anna harrison pierce - Gerard AJ Stodolski, Inc.

G ERARD A.J. S TODOLSKI , I NC .
Historic Autograph Letters
16. GOULD, JAY (1836-1892). Railroad magnate;
Financier; Stock market manipulator. Gould began his
career by gaining control of a small Vermont railroad at
the age of 24. His most famous railroad battle came in
the late 1860s when, along with Jim Fisk and Daniel
Drew, he wrestled for control of the Erie Railroad
against “Commodore” Vanderbilt. Gould went on to
become “the most hated man in America” when his
attempt to corner the gold market caused a panic
termed “Black Friday” in September 1869. Turning
towards western railroads in the 1870s, he came to own
the Union Pacific and Kansas Pacific. It is estimated that
he controlled about 10% of the railroad track in the U.S.
by 1880. He went on to gain control of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, and the New York elevated
railroad. At his death, his fortune was estimated to be
$72 million.
Colorful Partly-printed stock certificate, issued to Gould
and signed by him, “Jay Gould” on the verso, for 100
sharesof stock in the Saint Joseph and Western Railroad
Company. One page, oblong folio. Elwood, Kansas. October 25, 1879. Attractive vignette of a
steam locomotive at a train station at top center. Gould utilized his ownership of this railroad as
part of a masterful plan to force the Union Pacific railroad into a consolidation with his weaker
Kansas-Pacific system. Gould had proposed that the St. Joseph and Western would be part of a
plan to complete a southern ring of roads around the Union Pacific extending his Missouri Pacific
system from Denver to the Missouri River. By doing so, this would threaten the Union Pacific’s trans-continental model creating unwanted competition and price wars. Following a series of negotiations with the Union Pacific’s board, a consolidation was
agreed upon in which the Gould’s stock and bonds were exchanged for more valuable Union Pacific securities. It has been estimated that, when the dust settled, Gould made as much as $5,000,000 on the deal. A choice certificate related to one of Gould’s
brilliant strategic maneuvers. Stamp and punch cancelled. PASS-CO graded: Extremely Fine. PASS-CO rank: 780.
$1500.00
17. WEBSTER, DANIEL.
(17821852).
American
statesman.
Autograph Letter Signed, “D.
Webster.” One full page, quarto.
Washington, February 21, 1821.
Good condition. Addressed on integral address leaf to “James C. Merrill,
Esq., Counsellor at Law, Boston,
Mass.” Webster writes:
“My dear Sir, Mr. L.K. Williams wrote
me, on the 13th, desiring to retain me,
in behalf of Mr. Fiske, in the cases you
mention. I had written him an answer,
when I rec’d yours of the 14th. His
application being first made, and first
rec’d, must of course have preference.
There is no doubt I shall be at home the
15th of March; for beyond that time I
shall suffer nothing but accident to
detain me. I have had the pleasure of
making the acquaintance of Mr.
Saltonstall of Baltimore, whom I met
here, a few days since, and whom I hope
to see more of, when he shall next visit
his friends in Mass. Very truly yours, D.
Webster.”
$695.00
6
www.gajs.com
“There is no vacancy
in the Calvary.”
pierce
18. PIERCE, FRANKLIN. (1804-69).
Fourteenth President of the U.S.
(1853-7). Autograph Letter Signed,
“Franklin Pierce.” One full page,
quarto. Concord, New Hampshire,
December 31, 1849. Very fine condiTo “Mr. C.H. Mason,
tion.
Providence, R.I.” Pierce writes:
19 DAVIS, JEFFERSON. (1808-1889).
President of the Confederate States
during the Civil War.
Good
Autograph Letter Signed, “Truly yrs.
Jeffn. Davis.” One page, small octavo.
No date [circa 1855?], no place
[Washington, D.C.?]. Davis writes:
“My dear Sir, Your letter of Novr. 26th
ult. was duly received, but I thought it
not expedient to write to my friends at
Washington until there should be some
prospect of attention to business. I
inclose [sic] herewith a copy of a letter
which I have addressed to one of our
senators (Mr. Norris), who is, I perceive,
chairman of the committee on claims.
If there should be a favourable report
from the committee I will write to C.W.
King of Alabama and other friends.
Present my kindest regards to your
mother and the family. Your friend,
Franklin Pierce.”
$850.00
Manuscripts & Documents
“My dear Sir, There is no vacancy in the
Cavalry and was none when I received
Gov. [Lewis] Cass’ letter. A transfer
could only be affected by the joint
application of two officers of the same
grade, and I have no knowledge of any
one in the Cavalry who wishes to
exchange to the Infantry. Truly yrs.
Jeffn. Davis.” Davis probably wrote
this letter while he was serving as
Secretary of War in Franklin Pierce’s
administration, as the appointment and
moving of army officers would have
certainly been amongst his daily
$1500.00
activities. Fine condition.
Americana
Signed Photographs
Tel: 603.488.1775
anna
harrison
Rare Autograph Letter Signed about family and old friends
20. HARRISON, ANNA. (1775-1864). First Lady. Rare Autograph Letter Signed, “A. Harrison.” Two full pages, quarto. North
Bend, September 8, 1843. Light soiling not affecting text, else very fine condition. To “My dear friend.” Harrison is quoted
in part:
“I received your last communication in a newspaper, and thank you, but I wish you would write me a long letter and give me as much
information respecting my old friends and acquaintances and their children, as you can, it would be very grateful to me. Last week, we
had a visit from a Mr. Reeve formally from the Island...I could not see him, owing to a very severe fit of sickness that I had had, I was
not able to see any company. He saw my oldest daughter Betsey Short, who happened to be home, and a daughter in law, the widow
of my son Benj., who lives with me, with her two sons. I have also with me three of Dr. Thornton’s children, two little girls, and the
infant, who was not a year old when his mother died. (This morning for it was after day light when I dreamed) I was going through
the door yard, at my grandfather Mitchell’s, I thought there were but little alteration since I had left, I did not get as far as the house,
until something awoke me. I wish much to know, what alterations have been made in, and about the house. I feel anxious to hear if
my cousin Mrs. Overton has got well, how many children your Aunt Molly left. I received a letter from Miss Clews from Setauket, she
said that Willy and father, had been on a visit to the east end of the Island, and had seen you...I feel anxious to hear from William Wells,
of his sister. I think you gave me an account some years ago, Sally. I think if living is in the western country, and Nancy lived in
Mattituck, oh how many happy hours I have passed with them, and their pious brothers, but we girls, I did not think much about religion at that time, let me know, if your father is still living, also your uncle Joseph, be so kind, as to give my kindest love to your Aunt
Hallack and care, also to your aunt Auston if living, and indeed to all my friends, who may think it worth the time to enquire after me.
With love to your family and keep a large share for yourself, to all my dear cousins, A. Harrison. P.S. My children are
all as well as usual, with the exception of one daughter in law and one granddaughter whose health is not good.”
Anna Harrison’s father, Judge John Cleves Symmes, owned much land in the Northwest Territory. In 1794, Anna moved with
her father and his third wife, Susanna, to North Bend, Ohio, a town established on the landholdings of Judge Symmes. After
Symmes’ death, Anna inherited the family farm in North Bend, where she lived with her husband, future President William Henry
Harrison, and her children for most of her life. Life on the frontier was often difficult, and Anna did not always have news of
friends and relatives. Her ten children, all born between 1796 and 1814, kept the Harrisons busy and in debt. Some died from
alcoholism and others from illnesses; Anna outlived all her children but one. Her autograph is rare and is usually
collected in free-frank form, as Anna was the first First Lady given the privilege of free-franking her letters.
$4500.00
Signed “Henriette Szold” in Hebrew
21. SZOLD, HENRIETTA. (1860-1945). American Zionist
leader. Typed Letter Signed, “Henriette Szold,” in Hebrew,
on illustrated General Council (Vaad Leuime) of the Jewish
Community of Palestine letterhead. One full page, octavo.
“P.O. Box 471, Jerusalem, The Dept. of Social Work,” March
27, 1936. Very fine condition. To the Honorable Dr.
Zamora. Szold writes:
“Honorable Sir: It gives us great honor to invite you to a meeting that will be devoted to the subject of the treatment of youth
in Palestine. It will be held on Monday, the 30th of this month
at 8:30 p.m. in my office in Jerusalem. On the agenda: 1. A plan
to organize the work of the treatment of youth in Palestine.
2. A suggested plan to develop institutions to treat the youth. 3.
Financial matters. Please be punctual. With great respect,
$550.00
Henrietta Szold, Department Chair.”
Inscribed Books
22. TAGORE, RABINDRANATH. (1861-1941). Indian
poet, philosopher and Nobel laureate. Original Autograph
Poem Signed, “Rabindranath Tagore.” Two pages, octavo.
No place, January, 1915. Very fine condition. To “Sir Guy
Fleetwood Wilson, London.” Tagore writes:
“From a poet
who is not wise though old.”
“From a poet who is not wise though old./Is festival of summer only for fresh flowers?/Do you not see there the play of
withered leaves and faded flowers?/Is the song of the sea in
tune only with the rising waves?/Does it also not sing with the
waves that fall?/There are jewels on the carpet where my king
stands./But are there no patient clods of earth waiting to be
touched by his feet?/There by the side of my master sit few who
are wise and great,/But he has taken the foolish
in his arms and that has made me his servant forever./
Rabindranath Tagore.”
$1200.00
G ERARD A.J. S TODOLSKI , I NC .
7
G ERARD A.J. S TODOLSKI , I NC .
Historic Autograph Letters
Americana Christy Bros 5 Ring Wild Animal Circus Poster
23.
AMERICANA - CIRCUS
POSTER ART. Christy Bros. 5 Ring
Wild Animal Show Circus Poster. A
superb chromo-lithograph poster
depicting a large crowd of people walking through rows of cages and pens
holding many species of animals in
various sizes, including a row of
elephants on the right edge, and a
rhinoceros and two hippopotamuses
in the foreground. Circa 1925.
Measures a full 42 x 28 inches in
magnificent color! Executed by the
Riverside Print Company, NY. Laid
onto hard backing board, the print
shows the usual minor fraying and
chipping in the unprinted borders,
with one minor loss of image at left
bottom. It is interesting to note that
the National Endowment for the
Arts Millennium Project chose this
particular image when they were
looking at classic Circus posters.
Another copy located at the Billy Rose Theatre
Collection in the NY public library, in similar condition. Would look great framed!
$1800.00
24. EDISON, THOMAS A. (1847-1931). American inventor. Remarkable
Printed Letter Signed, “Thos. A. Edison,” on his imprinted From the
Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison letterhead. One page, quarto.
Orange, New Jersey, August 18, 1913. Very fine condition. To “Morrison.”
Edison writes:
Signed Photographs
Monet laments “My poor teeth”
25. MONET, CLAUDE. (1840-1926). French impressionist painter. Autograph
Letter Signed, “Claude Monet,” in French, on his imprinted Giverny par Veron,
Eure stationery. Two pages, octavo. Giverny, France, April 12, 1916. Very fine
condition. Accompanied by original envelope addressed to “Monsieur G[ustave]
Geffroy, 42 Ave. des Gobelins, Paris,” with stamp and postal cancellations. Monet
writes:
“Dear friend, If you intend to invite me to the next Goncourt luncheon, I will be
grateful to you to let me know as soon as you can, it being understood that I have to
come to Paris often for my poor teeth, which bother me a lot. So it will be easy for
me to coincide my trip so as not to waste time and to have the pleasure of seeing you.
A note, all right? Yours, Claude Monet.”
$2400.00
renoir
monet
impressionists
pissarro
manet
Full descriptions and images of all these items can be found
on our website www.gajs.com. Click on “Web Catalogue.”
26. PISSARRO, CAMILLE.
(1830-1903).
French
impressionist painter.
Autograph Letter Signed,
“C. Pissarro,” in French. One full page, octavo. “Bervedal
sur Mer par Dieppe,” July 20, 1900. Very fine condition. To
“Dear Coutet.” Pissarro orders paint and art supplies:
27. RENOIR, PIERRE-AUGUSTE. (1841-1919). French
painter. Increasingly uncommon Autograph Letter Signed,
“Renoir,” in French. One full page, octavo. Louveciennes,
September 9, 1900. Very fine condition. To “My dear
friend.” Renoir writes:
“Send me: 6 chrome
yellow,
12
white,
2 vermillion, 4 cobalt,
4 ultramarine, 6 veronese
green
[to] address:
Chalet-Ducretet.
My
wishes for your wife’s
health. Because of the
heat it is essential to take
good care of yourself. C.
Pissarro. [P.S.] Packing in
cork is better than in
wood shavings, which
is disastrous!”
“I think that it is 51 rue des Dames. I am mixed up with the
addresses. I wrote to Gallimand to bring you to dinner one
evening tomorrow Monday if you can (Lievre) or Tuesday. I
still have to leave again for Aix les Bains as quickly as possible
if I don’t want to freeze there. If I cannot see you it will mean
my returning at the end of the month. I am very guilty. I
should have written to you sooner. But I am always traveling
around. I don’t think I can leave for Grasse before October 15.
I’ll have a little time in Paris I hope. I’ll be able to have you over.
I received your kind letter and I am most touched by it. Yours,
Renoir. 7 rue Moubuisson, near the station. [P.S.] The 5:45
train, Marly-le-Roi Line.”
$3200.00
“My wife left for vacation on 12th, she said I suppose when I am gone it will be
the old story ‘when the cat is away the mice will work’. She made me promise to
join her on the 25th, so I will be unable to be with you. Regards to all the boys.
Yours, Thomas A. Edison.”
In 1886, an enamored Edison married the young and lively Mina Miller, the
daughter of a business acquaintance. Edison pursued Mina as he pursued his
scientific endeavors — with a singlemindedness that brooked no distraction.
He finally gained her father’s permission to wed her, which he did on
February 24. After the honeymoon, Edison’s attention was drawn away from
his new wife and back to his laboratory and business transactions. His sudden lack of utter devotion to Mina left her unsure of his love, and she was
often lonely and melancholy. Twenty-seven years after their marriage,
Edison’s letter to a friend explains he will be taking a break from his work to
go on vacation with his wife — “she made me promise to join her on the
25th” — and therefore he will be unable to visit with him. Mina also worried
about her husband’s workaholic tendencies and was constantly persuading
him to take a break. At the time he wrote this letter, Edison was working on the
disk phonograph and the kinetophone. His long hours prompted Mina to follow
him around his laboratory with a pillow and quilt, which she would lay out for him
wherever and whenever he chanced to lie down.
$4600.00
8
www.gajs.com
Tel: 603.488.1775
$850.00
art
“When the cat is away
the mice will work”
Manuscripts & Documents
Americana
Inscribed Books
28. MANET, ÉDOUARD. (1832-83). French painter. Scarce
Autograph Letter Signed, “Ed Manet,” in French. Two full
pages, octavo. [Paris], “Monday,” [circa 1870s]. Very fine
condition. To Monsieur Masenede. Manet writes:
“My dear Masenede, Forain brought me the drawings which I
asked him for. I have asked one of my friends to dine with me;
perhaps you can come to discuss at that time your affairs at
tomorrow’s dinner. See if that is convenient for you. If it is not
convenient, say when it would be convenient. Friendship,
Ed Manet.”
$2500.00
G ERARD A.J. S TODOLSKI , I NC .
9
G ERARD A.J. S TODOLSKI , I NC .
Historic Autograph Letters
Henry Miller’s Parisian Adventures,
Leading him to write Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
29. MILLER, HENRY. (1891-1980). American author. Simply superb, early Autograph Letter Signed, “June and Henry.” Six full
pages, quarto. Paris, “Monday,” no date [1930]. Very fine condition. To “Dear Rhoda and Bruce” [Elkus]. Miller writes:
“...You see I am answering you together as letters take time to write and our days in Europe are shortening fast. First of all, let me say
that it was a most pleasant surprise to receive those two fat epistles, larded with all your characteristic raillery, your spicy Americanisms,
and breathing still that eternal spirit of good-natured warfare which I presume always exists in families, especially when the sister is as
good at repartee as the brother. If I had a sister who was preparing for the grand role of surgeon I should be afraid to arouse her
antagonisms too much. Someday Rhoda may be called upon to remove Master Bruce’s appendix, and quite unconsciously she may forget to remove all the sponges and instruments from Master Bruce’s interior. I certainly enjoyed reading about the cookbook incident
and trust that no permanent injury has been done to Bruce’s strong moral nature. The cookbook was the last place in the world that
I expected your father to secrete his pornographic collection. Of course, over here youngsters see a great many things that they are
not permitted to see in the States. Whether it is wise or injurious I haven’t yet determined. For one thing, there aren’t many
youngsters floating around in the streets of Paris — or France for that matter. God only knows where they hide themselves all day...
...Imagine stepping into a car at Marseilles crowded with sailors,
soldiers, Arabs, Turks, Armenians, Senegalese, etc. etc. In a few
minutes you would have seen more extraordinary figures and costumes
than you will see in New York in six months. The Arabs are the most
picturesque, and the filthiest. They dress like rag-pickers and smell at
twenty yards. Like Mazundar and his friends they wear turbans, only
the Arabs’ turbans look more like soiled handkerchiefs. As soon as
they get in the train they make themselves comfortable and remove
their shoes or slippers, or whatever they happen to [have] on their feet.
Some of them go about in wooden clogs which are nothing more than
a flat, thick piece of board with a thong to hold it to the foot. When
the rest of the passengers are beginning to snore they trot out what
looks like a long opium pipe and begin to produce weird music, music
that sends shivers up and down your spine. For fifty centimes (two
cents) you can persuade one of these beggars to play all night — or, if
it suits you better, to commit murder...
...Today we have been looking around in shops, galleries and museums.
I am scouting particularly for a unique chess set, but haven’t discovered
any. However, on Sunday we expect to visit the ‘Flea Market’, which
is supposed to be the last word in markets for bric-a-brac, and perhaps
then we will see what we are looking for. In Europe, you must know,
the markets are great affairs. Certain ones are held on certain days, and
often the place for display is changed from day to day. There are
special markets for birds, dogs, horses, bicycles, food, flowers, books,
etc. etc. They say that it is still possible for a shrewd Parisian to go to
a market and clothe himself from head to foot for the price of a dollar. Of course he couldn’t take dinner at the ‘Waldorf ’ in such a
costume, but then who wants to eat at the Waldorf when one can get a meal in Paris, wine included, for as little as 18 cents...
...If we had about $500.00 extra to spend we could bring back some of the most wonderful curios and art objects, paintings and statues. It is tough to walk around Paris and not be rich. There seem to be ever so many more shops in Paris than in New York. In fact,
we often look around us and wonder just where the inhabitants live. Hotels, shops, beauty parlors, theatres, galleries, museums, cafes,
bars, restaurants — that’s Paris. You don’t have to walk a mile to get a drink here. And what an assortment! We simply gaze at the
variety of bottles in absolute amazement. Even now we are really unfamiliar with 9/10 of them. The great thing for a Parisian is his
‘aperitif ’ — a drink that goes well (with him) before meals or between meals. There are about 125 different ‘aperitifs’ — but to me
they taste like Sloan’s Liniment...A connoisseur knows just which wine goes with which food, but my taste isn’t so well developed. In
fact, the less I pay for the wine the better I like it...Sincerely, June and Henry.”
Henry Miller’s years spent in France became the basis for his largely autobiographical novels, Tropic of Cancer, published
in 1934, and Tropic of Capricorn, published in 1939. Long banned in the United States for their sexual themes and explicit
language, the novels were perhaps Miller’s most famous works, gaining a large underground following. Miller was able to realize
his lifelong dream of being a writer when he met his second wife, June Edith Smith Mansfield. Working at Western Union
telegraph service, Miller quit his job, and June, a taxi driver, supported him and his writing endeavors. In 1928, June saved enough
$4400.00
money for her and Henry to travel to Europe, beginning the journey that led them into fame.
10
www.gajs.com
Manuscripts & Documents
Americana
Signed Photographs
Tel: 603.488.1775
wordsworth
30. WORDSWORTH, WILLIAM. (1770-1850). English romantic poet.
Manuscript Letter Signed, “Wm. Wordsworth.” Two pages, quarto. “Trinity
Lodge, Cambridge,” April 23, 1828. Good condition. Addressed on integral
address leaf to “Dr. Hamilton, St. Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh.” Wordsworth
writes:
“My dear Sir, I much regret I should have left home before the arrival of your obliging letter as you must have been disappointed in
not receiving an earlier answer. May I beg that any future letter to which this business may give rise may be addressed to me Stamp
Office Rydal in which case it will be instantly attended to by my clerk (during my absence) who is complete master of everything that
concerns this office. If the securities be very doubtful it would be better not to pay upon them till the sums are actually received, but
if there be a likelihood of their recovery it would be best to pay upon them at once — in either case they should appear in the account.
The return if made either to me or to my … — Mr. Garnett of Penrith, is in fact made to the Commissioners of the head office:
London, the letter to which you allude is a form of the office. The duties may be paid either to Mr. Garrett or myself as most convenient. Be so kind as to say to Mrs. Hamilton with my best regards that at this distance from home I am unable to reply to her query,
but if she is anxious about it, Mr. Peile will be able at once to refer to the deed and give a satisfactory answer. I remain my dear sir
your much obliged Wm. Wordsworth.”
$2500.00
victoria
32. VICTORIA. (1819-1901). Queen of Great Britain and
Ireland (1837-1901) and Empress of India (1876-1901).
Autograph Letter Signed, “V.R.I.,” in German, on her
monogrammed, crested, black-bordered mourning
stationery. Three pages, octavo. “Villa Clara, Baveno, on
Lago Maggiore,” April 22, 1879. Fine condition. To
“Dearest friend.” Victoria writes:
“Bertie tells me that when Vicky was married you gave your
order to Count Kunersdorff. He thinks that it is highly desirable
and that it would be very gracious of you, if you would now, on
occasion of Arthur’s wedding, bestow the same upon Count
Munster, and he asked that I should write you about this. We
are departing here tomorrow and, God willing, shall be at
Windsor on the 26th. Hope everything with you is fine. As
always your faithful sister and friend, V.R.I. [P.S.] We are very
pleased with our stay here. The area is so beautiful.
$950.00
31. TRUMAN, HARRY S. (1884-1972). Thirty-third
President of the United States (1945-53). Exceptional Typed
Letter Signed, “Capt. Harry,” on his name-imprinted stationery, with a lengthy postscript written in Truman’s hand.
One page, quarto. Independence, Missouri, June 15, 1962.
Excellent condition. To “Honorable Edward D. McKim,
Box 204, Sioux Narrows, Ontario, Canada.” Truman writes:
Signature of
The First Earl of Middlesex
“Dear Ed: Thanks for the note and clipping about Old Joe. The
admiration is mutual! I hope everything is going well with you
and I am sure it is. Sincerely yours, Capt. Harry. [The following
postscript is written in Truman’s hand]: Wish I were where you
are! But I can’t be there. Just came back from Bill Hillman’s 33. SACKVILLE, CHARLES. (1638-1706). Sixth Earl of
Dorset and first Earl of Middlesex. His Signature, “Dorset
funeral and a whingding for Matt McClockey who is to be
& Middlesex,” and red, wax seal, removed from the bottom
ambassador to Ireland. As you know, he’s former treasurer of
of a document. Approx. 8×2 inches. Traces of mounting on
the Dem[ocratic] Com[mittee]. He said if my friends came to
Ireland he’d roll out the ‘Green Carpet’. He expects to burn all
verso, else fine condition.
$250.00
the red ones.”
$3200.00
Inscribed Books
G ERARD A.J. S TODOLSKI , I NC .
11