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...

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...

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...

THOMAS JEFFERSON Jefferson handwrote, signed and dated this letter from Monticello in 1812 to James Leitch, a merchant in Charlottesville, Virginia. He wrote that he wanted a bottle of olive oil for an upcoming trip: "The more of it he can spare in silver, the more convenient it will be for the road." Jefferson was fascinated by the olive plant and ate olive oil regularly; it's one of the reasons he lived to 83 in a time when the average lifespan was 40. Third-person autograph letter signed "Th. Jefferson", 1p, 7x4. Monticello, April 30, 1812. Addressed on verso by Jefferson to "Mr. Leitch". In full: "Th. Jefferson understanding that Mr Leitch has olive oil, will be glad of a bottle of it. Being to set out on a journey within 2 or 3 days he asks the favor of him to change the inclosed bill [not included]. The more of it he can spare in silver, the more convenient it will be for the road." JAMES LEITCH was a merchant in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Leitch Storehouse still stands at 230-218 Court Square in downtown Charlottesville. 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...

WOODROW WILSON As President he signed and dated this hardbound copy of his speech to a joint session of congress requesting a Declaration of War on Germany. Book signed: "Woodrow Wilson/1 August, 1920" as President on first flyleaf, 16 pages, 8x12¼, hardcover. Address of the President of the United States Delivered at a Joint Session of the Two Houses of Congress April 2, 1917, privately printed in 1918. The complete text of President Wilson's speech requesting that Congress declare war on Germany and her allies. On April 6, four days after Wilson delivered this "War Message", Congress overwhelmingly passed the War Resolution that brought the U.S. into WWI. In part: "The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them…. read more...

FIVE PRESIDENTS: RONALD REAGAN, GERALD FORD, GEORGE BUSH, BILL CLINTON and JIMMY CARTER All five presidents from 1975 to 1992 - Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton - signed this engraving of the White House. White House Engraving signed: "Ronald Reagan", "Gerald R. Ford", "George Bush", "Bill Clinton" and "Jimmy Carter". B/w, 8x6 overall, oval image 4¼x1½ (one surface). White House engraving by "Bureau of Engraving and Printing." "Best wishes" written in unknown hand to left of Clinton's signature. Signatures of the 38th-42nd U.S. Presidents. Republican GERALD R. FORD (1913-2006) served as the nation's 38th U.S. President from 1974-1977. Ford, who had assumed the Presidency upon the resignation of Richard M. Nixon, holds the distinction of being the only person not to be elected to either the Vice Presidency or the Presidency. Ford was denied election in his own right when he was defeated by Democrat JAMES EARL "JIMMY" CARTER (born in 1924), who was 39th U.S. 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...

GEORGE WASHINGTON Four years before he took command of American forces at Boston, the future President signs a receipt for the purchase of oyster shells Receipt signed in text: "George Washington", 1 page, 6½x2½. Matted and framed to an overall size of 13¼x20½. No place, 1771 July 10. In a business dealing with an illiterate man, Washington writes his own name and also the name of the oyster dealer, next to the latter's mark. In full: "Received from George Washington One pound seven shillings and three pence in full for the within shells. Chas his mark [showing] Lewis". Also docked by Washington at right margin: "No. 68 Ch Lewis/L1"7"0/10 July 1771/L". George Washington (1732-1799), who became known as the "Father of His Country", set precedents for future Presidents by limiting his service as first U.S. President to two terms, and - indeed - by refusing to seek a kingship. A delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia (1774-1775) and member of the U.S. read more...