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...

ADOLF HITLER Shown in civilian suit with swastika pin, signed near the time of his imprisonment (1924) Photograph signed: "Adolf Hitler". B/w, 6¾x9. Austrian-born Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), an embittered German army veteran of World War I, became involved an extremist politics in Munich at war's end. A charismatic orator, Hitler promoted a radical program based on ultra-nationalism, anti-Semitism and anti-communism. By 1921, he was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP in German, better known as the Nazi Party). In 1923, Hitler and a small band of supporters attempted to emulate Mussolini's "March on Rome" and seize power, but this "Beer Hall Putsch" was easily dispersed by the Munich police. Hitler was arrested, tried and sentenced to five years in prison. However, Hitler exploited this apparent setback, pleading his cause at his trial, and writing while in prison Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"), his political manifesto. Treated leniently by sympathetic guards and pardoned in December 1924, Hitler changed tactics by using the electoral mechanisms of the Weimar Republic to win parliamentary seats. read more...

JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN The hero of the Battle of Gettysburg expressing his gratitude for receiving a photo of President Lincoln from Frederick Meserve, famed collector of Lincoln and Civil War photos Autograph Letter signed: "Joshua L. Chamberlain" in black ink, 1p, 7x10½, matted and framed to an overall size of 22½x17½. Also enclosed in the glass fronted frame are an unsigned photo of Chamberlain in uniform (b/w, 4¼x6¼) and a caption printed on paper. Portland, Maine, 1911 February 6. To Frederick H. Meserve, New York City. In full: "I thank you for your most courteous letter and the rare little photographic portrait of Lincoln, which I shall much value. I renew my congratulations on your most interesting work and assure you of my interest in its reaching our libraries. With high regards, yours". JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN (1828-1914), formerly a college professor and later the President of Bowdoin College, commanded the 20th Maine read more...

ZACHARY TAYLOR Manuscript Letter to a Cincinnati newspaper, with his scarce signature as President-elect! Manuscript Letter signed: "Z. Taylor", 1 page, 7¾x7.  Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1849 January 19. To the Editors and Publishers of the Cincinnati Gazette, in full: "I avail myself of an early occasion before leaving this place to journey north, to express to you my warm acknowledgements for your courtesy and kindness in forwarding to my address for some time past, the regular number of the 'Gazette'-I have always perused its columns with interest and pleasure.  With this acknowledgement please accept my heartfelt wishes for your health and happiness, and for continued success and usefulness to your paper. I am, Gentlemen, with Sentiments of high respect and regard your most obedient servant". The popularity of war hero Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) led to his election as the 12th U.S. President (1849-1850). A 40-year veteran of the Army, Taylor was a veteran of several campaigns against the Indians, including the Black Hawk War and the Seminole wars. read more...

WILLIAM F. CODY Autograph letter to General Nelson Miles (1896), introducing a friend, signed "Your old Scout/W.F. Cody" ALS: "Your old Scout/W.F. Cody", 1 page, 6x9½. New Hampshire House, New York, 1896 January 29. To General Nelson A. Miles, Washington, D.C. In full: "Please permit me to introduce Mr. J.L. Cunningham and (sic, an) old personal friend who wishes to speak to you. If you will give him a hearing. You will greatly oblige." Both NELSON MILES and BILL CODY overlapped in their time of military service during the western campaigns against the Indians. Cody was Chief Scout for the 5th Cavalry and Miles commanded the 5th Infantry. They served under Philip Sheridan. In 1896, the year of this letter, Cody's Wild West Show was extensively touring and he was also developing his land in Cody, Wyoming; while Miles was Commander in Chief of the Army. Great associations, worthy of further research. Lightly creased. ¾-inch separation at upper left blank horizontal fold. 2-inch separation at lower left horizontal fold touches 1 word (all intact). ¾-inch separation at lower right blank horizontal fold. read more...

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...

WILLIAM F. CODY ("BUFFALO BILL") 4x5 photo of Cody, signed and signed on the 7x9 photo mount in 1903 as both W.F. Cody and Buffalo Bill Photograph Mount inscribed and signed: "W.F. Cody/'Buffalo Bill'/To Ormsby Trench/1903". B/w, 7x9 overall, image 3¾x5½ (two surfaces). Photo by Marceau Studios, 258 Fifth Avenue, New York. William Frederick Cody earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868. Cody's theatrical career was launched in 1872 with re-enactments of Indian battles. By 1883, he formed his first Wild West spectacle, becoming a master showman. Vintage mount is lightly foxed, soiled and slightly stained with some wear at edges. Photo is lightly soiled and slightly foxed. Signature and inscription in fine condition. 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...

J. E. B. "JEB" STUART Demanding carbines for his men, Stuart writes an insistent letter to Porter Alexander as he readies his cavalry for the first of their many daring raids behind Union lines. Autograph Letter signed: "J. E. B. Stuart", 1 page, 3¾x6. Headquarters, Cavalry Brigade [Army of Northern Virginia], 1862 May 17. To "Dear Major" [E. Porter Alexander. Chief of Ordnance]. In full: "Have you done anything for that Blakely yet? Please attend to it at once as we are almost in daily use of it. I need carbines of long range, do make an effort to procure me a few hundred or even one or two. The 6th N[orth] C[arolina] vol[unteers] has 10, and other Inf[antr]y reg[imen]ts 20 [more], & various other non-combatants are thoroughly armed & equipped. Eradicate & eliminate for the cavalry." 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. read more...