JAMES MADISON and JAMES MONROE As war with Britain looms (1812), the President and Secretary of State sign the papers of an American merchant ship bound for France with a valuable cargo. Partly Printed DS: "James Madison" as President, "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State and "David Gelston" as Collector of Customs of the Port of New York, 1 page, 20½x16½. Signed in Washington, but issued from New York, 1812 January 18. The text is in four columns, each in a different language; from left to right: French, Spanish, English and Dutch. A four-language ship's paper for the brig Don Roderick under the command of Davis G. Gillies, bound for Bordeaux from New York, "Laden with Cocoa, Coffee, Sugar, Pepper, Cotton, Tea, Mahogany Oil...." No American ships could sail the open seas without this properly authorized passport, and ships still faced problems. If an American ship was sailing to a European port under French control, as the Don Roderick was bound for Bordeaux, France, it could be seized by a British ship if it had not called at a British port. read more...

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON As the Whig Party candidate for President, Harrison devotes 3 pages to defending his conduct at the Battle of the Thames (War of 1812). He is so anxious to vindicate his military record that he is traveling to Cincinnati to have copies of depositions made and published! Harrison's signature is rare, especially so close to the date of his brief Presidency! Autograph Letter signed: "W. H. Harrison", 3 pages with integral address leaf, 7¼x12½. North Bend (Ohio), 1840 February 14. To Moses B. Corwin, House of Representatives of Ohio. In full: "Your letter of the 10th was brought to me yesterday from Cincinnati. I had seen an article in the journal that Flood was charged with having written in his place, an assertion that I was not in the sortie of the Thames. I immediately addressed a note to him which I enclosed to General [Joseph] Vance demanding to know whether he had made such an assertion and the ground upon which it was made. In answer to my letter to him, the general expressed an opinion that I gave too much importance to the matter and declined delivering my note to Flood until he would hear from me again. read more...

CLINT EASTWOOD Contract signed the year he reprised his "Dirty Harry" role and first directed a Western. Document signed: "Clint Eastwood", 2p (front and verso), 8½X13. Beverly Hills, California, 1973 January 11. Signed on verso. Eastwood retains the William Morris Agency as his exclusive film agent for a period of 3 years. Originally specialized in Westerns, beginning with the Rawhide, Eastwood became a major star in the "Spaghetti Westerns" of Sergio Leone, beginning with A Fistful of Dollars (1964). While continuing to make Westerns, Eastwood proved a popular, hard-boiled detective as well, beginning with Dirty Harry (1971). He can play sensitive roles as well, as opposite Meryl Streep in The Bridges of Madison County, which he also directed (1995). Eastwood has continued to succeed as an older actor in films like In the Line of Fire (1995) and Space Cowboys (2000). He has also proven to be an outstanding director, winning Oscars for Unforgiven (1991) and Million Dollar Baby (2004) and getting another nomination for Mystic River (2003). read more...

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY The author of the "Star-Spangled Banner" signed this framed document 14 times in its text! Autograph Document Multi-Signed: "Francis/ Scott Key", "Francis S. Key", "F S Key" (ten times!) and "Key" (twice), all in text, 4p, 7½x12. District of Columbia. Dated January 19, 1824. Indenture between "John W. Baker of George Town District of Columbia…and Francis Scott Key of the same place." In part: "Witnesseth that whereas Walter Smith hath this day by the order and sanction of the said F S Key conveyed to the said John W. Baker by deed bearing the same date with these presents, a certain piece or portion of land lying in Washington County in the said District…and whereas the said John W. Baker stands indebted to the said F S Key in the full and just sum of three thousand five hundred dollars, a part of the purchase money for said land read more...

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY In this handwritten and signed letter, the writer of the Star-Spangled Banner discusses appearing before the United States Supreme Court Autograph Letter Signed: "F.S. Key", 1p, 8x9½. Geo: Town, 1815 February 20. Integral leaf addressed by Key to: "Mr Thomas Biddle/Philadelphia". Postmarked Georgetown, Feb 22 ("22" handwritten). Docketed above address panel, probably by Biddle: "F.S. Key/Georgetown, Feby 20, 1815". In full: "Your cause will be called I presume in two or three weeks, but if the trial is not pressed by your opponent, it can be continued till the next Term - nor is it likely he would object to the continuance - I observe no Counsel has yet entered an appearance for it. - If it is thus put off till the next Term, it will afford you the means of compromising it, if you think you can do so on advantageous terms. As to your success, I think it as certain as any thing undecided I can conceive of can be. - Not only is it a very plain case in your favour, as I think, but two of the Judges of the Sup Court - Washington & Story have both so adjudged the point on which it chiefly depends. read more...

CALVIN COOLIDGE Rare Presidential signature on a Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1928. Rare Printed Proclamation signed: "Calvin Coolidge" as President, 1 page, 8x13. Washington, 1928 October 23. Countersigned in type: "Frank B. Kellogg" as Secretary of State. President Coolidge proclaims Thursday, November 29, 1928 "as a day of general thanksgiving and prayer...." In part: "The season again approaches when it has been the custom for generations to set apart a day of thanksgiving for the blessings which the Giver of all good and perfect gifts has bestowed upon us during the year. It is most becoming that we should do this, for the goodness and mercy of God which have followed us through the year deserve our grateful recognition and acknowledgment...our industries have flourished; our commerce has increased; wages have been lucrative, and comfort and contentment have followed the undisturbed pursuit of honest toil...." President George Washington set aside Thursday, November 26, 1789, to thank God for the newly formed government. The first national Thanksgiving Day proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. read more...

JOHN F. KENNEDY and THE SUPREME COURT Collection including a handwritten letter from Senator JFK to a former Harvard professor, framed in the Gallery of History style to 46x32, with nine individual items signed by Justices Warren, Black, Douglas, Clark, Harlan, White, Brennan, Stewart and Fortas. Chief Justice Earl Warren has signed a copy of the eulogy he delivered at Kennedy's funeral. Comprises: (1) JOHN F. KENNEDY. Autograph Letter unsigned as U.S. Senator, 2p, 6½x9½ (front and verso). Washington, D.C., no date. To (Arthur) Holcombe, his Professor of Government at Harvard. Numbered "IV" in upper left. In full: "'If the practical business of government consists largely in the adjustment of the conflicts of interest arising among the people & politicians who understand the nature of the peoples (sic) interests and are responsible for their treatment of them to powerful and durable parties, may well be the most serviceable rulers that the people can reasonably expect to obtain.'" On verso: "Politicians personal read more...

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT As Governor of New York, he used this red, silver-tipped pen to sign a railroad bill creating the Board of Transit Control in 1931 Document Signed: "Franklin D Roosevelt", 1 page, 9x14½. Albany, New York. April 27, 1931. Certificate authenticating that FDR used the attached pen to sign Senate Bill 12, the railroad unification bill. In full: "THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the pen hereunto affixed was used by me in signing Senate Bill Introductory Number 12, Printed Number 2455, entitled: 'AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to the plan of readjustment provided for in article seven thereof, to authorize the creation of the board of transit control and subsidiary corporations, to prescribe its and their duties and powers, to exempt its and their properties, income and securities from taxation and to make such securities legal investments, and to authorize the acquisition and operation of railroads and other transportation facilities, and otherwise.' and which became a law by my signature April 23, 1931, being Chapter 689 of the Laws of 1931. read more...

PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON The 42nd U.S. President pens a letter to a friend who had been profiled in an Arkansas newspaper, thanking him for his friendship Autograph Letter Signed: "Bill". One page. 6¾x9. Place: The White House, Washington, District of Columbia. Date: April 27, 1995. In full: "Dear David: I loved the High Profile article - It was richly deserved. I hope it gives your work a boost too - Thanks for being a true friend." "High Profile" is a feature in the Sunday edition of Little Rock's "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette". On the morning of the day the President wrote this letter, he met with Russian Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev in the White House. Following the meeting, he had a telephone conversation with President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. On the afternoon of May 8, 1995, President and Mrs. Clinton left for Moscow, arriving the next morning. President Clinton met with President Yeltsin on May 9th. The visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe. read more...