Rare, 1914 typed letter signed by the Western lawman on New York Morning
Telegraph letterhead signed by the Western lawman while he was a sports writer at the
paper. It's addressed to Robert M. Wright, author of Dodge City, The Cowboy Capital
and laments the sale of Wright's "meritorious volume". With three typed manuscript
pages from Wright's book on the murder of Masterson's brother Ed.
Typed letter signed "W. B. Masterson" in purple ink. 1 page, 8½x11, on letterhead of the New
York Morning Telegraph. Feb. 4, 1914. Addressed to the Honorable R. N. Wright, Dodge
City, Kansas. In full: "My dear Bob:- I got your letter yesterday and hasten to reply for
fear I'll forget it as I find it is quite easy for me to forget things now. I am indeed sorry
that the book doesn't sell more readily than it does for it really is a meritorious
volume. I will call Mr. Price's attention to what you say regarding his writing from time
to time stories from the book and believe as you do that will help its sale immensely.
What is required to stimulate the sale of a book is advertising and unless that is done
there is little demand for a book no matter how interesting it is.…"
The first female recipient of the United States Medal of Honor provides a
collector her signature.
Signature: "Mary E. Walker, M.D./A.A. Surgeon, U.S.A./in War of 1861-5./[three dashes]",
1p, 6¼x8½. Beneath the signature, the person who obtained the autograph has typed a
description of Walker, who was "a spectator at the trial of Mrs. Melbar, who was being
tried for the murder of her five year old son." The collector continues: "After I asked for
the autograph, a photographer asked permission posing in front of the building for him.
Under her name she put three little dashes and told me that the represented the red,
white and blue." In 1865, President Andrew Johnson presented Dr. Mary Edwards Walker a
Medal of Honor for her work with the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war,
Walker, an advocate of women's rights, temperance, and dress reform, became a controversial
writer and lecturer. In 1917, at the height of the woman suffrage movement, a federal review
board revoked the 85-year-old Walker's Medal of Honor, claiming she had never actually
served in the Army. Walker refused to return the Medal, proudly wearing it until her death in
1919. In 1977, her Medal of Honor was restored by President Carter. Lightly creased. Fine
condition.
Court-martialed after Second Bull Run, the Union officer defends his actions
to Robert E. Lee's biographer and tells of his long friendship with the
Confederate General.
Important ALS: "F.J. Porter", 3¼ p, New
York, 1870 January 22. To General Robert E. Lee's former Aide-de-Camp, Colonel
Charles Marshall, who at the time was in the midst of writing an
autobiography of his experiences with the General: An Aide-De-Camp of Lee,
Being The Papers of Colonel Charles Marshall. Marshall corresponded with
many of Lee's subordinates in an effort to collect their correspondences with
Lee for reference and publication in the book. Porter had known Lee since his
boyhood and was "close to him" in the Mexican War and "at West Point,
where for a time I [Porter] was his adjt". General Lee died
just nine months after this letter. Porter writes, in full: "I have
yours- and thank you. The opinions quoted in my 'data' are all from original
letters - I had Genl Lee's written permission to use his letters, whenever I
deemed it necessary - I withheld on account of delicacy to him, and to prevent
his name, during life, being banded about by Radical hounds. I have put the
matter generally as if the letters were not to me - hence the reason I am
generally spoken of in the 3rd person.…"
He pens a letter in correspondence to an individual stating they are relatives in which
Masterson quickly replies with otherwise!
Autograph Letter Signed: "W.B. Masterson". 2 pages, 8x10, loosely placed in 9½x11½ folio.
Accompanied by original mailing envelope; heavily toned, soiled and worn. December 31,
1905, New York City, written to "Mr. Watson F. Masterson" of Ramsey, West Virginia. In
full: "Dear Sir. Without going into details can assure you that we are not related; even
remotely. My father was born in this state eighty years ago and moved to Illinois where I
was born fifty one years ago. There are a great many families of Mastersons in Missouri
and Iowa none of whom are related to mine. My father had but one brother and he was
several years the eldest and has been dead about forty years and died without issue. Very
respectfully." Masterson (1853-1921) was an American frontier gambler and buffalo hunter
and a scout for the United States Army. Masterson was also a lawman, serving as a deputy
in Dodge City, Kansas alongside Wyatt Earp and later sheriff for Ford County, Kansas
(1877-1879), as well as town marshal of Trinidad (1881-1882) and later, during the
administration of President Theodore Roosevelt, as a U. S.
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.…"
A bound copy of his Memorial Day Address (1948), inscribed and signed to his
longtime secretary, Mary Pitcairn, by America's last five-star general
Speech inscribed and signed: "To Miss Mary Pitcairn/With appreciation
for/your loyal and/untiring assistance/Omar N. Bradley", 5p, 6x9.
Leather-bound, soft cover copy of his Memorial Day Address, titled "That We
Might Learn to Live as Bravely as They Died", Longmeadow, Massachusetts, 1948.
Inscribed and signed on third free end page.
Omar N. Bradley (1893-1981), a corps commander in North Africa and Sicily
(1943), commanded of the U.S. First Army, which landed at Utah and Omaha
beaches, Normandy, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. In August 1944, he became the
Commander of the 12th Army Group, the largest force ever commanded on the
field. He headed the new Veterans Administration (1945-1948). On
September 20, 1950, Bradley was promoted to Five-Star General of the Army,
and would be the last surviving general of 5-star rank. From 1950 to
1953, he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lacking the arrogance
and ostentation of some other generals, Bradley became known as "the
soldier's general." Mary Pitcairn, a Red Cross Nurse in World War II,
followed the Twelfth Army Group across France and into Germany (1944-1945).
Patton writes to his aunt from Fort Bliss Texas
ALS: "Your devoted nephew/George", 1p, 7½x10½. Ft. Bliss, Tex, 1916 February 3. To
Aunt Nanni. In full: "I am very sorry to hear that you have been sick and hope that you
are much better by now. But don't try to get up too soon. I have had a little Gripe my self
lately but am well now. This is a most uninteresting place and the feeling that I will
not be here long keeps me from taking much interest in it. I think that every one here
would rather be in the Islands. With lots of love." AUNT NANNIE (Anne Wilson, his
mother's sister) helped raise Patton and his sister, Nita. In 1915, Patton was sent to
Fort Bliss where the post commander was Brigadier General John J. Pershing. Mexico
was then in turmoil as the consequence of revolution, and Army troops were guarding
the border to prevent depredations against American life and property. Patton led
routine cavalry patrols. Despite the arrival at Fort Bliss of his wife Beatrice and their two
daughters, Patton found the post uninteresting and wished he and his family were on Santa
Catalina Island where he and Nita often passed summer vacations along with Aunt
Nannie. Patton's feeling that he would "not be here long" was prophetic.
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.
Extremely rare autograph letter written by Western outlaw Frank James to his wife
and son from an Alabama jail (1884), discussing the hardships of imprisonment, his
feelings of betrayal by "my pretended friends", and family attendance at his coming
trial. Contained in a 9x14½ brown leather folio with a b/w photo of James. Autograph
and signed material by James is extremely rare and highly desirable!
Rare autograph letter signed "Frank James". 2 pages, 8½x14, 1 sheet, front and verso, ruled
paper. Comes in a 9x14½ (27x28¼ unfolded) brown leather folio with a 5¼x6¼ b/w photo of
James and a Charles Hamilton letter of authentication. Dated: Mar. 12, 1884. James wrote
this letter to his wife and son after surrendering and awaiting trial for bank robbery.
"My Dear Wife and Robert... I am truly in hope I may not be ill any more while in jail
at least... the only money I spend is for stamps and tobacco... As I write it rains and the
heavy peals of thunder and vivid flashes of lightning very nearly raises me out of my
chair... I have scarcely any fire and think I will let it die... I am waiting very impatiently
for Mr. Cooper to come from the post office.…"
The former Civil War Union general accepts the invitation of Ohio Senator John
Sherman to act as Marshal for the Ceremonies at the dedication of the Washington
Monument.
Manuscript LS: "P.H. Sheridan" as Lieutenant General, 1½p, 7½ x 9¾ lined sheet, front
and verso (hinged to show both sides of letter). Washington, D.C., 1884 December 12. On
letterhead of Headquarters, Army of the United States to Hon. John Sherman, U.S. Senate.
Begins: "My dear Sir". In full: "I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of
December 11th. communicating the resolution unanimously adopted by the Commission,
inviting me to 'act as Marshal on the day of the ceremonies, to arrange the details of
the procession and assign to the different organizations their places in the line.'
Accepting with pleasure the duty thus assigned me, I beg that you will convey to the
commission my high appreciation of the distinguished honor conferred upon me.…"
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.
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).
Five days after General Lee's surrender, the Confederate President,
determined to fight on, signs instructions to General Beauregard, framed in the
Gallery of History style to 37x21.
ALS: "J.D." as President of the Confederacy, on verso in
lower ¼ page of 8½x5 telegraph form, South of Yadkin River, 1865 April
14. On telegram form headed "The Southern Express Company/Forward Packages
by Passenger trains and Steamers, and Dispatches by Telegraph,/to all parts of
the Confederate States". Telegram from Brigadier General S.H. Ferguson to
General Beauregard completely in the hand of a telegraph clerk, including
signature. In full: "Have Crossed Almost all my horses on RR
bridge with a little work wagons Can be brought over by hands will push on after
enemy & have advised Genl Johnston to put his Command at work to repair Rail
Road if this is approved orders had better be given = neither find passable
today. S.H. Ferguson Brig Genl". Initialed "DH" by the telegraph
clerk. At the conclusion of his message to Beauregard, Brigadier General
Ferguson has penned: "By J." beneath which Jefferson Davis has
penned, in full: "Genl Beauregard/Would it not be well for Genl. Gilmer
to send/a competent officer or agent to attend to repair of R.R.…"
The famous Wild West showman pens a hopeful letter to his friend, stating "New
England was never big for me. But wait till we start west. I predict a big season." The
letter was written during the downfall of Cody's show empire due to outside expenses
draining the immense profits from his show
Autograph letter signed: "Col.", 1 page, 8½x11 framed to an overall size of 25½x18½. Buffalo
Bill's Wild West combined with Pawnee Bill's Great Far East. May 29, 1911. Portsmouth,
[New Hampshire]. In full: "Dear Mayor Glad Light, Your letter which found me is fine health.
We had two bad towns last week. Fitchburg & Newburyport. No one ever done business in either.
The week hurt us at least $2000 in Lowell-sent your bank 5100 today to take up one of my notes.
Been getting good deposits from the mines. Been getting in shape [illegible] or any one. I believe
I'll walk a sale of the [illegible]. Note if good are doing. [illegible]. While I telegraph you for now
we are all OK here-now. And barring accident we will be OK. New England was never big for
me. But wait till we start west. I predict a big season. Love to you". William Frederick Cody
(1846-1917) earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired
hunter in 1867 and 1868.
Exceedingly rare carte-de-visite photo of Torbert in uniform by Mathew Brady!
Autograph Signed Photograph: "Yours truly/A. T. A. Torbert, Brig. Genl: Vols." 2½x4
carte-de-viste with backstamp of Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries, New York
& Washington. Alfred Thomas Archimedes Torbert (1833-1880), an 1855 graduate of West
Point, was appointed a First Lieutenant in the Confederate States Army on March 16,
1861, just before the start of the American Civil War, but the Delaware native declined the
appointment and remained a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. By August 1862, he was a
Brigade Commander of the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and Torbert was
promoted to Brigadier General on November 29, 1862. On April 10, 1864, he was given
command of the 1st Division of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. During
Major General Philip Sheridan's Valley Campaigns (1864), Torbert commanded the Cavalry
Corps of the Army of Shenandoah. He later commanded the Army of the Shenandoah
from April 22, 1865-June 27, 1865. Following the Civil War, Torbert served in several
diplomatic posts before drowning off the coast of Florida when the S.S. Vera Cruz sunk on
August 29, 1880. Surface loss from mounting residue at left edge of image side.
Signatures of Cody, Longstreet and other prominent Chicagoans of the era, collected
on both sides of a 6x4 sheet in 1899.
Signatures on both sides of a 6x4 sheet: "W.F. Cody / 'Buffalo Bill'", "Nate Salsbury",
"John M. Burke /'Arizona John'", and "Allison Nailor, Jr.". Dated in unknown hand at left:
"April 20, 1899." On verso: "Yours Truly/James Longstreet/July 15 '99" and "Ferdinand
W. Peck". Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 40x20.
William Frederick Cody 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. Throughout the
Civil War, Cody worked as a government scout, extracting from life and the West all it had to
offer. His western notoriety grew with his adventures, including those during the Sioux War, in
which he purportedly fought a duel with Chief Yellow Hand. Cody's theatrical career was
launched that same year with his re-enactments of such Indian battles. By 1883, he formed his
first Wild West spectacle, becoming a master showman who toured internationally until
1903.Military | Sheet Music / Lyrics
Sub Categories
Top Signers
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Theodore Roosevelt
- William Barclay Masterson
- Gerald R. Ford
- Rutherford B. Hayes
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Haym Salomon
- Benjamin Harrison
- William Mckinley
- Richard E. Byrd
- Ulysses S. Grant
- Clara Barton
- Frank James
- David Ben-gurion (Israel)
- William F. Cody
- Andrew Johnson
- Douglas Macarthur
- John Hancock
- Jefferson Davis (Confederate States Of America)
- Abraham Lincoln
- Hyman G. Rickover
- George VI (Great Britain)
- Julia Ward Howe
- Andrew Jackson
- Of Wellington (Great Britian)
- Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
- Jack Dempsey
- Thomas J. Jackson
- George Armstrong Custer
- Oliver Ellsworth
- View More
Style
Price
-
FERLIN HUSKY - TYPED LYRIC(S) SIGNED - HFSID 201108Complete lyrics to his 1970 hit record, "Wings of a Dove," signed in lower corner Typed Lyrics signed: "Ferlin/Husky", 1 page, 8½x11. All three verses, including chorus, of his religiously themed hit record "Wings of a Dove" (1970), written by Bob Ferguson.Sale Price $234.00
$260.00
