George Eastman responds to a Charles Edison regarding music selections Typed Letter Signed: "Geo Eastman" as Chairman of the Board of Eastman Kodak Company, ¾p, 8x7¼. Rochester, New York, 1929 February 5. On letterhead of Eastman Kodak Company to Charles Edison, son of Thomas A. Edison. In full: "I return herewith the lists of musical compositions which were enclosed in your letter of February 2nd, having marked eight of them as requested: Ave Maria (Schubert), Evening Star from Tannhauser, Largo-Xerxes (Handel), Londonderry Air, Marche Militaire (Schubert), Meistersinger - 'Prize Song' (Wagner), The Swan (Saint-Saens), Traume (Wagner). The compliment implied in your request is greatly appreciated." At the time of this letter, THOMAS ALVA EDISON (1847-1931) was continuing to perfect his favorite invention, the phonograph (he had first recorded sound in 1877, but put his invention aside the following year to work on the incandescent light), and was manufacturing and marketing a new line of radios. In the summer of 1929, he would also offer lateral cut records and accompanying players, but the company would cease recording operations in October 1929. Thomas' son, CHARLES EDISON (1890-1969), who was then Chairman of the Board of Thomas A. Edison, Inc.

. 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.

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.

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.

A rare, typed letter, on stationery of Lumiére Laboratories, signed by Lumière during World War II. Rare TLS: "A. Lumière in French, 2 pages, separate sheets, 8¼x10½. Lumière Laboratories, Lyon, France, 1943 May 26. To Doctor Maurice Vernet, Paris, France. Fully translated. In part: "Excuse me for resorting to the machine to respond to your benevolent and encouraging letter. I don't write well, and I would not want to impose the boredom of deciphering my handwriting. I am so touched by your appreciation which consoles me against all ostracism. In offering me unanimously the Presidency of the Duchenne de Boulogne Academy, all my colleagues expressed esteem for me which moved me profoundly and which I will not forget. It makes me contemplate with great serenity the obstacles that are ceaselessly thrown in the path I pursue as well as the malicious insinuations of sectarians and conformists who refuse to pay attention to my work…As for me, the duties which confront me and which are very heavy for my 80-year old body, keep me here. Every day, in fact, we receive at the Clinic the sick, often coming from very far despite the difficulties of transport and who regret my absence when, unusually, I am forced to cancel some consultations.

Fulton signed this document - buying 32 lots of land in the town of Jersey, New Jersey for $1,000 - in 1809. He signed it the same year that he filed his first patent for improvements in navigation by steam and one year after marrying his wife Harriet Livingston. Pieces by Fulton are rare in any form, and legal documents, like this, are doubly so. Accompanied by an unsigned engraving of Fulton based on an Alonzo Chappel portrait. Manuscript document signed "Robert Fulton". 3 pages plus docket, 7½x12¼, 2 sheets front and verso, with embossed Jersey Company seal and 1-inch square paper seal on page 3 by signatures. Nov. 3, 1809. This document was signed between Fulton and the president of the Jersey Company. Fulton agreed to buy a block of land containing 32 lots in the town of Jersey in Bergen County, New Jersey for $1,000. Fulton signed this document one year after marrying Harriet Livingston, his partner's niece, and the same year that he filed his first patent for improvements in navigation by steam. Fulton is scarce in any form and this is a fine example suitable for framing and display. Lightly toned, stained, soiled and creased. Random ink stains. Edges are torn. Pinholes in both sheets. Corners are rounded Folded thrice and unfolded. Worn, torn, toned and with pinholes along folds.

Rare manuscript letter written from his estate in England to Inslee Hopper, his successor as head of the Singer Manufacturing Co. in New York. Hopper has added his receipt acknowledgement in purple ink! Manuscript Letter signed: "I M Singer", 1p, 5x8. Paignion, South Devon, England, 1873 July 8. To The Director of the Singer Manufacturing Co., New York. In full: "On receipt of this letter, please send me sight Bill of Exchange for Five thousand pounds (£5000) but should Gold and Exchange exceed 125 you may wait until you are able to buy at that price. I have telegraphed to Mr. Hawley to come out, and write to you as I expect he will sail before this letter arrives." Ink note receipt acknowledgement by Singer President Inslee Hopper: "July 23 73". Singer received his first patent for a commercial sewing machine in 1851. Three years later, he introduced a domestic model that made him one of the wealthiest Americans of the century. In late 1857, Singer opened the world's first mass production facility for something other than firearms in New York. I.M. Singer & Company was soon able to cut production costs to a little more than $10.00 per machine. Singer sold his new machines for 50% less than his first, yet had increased his profit margin to 530% per machine.

The man who pioneered the concept of the space shuttle writes about space travel. Autograph Manuscript signed: "By Dr. Wernher von Braun" in title, 1p, 8¼ x 10½ ruled sheet. Manuscript page, which is written in pencil, is part of a longer manuscript ("1" written by von Braun at upper margin). Headed: "Space Travel/by Dr. Wernher von Braun/Chief, Guided Missile Development Division//Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala." In full: "There are few dreams of the future which have woven so fascinating a web around human fantasy as flight through space. Since the first, epoch-making experiments of the great American pioneer of rocketry, Robert H. Goddard; since the days when Hermann Oberth, the German, and the Russian Constantin E. Ziolkovsky published their startling writings on rocket propulsion, a veritable spate of literature has overwhelmed the public. This has covered the entire field ranging from serious, scientific dissertations to comic strips. Thus, the intelligent layman outsider who is at tempting to sift the actual promises of space flight from idle conjecture frequently finds himself more confused than before he began to [word crossed out] study space flight literature.…"

Letter by Charles Babbage, signed as C Babbage, dated June 11 from Manchester. Expressing pleasure in seeing Miss Manwaring at his party and commenting on the weather for the Horticultural Exhibitions. Babbage is known as the "Father of Computing." 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 is missing. Top-right corner of frame is splintered.  Framed to an overall size of 28x18.

Sigmund Freud signed this typed letter to his nephew, publicist Edward L. Bernays, in 1924 on his personalized stationery. In it, Freud discusses family finances and thanks Bernays for a case of coffee. Typed letter signed "Sigm". Pencil marks on page 2 in unknown hand. 2 pages, 5¾x8¾, 1 sheet, front and verso, on Freud's personalized stationery. May 11, 1924. In German, translated. In part: "Also in May, I lent you 150 dollars, so that your mother's assets with me are now 460 dollars. Thus, three further months are paid for. I would suggest that you send a larger amount of money here after these three months... The case of Washington Coffee arrived undamaged on 30 IV. I very much approve of you deducting the price for that upcoming royalties. I didn't expect the coffee to be so expensive, however, I received your book from Boni & Liveright. As a real American, I was very interested in it...". We believe that this letter was written to Edward Bernays, Freud's nephew, as it mentions sending money to an "Onkel [Uncle] Alexander". EDWARD L. BERNAYS ()1891-1995, born in Vienna, Austria) was an American publicist and the first publicist to incorporate Sigmund Freud's ideas on psychology into public relations and advertising.

The founder of the Chrysler car manufacturer signed this printed pencil sketch in ink on January 27, 1934 Printed Art Signed in Ink: "W. P. Chrysler 1/27/34". Original pencil sketch was drawn by M. H. Herrin; this is a printed copy of that sketch. Sketch is 5¼x8¼ on a sheet, 7¾x10½ of which is visible. Features plaque. Walter P. Chrysler Sr. (1875-1940) began his professional career with an apprenticeship as a railroad mechanic. He got his start in the automotive industry in 1911 with Buick in Flint, Michigan. By the end of the decade he was one of the wealthiest men in the United States due to his skills at mechanical engineering and cutting costs. After gaining control of the Maxwell Motor Company, he formed Chrysler Corporation in 1925 and later bought Dodge. He built New York City's Chrysler Building in 1960. Frame lightly chipped in one spot towards bottom left corner. Image lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 19x29.

The two sign a 3-page, handwritten 1863 letter to their son Willy, away at school Autograph letter signed: "Yr Affectionate Father/Saml F.B. Morse" and "Your loving mother/S.E. Morse", 1 page, 4½x7½. 5 West 32nd Street, 1863 November 22. To their son Willy. Samuel F. B. Morse married his second wife, Sarah Elizabeth Griswold, in 1848. In a three-page letter, Mrs. Morse writes about family affairs, about his pet "Spottie is full of mischief. He tears many things that comes in his way." She tells him she is "going to have somethings on Christmas" wanting to know if he has "enough handkerchiefs…." Beneath his wife's signature, Morse writes, in part: "I add a few lines to your dear mother's letter. She says the truth when she says she thinks of you every day. Both you & dear Arthur are constantly in our thoughts…You must do all you can to please Mrs. Charles, Mrs. Fay and the other teachers and be diligent in your Studies…." Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872) was an American painter and inventor. While attending Yale College Morse painted for a living and later studied art in Europe.