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...

ABRAHAM LINCOLN While defending a woman accused of murdering her husband (1857), the future President added six lines of text in his own hand to the written deposition of a witness. Autograph Statement unsigned at the conclusion of Manuscript Document Signed: "J.L. Springgate", 2 pages, 7¾x12¼. Woodford County, [Metamora, Illinois], c. 1845-1857. AT THE CONCLUSION, SIX LINES IN THE HAND OF LINCOLN DIRECTLY ABOVE SPRINGGATE'S SIGNATURE, NOT SIGNED BY LINCOLN WHO WROTE, IN FULL: "Re-cross examination by defendants- The morning of the sale, Laws said that he wanted to go and buy horses, and wanted Vandike to go with him and be his security, and then they both, and this witness went to the sale together (The plaintiff objects to the last piece of evidence)". The names of the plaintiff and defendants are spelled differently throughout the document. Headed: "Deposition of Witness to be used in evidence on the trial of the case now pending in the Circuit Court of Woodford County where John A. Minahan is Plff & J J Lass & Wm G Vandike are defts pursuant to agreement representative of the parties. 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...

JFK and the JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, JANUARY 1961 This is the rarest signed photo of Kennedy that we've ever seen! The newly inaugurated President poses in the Oval Office with his top military advisers: Lyman Lemnitzer, David Shoup, Thomas White, Arleigh Burke and George Decker. Kennedy and all 5 military chiefs have signed this very rare 20x16, color photographic display. Very Rare Photograph Mount signed: "John F. Kennedy", "David M. Shoup", "Thomas D. White", "L. L Lemnitzer", "Arleigh Burke" and "George H. Decker". Color, 20x16 overall, image 13¼x10½ (two surfaces, with the signatures on the lower mat) Framed under glass. Photo: Cecil W. Stoughton. Printed US government caption on verso dates this photograph on January 25, 1961. This is the rarest signed photo of Kennedy that we've ever seen! JOHN F. KENNEDY, inaugurated 5 days earlier, himself a naval veteran of combat in the South Pacific in World War II, poses with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The Joint Chiefs of Staff, constituted in 1947 to advise the President and the Secretary of State, consists of a chairman and the highest ranking officers of the military branches. read more...

WARREN G. HARDING Rare signed, 4-page autograph letter to his wife during a vacation with Senate colleagues in Augusta, Georgia, describing the good food and his golf and poker winnings and losses Rare ALS: "W.G.", 4 pages, 6x9½, separate sheets. On pictorial stationery of the Hotel Bon Air, Winter Resort, Augusta, Ga., picturing golfers and motorists. Friday eve, no date but circa 1917-1920. To his wife, Florence. In full: "Am tired tonight. Played 36 holes again today - a foursome over the hill course this morning and two threesomes in match play over the Lake course this p.m. Made a good score this morning and gathered in $17.50. Played like a dub this pm and lost $12.50. Only five to the good for the day. We had poker last night. I fared well. No complaint to make. My luck came back for one evening. We see very little of Mrs. Frelinghuysen - only at lunch. She breakfasts and dines in her room, and spends her time with the nurse. So far as I can observe, she sees little of Joe except when he sleeps. Really we are busy all the while. We go to golf after breakfast, return for lunch, start again at 5, and get in time for a bath, then dinner. After dinner & scribble you a line, then it is cards till bed time, and so it goes. read more...

BILL CLINTON Bill Clinton sends a typed letter of thanks. Typed Letter Signed: "Bill" as President, 1p, 6¾x8¾. The White House, Washington, 1997 February 20. To Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Washington, D.C. In full: "Thank you for writing to describe how the Medal of Freedom was revitalized during the Kennedy Administration - it's a fascinating story. I am proud to bestow this high honor on several exemplary citizens each year. It was altogether fitting to have you in attendance at Senator Dole's ceremony and I enjoyed our brief chat. I will keep in mind your thoughts about the original intent of announcing 'the list' once each year on July 4th." On January 17, 1997, a month earlier, President CLINTON presented BOB DOLE with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Dole's service in World War II and Congress. Clinton had defeated Dole in the 1996 presidential election and would be inaugurated for his second term three days after the ceremony. Dole was clearly touched by the award, but nevertheless he began his remarks with: "I, Robert J. Dole, do solemnly swear..." as laughter erupted in the room. read more...

THOMAS JEFFERSON and JAMES MADISON With Anglo-American tensions at a fever pitch due to British seizure of American merchant ships, Jefferson as President, and Madison as Secretary of State, sign ship's papers for a brig bound for Marseilles. This ship and its captain would be seized three years later - by the French! Four Language Ship's Papers signed: "Th: Jefferson", "James Madison", 1 page, 19¾x16¼, matted and framed to 25½x22. Washington, D.C., 1807 May 21. Papers issued to Henry Latham, "master and commander of the Brig called the Canton … lying at present at the port of New York bound for Marseilles and laden with Sugar - Wine - Coffee - Ginger - Pimento - Indigo - Beeswax - Nankins [a small breed of chicken] - Tobacco - and Logwood". These papers were signed at a critical moment in U.S. relations with Britain. In 1806, determined to weaken Napoleonic France, Britain had announced a blockade of French ports. Under this order, U.S. merchant ships were liable to seizure - 1,000 would be seized - and the crews subject to impressment in the Royal Navy. 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...

ABRAHAM LINCOLN This is a rare handwritten legal document, signed by Lincoln with his firm's name of "Murphy & Lincoln" and with two paragraphs of comments on a suit against Sam Frazier, sheriff of Vermillion County, Indiana. It's an excellent example of a document from before he became 16th President of the United States. Rare Autograph Endorsement signed: "Murphy & Lincoln [illegible]", 1p, 7¾x12½. Champaign County, Illinois, circa 1852. In full: "And the defendant doth the like." Signed beneath the first paragraph of a manuscript document relating to the case of Nelson Ligget vs Samuel Frazier, who were represented by Linder Benedict & Davis. In full: "And the said plaintiff for replication to said defendants first pleas by him above pleaded, says precludi non, because he says That the said defendant at the time and place when & in the said plea mentioned, he the said defendant did not then and there have in his possession the said writ in said plea mentioned And this the said plaintiff prays may be enquired of by the county &c." A second paragraph follows Lincoln's first endorsement. read more...