Don't Miss University Archives September 18, 2024 Sale!

U.S. Presidential

Lot 21 is a 1p autograph letter signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower as President, dated October 22, 1954, and addressed to the first American televangelist, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. Eisenhower was deeply religious, especially following his conversion to Presbyterianism. Eisenhower ALSs as President are exceedingly rare, and this one also relates to religion, something that the Eisenhower administration did much to integrate into public life.

Lot 93 is an incredible group of three typed letters signed by Richard Nixon as President, ca. 1970-1973, all addressed to President of the Khmer Republic Lon Nol. The letters show how Nixon’s attitude towards fighting Khmer Rouge communist guerillas and North Korean communists in Cambodia changed over time; at first, Nixon was supportive, but he eventually bowed to significant antiwar pressure at home.

Lot 107 is a magnificent vintage sepia-colored photograph of Theodore Roosevelt, signed as President on April 30, 1906 and dedicated to Pope Pius X. In the inscription, Roosevelt assures the Pope that “he will ever occupy the same high position he now holds in the eyes of all Christian statesmen.” Both Roosevelt and the Pope concerned themselves with social issues.

Science & Technology

Lot 505 is a 1p typed letter in German signed by Albert Einstein, dated October 15, 1944 and addressed to university professor Giuliano Hugo Bonfante. Einstein demonstrates both his genius and humility in this astonishing letter, answering Bonfante’s question of whether the simplest explanation is most often correct. In his explanation, Einstein compares his general theory of relativity to “Newton's theory” and also alludes to the unified field theory he was then developing.

Lot 205 is a 7pp German-language rocket test flight report, dated July 16, 1943, boldly signed by Wernher von Braun, then chief of the Nazi research facility at Peenemünde, as “v. Braun” on the second page. The report includes data from the 28th test flight of the V-2 Aggregat 4 rocket. After emigrating to the United States after World War II, the German rocket scientist worked on NASA Redstone missile and Saturn rocket projects.

Military

As University Archives regulars know, Militaria - especially Civil War and World Wars I and II - have performed extremely well lately. Our September sale features a variety of military documents, broadsides, photographs, relics, currency, and advertising silks.

Lot 372 is a letter signed by Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg, believed to be the only Gettysburg correspondence of Lee’s in private hands. Lee addressed this July 4, 1863 letter to his enemy, Union General George Meade, inquiring about a wounded and captured Confederate officer of the 42nd Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers, Colonel Hugh Reid Miller. Miller had been gravely injured the previous day during Longstreet’s Assault at the Battle of Cemetery Hill, and Lee was wondering if Meade had any information about Miller’s health or whereabouts. Sadly, Miller died of his wounds at Gettysburg about two weeks after the battle.

The several Gen. George A. Custer lots in the sale will be led by Lot 359, an autograph letter signed twice by Custer, seeking the appointment of one of his “Custer Clan” lieutenants, Algernon Smith, to the rank of captain. Custer writes glowingly of Smith’s service during the Civil War and his tenure in the 7th Cavalry. Smith was later killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

Literature

American and European writers from the 19th-21st C. are well-represented in our September sale. Included is Lot 453, an undated 2pp autograph manuscript by Charles Dickens laying out a 6-chapter early outline for David Copperfield, one of his most beloved novels and his personal favorite. The existence of this outline, previously unpublished, contradicts the established literary theory that Dickens did not extensively plan David Copperfield. Dickens writes out the name “Copperfield” four times in this important manuscript, and also writes out the names of Mr. Micawber, Little Emily, James Steerforth, and Tommy Traddles.

Lot 454 is a 3pp autograph letter signed by Ralph Waldo Emerson, dated March 8, 1835 and addressed to a 13-year-old family friend, Lucia Russell. The letter anticipates many ideas that Emerson would explore in his essay Nature, the foundational text of Transcendentalism published the next year. Among these is the necessity of solitude to receive Nature’s clearest and manifold messages. “…Nature is always talking to you, especially when you are alone,” Emerson writes.

Sports

Our September sale features an assortment of sports memorabilia including autographed photographs, sports equipment, uniforms, ephemera, prints, and posters. Lot 541 is a 1940 vintage black and white photograph of Babe Ruth and sports agent Christy Walsh, both signed by them, and PSA/DNA authenticated and graded 7 and 6 respectively.

These are just a few of the unique lots that will be offered in our September 18, 2024 sale.

We hope to see you there!