Description:

Military Lot

>Military & Political Notables Including Stanton & Knox, 12 Items

 

A large and varied dealers' lot of letters, cards, autographs, free franked envelopes, and prints signed by or related to nineteenth-century American and British military and political notables. 12 pieces total. The miscellany can be divided into three categories: U.S. Cabinet Secretaries; military commanders or functionaries; and philanthropists and politicians. Signatories include, in order of importance: Edwin M. Stanton; Henry Knox; Benjamin F. Butler; Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington; Andrew W. Mellon; William Bainbridge; George W. McCrary; George Bancroft; Thomas Sidney Jesup; Samuel Smith; George Peabody; and John A. Logan.

 

The lot is comprised of:

 

U.S. Secretaries of War, Navy, and the Treasury

 

1. 1p ALS inscribed overall by Edwin M. Stanton (1814-1869), and signed by him as "EdwinM Stanton" at lower right. Written in Washington, D.C. on October 14, 1865. Blue-ruled cream paper with "War Department / Washington City" letterhead. In part: "This morning I had a good opportunity of speaking the President respecting Mr. Blunt. I found that the matter had already received his attention." Expected light paper folds, else near fine. Edwin M. Stanton served as Secretary of War during most of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

 

2. Signature of Henry Knox (1750-1806) as "HKnox - Sec.ty of War" on a paper fragment mounted to a portrait engraving after Gilbert Stuart showing the military commander posing next to a cannon. The autographed paper slip measures approximately 2" x 1". Bold signature. Henry Knox was the 1st U.S. Secretary of War between 1789-1794.

 

3. Signature of Andrew W. Mellon (1855-1937), Secretary of the Treasury between 1921-1932, as "A.W. Mellon" on a small cream stock card printed "Autograph of" and "Secretary of the Treasury". Lightly pencil-inscribed verso.

4. "The Secretary of War" calling card inscribed overall and signed by George Washington McCrary (1835-1890) as "Mr President / The bearer / Mrs Gurley the widow / of a distinguished citizen / of Town desires an / interview with you / G W McCrary". Overall light toning and adhesive residue along the left edge recto and verso, else very good. 3.5" x 2.5". George W. McCrary acted as Secretary of War between 1877-1879 during the Hayes administration.

 

5. 1p ALS inscribed overall by George Bancroft (1800-1891), U.S. Secretary of the Navy between 1845-46, and signed by him as "Geo. Bancroft." at lower right. Written in Rome, Italy, on January 14, 1873. On watermarked cream paper. In part: "On receiving your most kind + most welcome note of friendship and remembrance, it was my purpose to make my answer in person…" Overall light toning, else very good to near fine. During Bancroft's tenure as Secretary of the Navy, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland was established in 1845.

 

Military

 

6. Card signed by Civil War commander Benjamin F. Butler (1818-1893) as "Benj. F Butler / Mass". Inscribed in another hand above "Delayed by accident to arm". Bold and dark signature. Minor mounting traces verso. 2.875" x 1.75".

 

7. Free franked envelope inscribed overall by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), and signed by him as "Free / Wellington" at lower left. Dated August 28, 1836 in Dover, England. With an almost completely intact black wax seal incorporating a crowned lion rampant found verso. Some mounting traces verso, and overall light toning, else very good to near fine. 4.75" x 2.875". Accompanied by two prints of Wellington after the original painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence. Isolated foxing. The larger portrait engraving features a facsimile signature and measures 7.5" x 10.25" overall.

 

8. Free franked address leaf inscribed overall by William Bainbridge (1774-1833), and signed by him as "Navy Commissioners Office / Wm. Bainbridge" in the postage section. Bearing early philatelic markings from "Washn City", and docketed "4 Sep 1825" verso. 5" x 3.25". A longtime commodore in the U.S. Navy, Bainbridge participated in all of America's major early nineteenth-century maritime conflicts. Bainbridge served on the Board of Navy Commissioners between 1824-1827.

 

9. 1p ALS inscribed overall by Thomas Sidney Jesup (1788-1860), Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army, and signed by him as "Tho. S. Jesup" at center. The letter to a Montgomery, Alabama comrade was written in Tuskegee, Alabama on September 9, 1836. On watermarked cream paper, reading in part: "Fly immediately to your wife. She needs all the consolation you can bestow. An order will be issued to day relieving you, but do not wait for it…" Minor closed tear along the left edge, else near fine. Accompanied by a typed transcript. Jesup's 42-year-long career as Quartermaster of the U.S. Army is the second longest term of continual service in this post.

 

10. 1p ALS with integral address leaf inscribed overall by Samuel Smith (1752-1839), and 2x signed by him as "S. Smith", the first time at the end of the letter, and the second time as a free frank on the address leaf. From Washington, D.C. on November 27, 1820, Smith writes in part: "I am favored with your letter any Communication or new document you have to offer had better be directed to Lewis Williams Chairman of the Committee of Claims."  On watermarked cream bifold paper with expected folds and a few closed tears, else very good to near fine, docketed on the last page. 8" x 9.875". Smith attained the rank of brigadier general in the Maryland militia, and later represented Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate.

 

Politicians and Philanthropists

 

11. 1p ALS inscribed overall by American financier and philanthropist George Peabody (1795-1869), and signed by him as "George Peabody" at lower right. Written on June 4, 1866. On watermarked cream bifold stationery paper with a blind embossed eagle emblem at top. To Boston merchant Samuel Turner Dana (1810-1877), Peabody wrote in part: "My best thanks for your two letters and especially for your kind invitation to join the Webster Club to Marshfield on the 16th which I accept." Expected folds, one with a closed tear. 4.5" x 7".

 

12. Free franked envelope signed by John A. Logan (1826-1886) as "John A Logan / MC" in the postage section. Postmarked in Washington, D.C. in the 1870s. Expected weathering. Logan was a U.S. Senator from Illinois who ran as Republican presidential candidate James G. Blaine's vice presidential running mate in 1884.

 

This lot comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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