The HFS Exclusive Historical Autographs & Memorabilia Collection

KENNEDY FAMILY ARCHIVE Collection of nearly 80 personal items spanning almost a century, most of which were the personal mementoes of Mary Loretta Connelly, Joseph P. Kennedy's sister. Included are many signed letters from the family patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.; items signed by John, Robert and Ted Kennedy and spouses Jackie, Ethel and Joan; mementoes associated with the eldest Kennedy brother, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr; items connected with Kennedy sisters Pat, Eunice, Jean and Kathleen; and souvenirs of the next generation of Kennedy's: JFK Jr., Caroline Kennedy, and their cousin Joseph Kennedy II and Ted Kennedy, Jr. Most of the items in this remarkable collection of Kennedy family history come from Kerry McCarthy, the granddaughter of Joseph P. Kennedy's sister Mary Loretta (Kennedy) Connelly, and herself a well-known and respected political activist. They have been in her family for many years. Additional well authenticated items offered here to round out the collection are JFK's clipped signature, the handwritten manuscript by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the photographs of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Joseph Kennedy II, and the invitation to a Kennedy Presidential Library event signed by Caroline Kennedy. 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...

CARTOONISTS: WALTER LANTZ, HANK KETCHAM, CHARLES SCHULZ, JIM DAVIS, STAN LEE, and many, many others Limited edition, 35½x26¾ color lithograph, a 1986 benefit poster for Voice for Children, signed in artists' pencil and ink by 63 cartoonists, below a collage of favorite comic strip characters surrounding a central drawn image of President and Mrs. Reagan. One of the largest collections of cartoon talent in the industry's history, on a single sheet! Poster signed: "Cathy Guisewite" (Cathy), "Bill/Schorr" (The Grizwells), "Aragonés 86" (MAD magazine), "Rog/Bollen" (Animal Crackers), "Larry/Wright" (Kit 'N' Carlyle), "Ketcham" (Dennis the Menace), "Jim Unger" (Herman), "Bob/Thaves" (Frank and Ernest), "Kelly Freas" (Hugo-winning science fiction art), "Jack Hannah" (Disney and Lantz studios), "Morrie/Turner" (Wee Pals), "Bill Justice" 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...

ANNIE OAKLEY Before leaving on a ship, probably on tour, "Little Sure Shot" writes to friends. EXTREMELY RARE ALS: "Annie Oakley", 2p, 5¼x8½, separate sheets. On stationery of Eastern Steamship Lines, Brocton, Mass., no year, September 24. Begins: "Dear Friends". In full, with grammatical errors and misspellings: "I realy am ashamed to think that I neglected to write you. and send our sincere regrets to dear Allice. But when I think it all over, I feel that God does things for our own good and the poorer Boy is better off and happier than he was away from his little Wife and Baby. The dear little photo is so cute. I would love to see you all again. Fern is feeling better and is in an office 35oo per week & percentage. And we hope that her Mother will strike oil on her farm. 5 wells on 2 next farms all paying. I havent been well. 5 weeks in N.Y.C. and only got one dress made. We sail in 5 minutes so must see & mail this. Bushels of love to all from both." Annie Oakley (1860-1926) was born Phoebe Anne Oakley Mozee in Ohio. She was the sixth of eight children. read more...

BRIGHAM YOUNG, HEBER C. KIMBALL, NEWELL WHITNEY and THOMAS BULLOCK Collection of paper currency issued in 1849, including notes signed by Young as President and Heber Kimball as First Counselor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, framed in the Gallery of History style with pictures of both leaders to 33x24 Comprises: (1) Partly Printed Note, not signed, 3¼x2. Great Salt Lake City, 1849 March 28. 25-cent note, not filled in. Slightly creased. Lightly soiled. (2) Partly Printed Note signed: "Brigham Young" as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Heber C. Kimball" as First Counselor and "Thos. Bullock - Clerk", 3¾x2. Great Salt Lake City, 1849 January 20. No. 842. In full: "Pay to N.K. Whitney or bearer fifty cents on demand." Embossed seal nicks the "B" of Brigham and the "H of Heber and touches Bullock's signature. (3) Partly Printed Note signed: "B. Young" as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "H.C. Kimball" as First Counselor and " read more...

THE GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS URGES THE PRESIDENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE TO TAKE THE SAME STEPS AS MASSACHUSETTS HAD TAKEN IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE FISHING INDUSTRY ON THE MERRIMACK RIVER   JOHN HANCOCK. Autograph Letter, unsigned, 1p, 6¾x9. Boston, 1783 October 31. To "His Excellency Meshech Weare Esqr. President of the State of New Hampshire". Begins: "Sir". In full: "In compliance with the Request of the Two Branches of the General Court I inclose you Two Acts of this Government making provision to prevent the Destruction of Fish by Mill-Dams in Merrimack River & c - As the Design'd [illegible] of this Bill will much Depend upon the measures that shall be Adopted by the Legislature of your State, I am to Request that your Excellency will be pleas'd to lay those Acts before them, and cannot but flatter myself that they will Take such effectual Steps as will ensure the good Effects for which our Govt. Court had in View in passing the Bill - I am with Sentiments of [portion of word crossed out] Esteem, Sir, Your Excellency's Most Obedt & Humbl Servt." Hancock's retained copy of his letter to Weare. Docketed in unknown hand on verso. read more...

ON HIS FIRST FULL DAY AS PRIME MINISTER, CASTRO SIGNS A LAW SUSPENDING PAYMENT OF EXPENSES TO HIMSELF AND OTHER GOVERNMENT MINISTERS UNTIL THE GOALS OF THE REVOLUTION HAVE BEEN REACHED   FIDEL CASTRO and MANUEL URRUTIA. Important Typed DS: "Fidel Castro Ruz" as Prime Minister and "M Urrutia" as President, 1p, 10¾x14. El Palacio de la Presidencia, Havana, 1959 February 17. Countersigned by the Minister of the Treasury. In Spanish, not fully translated. Plus a cover page, on "Republic de Cuba/Presidencia" stationery, titled: "LAW No. 85/1959/that suspends the allocations for expenses of representation/and reimbursement for the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the/Government". Prime Minister Castro and President Urrutia sign this law which suspends expenses and reimbursements to government officials from March, 1959, "inasmuch as the Revolution was fought to eradicate unemployment and elevate the standard of one's life,...until those goals have been reached.... read more...

WOODROW WILSON The President of the United States autographed this letter in 1921 lamenting the country's decision to not join the League of Nations Typed Letter Signed, "Woodrow Wilson" on a 7x9 one-page letter. Dated January 22, 1921. On White House letterhead stationery. Six weeks before leaving office, a physically depleted Wilson writes to editor and pacifist Edward Bok, discussing his plans to talk about the League of Nations during his pending retirement. Wilson had conceived the League of Nations to settle disputes without wars, but America never joined the body because Congress did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles. Wilson, who suffered a stroke in 1919, lobbied heavily but unsuccessfully for the ratification of the Treaty, but the United States was the only one of 32 Allied powers that did not accept the Treaty. Wilson's letter states in part: “Thank you for your letter of the nineteenth and your renewal of the suggestion that I speak in Philadelphia on the League of Nations after my retirement from office. I think it depends very much upon the read more...

HENRY FORD SELLS THREE ACRES OF LAND (NEAR HIS RIVER ROUGE AUTOMOBILE FACTORY) TO THE RAILROAD FOR ONE DOLLAR!   HENRY FORD and CLARA J. FORD. Partly Printed DS: "Henry Ford" and "Clara J. Ford", 2p, 8x13 (front and verso). Wayne County, Michigan, 1929 June 1. Henry and his wife Clara sell 2.964 acres of land in Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan, to the Michigan Central Railroad Company "for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) and other good and valuable considerations". The land is located adjoining the railroad's "original 100.00 feet right of way...1970.08 feet along the southerly line of said Michigan Central Railroad Company's original 100.00 feet right of way to a point marked by a concrete monument on the westerly lips of Southfield Road...to a point at the center of the Rouge River...." Also signed by two witnesses and a Notary Public. In 1917, Henry Ford built the huge River Rouge Plant to assemble his Model T's and tractors. One of the earliest schools in Dearborn was a one-room brick building known as the Dort School. It was located on the bank of the Rouge River, just south of the Michigan Central Railroad. read more...

ANDREW JACKSON and JOHN H. EATON The friends discuss their shared passion for race horses, and Eaton sends Jackson a gift of a pipe. When President Jackson appointed Eaton to his Cabinet, it triggered a major political scandal which changed the course of American history. Autograph Letter Signed: "A.J." on lower half of concluding page of 2½p Autograph Letter Signed (separate sheets) of John H. Eaton to Jackson, 8x9¾. Eaton's letter is written from Granville, North Carolina, 1826 September 12. Integral address leaf addressed by Eaton to General Jackson at "Hermitage, Davidson County, Tennessee" noting that it would be delivered by "Rev'd H.M. Cryer". In part: "The Sir Archie Horse sold to Mr. Cryer was bred by me-his Dam and grand Dam were very fine mares, of Roanoak's color-five feet three inches high ellegant (sic), compact and active...I am quite partial to old Archie, but think the Dam of Roanoak was certainly as fine or a finer Nag. In the Autumn of 1819 after covering some mares in the early part of the Spring, this Horse was trained & run at Warrenton. He was beaten by Mr. Drummonds Napoleon. read more...