Auction 739 April.

DS in Arabic, signed “C. G. Gordon,” one page, 4.25 x 2.5, no date. Promissory note from Khartoum, in part (translated): "One Hundred official Piastres, this sum is accepted and will be paid by the Treasury in Khartoum or Cairo any time six months after today." Signed at the conclusion in ink by Gordon, and slightly overstamped with his Arabic seal. In fine condition. Accompanied by a mounted portrait by the London Stereoscopic Company, featuring Gordon's facsimile signature on the mount.

During the ten-month siege of Khartoum, Gordon and his followers were isolated due to Britain's vacillation about its role in the Sudan. Cut off from financial support, Gordon issued these promissory notes, guaranteed by his reputation and personal wealth.

Civil War-dated ALS signed “H.W. Halleck, Majr Genl,” one page, 7.75 x 9, December 19, 1861. Addressed from “Head Quarters, Dept. of the Mo., St. Louis,” a handwritten letter sent to “Brig Gen U.S. Grant,” who was stationed in Cairo, Illinois, in full: “No such man as 'W. H. Buel Col' known at these Head Quarters. It is most extraordinary that you should have obeyed a telegram sent by an unknown person, & not even purporting to have been given by authority. The prisoners will be immediately returned to Cairo.” In fine condition, with an old repair to the back on one fold split.

Henry W. Halleck took command of the Department of the Missouri on November 9, 1861, replacing John C. Frémont. At that time, Ulysses S. Grant was a brigadier general serving under Halleck’s authority who commanded operations in western Tennessee, including the successful campaigns at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in early 1862.

Although Halleck rose higher first—becoming General-in-Chief of all Union armies in July 1862—Grant ultimately surpassed him. In March 1864, Congress revived the rank of lieutenant general, and President Lincoln promoted Grant to that position, appointing him General-in-Chief. Grant then assumed supreme command of the Union armies, while Halleck was reassigned to a more administrative role as chief of staff.

Ink signature, "Winf. Scott Hancock, Brig. Gen'l,” on an off-white 3 x .75 slip. Mounted, matted, and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 10 x 13.5. In fine condition.

ALS signed “B. B. Hotchkiss,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8.25 x 10.5, Hotchkiss & Co. letterhead, February 4, 1874. Handwritten letter to "Mr. Norris" regarding a weapons contract, in part: "About the £1000 my idea is that if I place the Gun in your hands it is to pay me the expenses of keeping it alive for 6 years whilst it has been resolved—not as a royalty for contracts being got at this time but for my giving up many chances to take the contract myself. I do not know the Remingtons in the matter this is a transaction between us…In your proposed agreement you want to put my gun on an equal footing with the N in all the talk and maneuvering which took place in your last 3 visits to Paris it was always said or I so understood it." In very good to fine condition, with light creasing, minor edge wear, and a thin horizontal stain.

Matte-finish 3.75 x 5.75 photo of Marshal Joffre in a seated pose, affixed to its original 6.75 x 8.75 mount, signed and inscribed on the mount in ink, "A Monsieur Le Fevre, J. Joffre, le 1 Octobre 1919.” In very good to fine condition, with two light creases in the bottom border, and toning from prior display. Accompanied by a transmittal letter from his cabinet chief.

Civil War–dated ink signature, "Columbia, Feb'y 8, 1865, Respectfully returned as requested, J. E. Johnston,” on an off-white 4.5 x 2 slip, nicely double-matted and framed with a portrait engraving to an overall size of 10.5 x 14. In fine condition.

TLS, one page, 7.75 x 10.5, April 3, 1903. Letter to John Cullen Bryant, in full: "I received your letter and write to say that you can send me a copy of the book entitled 'Famous Orators of the World and their best Orations.' I would like it bound in half-morocco, burnished edges." In very good to fine condition, with an old mounting strip to the left edge, and splitting to the intersecting folds.

Ink signature, "Fitzhugh Lee, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, April 26-1902," on an off-white 5.25 x 4 album page. In fine condition, with some light show-through from an unrelated signature on the back.

London Model Colt 1851 Navy .36-caliber single-action revolver, serial no. 41766, octagonal 7.5˝-long barrel, identified to Lt. Edwin Good of 'F' Company, 11th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry (as attested by descendants in accompanying auction records and a description from The Horse Soldier Fine Military Antiques). Stamped on the barrel, "—Address Col. Colt London—," with matching serial numbers on all components: barrel, frame, triggerguard, loading lever, buttplate, cylinder, and wedge). One of the most sought-after sidearms ever produced, this is a fine, complete specimen with a dark patina.

Edwin Good, a New York City native living in Trenton, was mustered into Federal service as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company F, 11th New Jersey Volunteers on August 13, 1862. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in February 1863 and served in the hard-fought 11th NJ Infantry, part of Sickles’ Third Corps. At the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, Good was wounded near the Peach Orchard by a rifle shot that shattered his right arm. The injury left his arm paralyzed, and he was honorably discharged on October 7, 1863. Photocopies of his service records are included.

AQS signed "Mahone," penned on an off-white sheet of 7 x 9 personal letterhead, Petersburg, Virginia, February 22, 1869. In full: "The man worthy of the Citizenship of this great country, should no longer remember the sectional strife, which threatened the very life of the Union, except as illustrative of American valor and patriotism of equal sincerity on either side." Handsomely double-matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 22 x 16. In fine condition.

LS signed “M. F. Maury,” one page, 7 x 9.5, June 24, 1863. Handwritten letter to Messrs. Bond & Son of Boston, in part: "There is 12 or 15 chronometers here that want repairs. Our rule is to take them after they are repaired, keep them on trial 6 months and pay only for those that pass." Matted and framed with a portrait and nameplate to an overall size of 20.5 x 17. In fine condition.

Partly-printed DS, signed “Geo. B. McClellan,” one page, 17 x 14, March 14, 1879. As governor of New Jersey, McClellan appoints John Hopper "to be a Special Tax Commissioner for the purpose of investigating the subject of taxation in and for the State of New Jersey." Signed at the conclusion in ink by Governor George B. McClellan and countersigned by Secretary of State Henry Cooper Kelsey. The embossed blue seal affixed to the left side remains fully intact. In very good to fine condition, with light toning, and minor edge loss.

Civil War–dated ink signature, "Geo. B. McClellan, Maj. Gen'l USA, Nov. 20, 1863,” on an off-white 4.5 x 1.75 slip, matted with a portrait to an overall size of 11.5 x 17. In fine condition.

Ink signature, "Geo. G. Meade, Maj. Gen'l U.S.A., Comd'r A.P.,” on an off-white 3.5 x 2 card, matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 12 x 16. In fine condition.

Ink signature, "Thomas Francis Meagher, Acting-Brigadier, Irish Brigade,” on an off-white 5 x 3 slip. Double-matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 14 x 21. In fine condition.

Three items signed by Chester Nimitz: a TLS signed “C. W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy,” one page, personal letterhead, January 22, 1957, addressed to Linda Leighton: “Enclosed is an autographed photograph for you — and also one for your Daddy — who was a shipmate on the Arizona. Best wishes to you in your school work and in your scouting”; and two vintage matte-finish photos, 4 x 5 and 5 x 4, including a portrait photo (“To Linda Leighton, Best wishes, C.W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy”), and a photo of Fleet Admiral Nimitz signing the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 (“To Shipmate Leighton, C.W. Nimitz, U.S. Representative, The Japanese Surrender – USS Missouri, 2 Sept. 1945.” The photos are in very fine condition; the letter is fine, with small stains from mounting residue on the back.

Rare 2.25 x 4 carte-de-visite photograph of an artistic rendering of Confederate Brigadier General John Pegram. Published by N. R. Selby of Baltimore, Maryland. In fine condition.

Ink signature, "A. Pleasanton, Maj. Gen'l, New York City, July 4, 1868,” on an off-white 4.75 x 2.25 slip, matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 9.25 x 13.25. In fine condition.

Union Trust Company check, 6.25 x 2.75, filled out in another hand and signed by Pyle, "Ernest T. Pyle," payable to Chestnut Farms Dairy for $9.15, January 5, 1931. In fine condition, with cancelation holes affecting the signature. Encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as "VG 3."

Civil War–dated AES, signed with his initials, "J.F.R.," penned on the reverse of a letter sent to him by Samuel Evans, Quartermaster of the 5th Pennsylvania Reserves, 12 x 7.5, February 4, [1862]. Reynolds writes, in part: "What I wished was a copy of your Abst. of Issues to Hospital for the month of December for the purpose of filing it with the Brigade Commissary, if you have furnished them such a copy it is all that is required." Evans' letter, in part: "A note was placed in my hands last evening directing me to forward to your H. Quarters an abstract of the issues of Hospitals & the Hospital fund for the month of December 1861 and January 1862. I have to say, that agreeably to General Orders heretofore received, I filed one abstract of issues to Hospital at the Brig. Commissary for the months of October, November and December." Nicely double-matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 18.73 x 23, with a window in the backing for viewing Evans' letter. In fine condition.

Ink signature, "John Sedgwick, Maj. General, U.S.A.,” on an off-white 3.5 x 2.25 slip, mounted, double-matted, and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 13 x 19. In fine condition.

Two items signed by William H. Seward, including: an ALS, one page, 4.5 x 6, January 10, 1857. Addressed from Washington, a handwritten letter to James H. Linsley, in full: “I comply with your request with much pleasure.” Also included is a free franked mailing envelope, 5 x 2.75, addressed in another to the same recipient and signed in the upper right with his franking signature, “William H. Seward.” In overall fine condition.

Ink signature, "W. T. Sherman, General, Aug. 16, 1873,” on an off-white 3.25 x 2 card, matted and framed with a portrait engraving to an overall size of 10.25 x 14.5. In very fine condition.

Riggs & Co. Bank check, 8.25 x 2.75, filled out and signed by Sherman, "W. T. Sherman," payable to "Self—charge" for $25, December 22, 1876. In fine condition.

AQS on an off-white 4 x 2.5 card, signed below in ink, "F. Sigel, late Maj. Gl. of Vols., New York, May 22d, 1888." Handwritten theological quotation attributed to German theologian Rupertus Meldenius, in full: "In necessary things Unity / In doubtful things Liberty / In all things Charity." In fine condition. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder.