Search Results: Titles starting with M from Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc.

Stock. Calaveras County, California. An unengrossed stock certificate of the Calaveras Water and Mining Company. Green and black on white paper. Calaveras County is best known for Mark Twain's story about a certain famous jumping frog. Uncancelled and in choice condition.

MACKINLAY KANTOR (1904-1977). Kantor was an American author and journalist; he is best remembered for his 1955 novel Andersonville, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. ANS & TM. 3pg. August 27, 1955. No place. An autograph note signed “Mack” on his personal letterhead, stating: “Dear Ben, To you, these first and last pages of the original manuscript of Andersonville. With all affection Mack”. As indicated in Kantor’s letter, the first and last typed pages of the manuscript are present; the final page has a few handwritten corrections, signed by him and dated. The three pieces are matted and framed together.

MADELEINE L’ENGLE (1918-2007). L’Engle was the author of young adult fiction, and she is best remembered for A Wrinkle In Time. SB. 211pg. A Wrinkle In Time inscribed “for Arlean Lambert, with best wishes for happy tessering Madeleine l’Engle” on the yellow endpage. This is the tenth printing done in 1965 and the dust jacket has the Newberry Medal on it. The interior pages are in fine condition. The dust jacket has some chipping and wear, including the lower inch missing from the spine.

WILLIAM L. SIBERT (1860-1935). Sibert, an American Major General, commanded the First Infantry Division on the Western Front during World War One. DS. 1pg. June 14, 1884. West Point, New York. A partially-printed United States Military Academy commission for future Major General William L. Sibert. It was signed “W. Merritt” by Wesley Merritt as Superintendent, as well as by twelve other faculty members. “Be it known that Cadet William L. Sibert, of the State of Alabama, having been carefully examined on all the Branches of the Arts, Sciences and of Literature taught at the United States Military Academy has been judged worthy to receive the Degree required by Law preparatory to his advancement in the U.S. Army. In testimony whereof and by Virtue of authority vested in the Academic Staff We do confer upon Hi this Diploma and Recommend him to the President for Promotion in Engineers, Ordnance, Artillery, Cavalry or Infantry…”. The oversized document on vellum is in good condition, with long… Read More

(THE SOUTH SEA COMPANY). The South Sea Company was a British venture established in 1711 to trade with South American colonies. Its publicly-traded stock became the subject of a massive bubble in 1720. Shares traded for £1050 British Pounds in June of that year, up from a mere £128 in January, but then fell back to the £100 range by the end of the year. Companies and private individuals alike were financially devastated when the bubble burst, and many of the company’s key figures were eventually prosecuted for various sorts of corruption. ADS. 1pg. 6” x 7 ½”. July 28, 1722. N.p. An autograph document signed “Tho. Macro” and written in the same hand. Mr. Macro transfers his dividend payment from South Sea Company stock to John Creichton of London: “Sr please to pay my Dividend of mid Summer cost for all my stock in the South Sea Company to Dr. John Creichton being 633:6:8 and this shall be yr dischange from yr unknown humble sert Tho. Macro”. Macro received this dividend about two… Read More

AM. 5pg. 7” x 8 ½”. No date [circa 1901]. No place. An autograph manuscript in the handwriting of Bishop Edward Andrews about the famous Methodist Twentieth Century Thank Offering and Forward Movement that raised twenty million dollars for education. The manuscript is headed by Andrews “A Statement and an Appeal.” Andrews writes at length concerning the movement, what it has accomplished and what it can still do. It states in part: “1. An acknowledgement of a hundred years of wonderful mercy to the Church to our fathers and to ourselves. 2. An provision for a Century of larger and better service for God and our fellow men than our Church has yet reserved…In November 1898, the Bishops issued a call to higher consecration, and also for a gift of twenty million dollars for various Church purposes, they also appointed a representation thank offering commission…In 1899, the Commission defined more carefully the objects for gifts, particularly plans…The General Conference of 1900… Read More

MARIA CUSTER (1807-1882). Custer was the mother of General George Custer. PS. N.d. N.p. A tintype photograph signed “Mother” by Maria Custer. She addressed the image to her son, Nevin Custer, and his family on the paper frame: “From Mother to Ann and Nev and the little ones”. The tintype is in very good condition, though the paper frame is worn and chipped in one corner.

TLS. 1pg. 5 ½” x 3 ½”. December 3, 1963. Brooklyn. A typed letter signed “Marianne Moore” to Mr. Mayesski: “You may translate for TENATY my lines TO A STEAM ROLLER and POETRY. $20 is very much for the magazine to pay. I thank you.” The letter has light wear to the upper left corner that affects nothing and is in fine condition. The letter comes with two unsigned postcard photographs of the famed poetess.

JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917-1963). Kennedy was the Thirty-Fifth President. WILLIAM BLAIR (1916-2015). Blair was President Kennedy’s Ambassador to Denmark and President Johnson’s Ambassador to the Philippines. He was also law partner with Adlai Stevenson. Document. 3 ½” x 4 ½”. No date {November 1963]. No place. A small Mass card from a memorial service for President Kennedy. The front has a black and white portrait of the President. The back has three paragraphs, ending with “knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” There is a small tape strip at the top of the verso but it is in fine condition otherwise.

HARRISON GRAY OTIS (1765-1848). Otis was a wealthy Boston lawyer, politician, and statesman. He was Mayor of Boston and a Senator from Massachusetts. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER II (1764-1839). Rensselaer was a phenomenally wealthy and influential New York businessman and politician. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York and a Representative from New York; he also founded Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. ALS. 4pgs. May 26, 1823. Boston. An autograph letter signed “H G Otis”. Otis writes to wealthy and influential New York politician Stephen van Rensselaer, asking for Rensselaer’s help is hiring two comfortable carriages to take Otis, his family, and a friend to Niagara from Albany; this was a few years before the Erie Canal was completed: “My dear Sir: Mr. Harrison and myself intend with a part of our families to visit Niagara, and think it may be the most eligible mode to hire carriages at Albany. The ?? Mr. Harold thinks his friend Mr. Peirce can accommodate us, but as it is a matter of… Read More

(WHALING). DS. 3pgs. N.p. [likely New Bedford]. August 2, 1837. A legal document signed “James M. Grinnell”. Grinnell was a member of a prominent New Bedford, Massachusetts family in the whaling and mercantile industries. In the document, Grinnell sells his interest in a whaling ship, the Cicero, to his relative Joseph Grinnell. The latter Grinnell had founded the shipping company Fish and Grinnell in 1815. “To all to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING: Know ye, That I James M. Grinnell, Merchant of New Bedford, state of Massachusetts owner of one sixteenth of ship Cicero and outfits now on a whaling voyage of the burthen of Two hundred & fifty tons, or thereabouts, for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand Dollars lawful money of the United States of America, to me in hand paid before the sealing and delivery of these Presents by Joseph Grinnell, Merchant of New Bedford aforesd the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and am therewith fully satisfied, contented, and paid;… Read More

Stock. (1828-1902). Perot was active in founding The Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia, the first medical college in the world for women. He was also the President of the Mercantile Library Company. 1871, Philadelphia. A Mercantile Library Company stock certificate for 1 share, signed by “T. Morris Perot” as President and “Jno. H. Watt” as Treasurer. The uncancelled stock is in extremely fine condition and has a fine central engraving of the Mercantile Library building. A fine Philadelphia stock.

Archive. 4 pieces. 1850. New York City. A set of four autograph letters written by Henry G. Bell, a recent transplant to then-upcoming New York City. Bell moved from Kennebunk, Maine to the city at the beginning of 1850. He writes to his friend Ed about his experiences. Frequent topics include missing home, being too busy to write more, and the events he’s attended. Together, they show a slice of mid-19th century New York City. All the letters are in good condition. a) ALS. 3pgs. January 21, 1850. New York. An autograph letter signed “Henry G Bell”. Shortly after moving away from home (Kennebunk, Maine), Bell details his railroad trip to settle in New York City. “…I suppose I must give you a short description of my journey here, although to tell the truth I have written to so many that same description that I should, had I thought that I should have had to write it so many times, have had it stereotype of ‘in the beginning’. To commence, I left K with a rather solemn choly feeling I… Read More

(IRELAND). AL. 4 pg. 4” x 6”. November 21. Beaufort. A partial autograph letter signed from a man named George H. After spending the first two-and-a-half pages talking about deaths and departures for America, the writer turns to politics: “the romans here and feinans on what the cull Cady day all marched with there coulurs and drums to seava but the Orangemen put them to flight the shot at them and took there drums on flags, some of them did not get out the train. Belfast was distub at that time there was great deal of harm don in it the were shot in both sids, and Lurgan was as bad the good templers were marching up Lurgan street when Donley shot out of his own door and another man shot out of his door shot a young man in the head. Lord Lurgan and Mr Hancock seen them, both shooting for a fortnight it not sease, in postudown the curch schooles were coming up the street the begun on them and beat them the fenians in this country has got fife and drums the are marching in other places but here… Read More

MILLARD FILLMORE (1800-1874). The Thirteenth President, Fillmore served as comptroller of the State of New York from January 1848 to February 1849. He resigned to become Vice President, and upon Zachary Taylor’s death in July 1850, Fillmore became President. Manuscript book. 5 ½” x 8”. 110 numbered pages. Europe. 1866. A manuscript book in the handwriting of former President Millard Fillmore. He recounts the money his wife spent on their 1866 European vacation, as well as the places they visited. He signed the inside front cover using his wife’s name, “Mrs. Millard Fillmore At Paris, May 18, 1866”. In Fillmore’s handwriting on the very first page, he writes about “Bonnets”, “Shawls”, “Handkerchiefs” and “Laces”. A few pages later, under the heading “Milliners”, Fillmore writes that his wife visited “Mm. Rivet 52 Notre Dame de Lorette By Miss Soule” and “Ms Diels 23 Boulevard des Caperciaes by Nellie Bam”. There are similar pages for “Dresses &… Read More

MIRABEAU LAMAR (1798-1859). Lamar served as the Second President of the Republic of Texas from 1838-1841. A protégé of Sam Houston, Lamar later served in the Texas Senate and as U.S. ambassadors to Costa Rica and Nicaragua under President James Buchanan. ALS.1 pg. 8” x 10”. March 5, 1847. Laredo, Texas. An autograph letter signed “Mirabeau B. Lamar Commanding at Laredo” and initialed “MBL”. The letter grants the following: “The bearer, Jesus Barrera, is employed on public service…and has permission to carry arms for his protection; he will be respected accordingly, and allowed to pass without interference Mirabeau B. Lamar Commanding at Laredo”. The letter includes a postscript: “Will the Quartermaster please dispatch the bearer with as little delay as possible, and if necessary, to furnish him with a horse to return upon, should his own give out”. Volume VI of the Lamar Papers within the Texas History Trust describe a Jesus Barrera who was captured in 1840 fighting on… Read More

LÉON BAKST (1866-1924). Bakst was a Belarusian Modernist painter who did extensive design work for the Ballets Russes. ALS. 1pg. “This Thursday”. N.p. An autograph letter signed “Leon Bakst” written in French. In translation, it reads: “Dear Mr. Levy: I don’t know if you have already returned my watercolors to the Marsan Pavilion; in any case, if it hasn’t been done yet, I very much beg you to send them directly to the Marsan Pavilion – at the latest by 2 pm tomorrow since I have to hand them up and it has to be done while everything else is being arranged. Cordially devoted to you, Leon Bakst”. The Marsan Pavillion is a wing of the Louvre building in France; it houses the Museum of Decorative Arts. The letter is in fine condition. It is attractively matted and framed with a black-and-white photograph of Bakst, and a typed translation is affixed to the back of the frame.

(MONTANA). 3 ALsS. 1-3pgs. 1885-6. Red Bluff, Montana Territory. A trio of letters signed “J. W. Williams” and written to the Auditor of Montana Territory in Helena. In all three cases, Williams inquires about a missing warrant for bear furs, getting quite testy in the third and longest one at the fact that his warrant never arrived: “…I can not nor I will not make afadavet [sic] that Warrant No 3069 is lost as I never had it in my possession. It never reached me at Red Buff [sic] PO…if you have not done your duty and neglected your Bisness [sic] it is not my fault. I dont [sic] propose to put my self to any more trouble on your account & am not Responsible for your acts. I dont [sic] think that you ever mailed the warrant to me at Red Bluff at any time…”. The letters are in fine condition.

MOSES EVANS (1812-1853). Evans was a noted Texan soldier and surveyor. DS. 1pg. November 29, 1850. Brenham, Texas. A promissory note signed “x” by Moses Evans (Evans was illiterate). The Texas pioneer promised to pay John Johnson $198.30 plus interest. “For value received I promise to pay John Johnson or other One hundred and ninety eight dollars and thirty cents with interest on demand. Moses Evens [sic] x”. It has a horizontal fold and is in very good condition.

RICHARD PETTY (1937- ). Petty, a NASCAR driver nicknamed The King, was the first racer to win the NASCAR Cup Championship seven times. PS. 7” x 5”. No date. No place. A colorful postcard signed “Richard Petty” with the most elaborate sports signature. It shows Petty kneeling before his Dodge Charger. It is in fine condition.