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...

JAMES MADISON and JAMES MONROE President James Madison and future President James Monroe sign four language ship papers in 1811. Partly Printed DS: "James Madison" as fourth U.S. President and future fifth U.S. President "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State, 1p, 21¼x16½. Four-language ship's papers signed in Washington, D.C. but issued from Newburyport, Massachusetts, 1811 November 29. The text is in four columns, each in a different language; from left to right: French, Spanish, English and Dutch. In part: "BE IT KNOWN, That leave and permission are hereby given to Timothy Pilsbury, master or commander of the Scho[oner] called the Abigail of the burthen of 87 tons, or thereabouts, lying at present in the port of Newburyport bound for Bordeaux and laden with Fish, Tongues & Gourds, to depart and proceed with his Vessel & Cargo on his said voyage, such Vessel having been visited, and the read more...

ANDREW JACKSON His Presidential signature (bold and 6 inches long) on an 1836 patent for an improved machine to make ship's thimbles, also signed by Secretary of State Forsyth and Attorney General Butler, 11½x15½, framed with a portrait and biographic plaque to 29x25. Accompanied by a 3-page handwritten description of the device by the inventor, Prentice White. Patent signed: "Andrew Jackson" as President, "John Forsyth" as Secretary of State, "B. F. Butler" as Attorney General, 1 page, 11½x15½. Washington, D.C., 1836 July 1. Patent issued to Prentice White for [in part] "a new and useful improvement in the Machine for making Ship's Thimbles which improvements he states has not been known or used before his application; [White] hath made oath that he does verily believe that he is the true inventor or discoverer of the said improvement; hath paid into the treasury of the United States the sum of thirty dollars." Archivally double matted and framed with a seated portrait and a biographical plaque, to an overall size of 29.5 x 25.25. read more...

JOHN F. KENNEDY Appointing a liberal Republican New York Congressman as part of the U.S. delegation to a unification celebration in Italy. Typed Letter Signed: "John F. Kennedy" as 35th U.S. President, 1p, 6¾x8¾. The White House, Washington, 1961 September 14. To Honorable Seymour Halpern, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. In full: "I am delighted to know that you will be able to serve as a Member of the delegation to attend the ceremonies incident to the Centennial Celebration of the Unification of Italy which is being held at Turin. My best wishes for a successful mission." The United Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed at Turin, its capital, on March 17, 1861. SEYMOUR HALPERN was a liberal Republican Congressman from New York City (1959-1973). His Queens district was about 10% Italian, but that was the largest among the many ethnic groups residing there. President KENNEDY knew that Congressman Halpern had been an autograph collector since he was a teenager. Out of consideration to Halpern, the President made a special effort to clearly sign his first name and middle initial. Kennedy usually wrote them in an illegible scrawl. read more...

GEORGE WASHINGTON This extremely rare undated note, handwritten to his wife Martha, was sent in response to a suggestion by her nephew John Dandridge Autograph Note Signed in Text: with "General" and "Washington" in text. Penned and signed on verso: "Washington's hand-writing./ Jared Sparks". 1 page, 5x4. No place, no date. George Washington transcribes a letter his wife Martha wrote, then adds a comment. In full: "I have communicated [crossed-out words] the contents of your letter to the General, who readily consents to comply with your request and will, accordingly send the Bonds to Mr. B. Bassett, to bring such thereon. N.B. The above was given in answer by Mrs. Washington to the proposition of Mr. Jno Dandridge". General Washington had started to write "Dandridge" after "Mrs." but then changed the "D" to a "W" and penned his wife's name. BURWELL BASSETT (1734-1793) was married to Martha Washington's sister, Anna Maria. In addition, their daughter read more...

AIR FORCE ONE: RICHARD NIXON, GERALD FORD, JIMMY CARTER, RONALD REAGAN, GEORGE H. W. BUSH AND BILL CLINTON This 20x16 color photo of Air Force One has been signed by three decades of presidents: Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. These are all six men to hold the office of President of the United States between 1969 to 2000. Large Photograph signed: "Bill Clinton/4-4-94" as President, "George Bush", "Ronald Reagan", "Jimmy Carter", "Gerald Ford" and "Richard Nixon". Color, 20x16. The six U.S. Presidents who served from 1969-2000 have signed this photograph of Air Force One, a Boeing 707 aircraft that was extensively modified to meet presidential requirements. This photograph was taken sometime in 1977 or early 1978. The logo above the tail number was the logo for the U.S. Air Force's 30th Anniversary in 1977. It was in use until 1989 when it was replaced by a Boeing 747. The original paint scheme of Air Force One was designed at the request of President John F. Kennedy, who wanted the airplane to reflect the nation's spirit. 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...

PRESIDENT WARREN G. HARDING and CHIEF JUSTICE CHARLES HUGHES The two men signed several items in this large collection that's framed in the Gallery of History style! Collection comprises 1) INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED: “To Mr. H. R. Cornish With cordial regards/ Feb. 23, 1930 Charles E. Hughes”. B/w. 7x10½ visible. Dated February 23, 1930. Fine condition. 2) TYPED LETTER SIGNED: “Charles E. Hughes”. 6½x8½ visible, total size 7x9. Dated March 1, 1924. One page. Features Secretary of State letterhead. Message in full: “My dear Mr. Straus/ I have received your letter of February twenty-ninth and take pleasure in sending you an autographed copy of my address in honor of President Harding./ Appreciating your comment, I am, sincerely yours ”. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. 3) PROGRAM SIGNED: “Charles E. Hughes/ Feb. 27, 1924”. 5½x8¾ visible. 20 pages, 18 with the text of Hughes' address. Complete bound copy of the program in nook behind checks. Dated February 27, 1924. read more...

JAMES GARFIELD The 20th President of the United States signed this 5¾x2¾ piece of paper less than two months before being assassinated in office. Signature: "James A. Garfield/May 21 1881" 5¾x2¾ piece of paper. 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). A political moderate, Garfield was the compromise choice of a deadlocked Republican Convention in 1880, nominated on the 36th ballot and elected President by a narrow margin. Garfield's assassination by a disappointed office seeker helped advance the cause of civil service reform which he had advocated. Shot on July 2 1881, Garfield died on September 19, only 200 days into his term. Signatures of Garfield as President, are thus extremely rare. Fine condition.  read more...