Typed letter in Hebrew, signed as President of Israel, thanking a retiring cabinet minister: "my friend and dear teacher" Yehuda Leib Fishman (Maimon). TLS: "Chaim Weizmann" in Hebrew as President of Israel, 1 page, 6½x8¾. No place, 1951 October 8. On letterhead of the State of Israel to the Honorable Rabbi Yehuda Leib Fishman (Maimon). In Hebrew, translated. In full: "It is not a parable to tell you your honor, my friend and dear teacher, that I have the privilege to work with you for more than 20 years, and I recognize and respect your actions for more than 40 years. Today, when you leave the table of government, I tell you what is in my heart. I don't know anyone from the senior office of the Zionist Movement that awakens in me more honor in his beliefs than you." A carbon copy of this letter was sent to Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Russian-born chemist and Zionist CHAIM WEIZMANN (1874-1952) was President of the World Zionist Organization (1920-1930, 1935-1946) and the first President of Israel from 1949 until his death on November 9, 1952, just 13 months after he signed this letter.

Manuscript Letter signed: "Brigham Young", 1p,4½x5¼. Salt Lake City, 1868 May 9. To Mr. Joseph D. Young, New York City. In full: "In compliance with your request I herewith forward to you The Autograph of" BRIGHAM YOUNG (1801-1877) succeeded the murdered Joseph Smith as head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1844. He guided the mass migration of the LDS faithful ("Mormons") to the Great Salt Lake Valley in Utah and served as the first Governor of the Territory of Utah (1849-1857). Lightly soiled. Mounting adhesive remnants on verso show through at corners. Light stain touches "Br" of signature.

Ink signature on a printed German-language form letter announcing the agenda of a 1902 Zionist meeting Printed Form LS: "Herzl" in ink in German, 1 page, 8x10¾. Vienna, 1902 August 10. Announcing the agenda of an upcoming Zionist meeting. In part: "Esteemed Colleague!...we have already invited you to the meeting...at large to be held on Tuesday, October 28, 1902. The agenda is as follows: 1. Report of the...Chairman regarding the political situation as well as discussion and passing of resolutions to further actions. 2. Report and passing of resolutions about the agenda of the annual conference...." In 1896, Theodor Herzl wrote Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) advocating the founding of a Jewish State in Palestine. He organized the Zionist World Congress in Basel, Switzerland in 1897 and was President of the Zionist Organization from 1897 to his death in 1904. In Europe, Herzl kept in contact with many leaders. In 1901, England offered the Jewish people land in British East Africa. This divided many Zionists who wanted a home in Palestine. Extreme worry over the dispute injured Herzl's health and hastened his death in 1904 at the age of 44. 3 file holes at left margin, 2 are torn. Creased. Folds. Lightly foxed at blank areas.

Signed sepia-toned cabinet card photo of Samuel Francis Smith, the man who wrote the hymn America Photograph Mount signed: "S. Fr. Smith." B/w sepia-toned, 4¼x6 overall, image 4x5¼ (two surfaces). After a visit to Germany in 1831, 23-year-old theological student Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), impressed that German children started their school day by singing a hymn, wrote a patriotic hymn using a simple German melody. Coincidentally, the melody was the same as that of the British national anthem, "God Save the King". Smith jotted down the complete hymn on a piece of scrap paper within half an hour, and the result, "America", was first sung at a children's celebration in Boston's Park Street Church on July 4, 1832. George Gershwin used Smith's phrase "Of Thee I Sing" as the title of his 1932 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quoted the entire first stanza as he concluded his "I have a dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Stray ink smudge on mount above signature. Slightly soiled at upper left and right edges of mount. Otherwise, fine condition.