Political Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

WILLIAM "BOSS" TWEED In the aftermath of the New York City draft riots of 1863, Tweed and other City officials sign authorization to pay the price of a draft substitute with city funds. Partly Printed DS: "W.M. Tweed" as Supervisor, 1 page, 8½x7. New York, 1863 September 26. Headed: "Certificate in favor of Drafted Member of the Active Militia Force of the State in this City, showing that he has obtained a/Substitute and that he is entitled to have the Money therefore paid by the Comptroller". Staple holes at upper left. 2-inch diagonal stain above staple holes. 2-inch separation at horizontal fold (all intact). Slight tears at right edge. Tweed signs as a member of the "New York County/Substitute and Relief Committee" as has two other supervisors and New York City Comptroller "Matthew T. Brennan". August Ford of I Company, Sixth Regiment, has been drafted and has found a substitute named Henry Eiring (misspelled as "Iring") who is "entitled to have the sum of $300 paid to him". Accompanied by a second Partly Printed DS: "Henry Eiring", 1 page, 8¼x7. New York, 1863 September 26. read more...

HARRY S. TRUMAN This letter was sent by Harry Truman on White House letterhead to his old friend Judge Brown Harris, a county circuit judge in Missouri, in 1947. He wrote it to tell Brown that "I think they are learning... that the objective of the President is the public's interest". Framed to 21¼x15¼ in a gold-colored frame with a b/w bust photo of Truman. Original typed letter signed "Harry Truman". 1 page, 7x8¾, on White House letterhead, framed to 21¼x15¼ gold-colored frame with blue-gray matte and 7x8½ b/w photo of Truman. Nov. 12, 1947. Addressed to the Honorable Brown Harris, Judge of the Circuit Court, Division No. 4, Kansas City, Missouri. In full: "Dear Brown: I appreciated very much your note of the sixth and I believe that we are getting on top of the situation. It takes a long time for people to find out just exactly what the trouble is but I think they are learning like the people in Jackson County, Missouri learned a long time ago that the objective of the President is the public's interest. I hope Mrs. Harris and all your family are in good health and that everything is going well with you. Sincerely yours,". read more...

[THOMAS E. DEWEY] Gavel used during the 1948 Republican Convention, at which Dewey was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate and Earl Warren was nominated as his running mate. Gavel, unsigned. Wooden gavel, approximately 12½-inches long. Silver plaque affixed to head. Engraved, in part: "Republican National Convention/Philadelphia" (portion of plaque is not visible). Presented in shadowbox, 15x7½x3 base with 16½x9x¾ top with glass viewing area. Brass plaque affixed on black background. Engraved, in full: "Gavel used during/Republican National Convention/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1948./Thomas E. Dewey - Presidential Nominee/Earl Warren - Vice-Presidential Nominee". In 1948, both parties had courted popular WWII General Dwight D. Eisenhower for their presidential nominee, but "Ike", who was a moderate Republican at the time, refused nomination from either. The Republican field included New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen, California Governor Earl Warren, Ohio Senator Robert Taft and General Douglas MacArthur. read more...

JAMES MONROE and JOHN McLEAN 1822 Land Grant signed by President James Monroe and John McLean the Commissioner of the General Land Office for land in Ohio. Partly Engraved DS: "James Monroe" as President and "John McLean" as Commissioner of the General Land Office, 1p, 16x10. Washington, 1822 November 13. On vellum. Full, white paper seal affixed at left. Grant of land to John Baer of Ohio who "has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Delaware in Ohio whereby it appears that full payment has been made according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April 1820, entitled 'An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands'...containing Sixty Six Acres, and Fifty six=hundredths of an Acre according to the official plat of the survey of said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General...." The Land Act of April 24, 1820 abolished the credit system that enabled settlers to make deferred payment on their land and reduced the per acre purchase price from $2 to $1. read more...

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. Unsigned shirt, worn by him at Campobello. Custom-made white cotton dress shirt owned and worn by FDR at his Campobello Island retreat. The shirt, made by the George B. Smith Company in Worcester, Mass., bears a seven-button front with buttons at sleeves, with ornately monogrammed initials "F.D.R." in blue thread on the left sleeve near the cuff. From the estate of Edgar and Anna McGowan. Edgar McGowan was caretaker of the Roosevelt family houses on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada until his death in 1918. ANNA was employed as a laundress with the Roosevelt family. She was also a housekeeper for Eleanor Roosevelt at "Val-kill" at Hyde Park. Edgar and Anna's daughter, Linnea McGowan Calder (1911-1996) also worked at Campobello. After Anna's death at Campobello in 1955, the items remained with her family until sold at auction in early 2000. Accompanied by a photocopy of a Notice of Probate (3p, 8½x11) issued by the law firm of O'Conner & Farber, New York, May 17, 1945 concerning F.D.R.'s estate and mentioning Anna McGowan as a beneficiary. Basil O'Connor was FDR's law partner. Some wear typical of use at the bottom and inside of the collar, a few scattered small stains, overall in very good condition. read more...

JOHN F. KENNEDY The Massachusetts Congressman, signing "John” writes to an aide in Boston, regretting that he cannot do anything further to help a constituent with problems with the Veterans Administration Typed Letter Signed: "John" as U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, 1p, 8x10½. Washington, D.C., 1949 June 24. On letterhead of Congress of the United States, House of Representatives to Mr. William F. Kelly, East Boston, Massachusetts. Begins: "Dear Bill". In full: "I have your letter of June 20th, with further mention of the Romani case. The Veterans Administration seems to be adamant in its stand in connection with this particular matter; and, believe me, I am sorry that it has been impossible for me to assist Mr. Romani in securing consideration and approval of his claim. If there is anything further I can do, however, don't hesitate to get in touch with me. My best wishes to you and the family. Sincerely". William F. Kelly was an aide to Congressman Kennedy. John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), a decorated US Navy veteran of World War II, represented Massachusetts in the U.S. read more...

BILL CLINTON. Photograph inscribed and Signed: "To Eddie & Betty/Sousa/Bill Clinton/3-8/78" as Attorney General of Arkansas. B/w, 5x7¼. Bill Clinton was Attorney General (1977-1979) and Governor (1979-1981, 1983-1992) of Arkansas before serving as President (1993-2001). He signed this photograph when he was 31-years-old. Partial paper clip rust stain at upper left background. Overall, fine condition. Framed in Gallery of History style: 15¼x24¼. read more...

GERALD FORD and HELMUT SCHMIDT Small black and white publicity photograph of the 38th U.S. President posing with Helmut Schmidt, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, during the latter's state visit in December 1974 Photograph Signed: "Gerald R. Ford" as 38th U.S. President and "H. Schmidt" as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. B/w, 7x5 overall, image 7x4¼ (one surface). Ford and Schmidt met in Washington, D.C. on December 5, 1974, less than four months after Ford had become President and seven months after Schmidt became Chancellor. After conducting several meetings, they issued a joint statement on December 6. Ford, who wanted to maintain close ties with Europe, invited Schmidt (as well as French President Valery Discard d'Estaing and British Prime Minister James Callaghan) to his ski house in Vail, Colorado for many years. Both Ford and Schmidt were also instrumental in the development of the G-8 Summits, which first met in 1975, while Ford was President. In June 2007, Schmidt would describe the meetings as "just a theater for the media. read more...

HERBERT HOOVER Handsome black and white 10x12 publicity photograph of the 31st U.S. President. Photograph mount signed: "Herbert Hoover". B/w, 10x12 overall, image 7¼x9 (two surfaces). Herbert Clark Hoover (1874-1964), a mining engineer and self-made millionaire, served as the 31st U.S. President from 1929-1933. Blamed by many voters for the Great Depression, he was defeated in his bid for re-election by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Hoover, a capable administrator, had headed the Food Administration to provide relief to Europe and Russia during and after WWI and served as Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge (1921-1928). The second President to attain the age of 90 years (John Adams was the first), Hoover lived a record 31 years after leaving the presidency. During his "retirement", he was appointed to commissions to oversee government agencies by Presidents Harry S Truman (1947) and Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953). Hoover also wrote a number of books and articles. Light silvering. Fine condition. read more...