AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN MILITARY COMMISSION FOR A SOLDIER WOUNDED AT ANTIETAM; HE WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE VETERANS RESERVE CORPS

ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809-1865).  Lincoln was the Sixteenth President.

DS. 1pg. August 1, 1864. Washington.  A vellum military commission signed “Abraham Lincoln” as President and co-signed “E.M. Stanton” as Secretary of War.  The President appointed James Wylie Crawford a First Lieutenant in the Veterans Reserve Corps.  Crawford (1832-1910) was from Maine; according to family lore, he was badly wounded at Antietam (I bought this directly from a descendant).  This injury required his enlistment in the Veterans Reserve Corps.  The Veterans Reserve Corps allowed wounded soldiers to remain active, often performing small tasks and light duty; established in the middle of 1863, it was first known as the Invalid Corps until the official name was changed.  The document recently underwent conservation with the vellum stretched and flattened; the top right corner of the vellum has shrunk and the document was once rolled.  The Lincoln autograph is a tad light and gets lighter as the autograph gets towards the conclusion; the Stanton is also a bit faint (but vellum does not hold ink that well, especially compared to paper).

LETTER AND COMMISSION SHOWING SECRETARY OF STATE, AND FUTURE PRESIDENT, JAMES MONROE APPOINTING JOHN LAWRENCE TO THE SWEDISH DELEGATION DURING THE WAR OF 1812

JAMES MONROE (1758-1831). Monroe was the fifth President.

JOHN L. LAWRENCE (1785-1849). Lawrence served as Chargé d'Affaires at Stockholm in 1814 and 1815, and later was a New York Whig politician.

Two pieces related to Lawrence’s appointment as the Secretary of Legation of the United States to Sweden:

1. ALS. 1 pg. 8” x 10”. February 2, 1814. Washington. An autograph letter signed “Jas. Monroe” as Secretary of State.  He wrote to Lawrence: “Dear Sir The President has to day nominated you as secretary to the mission to Sweden. In case the nomination is confirmed it is expected that you will be ready to sail in the John Adams, now at the port of New York, with Mr. Clay and Mr. Russell who will be there in a few days. I give you this information that you may hasten to make the necessary preparations”. Lawrence’s journey coincided with a larger American foreign policy assignment, the ending of the War of 1812. The letter indicates Lawrence was traveling with Henry Clay and Jonathan Russell, who, along with John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Sr., and Albert Gallatin, were tasked with ending the War of 1812. The treaty ending the war, the Treaty of Ghent, was signed December 24, 1814. Russell had actually been appointed Chargé d'Affaires at Stockholm, but his duties devolved to Lawrence while Russell helped negotiate the Treaty of Ghent. Following Russell’s return, Lawrence resumed his role as Secretary until his resignation in January of 1816. This means that Lawrence was technically the first non-resident minister to Sweden by the United States.  The letter has two holes at the top that affect one word and some missing areas at the bottom that affect no words; there is light toning to the edges and the condition is good with dark writing.

2. DS. 1pg. 8” x 12”. February 4, 1814. Washington.  A diplomatic document signed “Jas. Monroe” as Secretary of State.  The manuscript states: “The President of the United States of America, having appointed John L. Lawrence to be Secretary of Legation of the United States to Sweden, and the said John L. Lawrence, who is the bearer hereof, being on his way to that Kingdom, for the purpose of fulfilling the objects of his appointment aforesaid; These are to request all officers of the said United States, civil and military, the officer and subjects of powers in amity with the same, and all others whom it may concern, not to offer to the said John L. Lawrence any assistance or molestation whatsoever; but, on the contrary, to afford him, his Attendants, and their baggage, all necessary aid, protection and comfort.  In faith whereof, I, James Monroe, Secretary of State for the United States of America, have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of my office.  Given at Washington City, this fourth day of February, A.D. 1814; and in the thirty eighth year of American Independence.”  The document has toning to the top and bottom edges and professional repairs to the central fold to strengthen it.

NIXON SIGNS IN THE ARENA

RICHARD NIXON (1913-1994).  Nixon was the Thirty-Seventh President.

SB. 384pg. No date. Yorba Linda.  In The Arena signed “Richard Nixon” on a Presidential book plate that has been attached to the first free endpage.  The book is in very fine condition.

RICHARD NIXON SIGNS HIS MEMOIRS

RICHARD NIXON (1913-1994).  Nixon was the 37th President from 1969 to 1974.

SB. 1120pg. No date. No place.  The Memoirs Of Richard Nixon inscribed “To William Schneiderman with best wishes from Richard Nixon” on the title page.  The interior pages are in fine condition.  The dust jacket has a clipped price and some wear, especially to the spine.

A PILLOW FEATURING THE AUTOGRAPHS OF AMERICA’S GREATEST PRESIDENTS

An embroidered, decorative pillow featuring the autographs of America’s great Presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, James Madison, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. The pillow, embroidered here in the United States, has beige fabric with black trim and black autographs, and the words Hail to the Chief in the center. It measures 17” x 7”. The perfect gift for an autograph collector or a Presidential history buff.

SIGNED PHOTOS BY THE REAGANS TO LILLIAN GISH – THE FIRST LADY OF AMERICAN CINEMA MEETS THE ACTUAL PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY

RONALD REAGAN (1911-2004). Reagan was the Fortieth President.

NANCY REAGAN (1921-2016). Reagan was First Lady.

LILLIAN GISH (1893-1993). The long-lived Gish was a prolific film actress sometimes called “The First Lady of American Cinema”. Her first movie credit was in 1912, and her last was in 1987.

PsS. N.d. [1981]. N.p. [Washington]. A pair of color photographs signed “Ron” and “Nancy” as President and First Lady. Taken at a 1981 White House event shortly after Reagan’s inauguration, the photos depict the Reagans with long-lived film actress Lillian Gish. Coming from a Hollywood background themselves, Ron and Nancy certainly would have known Gish, who was at this time still a working actress into her late eighties. “Dear Lillian – It was wonderful seeing you again. Let’s do this more often. Warm Regards Ron” and “To my dear Lillian – With much love Nancy”. Both photos are in fine condition.