. The airship pioneer writes a letter regarding the receipt for cigar-cases benefiting the Red Cross. Third Person ALS: "Graf Zeppelin" in German, 1p, 5½ x 8½. Friedrichshafen, 1917 January 22. Fully translated: "Graf Zeppelin recommends to the Zeppelin Airship Construction Company to give the attorney at law, Mr. Schwab, the opportunity to receive orders for his timely cigar-cases benefiting the Red Cross." Ferdinand, Count von Zeppelin (1838-1917) entered the Prussian Army in 1858 and served in the Seven Weeks War and in the Franco-Prussian War. He was an observer with the Union army during the American Civil War. In 1891, he retired from the Prussian Army to devote himself to the building of motor-driven airships. Zeppelin invented the first rigid airship in 1900 and in 1906, built one that had a speed of 30 miles per hour. In 1908, he established at Friedrichshafen the Zeppelin Foundation for the development of aerial navigation and the manufacture of airships. Zeppelin died on March 8, 1917, seven weeks after writing this letter. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 33½ x 21.

The famed inventor sends a letter to an influential Kentucky congressman. Autograph Letter singed: "Saml F.B. Morse". 1p, 7¼ x 10. No place, no date. Morse writes to a Kentucky congressman instrumental in getting congress to appropriate $30,000 for an experimental line between Washington and Baltimore upon which, in May of 1844, he transmitted, using a code of dots and sashes that he developed (The Morse Code), his famous salutation “What Hath God Wrought”. 1 page, 7¼ x 10. Written and signed in black ink “Saml F.B. Morse” to: William P. Thomasson (congressman from Kentucky) from the telegraph room 9:30 P.M. In full: “Dear Sir / If there is any thing of interest / in the house to send to Baltimore / I will send it / Respectfully / Yr. Mo. Ob. Servt” Kentucky (1843-1847). Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 32¼ x 21¾. Minor chip on frame left front, minor wearing at frame corners. Samuel F. B. Morse (1791-1872) was an accomplished portrait and mural painter and founder of the National Academy of Design. On a trip to Europe in 1830, while observing French semaphores, he realized that messages could be sent even more quickly using an electrical spark.

Inscribed and signed photo of the film pioneering showing off photographs of the Lumière brothers and some early pieces of movie equipment. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Mr. Marx Reimers/From/Francis Doublier/1894./Motion Picture Pioneer/April 20th 1941/Fort Lee, N.J." B/w, 7¼ x 9½. Doublier, who is surrounded by relics from the early days of motion pictures, has also initialed: "F.D." under a description of several pieces of equipment. In full: "Camera, printer,/projector used/in 1895 to 1900". He has also identified two photographs displayed around him: "Louis Lumière" and "Auguste and Louis Lumière". FRANCIS DOUBLIER (1878-1948), the first to see moving pictures projected onto a wall, signed and dated this photograph while Vice President of Major Film Laboratories, Inc. of New York. His photographic career began in 1894, when the 16-year-old became associated with brothers AUGUSTE MARIE NICOLAS LUMIÈRE (1862-1954) and LOUIS JEAN LUMIÈRE (1864-1948) and their experimentation with motion picture photography.

The professional racecar driver who co-founded Chevrolet signed this beautifully framed typed letter. Typed Letter Signed: "Louis Chevrolet" in black ink. 8x10 ½ visible of an 8½x11 sheet. One page. Framed with two descriptive plaques and an image of Chevrolet. Dated October 9, 1931. Letterhead from the Glenn L. Martin Motors Company. Letter in part: "I suppose you are wondering what is becoming of us, and our reduction gears drive motor…This summer we made two different reduction gears, which we tried, but they didn't prove successful, as we couldn't mount them securely enough on the nose of our present crankcase. This forced us to redesign the reduction gear for incorporation on a special crankcase, layout of which is now being completed. If nothing unforeseen happens I expect to have a motor with a new reduction gear running before long". Louis Chevrolet (1878-1941) was born in Switzerland, but moved to France as a boy and then Canada and the United States as a young man. He co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company on November 3, 1911, in Detroit, Michigan. After leaving Chevy in 1916, he co-founded a company named Frontenac Motor Corporation with his two brothers.

. ALS: "C Babbage", 1p, 3½x4. 1 Dorset St (Manchester, England), June 11 (no year). Begins: "My dear Madam". In full: "It will give me great pleasure to see Miss Manwaring at my party to night. I am glad on awakening this morning to find the clouds promise a fine day for the Horticultural Exhibitions. Shall we meet there." Charles Babbage (1791-1871) is known as the "Father of Computing" for his ideas about building an "analytical engine", the predecessor of the digital computer. He proposed operations research that involved the idea of using machines to perform routine mathematical operations, eliminating errors in human calculation. Although he never built his computer, his ideas influenced those who later carried out his ideas. Lightly creased, soiled and stained. Upper right corner missing. Top right corner of frame is splintered.  Framed to an overall size of 28x18.

Rare handwritten note to his son saying "keep steady to your business and all will go right and straight" Autograph Note signed: "HD" and "H Deringer" in his hand as part of his son's name in the address, 2p, 7¼x9¾, front and verso. No place, no date, but circa 1833. Postscript written on verso of an address leaf addressed in his hand to his son: "John H Deringer Esq/Tioga Village/Tioga County/Penna". In full: "P.S. I am pleased to hear that you have commenced selling goods and that you are coming on so well, keep steady to your business and all will go right and straight." Ink note (unknown hand) on address side: "Henry Derringer [sic]/1833". Henry Deringer (1786-1868) invented the short barreled, heavy caliber pocket pistol that still bears his name. (The pistol type is spelled "Derringer"; only those of his manufacture are spelled with the single "r".) The popular weapon, easily concealable but packing a wallop, was "the weapon of choice of riverboat gamblers". John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln with an original Deringer. Deringer autographs are rare. Mailing fold at the "HD". Fragile. Moderately soiled, light show through of ink. Sporadically stained.

Typed Letter Signed: "Bertrand Russell". 1p, 7½x9. Penrhyndeudraeth (Wales, United Kingdom), 1963 April 27. To Jack Benjamin, Brooklyn, New York. In full: "Thank you for all your recent newspaper cuttings, which are of great value to me in my work. If I have failed for some time to acknowledge your great assistance I assure you it is not for want of gratitude, but merely through pressure of events. As you know, I have recently written several articles for American publications, and I am most interested to see repercussions to these in editorial and letters columns. With warm good wishes, Yours Sincerely," Bertrand Russell signed this letter of April 27, 1963 thanking one of his many supporters for clippings sent to him of recent articles Russell had published in the New York Times and the fierce reaction they generated. Russell had written these articles denouncing the hard-line, anti-communist stance of the United States government and its role in the Vietnam War. His articles, specifically "Is Communism a Menace?" (April 7), received hostile public response from most quarters; however, they did help to inspire the burgeoning American peace movement.

The chemist penned and signed this note asking Mr. Potterin to speak to him later Autograph Note signed: "L.P.", in black ink. One page. 2¾x1¼. To "Mr. Potterin - Eugene". In French, translated in full: "Speak to me about him after/the arrival of Mr. Lapetair, the injector, etc." Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) was a chemist and biologist who is considered one of a handful of the most important pioneers of microbiology. His body of work directly led to the development of vaccinations to protect humans from deadly diseases, the invalidation of the spontaneous generation theory of life, and the invention of pasteurization. Pasteurization is the process of heating dairy products to eliminate microbial organisms that can spread disease. Germ theory was already rapidly growing support, but Pasteur conducted controlled experiments from 1860-1864 that investigated germs, disease, and potential causality. These experiments put to rest any further serious opposition to the theory. While Pasteur's influence on microbiology and chemistry stretch far into the sciences, his notoriety today is primarily due to the namesake process of pasteurization used on virtually all dairy products sold in stores.

The businessman signed this letter that's beautifully framed with an image of him! Typed Letter Signed: "F. O. Stanley" on an 8½x11 sheet of paper (8¼x10 visible). One page. Dated October 9, 1911. Message in Part: "I am enclosing checks amounting to $3000. In reference to lease of the State land you mention, I have no objection to having it transferred to you, provided it is agreeable to Mr. Young, and I am writing him in reference to the same". Freelan O. Stanley (1849-1940) and his brother Francis E. Stanley became businessmen who developed the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, eventually building the Stanley Steamer. Their steam-powered automobiles grew extremely popular, although it was eventually superseded by the Model T. Steam engine vehicles gradually became obsolete technologically. After Stanley was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of tuberculosis in 1903, Stanley resolved to get some fresh air. Until his death in 1940, Stanley for the most part resided in Estes Park, Colorado. Through his investment in the fledgling town, Estes Park grew significantly.

. Black-bordered ALS: "Lister", 1p, 4x6. Portland Place, London, 1899 September 14. To Dr. John D. Scott. In full: "I thank you for the copy you have kindly sent me of your eloquent address in which you properly vindicate the honour of our noble profession. I thank you also for your exceedingly generous reference to my own work." Joseph Lister, created 1st Baron Lister of Lime Regis in 1897, was the founder of antiseptic surgery. He introduced carbolic acid as an antiseptic in 1865 and in 1877, demonstrated conclusively that his method of antisepsis reduced danger to life from surgery. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of29x22.

TLS: "R.J. Gatling", 1p, 8½x11½. Hartford, Conn., 1885 April 14. As President, on stationery of The Gatling Gun Company. To Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford. In full: "The Chief of Ordnance, State of New York, advises us that he has sent two Gatling Guns here for repairs, and that if anything is needed in the way of appendages or spare parts, that he be furnished with a list of the same, before he gives the order for them. As soon as the guns are received, please put them in good working order, and furnish us with a list of the articles required as above." Exactly 20 years before this letter was written, John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln with a Derringer pistol. Twelve days later, U.S. Cavalry Sgt. Boston Corbett shot Booth with a Colt revolver. By the 1850s, Richard J. Gatling (1818-1903) had become wealthy from agricultural inventions such as machines for sowing rice and wheat. He is best known for inventing the rapid-fire Gatling gun, the first practical machine gun, patented in 1862, the year The Gatling Gun Company was founded in Indianapolis.

The Nobel Prize winning physicist apologizes for a missed appointment due to having been in his lab. Rare ALS: "P. Curie", 1½p, 5¾x4¼, front and verso. Faculté des Sciences de Paris, Cours de Physique, Paris, 1904 May 29. To an unnamed woman. Written from the Curie home at 108 Boulevard Kellerman. In French, translated. In full: "We sincerely regret Mme Curie and I having missed your appointment yesterday, which you granted us. I was in the laboratory yesterday at 5:30 in the evening. I found your letter but it was already too late and Mme Curie does not go to the laboratory at this time. Please excuse us and accept our sincerest best wishes." Five months earlier, Pierre and Marie Curie shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with Antoine Henri Becquerel for discovering radioactivity and studying uranium. The Curies continued their work on radioactivity, but Marie did not go to the laboratory as often as before. She was then three months pregnant and radioactive material was not something of which to be in contact. The Nobel Prize brought the Curies overwhelming public popularity, to their dislike. The volume of visitors made it impossible for them to work with the reclusiveness they so much enjoyed.