15 026 résultats
22271After two decades of false starts and endless stalls in February 1851 the Illinois legislature at last incorporated the long-anticipated Illinois Central Railroad Company. Staking and surveying began immediately and the first section -- running between Chicago and Calumet -- opened for traffic on May 24 1852. Despite the fact that this railroad was the first ever to receive a federal land grant they had a difficult time finding investors to purchase these bonds. Printed Document 1p 12 3/4" X 13¼" New York NY 1852 August 16. Very good. Minor edgewear; bit of edgewear on some original folds not weakened. Printed on pale blue stock this handsome provisional certificate promises a six percent return. Typical boilerplate text with a variety of ornamental typefaces signed at the conclusion by the company president Robert Schuyler president and director from 1852 to 1854 at lower right and company secretary S.A. Lofson at lower left both heavily cross-hatched to cancel. Attractive ornamental border and below this the lower quarter consists of nine small coupons on which the interest payments are recorded all but one signed and heavily cancelled. Several large "Cancelled" and "Interest Paid" inkstamps cross these coupons the main boilerplate text and the signatures area. All in all a most attractive piece -- scarce from the earliest days of this important undertaking. unknown
1955054854Pasadena Ca: Jet Propulsion Laboratory 1955. 1st Edition . Soft cover. Near Fine. 10 Pp Including Covers. Near Fine. <br/> <br/> Jet Propulsion Laboratory paperback
36435This long-term Republican representative from U.S. Grant's adoptive hometown of Galena Illinois served this district in Northwestern Illinois for fourteen terms 1933-61. Partly-printed DS 1p 8½" X 11" Jo Daviess County IL 1926 October 15. Very good. Faint age toning. "Declaration of Intention" document issued by the U.S. Department of Labor Naturalization Service for one Andrew Boeckl a 24-year-old marble worker from Bavaria Germany who had arrived in New York in 1924. Most interesting is the printed text noting that "It is my bona fide intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince potentate state or sovereignty and particularly to The German Reich" these last three words inked in -- but better yet is the following printed text: "I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy." Entirely filled out in Allen's attractive hand in black ink and at lower right as clerk of the circuit court he signs boldly. A delightful provocative period piece reminiscent of the oaths of allegiance signed by Confederate soldiers at the close of the Civil War. The Third Reich and anarchy statements are classic 1920s with fascism encroaching upon Europe and anarchists such as Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman capturing the headlines. The polygamy content seems a bit less obvious no waves of anti-polygamy sentiment sweeping the country but simply represents a typical post-World War One reaction against extremism of any sort. unknown
186131369Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office 1861. Paperback. Small 4to. Original tan printed wrappers. 92pp. Good plus. Almost but not quite rates a "Very good" -- just a mild bit of edgewear and couple of tiny chips at extremities. Many of Douglas' Illinois colleagues -- Isaac Arnold and Orville H. Browning among them -- contribute to this collection of eulogies. First edition -- a tight and handsome copy bearing a nice autograph addition: The top of the front wrapper bear a bold signature and inscription: "Clinton D. Sellew / from Thos. A. Doyle." Doyle 1827-86 was long-time mayor of Providence Rhode Island from 1852 off and on through his death. Sellew whose pencilled ownership signature appears on the title page was a local public official and later postmaster of Providence. This pamphlet is also found in a yellow wrapper but no priority has been established. SABIN 20696. Government Printing Office paperback
185940499Baltimore: Murphy & Co 1859. Paperback. 8vo. Self-cover. 23pp. Very good. Binding traces at left edge else quite tight and attractive bright and lacking edge tears. First edition. Lovely copy of this 1860 presidential election pro-Stephen A. Douglas piece which supports his views and argues that both northern and southern Democrats equally support popular sovereignty. Includes several lengthy Douglas speech excerpts. Two-column format. SABIN 20693 note. Murphy & Co paperback
1928003127Los Angeles: Southern California Olympic Games Committee 1928. First Edition . Illustrated Wrappers. Very Good. 9 7/8" Tall. Color Lithographic Covers b/w Ads. 32 pp. Nice lithographic cover in blue and yellow with Mercury carrying an athlete on his shoulders. Priced 25 cents. Internal full-page illustrations of Fred Thomson and Silver King; the Los Angeles Biltmore and Mt. Lowe railway view of city lights; and half-page illustration of the Vista Del Arroyo Hotel and Bungalow Pasadena now renovated and used by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court.Slight damp-wrinkling at upper corner barely affecting a few internal illustrations. With four page "souvenir program" laid in annotated in pencil with winning marks. <br/> <br/> Southern California Olympic Games Committee unknown
19652511San Francisco: no date c1965. Fine. 1965. Facsimile Reprint of 1894 original. Proceedings cover title & title page and Misrepresentations 2nd title page: 37 pps. printed on one side loose in printed card stock folder. Manuscript: 31 pps. including: I-II pub. note 21 pp. plus 5 pages marked v thru z to be be added after a deletion on p. 21 and 3 pages marked a b c to be inserted on page 6. There are two copies each of the additional pages. All housed in accordion file folder. With the publication of the Proceedings Farwell condemned Bancroft and his History of California very likely according to the Publisher's Note because of his treatment John C. Fremont and the Bear Flag Revolt stating also that . . . " the booklet is a very scarce and fascinating item of Californiana . . . a work of literary curiosity and a classic example of self-righteous invective and vituperation." In view of the semi-legalistic format of the Proceedings the manuscript followed more or less the same format as an answer for the respondent Hubert Howe Bancroft. . no date (c1965) unknown
1945010222New York: Thom McAn Shoe Company 1945. Poster. Illus. by Overend W. H. Very Good. One Page. First Printing. SCARCE WWII era poster to commemoorate the death of Franklin Delano Rooselt the 32nd President of the United States. 22' hi x 32" wide Very Good small chips and tears at edges not affecting omage faint crease bottom left corner the paper wavy. In addition to a large portrait and numerous small images is "Chronology of Franklin D. Roosevelt" and twelve of his most memorable quotations - "THE FOUR FREEDOMS: In the future days which we seek to make secure we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression.The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way.The third is freedom from want.The fourth is freedom from fear." Address to Congress Jan. 6 1941. A poster quite suitable for framing it will be shipped loosely rolled in sturdy mailing tube. Thom McAn Shoe Company unknown
188740498N.p.: N.p. 1887. Paperback. 8vo. Self-cover. 7pp. Very good. Outer wrappers faintly soiled and mildly edgeworn. Probable sole edition of this bibliographically-cryptic pamphlet presenting the case of Lefferts W. Lloyd Catherine W. Mitchell and Samuel F. Engs each the administrator of the estate of a deceased versus the United States in this "French Spoliation Claim" -- claims made by U.S. citizens against France Holland and Spain for ships and goods seized by privateers prior to September 30 1800 at ports controlled by those countries -- a rather sizeable and definitely bizarre category of strange maritime documents with claims made by descendants into the 20th century. This particular claim involves John and Abraham Franklin and their ship "Hunter" commanded by William Whitlock. In 1798 she sailed from New York headed for France and then China but was captured by a Spanish and then a French privateer -- it all gets hairy and convoluted but in the end the ship and goods were damaged and the descendants seek $75000 in damages. N.p. paperback
19829215Fresno: Fresno City and County Historical Society. Fine. 1982. Facsimile Reprint. Softcover. 94 pp.; folio; color illustrated wrappers; reproductions of the original illustrations albeit not with the original quality. "The original book from which this copy was reproduced is in the Woodward Collection at the California State University Fresno. It is the only known copy to be in existence." This reprint also appears to be a bit scarce. . Fresno City and County Historical Society paperback
31612Early resident of this important Illinois lead-mining town which for a time produced a high percentage of the world's lead "Galena" is Latin for lead and was supposed to become the great hub of the Midwest before Chicago's natural geographic advantage supplanted it; today's Galena is remembered as the adopted hometown of Ulysses S. Grant. ALS 2pp single leaf 5" X 8" Galena IL 1857 January 1. Addressed to Miss Marcia Floyd of Courville Maine. Writing on pale pink lined stationery McDaniel pens her friend this chatty missive. She describes Illinois: "Well it is a large and fertile state abounding in vast prairies the principle production is wheat maize etc. There are numerous salt springs." Of Galena she notes: "The inhabitants in the vicinity are chiefly farmers and are intelligent and enterprising. Most of them live in log houses. I am attending school at present and like it here very much." Oddly she signs off "Peter Fling / Mary McDaniel." The significance of this pseudonym we have not been able to ascertain -- perhaps "Peter Fling" was a character in popular young women's literature of the day. Even more odd is the original envelope which is present. A typical small 4 3/4" X 2½" in addition to addressing it McDaniel draws a three-cent stamp in the upper right corner and draws a circular "Galena Ill Jan. 1" postal cancellation in the upper left corner! The 1850s was the early days of actual government-issue postage stamps of course but this humorous version surely was contained within another larger second envelope. No "McDaniels" appear in the Galena city directories of this period though with a large and somewhat transient population in a rural area this isn't terribly meaningful. This superb and evocative letter has been handsomely framed the letter in one mat opening and the envelope in another above it double matted in tan and dark brown and framed in a 1¼" burlwood frame overall dimensions 10¼" X 18". It's double sided as well so may be flipped over to read the letter's second page where an attractive typescript of the entire letter is also displayed in a mat opening. Very early and very unusual. unknown
188332564N.p.: N.p. 1883. Hardcover. Narrow 4to 8" X 13". Calf spine and pebbled paper over boards. 180pp. Good plus. Quite edgeworn and rubbed with rounded outer corners but calf strong and nice; fairly tight and unrestored fully handleable. This typically cryptic ledger book hails from Ulysses S. Grant's adopted hometown of Galena in Jo Daviess County an important lead mining center at one time thought to become the great hub of Midwest commerce. Consisting of pages lined in blue and red the first 170 pages each bear a large "Trial Balance" and date penned boldly in brown ink -- the largest column beneath consisting of a row of names of individuals businesses and institutions and two columns of numbers to the right of this. All are immaculately penned in the same quite attractive and legible hand. Perusing these pages one finds many a notable citizen of the day -- S.O. Stillman John Nichols B.F. Felt others -- and an array of businesses -- to name a few one finds regular entries for Merchandise National Bank Reynolds & Chapman D. Wilkinson & Co. F.W. Strattman & Co. and other local business. The large and broad array of institutions includes S.S. Mission Fund School Fund Masonic Charity Fund Jo Daviess Chapter Agricultural Society Miners Lodge State Insurance Fund Citizens League and others. Pages 171 through 180 consist of boldly pencilled "Bills Receivable Trial Balance" sheets. Although no business name appears anywhere within this ledger book nor internal clues to identify the business the eclectic nature of the entries and the relatively large sums of money in the credit and debit columns suggests this ledger book originated from a banking institution. An intriguing item worth further research. N.p. hardcover
186438345Washington DC: Adjutant General's Office War Department 1864. Handbill. 12mo. Near fine. Faint age toning; file holes at left margin not affecting text. A bold and handsome General Order recording that "By direction of the President of the United States Major General W.S. Rosecrans. is appointed to the command of the Department of Missouri." Also notes that General Schofield whom Rosecrans was replacing is to report for duty to General Grant in Chattanooga. Signed at the conclusion in type by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend. Accompanied by a striking Civil War-era 6" X 9" heavy stock steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Hooker in uniform. Near fine. Adjutant General's Office, War Department unknown
186438342Washington DC: Adjutant General's Office War Department 1864. Handbill. 12mo. Very good. Minor age toning with file holes at left edge. Handsome General Order noting that "By direction of the President of the United States Major General S.P. Heintzelman. is placed in command of the Northern Department which will be composed of the States of Michigan Ohio Indiana and Illinois." Signed at the conclusion in type by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend. Small contemporary docket in purple ink at lower right. Accompanied by a Civil War-era 6" X 9" heavy stock steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Heintzelman in uniform. Very good. Mild age toning. Adjutant General's Office, War Department unknown
186438369Washington DC: Adjutant General's Office War Department 1864. Handbill. 12mo. Very good. Two small file holes at left margin not affecting text. This brief but quite attractive General Order notes simply that "Major General FRANZ SIGEL U.S. Volunteers is assigned to the command of the Department of West Virginia." Signed at the conclusion in type by Assistant Adjutant General W.A. Nichols. Accompanied by a superb Civil War-era 5½" X 9" heavy stock steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Sigel. Fine. Adjutant General's Office, War Department unknown
186338341Washington DC: Adjutant General's Office War Department 1863. Handbill. 16mo. 3pp. Very good. Minor age toning. A handsome and lengthy at three pages General Order containing the trial proceedings conducted by Brigadier General R.B. Potter in Cincinnati Ohio for Confederates William F. Corbin charged with "Recruiting men within the lines of the United States forces for the so-called Confederate Army" in Kentucky and T.G. McGraw same charge same place -- both found guilty and sentenced "To be shot unto death." Signed at the conclusion in type by Adjutant General A.E. Burnside and approved by Lincoln. Accompanied by a Civil War-era 4 3/4" X 8" heavy stock steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of a stern Burnside. Very good. Moderate age toning. A fine pair. Adjutant General's Office, War Department unknown
186438365Washington DC: Adjutant General's Office War Department 1864. Handbill. 12mo. Very good. File holes at left margin not affecting text. Bold attractive General Order in which Lincoln's Secretary of State announces that "The President directs that. no traveler shall be allowed to enter the United States from a foreign country without a passport. This regulation is intended to apply especially to persons proposing to come to the United States from the neighboring British provinces." Signed at the conclusion in type by Seward and also by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend. Likely this directive was issued to help curb any influx of Confederate sympathizers or supporters from the United Kingdom. Accompanied by a nice Civil War-era 5" X 7" heavy stock steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Seward. Very good. Adjutant General's Office, War Department unknown
186438366Washington DC: Adjutant General's Office War Department 1864. Handbill. 12mo. Near fine. Two small file holes at left margin not affecting text. This handsome General Order titled "Exchange of Prisoners of War" announces that "The following prisoners of war received and delivered at Rough and Ready Georgia the 19th 22d 28th and 30th days of September 1864 in pursuance of an agreement between Major General W.T. SHERMAN U.S. Army and General Hood are declared duly exchanged." -- followed by large numbers of Union commissioned officers non-commissioned officers and privates totaling 1128 soldiers and Confederate commissioned officers non-commissioned officers and privates totaling 1332 soldiers. Signed at the conclusion in type by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend. Accompanied by a nice Civil War-era 5¼" X 8½" heavy stock steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Sherman. Near fine. Adjutant General's Office, War Department unknown
186238343Washington DC: Adjutant General's Office War Department 1862. Handbill. 12mo. Near fine. A superb bright General Order briefly noting that "Major General E.A. Hitchcock. is detailed as Commissioner for the Exchange of Prisoners of War" -- a position he held until the war's end. Signed at the conclusion in type by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend. Accompanied by a Civil War-era 6" X 9" heavy stock steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Hitchcock in uniform. Very good. Mild age toning and bit of faint foxing. Adjutant General's Office, War Department unknown
186438344Washington DC: Adjutant General's Office War Department 1864. Handbill. 12mo. Near fine. File holes at left margin not affecting text. A bright and lovely General Order informing that "By direction of the President of the United States Major General Joseph Hooker is assigned to the command of the Northern Department. He will immediately proceed to Columbus Ohio and relieve Major General Heintzelman." Also notes of course Heintzelman's new marching orders. Signed at the conclusion in type by Assistant Adjutant General E.D. Townsend. Accompanied by a Civil War-era 4 3/4" X 7¼" heavy stock steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Hooker in uniform. Fine. Adjutant General's Office, War Department unknown
22500Bolivar TN: Head-Quarters Com'dr of the Post 1862 November 3. Handbill. Small 8vo 5" X 7 3/4". Very good. Clean and nice though bottom and left margins heavily chipped not affecting text. Mason Brayman announces his taking command of the Post of Bolivar per Major General J.B. McPherson's order and lists the several regiments that will report to this headquarters. Signed in type at the conclusion by M. Brayman as "Brig Gen'l Commanding Post." Brayman 1813-95 was a New York attorney who migrated to Michigan then Illinois -- where in 1848 when Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress and moved to Washington he rented the Lincoln's home. He served with the 29th Illinois Volunteer Infantry and rose to major general during a short but heroic career after the war editing the "Illinois State Journal" and n 1876 appointed Governor of the Idaho Territory. Given the crude typesetting quite possibly printed on a field press. Very scarce. unknown
24814Washington DC: War Department 1863 January 29. 16mo. 2pp single leaf. Handbill. Very good. Binding traces down left edge. Mourning border. Announcement of the death of Colonel John James Abert 1788-1863 chief topographical engineer and head of the Topographical Bureau. A long-time career officer Abert headed this bureau from 1834 until his 1861 retirement. "The Army and the country will not need to be reminded of the vast interest and value attached to the operations of this corps since its organization" Thomas reminds the reader. "The geographical and other information concerning this continent which its officers have collected and published has challenged the admiration of the scientific world." Signed in type at the conclusion by Adjutant General Thomas. unknown
22504Washington DC: War Department Adjutant General's Office 1862 November 15. Handbill. 2pp. 12mo 5" X 7¼". Near fine. Bit of age toning. Intriguing General Court Martial case in which Private John Kessler 103rd Regiment of New York Volunteers is charged with murdering First Lieutenant Fernando Linzy -- that he "did stab with a bayonet. inflicting a wound in the body of the said Lieutenant. which caused his death." Pleaded "Not Guilty" and found "Guilty" Kessler was sentenced to "be hanged by the neck until he be dead." In this case President Lincoln approved the sentence. Signed in type at the conclusion by E.D. Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General. Clean and attractive. unknown
22502Washington DC: War Department Adjutant General's Office 1863 May 13. Handbill. 16mo 4½" X 6 3/4". Very good. Slight bit of age toning. Announces that "Major General J.M. Schofield is by direction of the President assigned to command the Department of the Missouri" and that "Major General S.R. Curtis is being relieved from his command." Signed in type at the conclusion by E.D. Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General. Clean and attractive. unknown
24911Washington DC: War Department 1864 June 15. 12mo. Handbill. Near fine. Lightly soiled and a tad edgeworn with two file holes at left not affecting text. Townsend announces a "Public Resolution -- No. 34" being "A Resolution tendering the thanks of Congress to Lieutenant Joseph Bailey of the 4th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. for distinguished services in the recent campaign on the Red river by which the gunboat flotilla under Rear Admiral David D. Porter was rescued from imminent peril." Bailey 1825-67 was one of only 15 men voted the "Thanks of Congress" -- and the only one who wasn't a corps or division commander. General Nathaniel Banks' Red River Campaign was saved from a disastrous loss of life by this Wisconsin engineer who devised a plan to raise the level of a river at Alexandria by constructing a winged dam. For ten days about 10000 soldiers slaved away to build it. The river did indeed raise and Admiral Porter's stranded fleet of ten gunboats floated safely past. Remnants of "Bailey's Dam" can still be seen today. An intriguing relic of this famed event. unknown
