John Wanamaker Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles
JOHN WANAMAKER
Born: July 11, 1838 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: December 12, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: December 12, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In 1875, JOHN WANAMAKER (1838-1922) established the first department store, bringing a collection of specialty stores together under one roof in the former freight depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Philadelphia. Wanamaker, who was one of the first major retailers to employ advertising agencies to sell his goods, was also a leader in offering "fringe benefits" to his employees, who enjoyed paid vacations, health care, life insurance, pensions and financial aid for further education. As Postmaster General under President Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893), Wanamaker issued the first commemorative stamps (over protests from Congress) and proved these could be moneymakers.
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker hand-addressed this unsigned envelope to Alfred L. Wanamaker in 1892. It was postmarked in Washington, DC in 1892, while Wanamaker was still President Benjamin Harrison's Postmaster General. Autograph envelope unsigned, 4¼x3½ envelope. Postmarked Washington, DC, Sept. 7, 1892.Sale Price $144.00
$160.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Fragment of a letter handwritten by Wanamaker in 1912, signed "With all good wishes for 1912, Your aged friend". Comes with a fragment of a letter on verso written in Atlantic City on Jan. 10, 1912.Sale Price $252.00
$280.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker handwrote, signed and dated this letter to a "Mr. Mescur" in 1898. In it, he informs Mr. Mescur that he can't use a certain kind of chair due to their construction. Autograph letter signed: "John Wanamaker", 2p, 3¾x5¼, on Wanamaker's personalized stationery. 1898 August 24.Sale Price $405.00
$450.00
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Wanamaker handwrote, dated and signed this letter to "My dear Alfred" in 1892, while he was still President Benjamin Harrison's Postmaster General. In it, he asks Alfred what his plans are and what he's thinking about.Sale Price $360.00
$400.00
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JOHN WANAMAKERHe pens "Yours truly" on this card in Philadelphia in iron gall ink Autograph Sentiment Signed: "Yours truly/John Wanamaker/Philadelphia" in purple ink. With notation in unknown hand in black ink in upper right corner. 3½x¾ cardstock.Sale Price $180.00
$200.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker signed and dated this slip of paper "Yours truly" in 1891. Autograph sentiment signed: "Yours truly/Jno Wanamaker/27 Feb 91", 7x4 piece of paper. WanamakerSale Price $180.00
$200.00
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JOHN WANAMAKERWanamaker signed and dated this card "Yours autographically" in Philadelphia in 1895 Autograph Sentiment Signed: "Yours autographically/Jno Wanamaker/Philadelphia 30 Nov. 95", 4x2½ cardstock.Sale Price $198.00
$220.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Postmaster General calling card signed "Yours truly" by Wanamaker Calling card signed: "Yours truly/Jno Wanamaker", 3½x2 calling card. Captioned: "The Postmaster General". JohnSale Price $180.00
$200.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Signed fragment of a document that Wanamaker signed in 1889, his first year as Postmaster General under President Benjamin Harrison. Document fragment signed: "Jno Wanamaker", 8¼x2¾, with copper-colored Post Office Department seal affixed on left.Sale Price $360.00
$400.00
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JOHN WANAMAKERHe pens his signature on this pictorial card of Independence Hall in black ink Engraved Card Signed: "Jno Wanamaker", 4½x3½ pictorial card with 1½x1¾ oval image of Independence Hall at upper center. "1900" in ink (unknown hand) at lower right corner.Sale Price $216.00
$240.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker handwrote, signed and dated this quotation "Do todays work today" on his own monogrammed stationery in 1921, one year before he died. Inscribed autograph quotation signed: "Do todays [sic] work today/John Wanamaker/Philadelphia August 17. 1921/To Mr. John R Clements.".Sale Price $450.00
$500.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker handwrote, signed and dated this letter in 1908 to the Honorable William B. Smith thanking him for a letter of sympathy after the death of Wanamaker's son. Manuscript Letter signed: "John Wanamaker". 1p, 4¼x6½, on Wanamaker's stationery inscribed "Private Office/John Wanamaker/Philadelphia".Sale Price $595.00
$700.00
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Wanamaker signed this letter on Office of the Postmaster General letterhead to Col. R. H. Grierson in 1889, thanking him for a letter of congratulation. Wanamaker became Postmaster General of the United States under President Benjamin Harrison in 1889.Sale Price $450.00
$500.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker signed this letter in Philadelphia in 1874, asking an unidentified person to a meeting regarding "the Continental bill now before Congress". Manuscript letter signed: "Jno Wanamaker", 1p, 3¾x6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1874April 1. No address.Sale Price $637.50
$750.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker signed this letter to Henry Bowen in 1889, regretting that he missed sending a contribution. Manuscript letter signed: "John Wanamaker" as Harrison's Postmaster General, 1p, 5x8, on Postmaster General letterhead. 1889 April 25. Addressed to Henry C. Bowen, New York.Sale Price $450.00
$500.00
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Wanamaker signed this letter to Benjamin Doblin on his personalized stationery in 1900. In it, he thanks Doblin for commending him on "resisting an attack upon the public press and private character of individuals by our city officials, who do not seem to know that Tweedism is not popular."Sale Price $450.00
$500.00
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Wanamaker signed this letter to John R. Clemente on his personalized stationery in 1908. He thanks Clemente for a birthday telegram and asks him to "Kindly present my best regards to the brethren, with whom I have great fellowship in the work of the Christian Endeavor".Sale Price $405.00
$450.00
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Wanamaker signed this letter to Seymour Eaton on his personalized stationery in 1906. In it, he thanks Eaton for a copy of the "Roosevelt Bears", but expresses his dissatisfaction with a list of people for an unnamed board.Sale Price $510.00
$600.00
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Wanamaker signed this letter to a Charles Mercer Hall on his personalized stationery in 1885. This letter was in response to Hall's complaints about a chair; Wanamaker explained that the perceived flaws were actually features but "if it is not satisfactory I would a great deal rather refund the money to you and take it back".Sale Price $637.50
$750.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER B/w F. Gutekunst photograph of Wanamaker in a black coat, jacket and bowtie and with a flower in his lapel, mounted on heavy cardstock signed by him Photograph mount signed: "John Wanamaker". B/w, 3¾x5½ on 8x10 heavy cardstock mount. Photo by F. Gutekunst of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Sale Price $510.00
$600.00
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Sepia-toned 4½x6¾ C. M. Gilbert photograph shown in dark coat and bowtie. This photo has been mounted on light blue cardstock signed "Yours very Truly" by Wanamaker in 1893Sale Price $510.00
$600.00
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Accused by the New York Times of complicity in a major bank scandal, the failure of the Keystone National Bank of Philadelphia (looted of its assets by bank executives, who went to prison), Wanamaker penned this 7-page defense of his conduct!Sale Price $765.00
$900.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker signed this typed fragment of a letter as President Benjamin Harrison's Postmaster General. Typed letter fragment signed: "Jno Wanamaker", 4½x2 piece of paper. Captioned: "Very respectfully/Postmaster General".Sale Price $180.00
$200.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker signed this typed letter in 1906 to the Honorable William B. Smith. In it, he writes that he can't visit Smith because he has to attend the opening of a new building in New York.Sale Price $427.50
$475.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER The Postmaster General regretfully declines an invitation to a gathering, saying that his schedule is already very full Typed letter signed: "John Wanamaker", 1 page, 6¾x9. April 26, 1901. Alliance, Ohio.Sale Price $360.00
$400.00
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The department store mogul and former Postmaster General promises an immediate, personal investigation of alleged "jockeying with prices" by clerks during a sale. This letter shows Wanamaker, an octogenarian, still very much in charge of his firm.Sale Price $427.50
$475.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER Wanamaker signed this typed letter in 1900 to let Henry S. Allen know that he can't answer a question that Allen had asked him in a previous letter. Typed letter signed: "John Wanamaker", 1 page, 6¾x8¾, on Wanamaker's stationery inscribed "Private Office/John Wanamaker/Philadelphia".Sale Price $427.50
$475.00
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JOHN WANAMAKER The Postmaster General thanks a former Confederate General for information. Typed Letter Signed: "John Wanamaker" as Benjamin Harrison's Postmaster General, 1p, 7¾x10¼. Washington, D.C., 1890 June 25.To General Marcus J. Wright, War Records Office.Sale Price $360.00
$400.00
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JOHN WANAMAKERHe pens a letter regarding the bill for the House of Represenatives Typed Letter Signed: "John Wanamaker", 1p, 5¼x9. Philadelphia, 1919 September 13. On sheet headed: "Private Office/John Wanamaker/Philadelphia" to Mrs. Taylor Allderdice, Pittsburgh, Pa.Sale Price $765.00
$900.00
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BENJAMIN HARRISON The President appoints a postmaster for Huntington, West Virginia, co-signed by Postmaster General John Wanamaker. Civil Appointment signed: "Benjamin Harrison" as President, "John Wanamaker" as Postmaster General, 17x14. Washington, D.C., 1890 January 13.Sale Price $935.00
$1,100.00
