THE MONTH AFTER THE BRITISH BLOCKADED THE EASTERN SEABOARD SOUTH OF NARRAGANSETT DURING THE WAR OF 1812, SHIP'S PAPERS ARE ISSUED TO A VESSEL FROM GLOUSTER, MASSACHUSETTS   JAMES MADISON, JAMES MONROE and JOHN KITTREDGE Partly Printed DS: "James Madison" as fourth U.S. President and "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State, 1p, 10x15, irregularly cut. Washington, D.C., 1813 December 8. Ship's passport on vellum signed in Washington but issued out of "State of Massachusetts, District of Glouster". Cosigned: "John Kittredge Coll." as Collector for that port. In part: "By the President of the United States of America SUFFER the Schoner (sic) Dolphin Samuel Grace master or commander of the burthen of Sixty nine tons or thereabouts mounted with No guns navigated with Six men TO PASS with her Company Passengers Goods and Merchandize without any hinderance seizure or molestation the said Schooner appearing by good testimoney to belong to one or more of the Citizens of the United States and to him or them only...." On vellum. read more...

PRESIDENTS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, HARRY TRUMAN and JOHN F. KENNEDY All three signed this postcard featuring a 45-star American flag, postmarked during TR's Presidency. Roosevelt and Kennedy almost certainly signed as President. Postcard signed: "T Roosevelt", "Harry Truman", "John Kennedy", 3½x5½. Postcard bearing on verso a US flag with 45 stars, outlined in gold glitter, signed there by all three. Addressed on verso by an unknown hand to Miss Louise Herbst, 2308 Bryant Street, City, postmarked San Francisco, California, October 22, 1907. A nice collection of of America's 26th, 33rd and 35th Presidents. This collection must have been gathered over many years. John F. Kennedy was not even born until 1917, two years before Roosevelt's death. THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919), HARRY TRUMAN (1884-1972) and JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917-1963) are among the nation's most venerated chief executives.  Since the postcard contains no other text, it was probably returned with Teddy Roosevelt's signature during his Presidency (1901-1909). Kennedy probably signed as President too. read more...

THOMAS JEFFERSON Edward Church, Consul to Bilbao, Spain, was the first United States consul to be rejected by a foreign port. This 1790 document, signed by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, is Church's commission as United States Consul to Bilbao and the document that started the whole affair Manuscript Letter Signed: "Th: Jefferson" as Secretary of State, 1p, 7¼x8¼. New York, 1790 June 17. To Edward Church, Esq. In full: "Sir, The President of the United States desiring to avail the public of your services as Consul for the Port of Bilboa [sic], I have now the honor of enclosing you the Commission, and of expressing to you the sentiments of perfect esteem with which I am, Sir Your Most obedient and Most humble Servant". On June 4, 1790, in a letter to the U.S. Senate, President Washington nominated 14 Consuls and Vice-Consuls, including "Edward Church, of Massachusetts, to be Consul of the United States of America, for the port of Bilboa [sic] in the kingdom of Spain, and for such parts of read more...

HARRY TRUMAN and CABINET Official 14x10½ Cabinet Photo, taken two weeks after the Inauguration for his (unexpected) full term, signed by the President himself, by Vice President Barkley, and by all nine members of the Cabinet. Attorney General Clark would soon become a Supreme Court Justice. This is one of the last photos of Defense Secretary Forrestal, sacked by Truman 6 weeks later and dead under suspicious circumstances within 3 months. Photograph signed: "Harry Truman" as President, "Alben W. Barkley" as Vice President, "Dean Acheson" as Secretary of State, "James Forrestal" as Secretary of Defense, "Tom C. Clark" as Attorney General, "John W. Snyder" as Secretary of the Treasury, "Charles F. Brannan" as Secretary of Agriculture, "J. M. Donaldson" as Postmaster General, "Charles Sawyer" as Secretary of Commerce, "Maurice J. Tobin" as Secretary of Labor, and "J. A. Krug" as Secretary of the Interior. In all eleven signatures, a complete roster of the Cabinet. 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...

APOLLO 14 and GEORGE H.W. BUSH This embroidered cloth arm patch was carried to the moon on the 1971 Apollo 14 mission. It was then given to the office of George H.W. Bush while he was Ambassador to the United Nations. Accompanied by a letter on a UN ambassador's card handwritten, dated and signed "George B" by Bush. Two items: 1) Embroidered cloth arm patch unsigned. Captioned: "APOLLO 14/Shepard Roosa Mitchell". Apollo 14 mission logo surrounded by gold and brown borders, with captions gold in brown and blue embroidery within gold border. According to the enclosed letter, this arm patch was carried to the moon and then given to Bush's office while he was Ambassador to the United Nations. Fine condition. 2) Autograph letter signed "George B". 2 pages, 6¼x4, 1 card front and verso. Blue-bordered white card with Great Seal of the United States. Nov. 11, 1971. Addressed to "Mr. Josten". Titled: "The Representative/of the/United States of America/to the/United Nations/George Bush/Ambassador". In full: "Dear Mr. Josten, When you are in N.Y.C. come by our office (799 UN Plaza) Adm. 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...

WARREN HARDING Archive of letters written by and to the President, his aides and sister, including a letter offering evidence to refute Nan Britton's claim that Harding was father of her child. Accompanying memorabilia includes vintage photos of Harding, and passes signed by two prominent US Senators. Collection includes: 1) Autograph Letter signed: "W.G.H.", 1 page, 5½x6¾ with blank integral leaf. No place, May 22, n. d., but with original mailing envelope postmarked Washington, D.C., May 22, 1917. To Mrs. Charles Williamson, in full: "Thank you for your note and clipping. Am glad to have both. Funny thing - I have a letter from California signed Ruth Williamson, who writes as though she knows me. Isn't that your daughter's name? But surely your daughter is not that far away. I am to be in New York either on Thursday, 24th, or Tuesday, 29th. One or the other is sure, possibly both. I'll be delighted to look you up. With assurances of high esteem, I am sincerely yours". Multiple mailing folds. Toned at folds. Multiple minor ink smudges. Otherwise, fine condition. 2) Autograph Letter signed: "Your Friend" [Harding], 2 pages (integral leaf), 4¾x6½. read more...

PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON The 42nd U.S. President pens this kind note to his political consultant in replacement of his original autograph, which was lost when he visited a Manchester restaurant, signed in black ink Autograph Note Signed: "Bill Clinton" in black ink as 42nd U.S. President. 6½x4¼. Place: Washington, District of Columbia. Date (circa): May-June, 1993. Seal of the President, embossed in gold, at upper left. This card was introduced to the White House by George Bush. In full: "To Brandon Mallard. -with thanks for your interest in our government. -good luck in school and have a good summer." Lightly soiled, light tape remnants at top verso (no show through). Accompanied by Typed Letter Signed: "Wendy Smith", 1p, 8½x11. The White House, Washington, 1993 June 2. To Brandon Mallard. In full: "I sincerely apologize for failing to return your autograph when we visited Chez Vachon Restaurant. read more...