Autographs

Samuel Lyman ALS to Thomas Dwight making jest of Congressman John Randolph’s speech, 1800

(First Party System) Samuel LYMAN (1749-1802) Federalist Representative from Massachusetts 1794-1800. Fine content A.L.S. “S. Lyman” 1p. legal folio with integral address leaf, Philadelphia, 20 Jan. 1800 to Thomas Dwight in Boston poking fun at the maiden speech of Virginian John Randolph (1773-1833) who had entered the House the previous year. Lyman writes in part “…the enclosed Paper [not present] contains Randolph’s Speech; called his Maiden speech, and like young maidens of yore, he has committed folly in Israel — he is a young man of very good natural & acquired talents, but like some of the young Virgins of the ancient Dominion, he has taken a premature leap from his voice & countenance, you would judge, that he was a very young female of about eighteen…” The late 1790s were the scene of terrible political strife between Federalists like Lyman and Jeffersonian Republicans like Randolph.

Partial fold separations, uneven toning, light soiling, else very good.

(EXA 1804) $200

Cyrano de Bergerac  Plagiarism Case

Samuel Eberly GROSS (1843 – 1913) Signed book: In the Circuit Court of the United States, Northern District of Illinois, Northern Division. No. 23,030. – Present, Honorable Christian C. Kohlsaat, District Judge. – Samuel Eberly Gross vs. A. M. Palmer, Richard Mansfield, and Richard Mansfield company. – MASTER’S REPORT AND DECREE. – Wednesday, 21 May 1902. (Chicago: Bernard & Miller, [1902]), 68pp. with several blank leaves at end bearing newspaper reports on the case. In original titled wraps bound in three-quarter leather marbled boards. Signed and inscribed by Gross on the original titled paper wrap, “To Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker with the compliments of Samuel E. Gross Nov. 22, 1910.”¹

On 28 December 1897 Edmond Rostrand premiered his new play, Cyrano de Bergerac in Paris to mass critical acclaim. Clayton Hamilton, the American drama critic declared, “No other play in history, before or since, has ever attained the popular success so instantaneous and so enormous.” Meanwhile in Chicago, Samuel Eberly Gross, a successful real estate developer cried foul. Asserting that Rostrand’s hit play bore a strong resemblance to his own published drama, The Merchant Prince of Cornville and specifically, the climatic balcony scene where Cyrano woos his love secretly feeding lines to another man while hidden in the bushes.

Gross claimed he had submitted his own play to the same Paris theater where Rostrand first presented Cyrano, but it had been rejected. Noting that Rostrand had the “run of the theater reading room” at the time, Gross concluded that the prolific French playwright had lifted the scene for inclusion in his own work. Although in reality, Gross’ claim was almost completely spurious, he managed to halt a Chicago production of Cyrano through a court injunction. Federal Judge Christian C. Kohlsaat ordered a special master, E. B. Sherman to sift through the evidence and submitting a report with recommendations for review by the court. Sherman concluded in his report that Gross had indeed been plagiarized by Rostrand, not only due to the signature balcony scene but in thirty other instances. Judge Kohlsaat upheld Sherman’ opinion and awarded Gross a token one dollar in damages – together with an order prohibiting the staging of Cyrano de Bergerac in the United States.

The case became a sensation in the press. In the wake of the verdict, New York Times published an excerpt from The Merchant Prince balcony scene ostensibly for “the reader to decide,” yet the snide tone of the article betrayed their true belief that the ruling was completely ludicrous. When asked about the verdict, Rostrand quipped: “I am ready to admit I took … all our 17th century history from Eberle Gross of Chicago, and, in order to end the matter once and for all, I confess I stole Les Romanesques from Smithson of Jefferson City, Mo.; La Princesse Lointaine, from Giles Trumbull of Columbus, Ohio; L’Aiglon from Tom Sambo of Springfield, Illinois; and that I drew the idea of La Samarataine from the apocryphal gospel of the Rev. Hon. Augustus Wonnacott of Hartford, Conn. I add that I am negotiating, at the present moment, with a Virginia planter for the purchase of a manuscript, and that I have just purloined from the house of a Louisiana shipowner a great piece on Joan of Arc, the Maid of New Orleans.”

Ironically, Gross should have asked for more than a token $1 in damages as he nearly bankrupted himself in his long quest for recognition. Although he made over $3,000,000 building suburban homes in the 1890s, at the time of his death in 1913, he was worth a mere $150,000.

In 1920 a federal judge in New York ruled against Gross’ widow and declared Rostand the true author of Cyrano. This is a rare memento from Gross’ quixotic quest for vindication.

Pages overall quite clean, outer boards rubbed and scratched, else very good.

(EXA 4320) $2,000

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¹ (1843 – 1916) Pennypacker, the 23rd Governor of Pennsylvania, was also a voracious collector.

Herbert Hoover photograph signed as President with Greek-American leaders

Herbert HOOVER (1874 – 1964) Photograph Signed “Herbert Hoover” as President on a 10 1/4 x 14 in. black and white photograph by C. O. Buckingham Co., Washington. Hoover poses at the White House with six Greek-American leaders (most of whom appear to be members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPAN), all of whom sign below their portrait including: Andrew JARVIS (1890 – 1990) Greek-American politician and restaurateur; C. R. NIXON(?-?) a state legislator from Tulsa, Oklahoma; Peter G. SIKOKIS (1893 – 1959) Greek-American, president of the Confectioner’s Buying Association. We have been unable to identify the other three individuals pictured.

Signatures somewhat light, but still legible, very minor wear and silvering at edges, else fine condition.

(EXA 3885) $750

Andrew Jackson signed four-language ship’s paper

Andrew JACKSON (1767 – 1845) President. Partly-printed Document Signed “Andrew Jackson” as President, 1p. 16 1/4 x 20 in. Boston, 1 July 1836, a four-language ship’s paperfor the Brig Congress, commanded by J. G. Town “lying at present in the port of Boston bound for Calcutta and laden with Merchandize…” The document printed in Spanish, French, English, and Dutch is countersigned by Secretary of State John FORSYTH (1780 – 1841) and bears very clean paper seals of the United States.

Matted and framed with a portrait of Jackson.

A few minor separations on expected folds and a few minor holes not affecting text, else fine condition.

(EXA 4052) $2,250

German painter Ferdinand Konrad Beller searches for his lost brother in America

(Mexican War) Ferdinand Konrad BELLER (aka. BELLERMANN) (1814-1889) German painter best known for his landscapes of Venezuela between 1842 and 1845. Unusual and very fine content manuscript Document Signed twice “Conrad Bartholmaeus Ferdinand Bellermann” 5pp. 290 x 230 mm. Berlin, 5 July 1854, in German being a series of legal documents, including a power of attorney (Vollmacht) to counsel in the United States seeking an order to obtain information about his missing brother, Carl Martin. Martin had emigrated to the United States in 1847, purportedly to fight in the Mexican War, but had not been heard from since. The document empowers Alfred Schuecking in Washington as attorney (translated) “in order to obtain in our name from the high Government of the United States of America or any other concerned Authority, information as to the service and death of our unmarried brother… born at Erfurt, 7 Aug. 1825, emigrated in the year 1847 to New York… and in general to take possession of any of our brother’s accounts belonging to us…” The document includes a full physical description of Carl Martin as well as signatures and seals of various Prussian officials as well as the American Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Prussia, Peter Dumont VROOM (1791 – 1873) who adds an Autograph Endorsement Signed “P.D. Vroom” the fifth page, Berlin, 7 July 1854, certifying the authenticity of “the signature of Mr: Hellwig, Counselor of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the seal to be that of the Department of Foreign Affairs of His Majesty the King of Prussia…” Peter Dumont VROOM (1791-1873) was a New Jersey Democrat who served twice as Governor of New Jersey. Franklin Pierce appointed him minister to Prussia in 1853 and he remained in Berlin until 1857. An unusual association piece, of interest to collectors of diplomatic history and art history, chronicling a trying personal time for the artist.

Document loosely bound in string that is attached to the notary seal, usual folds, chipped at margins with minor tears, overall somewhat fragile and should be handled with extra care, overall very good condition.

(EXA 3585) $850

John Nicholson ALS attempting to account for his labor on the Delaware and Schuylkill Canal

(Robert Morris and the Delaware and Schuylkill Canal  Navigation) John NICHOLSON (1757-1800) Good content Autograph Letter Signed, 1p. 230 x 185 mm. [Philadelphia] 18 July 1798 to “The Com[mittee of the] D[elware] & S[chuylkill] Canal”. With integral transmittal leaf addressed in his hand.

Robert Morris chartered the Delaware and Schuylkill Canal Navigation Company in 1792 for the dual purpose of augmenting Philadelphia’s water supply and to provide a navigable route around the falls of the Schuylkill River. Like Morris, and Nicholson, the company eventually went bankrupt with only part of the canal dug. The abandoned right of way eventually used by the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in the 1830s.

Up to his ears in debt, Nicholson jots a hurried letter concerning accounting for his work with the canal construction earlier in the decade: “Gentlemen, A letter of the 8th Instant from Wm Weston Esq. has the following on the subject of my and with D&S Canal ‘The Charges of pum [?] if omitted out to be added’ & ‘Allowance were are ought to have been made for the puddle[?] carried up in The embankment and for any extra work in [?] the Ropes’ the original of this letter may be seen if desired – In 1793 & in 1794 my team and workmen were employed hauling brick, stone, gravel sand & lime at several of the Culverts – of which no acct. hath yet been rendered – I am endeavoring to get it stated with more precision than at present I am able to do – To be carried father to my credit as the former…” Within a year and half, Nicholson would find himself in the debtor’s apartments and died on 5 December 1800.

Usual folds, else very good condition.

(EXA 3378) SOLD.

His Excellency Levi Lincoln inscribes and signs an imprint of his address on railway transport in Massachusetts, 1830

(Railroads) Message of His Excellency Levi Lincoln, communicated to the two branches of the Legislature, January 6, 1830. (Boston: Dutton and Wentworth, Printers to the State. 1830) 40pp. 9 1/2 x 6 1/4 in. (240 x 160 mm.)string-bound in titled wraps, pages uncut. Inscribed and signed by Lincoln on the front wrap to the “Hon Nathl. Lilsbee with the respects of L Lincoln”.

Massachusetts shifts its transportation policy in favor of railroads. An important address to the Massachusetts Legislature in which Governor Levi Lincoln offers significant state support for railroad construction. “… Of the matters of prominent concern, that of the Railways will press with almost engrossing interest … I continue, confidently to entertain, of the interest of those enterprises which are adapted to facilitate intercommunication, and relieve the community from the excessive expense and tedious labor of the present mode of land transportation, I beg leave to repeat the recommendation, that some decisive measures should promptly be taken to give to the Country, at no distant day, such improvement … The astonishing results of recent scientific experiments in Europe, in the application of Steam to produce a moving power, by which time, and distance, and weight are alike overcome, to a degree almost incredible, may well inspire a confidence in this manner of conveyance, which neither the incredulity of the timid, nor the obstinacy of the prejudiced, can longer resist. It has been said, with probably correctness, that the newly invented Steam Carriages, which are designed for use between Manchester and Liverpool, will bring those places, though more than thirty miles remote from each other, nearer together, in a social and commercial point of view, than the extremes of London now are… In relation to a Rail Road from Boston to the Hudson River, it is truly a work of great National importance; and whenever it shall be determined upon, the aid of the General Government may reasonably and confidently solicited. There is wanting but this single link to complete the long chain of inland communication form our Eastern Atlantic Seaboard to the Western Lakes…” When Lincoln addressed the legislature there were only 40 miles of railway in the nation, 30 of which were in New England. By the end of the decade, total railway mileage in the nation would top 2,700 miles (500 of those miles were in New England).

Rare. We have sourced no editions of this imprint offered or in auction records. OCLC 31203064, Thomson, Check List of American Railroads before 1841, 415. In total, only ten institutional copies have been identified. One edition is listed as part of the Streeter Collection.

Some edge wear and light toning, light creases, else very good condition.

(EXA 4066) $600

Society of Friends on the Hicksite Schism, 1831

(SOCIETY OF FRIENDS – HICKSITE SCHISM) Fine content manuscript letter signed “Elizabeth Dudley, Clerk” of the “Yearly Meeting of Women Friends held in London,” 3pp. 195 x 250 mm., London, May 5, 1831, an Epistle addressed to “the Yearly Meeting of Women Friends to be held in Philadelphia”. In the wake of the Orthodox/Hicksite schism of 1827-8 the first of many schisms that divided American Quakers during the nineteenth century. The epistle reads in part: “…The receipt of your Epistle of the 4th Month of last year, has made some of us reverently feel that we are members of the same body; that while you suffer, we in degree, suffer with you. This feeling of unity is precious, and induces the desire, that ability may be given us in any degree to comfort the mourners amongst you, or say a word in season to those whose hand are at times ready to hang down, and their knees to smite together; for though ourselves sensible, of weakness, we should rejoice to be the means of encouragement to you. We fully believe that strength has been granted you, to suffer in the cause of Christ, and that many have thereby been purified, and prepared to serve Him with increased dedication. And while we know that former experience cannot present we desire that the remembrance of past mercies may strengthen your confidence in Him who hat helped hitherto, and enabled to fill up your various allotments in his Church. ‘He who died that we might have life, will assuredly care for those who are depending upon Him and evincing their love, by an endeavor to keep his commandments. We feel a tender interest in the present and everlasting welfare of our dear young friends; for those amongst you, who were enabled in the day of sifting and separating, to avow their allegiance to the Prince of Peace; and through much suffering and reproach, to acknowledge ‘Him our holy ‘High Priest. — may those remember the goodness and mercy which touched their hearts; raising the petition, ‘Oh! let me not wander from thy commandments; and may they be often engaged to query how far they have kept the covenants; then entered into, and paid their vows. And to you of every class, who are struggling along, under great discouragements, amidst many proving of faith and patience, at times almost ready to conclude you shall one day fall by the hand of the enemy, we would say Be of good cheer; for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world;’ and although the season of darkness and dismay may continue long, yet ‘in patience possess ye your souls’ confiding in the assurance, that in quietness and confidence shall be you strength- a very frequent reoccurrence to the example of our ‘Holy Redeemer and the precepts He taught his disciple, does we believe greatly promote our establishment on the true foundation Jesus Christ the rock of ages to Him gave all the proposed witness and we thankfully believe it to be the design of our Heavenly Father that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The reading of even a small portion of the Sacred Volume, is often found to have a sweet impression on the mind, and proves The watchword to faith and prayer in succeeding hours of temptation and conflict. This our annual assembly has been large, and whilst many of us have deeply felt the removal or absence by reason of infirmities of some, who had long stood as Mothers amongst us, yet we are consoled in the belief that there is a number of the middle aged and the youth prepared by submission to the Cross of Christ for usefulness in the militant Church; and we have often on the present occasion, have been drawn from contemplating the causes of mourning by a reverent sense of the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel. May we all be more and more concerned, to walk worthy of the vocation, whereunto we are called so that we may experientially know Christ to be made unto us, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; then after a short period of probation and suffering, will our immortal spirits through Infinite mercy, be numbered with those, who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb…”

A few minor spots, light folds, otherwise very fine.

(EXA 483) $750

The trial against Lancaster County Pennsylvania Judge Holliday, 1804

Edward SHIPPEN Jr. (1729-1806) Eldest son of Edward Shippen. Lawyer, judge and politician. Chief Justice of Pennsylvania but was impeached in 1804 in a politically motivated action. His third daughter Margaret Shippen was the second wife of Benedict Arnold.

A collection of five fine-content pieces (11 pages total) including two Autograph Documents (unsigned), 3pp. various sizes, Jan – Apr. 1758 together with six other manuscript documents in unknown hands, being notes on a civil action against Thomas Holliday, a justice of the peace in Lancaster County, brought by John Miller and tried before Shippen and fellow judge Robt. Thompson. Miller charged, as related in manuscript D.S. 2pp. 12 1/4 x 7 1/2 in., [n.p., n.d.] that Holliday “… heard & gave Judgm[en]t in a Matter in which Mr Whitehill had formerly given Judgm:t & that after Mr. Holliday had seen a Certificate of Mr. Whitehills Judg:t — That Mr: Holliday heard & Gave Judg:t in the Cause at a Tavern where he makes a practice of Trying causes — That Mr. Holliday gave Jdg:t that the Def:t should pay for the Gun (about which the dispute ws) altho’ the Gun had been a long time before return’d to the Pltiff. that Mr: Holliday gave Judgm:t for £1..1..0 Costs which was exorbitant That This is not the only Instance of Mr: Hollidays abusing his power & oppressing the people.” Shippen adds his own note at the bottom remarking, “At the Court I spoke to some of the Justices about the Matter & Mr. Whitehill… Neither did Mr: Whitehill Inform me at that time that he had given Judgment”.

The collection also includes portions of Shippen’s interrogatory, kept in another hand, 4pp. 12 1/4 x 7 1/2 in., with smaller sheet attached with a pin; an A.D.S. “Tho: Halliday”, signed twice, 1p. 12 1/4 x 7 1/2 in., Lancaster County, 10 Feb. 1758, being a pair of examinations, one signed with the mark of William Gay, the other “Abigail White”. Shippen’s own notes, take up three pages and are heavily edited and include a calculation of court costs amounting to £1-3-0. A fascinating collection worthy of further research and study.

Provenance: Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 25 November 1952, Lot 322 to the present owner.

Partial fold separations, some marginal wear as shown, minor toning else very good.

(EXA 2749) $650

Philippine Insurrection officer’s correspondence

(Spanish American War: Philippine Insurrection) A superb correspondence of 34 letters, 160 pp. (approx.) together with 23 transmittal envelopes from Maj. Edgar Zell Steever addressed to his wife between 7 August 1899 to 16 January 1902 describing his tour of duty suppressing the Philippine Insurrection.The correspondence is quite detailed and includes a good narrative of his ocean journey from Seattle to the Philippines with stops at Dutch Harbor, Alaska as well as Kobe, Japan.

The balance of the correspondence, which runs from October 1899 to January 1902 covers his service in the Philippines and is extremely detailed. It reads, in very small part: “[22 Oct. 1899:] One of the first things that struck of the officers of our regiment on arrival in the Philippines, was the large no. of officers holding down chairs in Manila. The city seems full of them, detached from their regiments. The officers at the front call all the officers in Manila ‘coffee-coolers,’ a term of derision applied to a soldier who stays in the rear when his place is at the front… [11 January 1900] “…I wrote you in my last that I was going out on a little scout for insurrectos … got started at 3.30 & marched north to Santo Domingo … before daylight … detailed … advance guard … to trot ahead until near the town, then to take the walk & make as little noise as possible, to enter the town, post guards at all the outlets, so no one could get out, arrest the presidente & another man to act as guides & then on my arrival, I would take them to show me the road leading to … where the insurrectos were said to be. It had been reported to me that Capt. Estanislao Reyes & 200 insurgents were located at a little place called Lavingen, 3 kilometers to the east of Santo Domingo … The presidente said there were no insurrectos in the neighborhood & that there was no such place as Laoingen: nevertheless, I made him get his caballo (pony) & with his chief of police, accompany me … passing thro’ a number of villages out finding no trace of the insurgents… everything looked peaceful & tranquil … as soon as insurrectos come into a neighborhood & there is a probability of a conflict with the Americans, the natives skip out & hide in the brush or the mountains … We cannot get any reliable persons to locate the insurrectos. The natives are …cowards except they have everything their own way. A native well disposed towards the Americans, is afraid to tell anything, for fear some devil may cut his throat the next night. So it goes… [23 January 1900] … had a fight with the insurgents, who were strongly intrenched on the top of Monte de Bimmuaya & other mountains. They had the strongest position that any force has occupied since our war over here has begun. Monte de Mimmuaya is more than twice as high has the Rock of Gibraltar & more difficult of ascent. I make this statement knowingly because I have ascended both & know whereof I speak. No less than 12 different lines of entrenchment’s were upon Bimmauya & the adjacent mountains & yet strange to say, I forced the Insurrectos out of their position by our fire & sending our flanking parties, so they retreated during the night. The combat opened at 11.25 A. M. & continued all afternoon until dark with occasional firing until midnight. I had one man, private George Mitchell, of E troop 3 Cavalry, killed & one horse belonging to L troop … The Presidente of the Province told me last night that I had killed & wounded 59 Insurrectos. I had with me 2 Maxim – Nordenfelt guns & they did fine work. [30 January 1900] … You say people remark that the War is over. Don’t you believe it. The people over here are going to keep up an irregular warfare just as long as the many evil – disposed persons remain alive … before our troops can close in upon them, the natives scatter hide their arms, put on peasant clothes & cannot then be distinguished from any of the other ‘amigos’ of the country. At first opportunity, the gather again at a specified rendezvous & then we have another job on hand to clean them out. … [19 February 1900] In my opinion, these insurrectos will keep up a guerrilla warfare almost indefinitely, certainly until the leaders, such as Aguinaeno, Tinio, Pio de Palar, & c have been captured or killed… [3 March 1900] … one native is exactly like the others, & unless an officer personally knows by sight an Insurrecto … For Instance, General Tinio might come up & engage in a Spanish conversation with me & I would be none the wiser, for he would have the same race characteristics as the other people we find out here … We treat these people too leniently, mercy, mildness, fair dealing toward them, are only considered signs of weakness. As a rule, the Filipino is a coward at heart, but is so extremely treacherous that if a good opportunity occurs to jab a knife in your back… “ [7 December 1901] …Yesterday I received a telegraphed order to proceed to San Fernado dela Union, to command my squadron & to day I am busy trying to pack up. This involves a march overland of about 135 to 140 miles… For many reasons I shall be sorry to leave Laoag[?], for I rather like the place & find that the people here are more cordial than in any other town in which I have been. The climate is cooler of course, only a trifle, but still the trifle counts…” Much more fine content.

Letters bear the expected folds with minor marginal wear, overall very good to fine.

(EXA 4071) SOLD.

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