Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 94

Manuscript & Collectibles Auction

Historic Documents/Manuscripts

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1		7 Past U.S. Presidents, 1969-2009, Signed Photograph of Air Force One. Seven past Presidents of the United States have signed this color 8" x 10" photo of Air Force One, SAM 27000, the second of two Boeing VC-137C, specifically configured and maintained for use by the Presidents. In flight over the Potomac River, representing 40 years of American history, it has been signed by Richard Nixon as Ex-President in blue pen top left, "Best Regards, Ronald Reagan" as Ex-President in black felt tip pen top center, Jimmy Carter as Ex-President in black felt tip pen bottom left, Gerald R. Ford as Ex-President in black felt pen bottom left, George W. Bush very likely as President in black felt pen bottom left, "Best Wishes George H. W. Bush" as Ex-President in blue felt tip pen bottom center and finally, "Bill Clinton 11-10-2010" as Ex-President in blue felt pen bottom center. SAM 2700 was in service from December, 1972 to 2001 and is now on display at the Reagan Library. Signatures and photo in excellent condition. Comes with COA from Presidential Historian, H. W. "Skip" Hensel. $4,000 - 5,000 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $4,500
Lot 2		Adams, John Quincy. (1767-1848). 6th President of the United States. Cut free frank signature ("J.Q. Adams"), 1 page, 5 x ½", Washington, D.C., n.d. Addressed to Nicholas Biddle (1786-1844) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, President of the U.S. Second Bank (1822-1836). Postmarked "City of Washington" date illegible, and additionally stamped "Free". Folded once horizontally and repaired on the verso. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity. In fine condition. Here, the President renowned for shaping U.S. foreign policy in accordance with his nationalist commitment to U.S. republican values contacts the second president of the U.S. Second Bank, a financier notable for his use of such newly developed national techniques of "central banking" as controlling the nation�s money supply, regulating interest rates, lending to state banks, and acting as the U.S Government�s fiscal agent. $300 - 400 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $338
Lot 3		Bush, George Walker. (1946 -) Signed Late Edition of The New York Times 9/12/2001 after the destruction of The World Trade Center. Signing the edition and obtained at two different occassions are President George W. Bush, former Governor of New York, George Pataki, and Former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, all in office at the time. Newspaper is complete except for Section D. $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $275
Lot 4		Clinton, Bill. Envelope signed "Bill Clinton" with "3/20/92" postmark from Kenner, LA, with small color photo of Clinton pasted to it. Accompanied by Five Holiday Greeting Cards 1996-2000, three with autopen signatures of Bill and Hilary Clinton. Also included is a colorful 9-page "Holidays at the White House 1995" booklet with printed signatures. All are in fine condition. $250 - 350 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 5		Clinton, Bill, Al Gore, and Samuel Tilden. Card with vignette of the White House signed by Bill Clinton and Al Gore, no date, 6 x 8". Both signed in black marker, probably as President and Vice President. Very fine with outstanding signatures. Accompanied by a partly-printed document signed by Samuel J. Tilden as Governor of New York, 1 page, Albany, August 25, 1875, certifying that one Oscar F. Thompson was an authorized notary public when he signed a certain document. Very good; toning and edge chips; seal with ribbons intact. In 1876, Tilden won the popular vote as the Democratic candidate for President over Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes, but due to fraud and manipulation, Hayes won the electoral vote 185 to 184. Similarly, in the 2000 election, Al Gore won the popular vote over George W. Bush by some 500,000 votes but because of irregularities in the Florida election, lost the election when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a controversial 5-4 decision to reverse the Florida Supreme Court's recount order, giving the electoral vote to Bush 271-266. $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $240
Lot 6		Ford, Gerald R. (1913-2006) 38th President of the United States (1974-77). Typed letter signed as Ex-President, on letterhead with Presidential Seal, 1 page, 8½ x 6½", Feb. 25, 1989. To Maria Carroll thanking her for a book of speeches by Warren G. Harding and saying he was certain that "the news media and some historians have over-emphasize the negatives in the Harding era. I know from personal experience that is the tendency…." He also expresses his appreciation as a golfer of a copy of a photo of Harding playing golf. Very fine with bold signature. $150 - 200 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $90
Lot 7		Ford, Gerald R. (1913-2006). 38th President of the United States. Typed letter signed ("Gerry"), 1 page, 8½ x 6¼", on ivory "Gerald R. Ford" Presidential stationery, Rancho Mirage, California, November 29, 2000. To Robert Cyrus "Cy" Laughter of Dayton, Ohio, who had served on President Ford's Physical Fitness Committee. In a letter written just a few weeks before the December 12, 2000 Supreme Court decision that named George W. Bush the winner of the disputed Presidential election, Ford pledges to "do whatever I can" to secure a post for Laughter in the forthcoming Bush administration, provided that George W. is, in fact, elected. The letter is accompanied by a GOP observer Miami-Dade badge, as well as the original mailing envelope. Folded once at the horizontal center, else fine. $200 - 300 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 8		Hayes, Rutherford B. 19th, 20th and 25th Presidents of the United States. Lot of three items, all of which are accompanied by Letters of Authenticity. 1. Signature ("RB Hayes"), on a 3¼ x 2¼" card, n.p., n.d. Light smudges do not mar the clear, clean signature. Fine. 2. Signature ("J.A. Garfield"), on a 3¾ x 2¼" card, n.p., n.d. Fine. 3. Signature ("W McKinley"), as Governor of Ohio (1892-1896), on a 4¼ x 2¾" "State of Ohio / Executive Chamber / Columbus" embossed card, Columbus, n.d. Large, bold signature. Fine. $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $525
Lot 9		Hayes, Rutherford B. Partly-printed document signed ("R.B. Hayes), as President, 1 page, 16 x 21", Washington, Feb. 9, 1880. Countersigned by Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz. Appointing Speed S. Fry as "Supervisor of Census for the Third Census District of Kentucky." Blind embossed seal of the Department of the Interior at lower left. Light toning; small pinholes at fold intersections and a vertical fold traverses the "R." in Hayes' signature. $250 - 350 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $252
Lot 10		Jackson, Andrew. (1767-1845). 7th President of the United States. Autograph letter signed ("Andrew Jackson"), 1 page, 9¾ x 7¾", the Hermitage, Tennessee, Feb. 13, 1827. To Col. Leroy Pope (1765-1844), called "Father of Huntsville" Alabama, introducing an astronomer by the name of Mr. Goodacre. Goodacre had spent some time in Nashville and had given lectures and demonstrations, deemed "superior" by Jackson and "highly gratifying to all our learned gentlemen who have attended them. " Jackson asks that Pope be sure to introduce Goodacre to one Doctor Brown, who must certainly have been an avid stargazer. Some splitting to vertical folds; four small holes at fold intersections affect a couple of letters of text. The signature remains clear and bold. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity. Housed in a lucite holder, easily removed. $1,500 - 2,000 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,438
Lot 11		Jackson, Andrew. (1767-1845). 7th President of the United States. Cut free frank signature ("Andrew Jackson"), 1 page, 5 x 2¼", n.p., n.d. Addressed to General J.B. Planche & Co., Merchants of New Orleans. Jackson has handwritten the address as well as the word "Free". Despite some remnant tape on the verso, the sheet is clean, the signature remarkably large and bold. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity. In fine condition. $400 - 500 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $480
Lot 12		Jefferson, Thomas. (1743-1826) Third President of the United States. Partly-printed document signed ("Th. Jefferson"), as President, and countersigned by James Madison as Secretary of State. Being a four-language ship's passport (French, Spanish, English, and Dutch), on laid paper, 1 page, 22 ½ x 18", Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 11, 1805. Also signed by Joseph Whipple, Collector of Customs. Ichabod Rollins is appointed as master and commander of the ship Hantonia for a voyage to Jamaica. The paper seal of the United States is affixed and fully intact at the left margin. The document is notarized and dated September 14, 1805 in the space below the main text, with the official seal of the notary public of Portsmouth, Samuel Elliot, affixed at the left margin. Folded five times horizontally and three times vertically, with some light creasing and minor splitting where folds intersect - three such imperfections are notable, each measuring less than ¼", and not affecting the English text or the signatures, which are clean and clear. Attractively framed in gilt wood and black frame with museum-grade UV plexiglass, white engraved portraits, and biographical plaques of both founding fathers against green velvet for an overall size of 55 x 33". $8,000 - 12,000 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $7,200
Lot 13		Kennedy, John F. (1917-1963) 35th President of the United States (1961-63). Vintage black and white photo of President John F. Kennedy at his desk in the Oval Office inscribed and signed in black fountain pen, "To Joe Baso - with warm regards - John Kennedy," 7½ x 8¼", c. 1962. Cecil Stoughton was the White House photographer at the time and took this photograph. $2,000 - 3,000 With authentication by presidential historian H.W. "Skip" Hensel. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,320
Lot 14		Lincoln, Abraham. (1809-1865) 16th President of the United States. Partly-printed document signed ("Abraham Lincoln"), as President, 1 page, approximately 20½ x 16", Washington, D.C., March 4, 1863. Countersigned by Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase ("S.P. Chase"). Being the appointment of James T. McCullough as Collector of Internal Revenues for the First Collection District of Maryland. An engraved vignette featuring the American bald eagle perched on a rock at sea appears near the top of the document, beneath the President's full name. Folded once horizontally and five times vertically, the document does display minor splitting at the folds, mostly near the margins, which have been professionally repaired. There are also some tears at the left and right margins, neither of which impacts the text of the document or the signature, which remains clear and bold. Elaborately framed for display in museum grade UV plexiglass beneath a color portrait of Lincoln and a biographical plaque against deep red velvet for an overall size of 31½ x 43½". In very good condition. $5,000 - 6,000 Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticy from H.W. "Skip" Hensel, manuscript appraiser and presidential historian. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,520
Lot 15		Lincoln, Abraham. Partly-printed document signed ("Abraham Lincoln"), as President, vellum, 18¼ x 14¼", Washington, March 22, 1862. Countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Appointing Speed S. Fry as Brigadier General of Volunteers. Docketed by Adj. Gen. Lorenzo Thomas at upper left; seal is intact at upper left. Manuscript information is faint but legible. Lincoln's full signature is of medium boldness. Some age spotting and yellowing around edges; still an attractive document. Fry (1817-1892) was a lawyer, judge, and a U.S.Army officer during the Mexican-American War and American Civil War. $4,500 - 5,500 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,100
Lot 16		Lincoln, Abraham. (1809-1865) Large 19th Century framed CDV image of President Abraham Lincoln with original cut signature. Frame measures 11½" x 9½" with original hand blown glass plate (visible small air bubbles.) The image has a cancelled Green Washington US Revenue 3 cent stamp on verso. $1,500 - 2,000 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,800
Lot 17		Obama, Barack. (1961 -) 44th President of the United States (2009-2017). May 2, 2011 issue of USA Today signed as President in black Sharpie pen on the front page at top right. The headline reads: "Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama says." The signing took place at Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. The President was in Texas to push immigration reform. Included is a snapshot of the President greeting well-wishers at the airport. $900 - 1,200 Includes COA from Presidential Historian, H.W. "Skip" Hensel. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $600
Lot 18		Reagan, Ronald and Nancy. Color photograph of President and Mrs. Reagan on an airport tarmac with members of the military, signed in blue ballpoint pen by President Reagan and in blue marker as the First Lady, both in the lower border, 8 x 10". Printed notation on verso: "Official White House Photograph 12 JUN 87 C41241-27." Date of signatures is unknown. Fine condition with bold signatures. $300 - 500 With authentication by presidential historian H.W. "Skip" Hensel. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $216
Lot 19		Roosevelt, Theodore. (1858-1919). 26th President of the United States. Typed letter signed ("Theodore Roosevelt"), as President, on "White House, Washington" embossed letterhead, 1 page, 7 x 8½", Washington, D.C., August 19, 1904. To Mr. Axel Josephsson of Washington, D.C. Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope, postmarked Oyster Bay, New York. Folded to accommodate an envelope, and with a light smudge in the lower left corner which does not impact the text or the very large, bold, and clear signature. With a Letter of Authenticity. In very good to fine condition. The President graciously expresses his thanks for the copy of Singoalla, a Swedish novel described as a "Romantic fairytale poem" upon its initial publication in 1857 that was translated into English in 1903 by Josephsson, who stated, in the preface, his desire to "acquaint the English reading world with one of the most weird and romantic stories ever written in the Swedish language.". $600 - 800 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $528
Lot 20		Seven Presidents Signed Photo of White House. 8 x 10" color photo of the White House signed by seven Presidents: Richard Nixon, dated 1-2-88, in blue ink; Gerald R. Ford, signed in black marker; Jimmy Carter ("J. Carter"), signed in blue marker; Ronald Reagan, in black ballpoint pen; George H.W. Bush ("George Bush"), in black marker; Bill Clinton, in black marker; and George W. Bush ("George Bush"), in blue marker. All probably signed as Ex-Presidents. This is the view of the White House that appears on the $20 bill. Fine condition. Exceptional signatures. With authentication by presidential historian H.W. "Skip" Hensel. $4,000 - 5,000 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,520
Lot 21		Taft, William H. (1857-1930). 27th President of the United States. Typed letter signed ("Wm. H. Taft"), as U.S. Secretary of War (1904-1908), on "War Department / Washington" embossed letterhead, 1 page, 5½ x 9", Washington, D.C., May 7, 1907. To Major General William S. McCaskey, Commander of the Department of Texas, San Antonio, Texas. Folded to fit an envelope, and with a few light smudges in the upper margin, the signature remains large, bold, and clear. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity. In fine condition. With this brief but genial letter, Taft congratulates McCaskey on his "well-deserved promotion" to the rank of Major-General. $200 - 400 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $163
Lot 22		Truman, Harry S. Typed letter signed ("Harry Truman"), as President, on White House stationery, 1 page, 9 x 7", Washington, D.C., December 21, 1948. To Dr. G. Bromley Oxnam, Bishop of the Methodist Church, in New York City. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. In fine condition. In the wake of the recent testimony by former Communist Party member Whittaker Chambers before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in which he accused former Director of the State Department's Office of Special Political Affairs, Alger Hiss, of being a Soviet spy, Truman responds to a letter from the standing Bishop of the Methodist Church, thanking him for providing information in response to charges of the Un-American Activities Committee. In part, "The great American public will be strengthened by the assurance that Communism has not infiltrated the churches of this nation." $1,500 - 2,000 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,200
Lot 23		Truman, Harry S. Typed memorandum signed ("H.S.T."), as President, on White House stationery, 1 page, 9 x 7", Washington, D.C., November 10, 1949. For the Acting Secretary of State, James E. Webb (1906-1992). Oval receipt stamp "Under Secretary / Nov 14 1949 / Department of State" at the right. In fine condition. In full, "Thanks for the background memoranda on the visit of His Imperial Majesty, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shahinshah of Iran. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in sending it to me very much." On November 16, 1949, less than one week after writing our memo, President Truman greeted Mohammad Rez Pahlavi, the 30-year-old Shah of Iran, on his first visit to the United States. $1,000 - 1,200 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $600
Lot 24		Truman, Harry S. (1884-1972). 33rd President of the United States. Typed letter signed ("Harry S. Truman"), as President, on "The White House / Washington" embossed letterhead, 1 page, 7 x 8½", Washington, D.C., January 27, 1951. To Michael J. Kirwan, U.S. Representative of Ohio�s 19th district, Washington, D.C. Folded once horizontally to accommodate an envelope, no longer extant, and with an insignificant rust-colored stain to the upper margin, else fine. Truman begins this friendly correspondence by expressing his wish that Kirwan is able to see "The Informer," presumably a reference to either the D.W. Griffith film of 1912 or the John Ford picture of 1935. He continues in a subtly apologetic tone, referencing his unusually hectic recent schedule and requesting that the congressman contact "Matt", presumably a presidential employee, to set up an appointment for a meeting. Surely, the Chinese New Year Offensive and subsequent fallout were keeping the President occupied. $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $432
Lot 25		Tyler, John. (1790-1862). 10th President of the United States. Free frank signature ("J. Tyler"), as President, on a 4 x 2" mourning stationery envelope, Washington, D.C., postmarked January 10, n.y. (1843). The letter this envelope was likely written and sent by Tyler in the months immediately following the loss of his first wife, Letitia, who died of a stroke in the White House as First Lady in September of 1842. Postmarked and stamped "Free" in red ink. The original wax seal on the envelope closure is still nearly fully intact. Although the envelope is a bit rough around the edges and age toned, the signature is still clear and bold. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity. In very good condition. $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $324
Lot 26		Washington, George. (1732-1799) First President of the United States; Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. Autograph letter signed ("Go: Washington"), 1 page, on laid paper, 9 x 7 ½", Mount Vernon, Oct. 27, 1799. Written less than two months before Washington's death to William Hartshorne (1742-1816), a Quaker merchant in Alexandria. Docket on verso. Light toning and a few wrinkles. Affixed at top corners by small bits of old tape to slightly larger board, affecting nothing; several small fold reinforcements to folds on verso. Washington's handwriting did not deteriorate with age and his signature is a lovely example. Washington writes: "Your favor of the 23d inst.t was not received until last night. For the information it gives concerning the suit of Mr. T. Herbert, I thank you. I hope he will acquiesce in the decison, though unfavourable to his wishes; and no longer give trouble to others, and expence to himself, in prose[c]uting it. With esteem & regard…." William Hartshorne was also treasurer of the Potomac Company, created in 1785 to make improvements to the Potomac River and to improve its navigability. Washington served as the company's first president and was an investor. This letter has remained in the Hartshorne family since 1799. A handwritten genealogy of the Hartshorne family, back to William Hartshorne's father, accompanies the letter. $6,000 - 8,000 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $16,200
Lot 27		Washington, George - Rare Appointment Signed First Year As President. Manuscript document signed ("Go. Washington"), as President, vellum, 1 page, 11 ½ x 11", New York, New York, September 26, 1789. An early presidential appointment, whereby Pierpont Edwards (1750-1826) is appointed to the office of Attorney of the United States for the Connecticut District. The seal of the United States is affixed at the upper left and remains fully intact. Folded once vertically and twice horizontally, but otherwise remarkable for its clean appearance. The signature is large and clear. Handsomely framed in gilt wood, museum grade UV plexiglass with a color portrait of Washington and a biographical plaque against deep red velvet, for an overall size of 29 x 42". Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from H.W. "Skip" Hensel, manuscript appraiser and presidential historian. Documents signed by Washington when the U.S. capital was in New York City are exceedingly rare. This example was signed just five months after Washington took office on April 30th, 1789. Interestingly, three cabinet members were also appointed the same day Pierpoint Edwards received his appointment: Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Attorney General Edmund Randolph, and Postmaster General Samuel Osgood. Apparently, this was a busy day for the first President! Pierpont Edwards served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and was a delegate to the American Continental Congress, as well as a member of the Connecticut Convention, held in January 1788, which ratified the Constitution of the United States. In 1806 Edwards was nominated by President Thomas Jefferson to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. He served for twenty years, until his death. Pierpont Edwards was the founder of the Toleration Party in Connecticut. $20,000 - 30,000 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $15,000
Lot 28		British Statesmen: William E. Gladstone and Herbert Kitchener. Gladstone (1809-1898) was a British Liberal politician who served as Prime Minister four separate times and as Chancellor of the Exchequer four times. Autograph letter signed ("Wm Gladstone"), 1 page, 5½ x 4¼", Hawarden, Oct. 20 (18) 75. To Miss F. A. Garland, enclosing a draft for a sovereign (not present) and stating that "any solicitation to others…would be contrary to a rule I act upon…." Matted with an image and name plaqu of Gladstone and framed to an overall size of 18½ x 21¾"; some scuffing to frame. Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener (1850-1916) was a senior British Army officer and colonial administrator; he served as Secretary of State for War from 1914 until his death in 1916. Autograph letter signed ("Herbert Kitchener"), 1 page, on paper embossed "Sirdarieh / Cairo", June 5, no year. To Sir William, congratulationing him on his "new honours" and suggesting that they get together in July, when Kitchener intends to take leave. A note regarding a newspaper cutting (not present) is in the upper left corner. Matted with an image of Kitchener and framed to an overall size of 20¾ x 23¼". $300 - 500 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $180
Lot 29		Clay, Henry. (1777-1852). American politician who served as both a Senator and Congressman from the state of Kentucky, as Speaker of the House, and as Secretary of State under John Quincy Adams. Clay was unsuccessful in his repeated attempts to attain nation�s highest office, but despite these losses, he remained a dominant figure in the Whig Party that he and his colleagues founded in the 1830s. Free frank signature ("H. Clay"), as Secretary of State, on the address leaf of a printed letter from the Department of State, Washington, D.C., October 3, 1828. To the Editor of the American Patriot in Portland Maine. Postmarked Washington City, October 7, and stamped "Free" in red ink. The address leaf is folded, of course, and there is some splitting along the folds, as well as some moisture damage, but the signature remains clear. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity. In good to very good condition. $200 - 300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $120
Lot 30		Collection of 6 Signatures of Supreme Court Justices, Politicians, Entrepreneurs. Collection of signed pieces, including: signature of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Justice, best remembered for jurisprudence in the fields of civil rights and criminal procedure, on his Chamber note card, 4½ x 6"; signed photo of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, 5 x 6"; signed color portrait of Ted Kennedy, 8 x 10", dated 1992; signed color portrait of Colin Powell, 8 x 10"; signed photo of longtime Texas Senator and Vice-Presidential nominee in 1988, Lloyd Bentsen, 8 x 10"; and a signed color photo of Malcolm Forbes, former publisher Forbes magazine and colorful entrepreneur, 8 x 10". All in excellent condition. $250 - 500 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $125