Beschreibung:

PRESIDENTS. A collection of 33 ALSs, ADSs and DSs of 34 Presidents from Washington to Eisenhower, (duplicates of Garfield and F.D. Roosevelt; two jointly signed), virtually all relating to legal or legislative aspects of their careers, EACH ATTRACTIVELY FRAMED: various sizes from 8vo to folio, most matted with an engraved portrait, glazed and enclosed in gilt- or lacquered-wood frames by Goodspeed's of Boston (the Washington and John Adams are double-glazed in two-sided frames). Unexamined out of frames (except see Lincoln, below). (33) 1. WASHINGTON, GEORGE. Document, ANNOTATED BY WASHINGTON, Philadelphia, 7 December 1798. One page, folio, neat separation along central horizontal fold, verso with NINE-LINE AUTOGRAPH DOCKET (incoporating signature "Washington") . "Copy of a Deed of Gift of l00 Shares in the James River Co. to Liberty Hall Accad. now Washington [Academy] so named by the Trustees 7th Decr. l798," a very interesting draft of Washington's deed of gift of l00 shares of the James River Company to Washington Academy, "formerly known as Liberty Academy" and later Washington and Lee University, the text in a clear hand, with some l7 words in Washington's hand added between lines and portions of the text deleted with oblique strokes of the pen. 2. ADAMS, JOHN. Letter signed in full to Daniel Coney of Maine, Quincy, Mass., 1 February l8l9. Two pages, 4to, small hole at one fold intersection, with portion of address panel bearing original wax seal and Adams' FREE-FRANK. A fine letter on the question of statehood for Maine: "...The question you state to me is of so much importance...that a volume might be written....My judgement, poor as it is, and my inclinations, strong as they are, are all on the side of union. I can see no public benefit to arise, on the contrary much public evil from that spirit of division, partition and separation which so unhappily prevails....It is to Massachusetts and her strenuous exertions that Maine is indebted for her preservation from the grasping clutches of Great Britain....When there arises in Maine a bold, daring, ardent genius, with talents capable of inspiring the people...He will tear off Maine and leave her in a state of mediocrity in the union....." With a typescript of Coney's letter to Adams. 3. JEFFERSON, THOMAS. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson," in third person), as Vice-Presidentÿ, to Mr. [Edmund?] Randolph, n.p., l0 February l800. One page, oblong 4to, integral address leaf with panel in Jefferson's hand. "Th:Jefferson will with pleasure serve Mr. Randolph's friend as far as he is able; but it will be necessary for him to explain...the small extent of his present acquaintance in Europe....Some idea too will be useful of the probable range of travelling proposed by the gentleman." 4.& 5. MADISON, JAMES and JAMES MONROE. Document signed by both, (Madison as President, "Jas. Monroe" as Secretary of State, Washington, D.C., 20 February l815. One page, oblong 4to, ON PARCHMENT, large papered seal at left, attractively engraved, accomplished in manuscript, headed "The President of the United States of America." Appointing a first lieutenant of infantry, John Neale. 6. ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY Autograph address panel signed ("J.Q.Adams"), addressed to S. Sampson, Collector of the Customs, Plymouth, Mass.; Washington, D.C., n.d. One page, 4to, postmarked. 7.& 8. JACKSON, ANDREW and MARTIN VAN BUREN. Engraved document signed by both (Jackson as President, "M Van Buren" as Secretary of State), Washington, D.C., 7 June l829. One page, folio, ON PARCHMENT, papered seal at left with original silk ribbon attached. Attractively engraved, accomplished in manuscript, awarding a patent to Elijah Skinner, who has "invented a new and useful improvement in the common wooden knob called the improved commode knob...." 9. HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY Document signed ("Wm. H. Harrison") as aide-de-camp to General Anthony Wayne, n.p., 11 February l795. One page, an irregular oblong. "The Quarter Master