Auction 739 April.

Limited edition display housing a 1˝ x .5˝ wood chip cut from the original cedar beams of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, numbered 8808 of an unspecified edition. Housed in a collector's case with an identification plaque and gold facsimile signatures of some of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In fine condition. Accompanied by the original box, certificate, and booklet from Burnes of Boston, who released the edition during the bicentennial year of 1976.

Pencil signature by the disability rights advocate, "Cordially yours, Helen Keller,” on an off-white 5.75 x 3.5 card. In very fine condition.

TLS in Russian, signed “AK,” one page, 8 x 10, May 3, 1955. Letter to Yury Borisovich, with a brief handwritten greeting at the close. In part (translated): "Streibert made his statement on October 29, 1953. Soon after that I was in Wash[ington] on the KTSAB matter and none other than General Bedell Smith, who, at that time, was substituting for Dulles, stated to me that it was just 'a misunderstanding.' However, this misunderstanding is still going on and on today. There are wise people in Wash[ington], but to this very day they are not able to overcome the influence of all sorts of Dobiansky's in Congress and in the ruling circles, although they say that some changes are noticeable.

I did receive the books. Warm thanks, and I am happy with your new big success, which is apparent also from the foreword by Micha[el] Ch[ekhov]. Only a few days from now I will begin to read it myself. On Wednesday I will forward the book to Andrew; he already knows about its arrival, but he complains that you do not write to him at all." In fine condition.

ALS signed “Coretta,” three pages, 7.5 x 8.75, 1959. Handwritten letter from Bombay, India, in part: "We received your letter yesterday as we arrived in Bombay. It was good to get news from Montgomery and the States, as we get so little news from the States here in India. Glad to know that things are as well as they are. We've had a wonderful experience and have kept well, fortunately. Our schedule has been rather heavy as there was so much territory to cover. Since we will be getting back to the States on March 18 and I'll probably get to Atlanta on the 19th or 20th. So this means that the children won't have as much time with the Kings as we had originally thought….Tell Mother to do what seems best for the children and, if their colds are better, then arrange for them to go on to Atlanta." In fine condition.

Souvenir typescript of King Edward VIII's "Instrument of Abdication," signed "Edward, Duke of Windsor," one page, 7.25 x 10.25, in part: "I, Edward the Eighth…do hereby declare my irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for Myself and for My descendants, and My desire that effect should be given to this Instrument of Abdication immediately. In token whereof I have hereunto set My hand this tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and thirty-six." In very fine condition. Edward's intention to marry the divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson caused a British constitutional crisis. Rather than give up his wife-to-be, he decided to abdicate. A historic piece from Edward VIII, who famously chose love over the British throne.

Vintage matte-finish 5.75 x 7.75 Hugh Cecil portrait of Edward in a three-quarter-length pose wearing a full dress ceremonial uniform, signed in fountain pen, “Edward R. I., 1936.” Affixed to its original 8 x 11.5 studio mount, the reverse of which bears Cecil’s studio label. In fine condition.

A rare and handsome signed portrait of Edward VIII, who, upon his father's death in 1936, became King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from January 20, 1936, until his abdication just 11 months later on December 11, 1936. His decision to renounce the throne to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson precipitated a constitutional crisis and brought an abrupt end to one of the shortest reigns in British history. Upon abdication, he was created Duke of Windsor and lived much of his later life abroad. Signed examples dated 1936 as “Edward R. I.”—reflecting Rex Imperator—are especially desirable, as they were produced only during his brief tenure as king and emperor, a period of less than a year.

Large ink signature of King George III, "George R.,” on an off-white 3.75 x 2.5 sheet trimmed from a document, which is matted with an engraved portrait to an overall size of 8.25 x 11.75. In fine condition, with staining to the bottom edge of the mat.

Large ink signature, "George R,” on an off-white 3.75 x 2.25 sheet clipped from the head of a document, which is double-matted with a color portrait to an overall size of 9.75 x 14.75. In fine condition.

TLS, one page, 8.5 x 11, Indiana University letterhead, July 18, 1951. Letter to Joseph W. Roberts of St. Albans Book Shop, in part: "If you are willing to send the two Gill books on approval, we should be glad to examine them to see if they contain sufficient sexual material to warrant a place in our library." In very good to fine condition, with light creasing and toning to the right edge, and show-through from unrelated calculations on the back.

Contemporary manuscript copy of a letter to Tobias Lear by Jusuf Hoggia, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 10, August 31, 1805. Untranslated letter in Italian pertaining to modifications to a treaty between Tunis and the United States, marked "Copia" at upper left. In fine condition. Lear was responsible for negotiating a peace treaty with the Bey of Tripoli that ended the first Barbary War.

Six early works documenting the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and its aftermath, published between 1865 and 1930, including contemporary accounts, official government reports, and later historical reflections. Titles include:

- The Assassination of President Lincoln and the Trial of the Conspirators, hardcover, published by Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin (Cincinnati / New York) in 1865.

- [French publication] Confession de John Wilkes Booth, Assassin du Président Abraham Lincoln, softcover, published by Chez Tous les Libraires (Paris) in 1865.

- The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Late President of the United States of America, and the Attempted Assassination of William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary, On the Evening of the 14th of April, 1865: Appendix to Diplomatic Correspondence of 1865, hardcover, published by the Government Printing Office (Washington, D.C.) in 1866.

- History of an Attempt to Steal the Body of Abraham Lincoln (Late President of the United States of America), Including a History of the Lincoln Guard of Honor, with Eight Years Lincoln Memorial Services (Editor: John Carroll Power), hardcover, published by the H. W. Rokker Printing and Publishing House (Springfield, Illinois) in 1890.

- Abraham Lincoln and Boston Corbett with Personal Recollections of Each / John Wilkes Booth and Jefferson Davis: A True Story of Their Capture by Byron Berkeley Johnson, hardcover, privately printed in Waltham, Massachusetts (1914), signed and inscribed on the first free end page by the author.

- I Saw Booth Shoot Lincoln by W. J. Ferguson, hardcover with dust jacket, limited edition of 1000 copies, published by Houghton Mifflin Company (Boston & New York) in 1930.

In overall very good to fine condition, with scattered wear to boards and edges, with short tears to the French-language book.

Collection of five early works relating to the assassination and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln, including several volumes published in 1865 in the immediate aftermath of the national tragedy. Titles include:

- Lincolniana: In Memoriam, hardcover, published by William V. Spencer (Boston, MA) in 1865. Limited first edition of 250 copies; believed to be the first published use of the word Lincolnia.

- The Lincoln Memorial: A Record of the Life, Assassination, and Obsequies of the Martyred President (Editor: John Gilmary Shea), hardcover, published by Bunce & Huntington (New York) in 1865.

- A Memorial of Abraham Lincoln, Late President of the United States, hardcover, ‘Printed by Order of the City Council’ (J. E. Farwell & Company, Boston, MA) in 1865.

- Proceedings of the City Council of Boston, April 17, 1865, on Occasion of the Death of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, hardcover, ‘Printed by Order of the City Council’ (J. E. Farwell & Company, Boston, MA) in 1865.

- Personal Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln by Smith Stimmel, hardcover with slipcase, limited first edition, numbered 26/500, published by William H. M. Adams (Minneapolis, MN) in 1928, signed and inscribed on an opening page in fountain by the author, “To know him was to love him. Sincerely yours, Smith Stimmel.”

In overall very good to fine condition, with scattered wear to boards, including tears and paper loss to spines, and foxing throughout inner pages of the 'Proceedings' book, which also bears library markings.

Three engravings related to the assassination and death of President Abraham Lincoln: a 12.75 x 9 engraving by Currier & Ives entitled “The Assassination of President Lincoln, at Ford’s Theatre Washington, D.C. April 14th, 1865”; a 13.75 x 10.25 engraving by Currier & Ives entitled “Death of President Lincoln, at Washington, D.C. April 15th 1865, The Nation’s Martyr”; and a 13.5 x 9.5 engraving by J. L. Magee entitled “The Murderers Doom. Miserable Death of J. Wilkes Booth, The Assassin of President Lincoln / Shot through the head by Sergeant Boston Corbett in a barn on Garrett’s Farm, near Port Royal, near the Rappahannock, April 25, 1865.” Each is individually framed, with sizes ranging from 16.25 x 12.5 to 20.75 x 16.75. Publication dates are unknown. In overall very good to fine condition.

Original 2.5 x 4 carte-de-visite portrait of John Wilkes Booth, taken during a sitting with Norton and Luther in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1864. No back imprint. Listed in John Wilkes Booth Himself by Richard and Kellie Gutman as Booth Image #31. In fine condition, with clipped top corners.

Several strands of Surratt's hair, encapsulated in clear plastic and affixed to an 8.5 x 11 certificate, headed: "The hair of Lincoln conspirator Mary Surratt taken at her hanging." The certificate and an accompanying page reporting that the hair was found in an envelope identified by Samuel Curtis as "The hair [of] Mrs. Surratt." Curtis was a member of the 8th regiment, which served as guards for the execution of the Lincoln assassination conspirators. In fine condition.

Following the death of her husband, John H. Surratt, Sr., in 1862, Mary Surratt (1823–1865) rented out her husband’s tavern and opened a boarding house on H Street in Washington, D.C. In the early months of 1865, the boarding house was used as the meeting place for the conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, led by John Wilkes Booth. Surratt was questioned by the police following the assassination, and witnesses claimed she had met several times with conspirator Lewis Powell; moreover, the keeper of her late husband’s tavern claimed that on the day of the assassination, she had ordered him to 'make ready the shooting irons.' Surratt was arrested soon after and held in military custody. Found guilty of treason, conspiracy, and plotting murder on June 30, 1865, Surratt was sentenced to be 'hanged by the neck ’til she be dead.' When the sentence was carried out on July 7, Surratt earned a dubious place in history as the first woman to be executed by the U.S. government.

ALS signed “Lister,” one page, 3.5 x 5.5, personal letterhead, June 22, 1900. Handwritten letter to "My dear Du Hill," in full: "At last I do myself the honour of sending you the photograph. I was very sorry to see it stated that a son of yours had met with an accidental rifle shot in the foot. I hope it is not very serious." Double-matted and framed with a portrait of Lister (featuring his facsimile signature) to an overall size of 14.5 x 11.5. In fine condition.

ADS signed "J. Marshall," one page, 7.25 x 2.75, February 23, 1830. Handwritten check "to the cashier of the off. of dis. and dep. of the bank of the United States at Washington," ordering a $100 payment to "Mr. Thomas F. Marshall or bearer." Mounted below a matted engraving of Chief Justice Marshall and framed to an overall size of 17.5 x 25. In fine condition, with mild haloing to the ink.

Vintage matte-finish 9.5 x 12.5 portrait photograph of the financier, crisply signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Walter T. Prendergast, with kind regards, A. W. Mellon.” Affixed to a same-size cardstock mount and in fine condition.

TLS signed “A. W. Mellon,” one page, 7.5 x 10, Secretary of the Treasury letterhead, January 4, 1928. Letter to famed businessman and philanthropist Nathan Straus, who co-owned two of New York City's largest department stores, R. H. Macy & Company and Abraham & Straus.

In full: "I wish to extend my congratulations and good wishes on the occasion of your birthday on January 31st. I can not let this opportunity pass without expressing the admiration which I feel not only for your long and successful career in business and for the distinguished public services which you have rendered to your city, state and nation, but above all for what you have been able to accomplish in alleviating suffering, promoting health and saving human life in your own country and throughout the world. You have shown what can be accomplished in a constructive way by a career devoted to the public interests and to the welfare of humanity." Impressively cloth-matted and framed with a portrait and biographical plaque to an overall size of 30 x 18. In fine condition.

ALS in German, signed “K. Metternich,” one page, 7.75 x 9.75, January 20, 1820. Untranslated handwritten letter referring to a trip to Vienna. In fine condition.

Manuscript DS in French, signed “Momoro,” one page, 8 x 11.5, January 20, 1794. Document certifying "that Citizen Edme Louis Dominique Schiere Lelievre, employed in the offices of the Minister of Contributions, has declared to us to be the bearer of the secret according to which he can compose the elixir known by the name of 'Balm of Life,' of which the inventor is Claude Lelievre, his father." Signed at the conclusion in ink by five members of the Directoire, including Antoine-François Momoro, Etienne Jean-Baptiste Maillard, Denis-Guillaume Bourgain, Dubois, and Houzeau. The red wax seal affixed at lower left is cracked but intact. Housed in a lavish embossed leather folder. In fine condition. Momoro's autograph is scarce, this being the first example we have offered.

Ink signature, "Sir Moses Montefiore presents his Compliments,” on an off-white 5 x 3.75 sheet, dated at "Grosvenor Gate Park Lane, 24th June 1842." Affixed to a slightly larger album page, with an unidentified signature affixed below. In fine condition.

Prayer slip featuring an image of Mother Teresa holding the hand of a small child, 3 x 6, signed at the bottom in blue ink, "God bless you, M Teresa mc." In very fine condition.

Signed book: Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger by Peter Bevelin. Third edition. Malmo, Sweden: Post Scriptum AB, 2007. Hardcover, 6.5 x 9.75, 318 pages. Signed on the title page in black felt tip by Munger. In very fine condition.

Vellum manuscript document issued in the name of Queen Anne of England, one page, 15 x 13, May 15, 1703. A land grant in favor of William Lawrents for "a small island containing about eight acres, sitting at the mouth of Little Spillgate, and between great and Little Agazzi Islands in the County of New York." The island referred to is probably in the area now known as 'Hellgate,' on the East River, near what is now called North and South Brother Islands. Nicely double-matted and framed with the detached large pendant seal to an overall size of 28.5 x 21. In very good condition, with dampstaining over most of the document, affecting appearance but not readability.