JAMES GARFIELD The President signs a warrant authorizing the Secretary of State to place the US seal on a congratulatory message to the new Kingdom of Romania. Signatures by Garfield as President are extremely rare, this one penned less than two months before he was shot. Presidential Warrant signed: "James A. Garfield" as President, 8x10, matted with a photograph of Garfield (with facsimile signature) to an overall size of 18½x15. Washington, D.C., 1881 May 5. In full: "I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to cause the Seal of the United States to be affixed to an envelope containing my reply to the letter of King Charles of Romania, announcing the erection of Romania into a Kingdom &c, &c. dated this day, and signed by me; and for so doing this shall be his warrant." James Abram Garfield (1831-1881) rose to the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, participating in the battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga, before resigning his commission to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (1863-1880). read more...

JAMES BUCHANAN He signs a "strictly private" autograph letter to a friend discussing whether he would accept the position of Secretary of State if offered it by President-elect Pierce. Political ALS: "James Buchanan", 1 page, 8x10. Wheatland, near Lancaster, 1852 November 23. The future 15th U.S. President writes to Henry Welsh, Esquire. In full: "I have received the Buckwheat flour, & you could have sent me nothing more acceptable. Bye the by, this reminds me that I have never, I believe, paid for the flour I received last year. I hope you will let me know the amount. I have literally no news. I receive letters daily from this & other States urging me strongly to accept the State Department, just as though this were in my power; whilst several of my friends are of a contrary opinion. Should it ever be offered, I shall decide the question deliberately. All my personal wishes are against it, nor can I at present foresee that either my duty to my country or my friends require that I should sacrifice my private inclinations. What is your opinion? All of this is of course strictly private - from your friend. read more...

HARRY S TRUMAN and his CABINET 16x11 photo of the historic Cabinet meeting of August 25, 1950, signed by the President, by Vice President Barkley, by 9 Cabinet Secretaries,  and by 3 important Presidential aides. At this meeting, Truman announced his decision to seize US railroads to prevent a wartime strike Photograph signed: "Harry S Truman" as President, "Alben W. Barkley" as Vice President, "Charles F. Brannan" as Secretary of Agriculture, "Louis Johnson" as Secretary of Defense, "Maurice J. Tobin" as Secretary of Labor, "Dean Acheson" as Secretary of State, "John W. Snyder" as Secretary of the Treasury, "Oscar L. Chapman" as Secretary of the Interior, "Charles Sawyer" as Secretary of Commerce, "J. read more...

BRIGHAM YOUNG, HEBER C. KIMBALL, NEWELL WHITNEY and THOMAS BULLOCK Collection of paper currency issued in 1849, including notes signed by Young as President and Heber Kimball as First Counselor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, framed in the Gallery of History style with pictures of both leaders to 33x24 Comprises: (1) Partly Printed Note, not signed, 3¼x2. Great Salt Lake City, 1849 March 28. 25-cent note, not filled in. Slightly creased. Lightly soiled. (2) Partly Printed Note signed: "Brigham Young" as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Heber C. Kimball" as First Counselor and "Thos. Bullock - Clerk", 3¾x2. Great Salt Lake City, 1849 January 20. No. 842. In full: "Pay to N.K. Whitney or bearer fifty cents on demand." Embossed seal nicks the "B" of Brigham and the "H of Heber and touches Bullock's signature. (3) Partly Printed Note signed: "B. Young" as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "H.C. Kimball" as First Counselor and " read more...

JAMES MADISON, CO-SIGNED BY: JAMES MONROE, JOHN GILL, JAMES H. MCCULLOCH 21x16½ ship's papers for the brig Julia, bound from Baltimore to Lisbon in 1812, signed by Madison as U.S. president and Monroe as Secretary of State Four language ships papers signed "James Madison" as U.S. President, "James Monroe" as Secretary of State, "James M McCulloch" and "John Gill Not. Pub".1 page, 21x16½, with paper 2 ¾-inch Great Seal of the United States and Gill's paper 1¾-inch notary seal affixed on left. Issued at Baltimore, Maryland, Oct. 15, 1812. Four language ship's papers (French, Spanish, English, Dutch) issued to: "Tristram Luce master or commander of the Brig called Julia... lying at present in the port of Baltimore bound for Lisbon and laden with Flour, Indian Corn and Bread for Lisbon..." Brigs were sailing ships with two masts and square sails. The rear sail is the mainsail and has a small fore-and-aft sail to improve maneuverability. Brigs were developed during the 17th century but saw their heyday in the 19th century. read more...

HIS FIRST PAYCHECK AS PRESIDENT, BEARING HIS ENDORSEMENT CALVIN COOLIDGE Partly Printed Paycheck Endorsed on verso: "Deposit/Calvin Coolidge" as 30th U.S. President, 8½x3¼. Washington, D.C., 1923 August 31. "Treasurer of the United States/Pay Five Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Three 33/100 ### Dollars/$5,833.33/To The Order of Calvin Coolidge President of the United States/The White House/Washington DC." Coolidge's annual salary as President was $75,000. His monthly salary was $6,250. THIS CHECK REPRESENTS HIS SALARY FOR AUGUST 1923, HIS FIRST MONTH AS PRESIDENT. President Harding had died on August 2, 1923 and at 2:30 A.M. August 3rd, John Coolidge, a notary public, swore in his son as President of the United States. If one divides $6,250 by 30 days, one gets a daily salary of $208.33. Harding was President on August 1st and 2nd. Multiply that by 28 days to get $5,833.33, the amount of Coolidge's check. But Coolidge was President in August for 29 days (August has 31 not 30 days), so his daily salary for August 1923, was actually $201. read more...

ON HIS LAST DAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE, A REFLECTIVE TRUMAN THANKS A TRUSTED AIDE WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HIS FAMOUS UPSET VICTORY OF 1948. HARRY TRUMAN Typed Letter signed: "Harry Truman", 1p, 7x8¾ with blank integral leaf. Washington, D.C., 1953 January 19. On White House letterhead to Donald S. Dawson, Administrative Assistant to the President, The White House. In full: "I want you to know, before I leave the White House, how grateful I am for your extremely loyal assistance. I remember very well how, in my search for a topnotch personnel advisor in the Government, I found a fellow Missourian in you. You have demonstrated consistently your knowledge and ability in the Government personnel field and deserve the thanks of all of us for your efforts to promote the merit system in the United States Government. You are entitled to pride for your assistance to me in the selection of individuals for Presidential appointments, your efforts to modernize the federal compensation system, especially the Classification Act of 1949 and the Executive Pay Bill, your read more...

JOHN F. KENNEDY Presidential appointment to international atomic energy conference two days after U.S. ratifies Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Partly Printed DS: "John F. Kennedy" as 35th U.S. President and "George W. Ball" as Acting Secretary of State, 1p, 23x19. 3½-inch Presidential seal affixed to left of Ball's signature. Washington, 1963 September 24. In part: "Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the Integrity, Fidelity, and Ability of HENRY DeWOLF SMYTH, of New Jersey I have nominated, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him an Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Seventh Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfil the duties of that Office according to law...." Two days earlier, the U.S. Senate had ratified the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. HENRY DeWOLF SMYTH served as Representative to the International Atomic Energy Commission in Vienna, with the rank of Ambassador, from 1961-1970. read more...

ROGER B. TANEY The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court signs the verso of a 2½x4 Carte de Visite in which he is shown, an extremely rare piece! Photograph signed: "R.B. Taney" on verso, B/w 2½x4 Carte de Visite. Printed back mark on verso indicates the card is from a negative found in Brady's National Portrait Gallery. President Jackson named Roger B. Taney (1777-1864) Secretary of the Treasury on September 24, 1833, but his nomination was rejected by the Senate on June 24, 1834. Taney was the first Cabinet nominee to be rejected by the Senate. He was nominated for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1835; but the Senate rejected that appointment too. In 1836, Jackson named Taney Chief Justice to succeed John Marshall. A change in the makeup of the Senate resulted in Taney's confirmation; he served until his death. Taney is chiefly remembered for his decision in the Dred Scott case, 1857, which stated that slaves were not citizens and that Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in territories. (Ironically, Taney disliked slavery and had freed his own slaves. read more...