the river this Spring to carry them to Nashville. Should this be the case if an opportunity should offer I wish them to be sold for cost and carriage and even less rather than a disappointment should take place in the payment to be made to you. The failure of crops in Cumberland will 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...