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

...

PHILO FARNSWORTH (1906-1971). Farnsworth was an American inventor best known for his pioneering work in television technology. SB. N.d. Np. A book signed “Philo Farnsworth”. It is a first edition of George Everson’s biography The Story of Television: The Life of Philo T. Farnsworth, New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1949. Farnsworth wrote on the first free front end-page “To Dave Evans Sincere regards Philo Farnsworth”. It lacks a dust jacket. Farnsworth’s signature is uncommon (as he was largely forgotten or ignored), and the signed first edition is rare.

ALS. An American inventor, Earle perfected cotton and wool cards. One of the problems Samuel Slater had with cotton manufacturing is procuring cards for the raw materials. In 1785, Earle became connected with Edmund Snow in the manufacture of hand cards for carding cotton and wool, and in 1786 he established himself in the business. He was able to perfect the cards, allowing the American textile industry to grow. ALS. 1pp. 7 ¼" x 11 ¼". Leicester. 2nd Mo. 5th 1807. An autograph letter signed "Pliny Earle & Brothers" to "Williams & Ballard" in Providence. Earle penned: "We hereby acknowledge your friendly & very polite information of the intention of the ship Rolla for Charleston and presuming you are convinced as owner herewith send you 21 Boxes Cards to be shipped to Pearce & Tillinghast. If however sd Vessel is not in your employ if you do not wish the trouble of the Cards you will please to direct our Teamsters to E.D. Pearce & Co. requesting them to have them immediately shipped. We likewise… Read More

ALS. 1pg. 5” x 8”. March 31, 1893. No place. An autograph letter signed “C. Thaxter” to Mrs. Goodwin: “I send you this grandmother’s literature & the Maize, with much love to you all from your affectionate C. Thaxter”. The Thaxter poem “Maize for the Nation's Emblem” was first published in May 1893 in New England Magazine. The letter has a central fold and is in fine condition.

SOPHIE TUCKER (1886-1966). Tucker was a Jewish-American singer, comedian, actress, and radio personality known for her risqué vaudeville and nightclub performances. TLS. 1pg. 8”x 10”. N.d. New York. A typed letter signed “Sophie Tucker” to “New York Newspaper Women”: “I hear you’re trying to build a new clubhouse. I don’t know much about clubs because the only ones I belong to are night clubs. I’ve only known two newspaper women very well – Amy Leslie and Nellie Revell – but the rets of your newspaper girls are like them, your club will also be a night club. And here’s hoping it never gets padlocked. Your party the other night was a real joy to me. I was sorry I couldn’t stay longer but I had to get back here to crack the ice and squeeze the oranges. Speaking of that, I wonder if you wouldn’t like to come over to my Playground to make mud pies with me next Monday night. But take your baths before you come because this is a cabaret and not a bathhouse. If you get hold… Read More

THOMAS FITCH V (1725-1795). Fitch was a Revolutionary War-era Connecticut politician. ADS. 1pg. March 1768. An autograph document signed “Fitch” as a member of the colonial Connecticut House of Representatives. This brief financial document mentions Johnathan Trumbull Sr. (1710-1785), who was soon to become Colonial Governor of Connecticut: “Sir Col. Huntington has accounted with me … in Oct 1765 amounting to £27 u 2 u 6 which you will please charge me with in the Company Books…Fitch To Mr Jos. Trumble”. The document is in very good condition and has folds.

THOMAS L. McKENNEY (1785-1859). McKenney was the Superintendent of Indian Affairs from 1824 to 1830 and a scholar of Native American culture. He co-authored History of the Indian Tribes of North America. ALS. 1 pg. 8” x 10”. September 30, 1819. Georgetown. An autographed letter signed “Tho. L. McKenney” to “Re Smith Esqu. Cashe Office Dist & Dept Washington”. The letter lists the checks that McKinney has written “to reimburse the Trade fund for sundry disbursements made from said fund on account of Annuities”. The letter lists eight checks totaling $18,834.53. At this time, trading with Native Americans relied on the “factory system,” a system established in 1795 wherein government-owned trading houses run by designated Indian agents furnished Natives with goods necessary for survival in exchange for furs. McKenney was appointed superintendent of Indian trade in 1816 by President James Madison, serving until the position was abolished in 1822. He then served as Superintendent of… Read More

THOMAS McKEAN (1734-1817). McKean was a Declaration Signer and Continental Congressman, and Governor from Delaware and Pennsylvania. DS. 1pg. August 16, 1808. Pennsylvania. A partially-printed legal document signed “Tho M.Kean” as Governor of Pennsylvania. It was also signed by surveyor Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820), Samuel Cochran, and Declaration of Independence scribe Timothy Matlack (1736-1829) in their respective roles in the Pennsylvania land office. “By the Governor and Board of Property of Pennsylvania Where as John Demuth of the Township of York in the county of York has applied to the Secretary of the Land-office, by his application in writing, dated the 22d day of July 1808 to purchase an island, situate and lying in the river Susquehanna in the township of Donegal and county of Lancaster called Rushy Island, nearly opposite to Pig landing on the Lancaster shore, about one hundred perches to the Eastward of Fargo Island and about ninety perches to the Eastward of the Bald Eagle… Read More

THORNTON WILDER (1897-1975). Wilder was a celebrated and multi-time Pulitzer Prize winning American playwright and novelist best known for Our Town and The Bridge of San Luis Rey. ANS. 1pg. N.d. N.p. An autograph note signed “Thornton Wilder”: “Dear Judy Wish I were in Poughkeepsie this commencement – a world of best wishes Thornton Wilder”. Presumably, Judy was about to graduate from Vassar. The note is in fine condition.

(THE RAPE OF NANKING). The Rape of Nanking, also known as the Nanking Massacre, was a period of mass murder, wartime rape, arson, and looting. It was conducted by the Imperial Japanese Army during their occupation of Nanking, the capital of the Republic of China. The Rape of Nanking began with the fall of Nanking on December 13th, 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War and lasted for a few months afterwards until the Germany-established Nanking Safety Zone succeeded in preventing further war crimes by demilitarizing the city. Death toll estimates vary from 40,000 to over 300,000, with rape cases ranging from 20,000 to over 80,000 cases. However, most credible scholars in Japan support the validity of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and its findings, which estimate at least 200,000 murders and at least 20,000 cases of rape. The Nanking Safety Zone is credited with saving 250,000 lives and its leader, John Robe, who personally shielded 600 individuals in his home, had his… Read More

Three letters from early California about the time of the Civil War; the Lehmans may have been a Jewish family that moved out West, but I cannot find absolute proof of this: ALS. 1pg. 8” x 12”. January 18, 1859. San Carlos. An autograph letter signed “H B Lehman” to his brother: “…they complain of not having received any letters from me since I left home the fault is not mine for I have written several out for the last three years have not been able to write on account of having lost William’s last letter in which he says that he had moved into another house…have been doing rather bad for the last two years but now have hopes of doing better…Uncle Robert’s daughter Yves was married to a young man named Jose…I can see no motive for not maintaining correspondence with you as I say above I have answered all the letters…”. The letter has mailing folds and is in fine condition. ALS. 2pg. 5” x 8”. February 17, 1861. Yuba County. An autograph letter signed “Saml R.… Read More

(CHINA). Archive. Three pieces. January 7, [no year] (2pgs); February 27, 1948 (1pg); November 30, 1948 (1pg). [Shanghai], China. A trio of letters written and signed in English to an American named Mary Watson. They were written by at least two different people in China during the Chinese Communist Revolution. All three concern the violence, suffering, and uncertainty that prevailed in China at the time. One letter states: “…Many times I decided to write to you, but I did not know to write a letter in such drastically changeable times. I wished to report some good news to you, but failed so many times. Peace movement is not likely to be successful. War is going on. Many people have been killed in battle-fields by war, even more people died because lack of food and cloth. Several days ago, it is said, more than 1,000 people have died in the streets in Shanghai due to the cold weather. Price index jumped three times in ten days. How the poor can stand? So the common people in every part of this… Read More

(CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES IN INDIA). An archive of three letters from Christian missionies in India to E.E. Pelz of Seattle, Washington: TLS. 1pg. 8 ½” x 11”. March 5, 1902. Allahabad, India. A typed letter signed “Rockwell Clancy” to E.E. Pelz: “I have been transferred from the Allahabad District to the Muttra District. There are more than 12,000 Christians in my new district, and it will be impossible for me to attend to that work to retain the secretary ship of the Bishop Thoburn Special Fund for India... Mr. Rockey is a missionary of many years experience, and is not new to the work of the special fund, as he was secretary before I took over the work from him at the beginning of 1895, when he went to America on furlough. His name will be familiar to the patrons of 1894 in previous years. I feel sure that anyone who has ever had a letter from him about the work in India will be very glad to know that he is taken up this duty again. Among all are missionaries there are very few men who… Read More

ROBERT CROMEK (1770-1812). Cromek was an English engraver, art dealer, and editor. AM. 5pgs. N.d. N.p. A series of three traditional Scottish poems and songs written out by editor and printer Robert Cromek. The poems include “There’s nane o’them a’ like my bonnie Lassie” and “The Lowlands of Holland”. For example: “The Lowlands of Holland My love he built a bonny ship & set her on the sea, With seven score good mariners to bear her company. There's three score of them is sunk & three score dead at sea, And the lowlands of Holland has twined my love & me. My love has built another ship & set her on the main, And nane but twenty mariners all for to bring her hame. But the weary wind began to rise, the sea began to roll, My love then and his bonny ship turn’d widdershins about. There shall neither…on my head nor comb come in my hair, And shall neither coal nor candle light shine in my bower mair. Nor will I love another one until the day I die, For I never lov’d a love but one &… Read More

DS. 1pg. 10 ¾” x 4”. April 4, 1865. Troy, New York. A partly printed document signed “Jay Gould” approving the transfer of shares in the Saratoga & Whitehall Rail Road Company to himself, as part of his project to consolidate the railroads in Vermont and northern New York. The document is in fine condition.

LOUIS McLANE (1786-1857). McLane was a Congressman and Senator from Delaware, and served as Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of State, and Minister to the United Kingdom. NICOLAS BIDDLE (1786-1844). Biddle was president of the Second Bank of the United States, serving in that position from 1822 to 1836. During his tenure as President of the Bank, he managed it wisely and fostered a pattern of prudent growth. However, the 1832 Presidential election brought him into direct confrontation with President Andrew Jackson who, in his Inaugural Address brought into question the bank’s ability to create and maintain a sound and uniform currency. Biddle’s reaction was an unsuccessful attempt at rechartering the bank four years prior to the charter's expiration date. Upon expiration of the Bank's charter in 1836, Biddle rechartered the bank in Pennsylvania as the Bank of the United States of Pennsylvania, serving the same function as the old bank. He served as its president from 1836 to 1839. LS.… Read More

HARRY TRUMAN (1884-1972). Truman was the Thirty-Third President. TLS. 1pg. 7” x 9”. January 17, 1952. The White House, Washington. A typed letter signed “H.S.T.” by Harry Truman as President on “The White House” stationery. Truman forwarded a confidential memorandum about Uruguay to Secretary of State Dean Acheson. “Attached is a copy of a memorandum which I requested the Ambassador at Montevideo to send to me. It is an analysis of the ‘Nine-Man’ Executive Commission that will rule Uruguay. I thought you would like to see a copy of it. H.S.T.” There are staple holes in the upper left corner. The five-page, typed memorandum is included. It details the new, nine-member “Collegiate” council that abolished the Presidency and began to rule Uruguay on March 1, 1952. It is a very thorough report that covers a brief history of democracy in Uruguay, the organization of the new system, the leanings of probable council members, the lack of public support for the new system, and its… Read More

TLS. 1pg. 6 ¾” x 9”. July 22, 1969. Washington, DC. A typed letter signed “RN” as President to E. Perkins McGuire, affectionately referred to as “Perk:” “Before departing on our round-the-world trip, I wanted you to know that Pat and I are both pleased to learn that you are progressing rapidly since your recent hospitalization and that you are now back at your desk on a part-time basis. This is good news indeed. Although there is always a tendency to overdo, and taking it easy is sometimes the hardest advice to follow, I hope you’re abiding by your doctor’s orders and following a more relaxed schedule during your period of recuperation.” Perkins served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Eisenhower, and was appointed by Nixon to be Chairman of the Commission on Government Procurement. Typed just two days after the Apollo 11 Moon landing on White House letterhead, the letter is in very fine condition.

DS. 9pg. 8 ½” x 11”. April 3, 1826. New York. Two attached documents concerning the assignment of the assets of Armitage’s firm to his creditors. The smaller one is signed by nineteen prominent New York merchants, including “B. Armitage Jr” and “Hugh Auchincloss”. It states in part: “To all to whom these Presents Shall come Whereas in an assignment and composition agreeable bearing date the third day of this month made between Benjamin Armitage Jun of the first part, John Haggarty, Daniel Oakey and Cornelius D. Lawrence of the second part, and certain creditors of the said Benjamin, of the third part…”. The second document is also signed by prominent New Yorkers, including “B. Armitage Jr” three times, and other businessmen, such as “Hugh Auchincloss” and “Danl Oakey”. It states in part: “This Indenture made this third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six, Between Benjamin Armitage Junior of the City of New York,… Read More

Two Eleanor Roosevelt signed letters in a first edition of her book This I Remember: a) TLS. 1pg. 6” x 7”. July 18, 1950. New York. A typed letter signed “Eleanor Roosevelt” on “Val Kill Cottage” stationery. She wrote to Marion K. Garrison of West Orange, New Jersey: “Dear Mrs. Garrison: You were very kind to send such lovely flowers to Mrs. Parish’s funeral and I deeply appreciate your thought. It is sad to lose a member of the family. With my deep appreciation, I am Very sincerely yours, Eleanor Roosevelt”. Susan Parish was Eleanor Roosevelt’s godmother and young Eleanor lived with Susan for a time. The letter is in good condition with glue residue to the top margin. It is attached to the inside front cover. The signature is dark blue. b) TLS. 1pg. 6” x 7”. July 19, 1950. New York. A typed letter signed “Eleanor Roosevelt” on “Val Kill Cottage” stationery. She wrote to Marion K. Garrison of West Orange, New Jersey: “Dear Mrs. Garrison: You are more than… Read More