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...

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...

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...

BILL CLINTON This rare and significant letter touches on two of the many scandals of the 42nd U.S. President administration. He handwrote, signed and dated this one-sentence letter in 1993 to Kathleen Willey, who accused him of sexual assault five years later. The letter itself mentions "Vince" - probably Vince Foster, Jr., a colleague of the First Lady. Foster had reportedly committed suicide less than two weeks before this letter was signed Autograph Letter Signed: "Bill". One page. 6½x8½. Written on official White House stationery letterhead. Place: Washington, D. C., Date: July 29, 1993. Addressed to: "Dear Kathleen", his friend (and later accuser), Kathleen Willey. In full: "Thanks for your note about Vince and for your friendship. Best". BILL CLINTON, born William Jefferson Blythe III in Hope, Arkansas in 1946, was Governor of Arkansas (1979-1981, 1983-1992) and the first Democrat reelected President since FDR. read more...

JOHN F. KENNEDY During his first campaign for a seat in Congress (1946), he signed this handwritten letter to a former Harvard classmate, discussing measures to secure the Italian-American vote. Rare Political Autograph Letter Signed: "Jack", 2 pages, 6x9, front and verso. To Tony (former Harvard classmate Tony Galluccio). No place, no date but during his first race for Congress in 1946. In full: "Thanks very much for your letter. It sounds like you and Joe did a good deal. It is fine with me if you and Joe take the trip in August. Just give me your schedule before you go and I will pay expenses. Be sure & let Frank know when you are going & keep him informed in a general way. I agree with you that Peter Gay would be a good man. I think it would be a good idea if you would get to know the Italian members of the legislature as well as possible. Should I write Gay or Demarco or anyone else thanking them? I hope to talk with you this weekend. Will call your house." Joe was Cambridge Councilman JOSEPH A. deGUGLIELMO, Frank was JFK's father's aide 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...

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...

1904: THEODORE ROOSEVELT's ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE CERTIFICATION Official Electoral College certification by the President of the Senate, William P. Frye, also signed by tellers of the US Senate and House of Representatives Printed Declaration signed: "Wm. P. Frye/President pro tempore" of the U.S. Senate and "Julius C. Burrows" and "J.W. Bailey" as tellers on the part of the Senate and "Joseph H. Gaines" and "Gordon Russell" as tellers on the part of the House of Representatives, 1p, 11½x28, Washington, District of Columbia, not dated. Certificate of the Electoral College votes deciding Theodore Roosevelt as President and Charles W. Fairbanks as Vice President. According to the 12th Amendment to the U.S. 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...