SAMUEL F.B. MORSE He signs a glowing (1854) autograph letter, enthusiastically recommending his former assistant Otis Wood to any prospective employer. Framed in a Gallery of History display to 36x22 ALS: "Sam. F.B. Morse," 1½ pages, 7½x9¾. Po'keepsie, 1854 February 3. To Otis E. Wood, Esq., Utica. In full: "Most happy shall I be, if by a simple letter of mine, I can render you or your worthy brothers any service. Your brother Orrin S. Wood was my first Telegraph pupil, after the first (the experimental) line was established between Washington & Baltimore. He will undoubtedly recollect my predictions at that time, for him, that having taken the enterprize at its very commencement, and made himself thus early master of all that pertained to it, he would have an experience, possessed by no other, which would enable him to command any position he might choose, not only one of usefulness but I believed also of fortune. I am gratified in believing that he has attained a position, at least of well earned competence if not of fortune, which he richly deserves for his high and honorable personal character, as well as his eminent Skill & perseverance. read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN To a Holocaust survivor, still living in hard times, who asked Einstein if she may auction off letters he wrote to her father. Typed Letter signed: "A. Einstein", 1½p, 8¼x11. Princeton, N.J., 1949 April 19. To Dr. Dora Stern, New York. In German, translated. In full: "I thank you heartily for your amicable congratulations and am very glad to have in this way again heard something from you directly after so long a time. You can imagine how sorry I am that you, your sister and her husband are all living in such difficult circumstances. If you see any way in which I can be of help to you or your sister and her husband in seeking employment, I would esteem it a particular happiness to be able to try. I can write to anyone, but have too little experience to know what step would have the best prospect of success. Of course, I do not object to your auctioning the few letters you have in your possession together with your father's collection. I do not even need to see the letters, as they are surely quite harmless and unfortunately also quite uninteresting. Your sister Toni already turned to me some time ago because she believes that my help will make it easier to effect the publication of her memoirs. 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...

HORACE SMITH and DANIEL B. WESSON Extremely rare document bearing the signatures of both of the legendary firearms manufacturers: a certification of stock in their Springfield and New London Rail Road Company, used in the transport of their weapons to the port of New York. The document, also signed by the other Directors and Officers of the Railroad, has been framed with an antique Smith and Wesson top break revolver to an overall size of 15¼x24! Document signed: "Horace Smith", "D. B. Wesson", 1 page (lightly lined), 6¾x9¼. Springfield, Massachusetts, 1874 December 8. Also signed by directors "Willis Phelps", "Horace Kibbe", "E. A. Perkins", "William Matoon", "W. L. Wilcos", "Wm Birnie", "Virgil Perkins", "Lewis H. Taylor" and by "T. M. Dewey Clerk", "Charles Marsh Treasurer". In full: "The undersigned, Directors, Clerk & Treasurer of the Springfield & New London Rail Road Company, hereby read more...

THOMAS A. EDISON. Partly printed historic Manuscript DS: "T.A. Edison," and on a 5-cent Revenue Stamp bearing George Washington's likeness "TAE/Jan 17/1872", 1p, 8½x14. New York, 1872 January 17. The 24-year-old inventor sells the rights to his invention of an improvement in District and Alarm Telegraphs. Edison had been a telegraph operator. At the time of this document, Edison was immersed in devising inventions for the use and improvement of the telegraph. He had also been involved in the improvement of the stock ticker. With the $40,000 he gained from selling some of his stock ticker inventions he was able to establish his Newark, NJ laboratory. His years at Newark (1870-1876) were characterized by a number of telegraph patents and partnerships. The year of this document marked the start of a four-year period during which Edison conducted the manufacturing of telegraphic instruments for Western Union Telegraphic Co. and the Automatic Telegraph Co. He had several workshops in Newark. read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN Handwritten statement in German [translated here] to the Pacifist Students of Southern California, supporting their cause: "I am rather convinced that the pacifistic activities of student youth are of great importance." He refers the students to a recent speech on the topic. Autograph Statement signed: "A.E." in pencil, 1p, 8½x11. No place, no date. "To the Pacifist Students of Southern California". In German, translated in full: "I had already written a short address for your meeting. It has now been pointed out to me that there would be significant problems as a result of my coming to your meeting because I have already turned down several similar invitations. Further, it is not in the sense of the Oberlaender Trust to whom I am indebted for my trip this year to California wishes that the effect of the speech held under its auspices be affected in its effective from more or less similar speeches by me of fairly similar content. I have therefore been forced to decide retroactively to stay away from your presentation. However, please do not think therefore that it is less near to my heart. read more...

SAMUEL F.B. MORSE One year before his first successful telegraph message, Morse signs an autograph letter to Treasury Secretary John Spencer, explaining that the cost of preparing the wire will be $10 more than his previous estimate. He'll still come in under budget! ALS: "Saml F.B. Morse", 1 page, 8x10. New York, 1843 May 1. To Secretary of the Treasury John C. Spencer. In full: "In my letter of the 29th ulto accompanying the contracts for the Telegraphic Wire, and the expenses of covering, I left a blank in the former which I observed was to be filled with a sum not exceeding 24 cents pr.lb. I have this moment heard from Paterson, and am enabled to fill the said blank with 22 cents. This varies the expense of Preparation of the Wire as given in my letter to the Department of 26th ulto from $1900 to $1910 - making the contracts for this part of the work of $690 less than the original estimates, instead of $700 - as therein stated." Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872), a portrait painter and a founder and first President of the National Academy of Design (1826-1845, 1861), interested himself in the possibilities of a magnetic telegraph in 1832. He developed the Morse Code for use in the telegraph instrument. read more...

SIGMUND FREUD 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 read more...

LOUIS PASTEUR This framed handwritten letter was signed by the microbiologist and was sent to a boy who he treated for an illness Autograph Letter Signed: "L. Pasteur". One page. 3¾x4¾. Paris, January 21, 1888. On letterhead imprinted with his initials to "My dear child". In French, translated. In full: "I beg your father to allow me the pleasure of answering his letter of 13 January by writing directly to you. How saddened I was to learn you were still suffering from the wound to your arm. Tell me when it will be completely healed with scar. Your general health is, however, good. That is most essential and I rejoice with your parents and friends and hope you count me among them. Please receive, my dear child, the assurance of many many good wishes which I send you for your good health and happiness.". Pasteur sent this letter to a boy he had treated for rabies with an experimental vaccination. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) was a chemist and biologist who is considered one of a handful of the most important pioneers of microbiology. read more...