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  • fine military commission signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, promoting Lieutenant Commander Francis M. Bunce to Commander in the United States Navy

    [GRANT, ULYSSES S.].

    Ulysses S. Grant Signed Naval Commission.

    : March 5, 1872.

    Partially-printed military commission signed by Ulysses S. Grant as President of the United States. One page, partially printed on vellum and retaining the original blue seal, the commission is dated March 5, 1872 and appoints Francis M. Bunce a “Commander in the Navy from the 2d day of November 1871 in the service of the United States.” Signed by Ulysses S. Grant as President of the United States and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy, George M. Robeson. Following his distinguished service in the Civil War, in 1865 Francis M. Bunce took command of the monitor USS Monadnock, and led her on her voyage from Philadelphia to San Francisco around the tip of Cape Horn. It was the first-ever extended voyage made by a monitor, and it earned Bunce accolades from the Navy Department and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. From 1866-69, Bunce served in the Boston Navy Yard, and in November, 1869, he took command of the newly commissioned North Atlantic Squadron screw steamer USS Nantasket, stationed in Santo Domingo (now Dominican Republic). In 1870 he was transferred to Pittsburgh for special ordnance duty, when he received this promotion to Commander. In 1873 he took command of the gunboat USS Ashuelot in the Asiatic Squadron, and then served in the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard in June, 1875, before being dispatched to lighthouse duty from July-October of that year. In 1877 he returned to the D.C. Navy Yard and shortly after was appointed to serve at the Torpedo School in Newport, Rhode Island, from January, 1879 to July, 1881. At the end of this service he finally returned to the sea as a commanding officer on the sloop-of-war USS Marion, and then as commander of the USS Wabash, from 1882-85. Bunce served with distinction during his 40-plus year career in the United States Navy, attaining the rank of Rear Admiral, in 1898. A graduate of one of the earliest classes of the United States Naval Academy in 1857, he gained attention for his service during the Civil War where he served in various roles and assisted in the Union Army’s naval blockade of the Confederate States. Also, he at various points took command of the Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York Navy Yards, as well as commanded several gunboats, cruisers, and sloops-of-war. His leadership as commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic Squadron from 1895-97 saw the fleet modernized into an effective combat unit that would successfully defeat the Spanish Navy during the Spanish-American War in 1898. As Commodore and Commandant of the Navy Yard in New York, he released the famous USS Maine on its voyage to Havana. He died in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1901 and is buried there, in Cedar Hill, Cemetery. Provenance: by descent in the Bunce family. In near fine condition. The entire piece measures 19 inches by 15.5 inches.

    Price: $2,800.00     Item Number: 143612

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  • Rare Houdini Picture Corporation Stock Certificate; signed by master illusionist Harry Houdini

    HOUDINI, HARRY.

    Harry Houdini Signed Houdini Picture Corporation Stock Certificate.

    New York: The Brown-Green Co. January 23, 1922.

    Rare stock certificate signed by the world’s greatest escape artist, master illusionist Harry Houdini. One page, partially printed in brown and black ink with an embossed seal, the document is dated January 23, 1922 and certifies that W.E. Jefferson hereby owns twenty shares of the Capital Stock of Houdini Picture Corporation. Signed by Harry Houdini as President of the Corporation and countersigned by Harry H. Poppa as Assistant Treasurer. In near fine condition. With a Houdini Picture Corporation Voting Trust Certificate awarding 30 shares of common capital stock of Houdini Picture Corporation to Abel Shearer.

    Price: $5,500.00     Item Number: 129031

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  • Rare original photograph of the Bluebird K7 at record-breaking speed; inscribed by Donald Campbell

    CAMPBELL, DONALD.

    Donald Campbell Signed Bluebird K7 Photograph.

    : [1960].

    Sepia-tone photograph of the water speed record-breaking Bluebird K7 at speed inscribed by pilot Donald Campbell, “To G.M. Williams With best wishes from Donald Campbell.” The recipient, Gwynn Mathews Williams, owned the Waterhead Filling Station on Lake Windermere, the largest natural lake in England where several water speed records were broken, from 1953 until the early 1960’s. Accompanied by the original typed letter signed by Campbell. In near fine condition. Rare.

    Price: $2,750.00     Item Number: 131544

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  • "One of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century": Rare Original Hank William's Country Hit Parade Original Songbook; Signed by Hank Williams and all four members of the Drifting Cowboys

    WILLIAMS, HANK.

    Hank Williams’ Country Hit Parade Original Songbook Signed.

    Nashville, Tennessee: Acuff-Rose Publications c. 1950.

    Rare original songbook featuring scores to Hank Williams’ most popular country songs. Quarto, original illustrated wrappers, featuring 20 of Williams’ most popular songs, illustrated with photographs. Signed on the front panel by Hank Williams and all four members of the final line-up of The Drifting Cowboys: steel guitarist Don Helms, fiddler Jerry Rivers, guitarist Sammy Pruett and bassist Cedric Rainwater. In very good condition. Rare and desirable signed by Williams and his final ensemble.

    Price: $3,500.00     Item Number: 96144

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  • Rare forty-five star American Flag; commemorating the statehood of OKLAHOMA

    Forty-Five Star American Flag.

    : [c. 1896].

    Rare forty-five star American Flag. The forty-five star American Flag was in use between July 4, 1896 when the state of Utah was admitted into the Union and July 3, 1908 when Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state. In near fine condition. The flag measures 58 inches by 114 inches.

    Price: $2,800.00     Item Number: 133095

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  • Rare Early American Map of Wall Street; detailing lots owned by early new York City mayor and chief justice Abraham de Peyster

    LUDLAM, STEPHEN [WALL STREET].

    Early American Wall Street Survey Map.

    : April 8, 1817.

    Rare 1817 hand-colored copy of an original map of early 18th century Wall Street attached to a Deed of Partition between Col. Abraham de Peyster and Samuel Bayard dated January 3rd 1718, copied on April 8th 1817 by Stephen Ludlam, City Surveyor. One page, the hand-colored map details the intersection of Wall Street, Broad Street, and Kip Street (now Nassau Street) and includes the Presbyterian Church, the original City Hall, and 23 partitioned lots each labeled as owned by Abraham DePeyster or Samuel Bayard. Born in 1657 in New Amsterdam, wealthy merchant and ship owner Abraham de Peyster received numerous political appointments in New York City at the turn of the 19th century. He became the 20th mayor of New York City in 1691, a position he held for three years, and on October 4, 1698, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Judicature. Because of regular conflicts of interest that arose due to his extensive business involvement, he was recused from many cases. Despite this, he served as acting Governor of the Province New York in 1700 and, subsequently, Chief Justice on January 21, 1701. In near fine condition. The map measures 12.5 inches by 30 inches.

     

     

    Price: $9,800.00     Item Number: 139509

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  • First Edition of Poets from the North of Ireland; Signed by Seamus Heaney

    HEANEY, SEAMUS.

    Poets from the North of Ireland.

    1979: Blackstaff Press Belfast.

    First edition of this collection of poems. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Boldly signed by Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney on the half-title page. In near fine condition. Edited by Frank Ormsby.

    Price: $750.00     Item Number: 141441

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  • Eleanor Roosevelt White House Signed Engraving

    ROOSEVELT, ELEANOR.

    Eleanor Roosevelt White House Signed Engraving.

    : .

    Rare signed White House engraving, boldly signed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. In near fine condition.

    Price: $750.00     Item Number: 119491

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  • The Beauties of Mozart, Consisting of the most Admired Sonatas Duetts and Concertos of this Esteemed Author

    MOZART, WOLFGANG AMADEUS.

    The Beauties of Mozart, Consisting of the Most Admired Sonatas Duetts and Concertos of this Esteemed Author.

    London: Printed & Sold by Preston c. 1810.

    Rare edition of this compilation of Mozart’s sonatas. Quarto, bound in full diced morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, 6 parts in 1, each part engraved throughout, titles incorporating small oval portrait vignette. In near fine condition.

    Price: $8,800.00     Item Number: 143842

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  • "In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins": Rare Henry Kirke Bush-Brown Bust of Ulysses S. Grant as the first general of the united states army

    BUSH-BROWN, HENRY KIRKE. [ULYSSES S. GRANT].

    Ulysses S. Grant Bronze Bust.

    New York: Henry-Bonnard Bronze Co. [c. 1885].

    Attractive bronze bust of of Ulysses S. Grant as General of the Army by famed American sculptor Henry Kirke Bush-Brown. The adopted nephew of sculptor Henry Kirke Brown, Henry Kirke Bush-Brown was revered for his accurate realist sculptures illustrating American history. He produced three equestrian bronze sculptures erected at the Gettysburg battlefield depicting General George Mead (the victor at Gettysburg), General John F. Reynolds (killed in action July 1, 1863), and General John Sedgwick (the senior most Union casualty of the American Civil War). In addition, Bush-Brown made a bust of Abraham Lincoln, dedicated in 1912 as part of the Lincoln Speech Memorial commemorating Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Mounted on a bronze base, the entire piece measures 7.75 inches in height. In fine condition.

    Price: $12,500.00     Item Number: 125381

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