Description:

Presidential
various, ca. 1789-2010
Washington to Obama: Full Presidential Set of Signatures as President, Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Own!
Archive
A highly unique and possibly once-in-a-lifetime set of presidential signatures, from our nation's first president George Washington, to our first Black president Barack Obama. The group consists of autograph letters signed, typed letters signed, and signed letters, together with a variety of signed documents. All signed as president, dating from 1789 to 2010. With expected mail folds and wear to the majority of letters and documents. Varying degrees of light soiling, foxing, and toning. Bold signatures. For supplementary information and a more complete listing of the collection or specific pieces, please reach out to our office or make an appointment to view the lot in person. A timely collection up for auction just one week out from our own 2024 presidential election!

There are very few complete sets of Presidential autographs signed as President, mainly due to the scarcity of William Henry Harrison pieces, as he served just one month in office. Many of these sets reside in institutions and will never be offered to the public. Based on the census taken by Joseph Rubinfine in 2002, and updated by Seth Kaller in 2023, which counts 31 full items in this collection, we can conclude that fewer than a dozen such sets likely exist in private hands, this being one of the very best! A set of Presidents as President is thus scarcer than a set of Signers of the Declaration of Independence. From the collection of a Dallas gentleman.

For a description and scans of the entire collection, please visit our website.

1. George Washington transmits the first Acts of Congress to Samuel Huntington. Dated October 3, 1789. Signed "Go: Washington."
2. John Adams LS to the Senate re: Fries Rebellion. Dated March 25, 1799. Signed "John Adams."
3. Thomas Jefferson LS re: 12th amendment, election of President & VP. Dated December 13, 1803. Signed "Th: Jefferson."
4. James Madison Signed Patent, Countersigned by James Monroe. Dated September 20, 1815. Signed "James Madison" and "Jams Monroe." Patent to "Draw and Cure Cancer."
5. James Monroe Signed Patent, Countersigned by J.Q. Adams. Dated April 2, 1814. Signed "James Monroe" and "John Quincy Adams." Patent for improving "Processing of Chewing Tobacco."
6. John Quincy Adams ALS to Oliver Heartwell re: Freemasons and the murder of William Morgan. Dated April 19, 1828. Signed "J. Q. Adams."
7. Andrew Jackson ALS appeal of General Gates to Secretary of War Lewis Cass. Dated August 9, 1836. Signed "Andrew Jackson."
8. Martin Van Buren ALS requesting courtesies for American diplomat to France. Dated May 11, 1838. Signed "M. Van Buren."
9. William Henry Harrison Ship's Passport "Posthumously issued" for doomed whaling vessel. Dated April 30, 1841. Signed "W H Harrison" and countersigned "Danl Webster" as Secretary of State. One of the very best in existence.
10. John Tyler letter of recommendation to Lewis Cass for Charles Clayton. Dated September 28, 1841. Signed "John Tyler."
11. James Polk ALS to Treasury Secretary for the hiring of a "deaf and dumb" young man. Dated October 20, 1845. Signed "James K. Polk."
12. Zachary Taylor DS appointment for Anthony E. Roberts to Marshall of Eastern District of PA. Dated May 16, 1850. Signed "Z. Taylor." With collateral document.
13. Millard Fillmore ALS to James Hale requesting particulars on alleged fraud. Dated December 2, 1852. Signed "Millard Fillmore." Forwarding information on verso, dated April 8, 1879.
14. Franklin Pierce ALS to James Hale commenting on New Hampshire voting. Dated March 3, 1856. Signed "Fr. Pierce."
15. James Buchanan LS to the Senate re: Washington Aqueduct. Dated March 1, 1859. Signed "James Buchanan."
16. Abraham Lincoln DS calling for more PA troops three weeks after Gettysburg. Dated July 24, 1863. Signed "Abraham Lincoln."
17. Andrew Johnson DS pardon of Lucious Q. Washington (Judah P. Benjamin's right hand). Dated July 5, 1865. Signed "Andrew Johnson."
18. Ulysses Grant ALS to Adolph Borie (Sec. of Navy), thanking him for his hospitality. Dated October 30, 1869. Signed "U. S. Grant."
19. Rutherford B. Hayes ALS to Mrs. Locke "...thank you for the interesting specimen of an economical mind..." Dated October 7, 1878. Signed "R. B. Hayes."
20. James Garfield DS appointment of nation's first female Notary Public, Emma M. Gillett. Dated June 9, 1881. Signed "James A. Garfield" and countersigned "James G. Blaine" as Secretary of State.
21. Chester Arthur ALS directing an aide to inform Secretary of Interior of nomination for Railroad Commissioner. Dated October 31, n.y. Signed "Chester A. Arthur."
22. Grover Cleveland ALS to Ph. Philipsen Esq. re: medal commemorating the Discovery of America. Dated June 13, 1893. Signed "Grover Cleveland."
23. Benjamin Harrison LS to Hon. S. B. Elkine re: "Central American states nagging our ships." Dated August 13, 1891. Signed "Benj Harrison."
24. William McKinley LS to Rt. Rev. John M. Walden acknowledging sympathy following the death of his mother. Dated December 21, 1897. Signed "William McKinley."
25. Theodore Roosevelt TLS to George Ross re: Civil War veterans and an invitation to honorary banquet. Dated February 13, 1908. Signed "Theodore Roosevelt."
26. William H. Taft ALS to Jesse Weik Esq. on "some handwriting of Abraham Lincoln..." Dated January 9, 1913. Signed "Wm H. Taft."
27. Woodrow Wilson Signed Proclamation for Flag Day ceremony. Dated May 30, 1916. Signed "Woodrow Wilson."
28. Warren Harding TLS to U.S. Ambassador to France. Dated February 3, 1923. Signed "Warren G. Harding."
29. Calvin Coolidge TLS to Edward Bok re: concerns about joining the World Court. Dated January 17, 1927. Signed "Calvin Coolidge."
30. Herbert Hoover TLS to Hon. T. V. O'Connor offering encouragement to Chairman of Shipping Board. Dated February 21, 1930. Signed "Herbert Hoover."
31. Franklin Roosevelt TLS to Gutzon Borglum, Mt. Rushmore sculptor. Dated July 28, 1939. Signed "Franklin D. Roosevelt."
32. Harry Truman TLS to General Baade re: victory over the Germans. Dated May 9, 1945. Signed "Harry Truman."
33. Dwight Eisenhower TLS to Jay Gould re: campaign pitch for the Republican party with a list of accomplishments. Dated October 18, 1958. Signed "DE."
34. John F. Kennedy TLS to Goddard Lieberson thanking him for a set of recordings of historic space flight. Dated May 16, 1961. Signed "John Kennedy."
35. Lyndon B. Johnson TLS to Senator Frank Church for challenging right wing. Dated February 23, 1965. Signed "Lyndon B. Johnson."
36. Richard Nixon TLS to Robert McNamara addressing rumors about firing McNamara. Dated March 3, 1971. Signed "Richard Nixon" with a postscript autograph note.
37. Gerald Ford TLS to Albert Quie explaining Nixon's pardon. Dated September 19, 1974. Signed "Gerry Ford."
38. Jimmy Carter TLS to Senator Moynihan re: welfare reform. Dated March 21, 1979. Signed "Jimmy" with a postscript autograph note signed "J."
Jimmy Carter ALS "The Foundation of MidEast Policy is unequivocal support of Israel." Dated May 10, 1978. Signed "Jimmy Carter."
39. Ronald Reagan ALS to Alex Sheriffs defending education policy "black students are the majority of victims…" Dated January 4, 1984. Signed "Ron."
Ronald Reagan TLS to Alex Sheriffs thanking him for his work at California State University. Dated July 17, 1981. Signed "Ron."
40. George H. W. Bush TLS to Anthony Cipriano mentioning the Persian Gulf War. Dated December 10, 1990. Signed "George Bush."
41. Bill Clinton ALS acknowledging Senator Moynihan's work on Pennsylvania Ave via "Jefferson lecture." Dated June 7, 2000. Signed "Bill."
42. George W. Bush ALS: "good education starts with reading..." Dated June 30, 2001. Signed "George Bush."
43. Barack Obama ALS to a mother on making troops a priority. Dated ca. January 2009. Signed "Barack Obama."

Please see our terms and conditions of sale regarding large lots.

This item 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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    Dimensions:
  • 20.5" x 27" x 8"
  • Artist Name:
  • Presidential
  • Medium:
  • Archive

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October 30, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
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