1896 – An archive of letters from an Edison Company executive to his daughter who was touring France and Italy to learn French and Italian and receive treatment for her chronic rheumatism
by John I. Begg
Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and New York, 1896. Envelope or Cover. Very good. Twenty letters sent by John I. Beggs, an Edison Pioneer and an executive within the Edison Company, to his daughter, Mary Grace, between June and December 1896 while she was touring Europe to master French and Italian while receiving treatment for her chronic rheumatism, i.e., rheumatoid arthritis. Each letter is enclosed in its original mailing envelope. Two are written on illustrated letterhead featuring portraits of... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1840 – Quadruple-rate stampless cover used to mail a legal documents
by William S. Bishop
Rochester, New York, 1840. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This stampless cover contained legal documents that were sent by William S. Bishop in Rochester to Canandaigua, New York. It bears a Rochester, New York postmark and “Paid” handstamp, both in red along with a manuscript “24” rate stamp. This is four times the normal postage of 6 cents for letters sent distances of less than 150 miles, indicating it had contained three enclosures for a total... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1849 – Shipping document and purchase inquiry from a prominent, but rather infamous Navy Chaplain at Sing Sing, New York, regarding a shipment of books he wished to sell to a Philadelphia bookselling firm which in several years’ time would become a major publishing house
by Edward C Bittinger
Sing Sing, New Yor, 1849. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This one-page folded shipping notice dated July 23/24, 1849, measures 15” x 9.5” unfolded. It documents the transport of books, by the Union Transportation Line, from Edward C Bittinger of Sing Sing, New York to the Philadelphia bookselling firm of Daniels & Smith. The pre-printed form contains vignettes of a steamship and railroad train and the notation, “Via Camden & Amboy Rail Road Across New Jersey.” It was... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1940-1941 – Archive of letters from a Jewish mother in Hamburg, Germany to her son in San Francisco which stopped shortly before she was sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp where she would die before the end of World War II
by Thekla Bornstein
Hamburg, Germany, 1941. Unbound. Very good. This lot consists of six letters (19 total pages of text) written by Thekla Bornstein of Hamburg, Germany, to her son, Ernst [Bruno] Heilbuth of San Francisco, California. All of these airmailed letters are franked with Hindenburg “medallion” postage stamps. All of the letters are in legible German cursive and are easily read by Google’s image translation app. On their reverse, all bear censorship labels emblazoned with a Nazi eagle and swastika... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1850 - Letter from one friend to another written on Yale College illustrated stationery
by C. B. Brooks
Connecticut, 1850. Unbound. Very good. This three-page stampless folded letter written on an illustrated Yale College letter sheet measures 15"x9.75" unfolded. The letter, datelined "Northford June 22d, 1850," was written over several days by C.B. Brooks and sent to a friend, "Hon. Smith." In nice shape. The letter sheet features a 5" x 3" oval image of the early Yale campus, known as "Old Brick Row." The image is titled "Yale College / 1845." ... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1841 - Letter of introduction for an "Immigration Society" agent sent by an important merchant in British Guiana to Madeira wine merchants, soliciting post-slavery laborers for sugar plantations
by The Murray Brothers
British Guiana (Guyana), 1841. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This two-page stampless, folded letter measures 8" x 9.75". It was sent by the Murray Brothers of British Guiana (Guyana) to Newton Gordon Cossart & Company in Madeira. It is datelined "Demerary [Demerara] Feby 1840". The front of the letter bears the manuscript annotation "Fav'd by Mr Dunlap" indicating it was favor-carried. In nice shape. A transcript will be provided., The letter introduces an "Immigration Society"... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
OVER TWO TONS OF SALT IS SHIPPED FROM THE LARGEST SALT MINE IN NORTH AMERICA TO ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S LARGEST HORSE AND CATTLE BREEDING FARMS. - Small packet of materials related to the shipment of "lump salt" from the Retsoff Mining Company to the Powell Brothers "Shadeland" stock farm
by Foster & Brown to Messers Powell Brothers
Retsoff, New York to Springboro, Pennsylvania, 1888. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This grouping contains a March 10th, 1888, bill of lading from the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad Company and a shipping notice from Foster & Brown, agents of the "Retsof Mining Co., Miners and Shippers of Salt," dated March 14, 1888 along with the two-cent green stamped envelope used for mailing. All in nice shape. Until the late 1800s, the need for salt in New... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1837 - Letter regarding the separation of previously established Episcopal churches and missions from the Diocese of Michigan after Wisconsin became its own territory in 1836
by Reverend Daniel E. Brown
Menomoneville, Wiconsin Territory, 1837. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This two-page stampless letter, sent from the Reverend Daniel E. Brown at Menomoneville to the Reverend Philander Chase "near Peoria / Illinoise",, measures 16" x 9.75" unfolded. It is datelined "Mission Buildings Green Bay / April 3rd 1837" and bears an especially scarce manuscript postmark "Menomoneville Apr 5" of which only one other example is recorded by the Wisconsin Postal History Society. In nice shape In this... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1944-1945 – Two letters from a wounded World War II soldier who would go on to serve with distinction in the House of Representatives until he self-destructed overnight by drunkenly defending a dancer’s honor in a Florida strip club
by J. Herbert Burke
France and Germany, 1945. Envelope or Cover. Very good. These two letters were sent to a friend back home by J. Herbert Burke, an army officer assigned to the 90th Division who had landed in Normandy been wounded during the breakout through the German defenses at Saint-Lo based upon the content in one of them. As a result, Burke received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart medal. Both are in nice shape. The earlier letter, dated... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1855 – Sworn testimony from a county officer with regard to a burglar’s shooting of a police officer during the course of his crime
by Henry A. Byrd
Georgia: 1855. Unbound. Very good. This two-page sworn statement records the testimony of Henry A. Byrd, a detective or officer, regarding the wounding of another officer by a criminal, Calvin Lewis, who fired upon them while attempting to steal a “box” that had been brought to the Richmond County Georgia city hall from a local railroad depot. The statement is dated January 24, 1855. In nice shape. Byrd’s statement reads in part: “I was... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1917-1919 - A photographic record J. P. Morgan's yacht, which was leased by the Navy during World War One to serve as the USS Corsair, an escort and patrol ship
by Compiled by Quartermaster 3rd Class Charles Chambron
"Taking survivors aboard. . .." This large album measures 12" x 9.5" and contains well over 250 glued-in photographs, most measuring about 4" x 2.5". The photographs are captioned in white ink on 46 of the album's 48 pages. Ten additional photographs are laid-in including a 10" x 8" official group photograph of the crew (with a two-inch closed tear) and two smaller portrait photos of Chambron in uniform (one is full length). Everything is in nice shape. The well-composed photos picture... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1843 - Letter from an important missionary at the Oneida Duck Creek Reservation in Wisconsin describing his effort "endeavoring to labor for the good of the Indians.
by Henry Root Colman
"The cold season and scarcity of bread stuffs makes the Indians very uneasy and discontented. There is much talk among them of removing to Missouri. . .." Duck Creek Reservation, Wisconsin, 1843. This three-page stampless letter measures 15½" x 12½" unfolded. It was sent by Henry Root Colman to his brother-in-law, Richard P. Speir, who had recently settled in New Orleans. It is datelined "Duck Creek June 17th 1843" and bares a manuscript postmark reading "Duck Creek / W.T. June 19" and... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
![1857 - Notice from the Southern Pacific Railroad [also known as the Texas Western Railroad, the Vicksburg and El Paso Railroad, and the Texas and Pacific Railway] informing shareholders that an installment payment was coming due](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/799/873/1750873799.0.l.jpg)
1857 - Notice from the Southern Pacific Railroad [also known as the Texas Western Railroad, the Vicksburg and El Paso Railroad, and the Texas and Pacific Railway] informing shareholders that an installment payment was coming due
by Southern Pacific Rail-Road Company
New York, 1857. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This printed circular is titled “Transfer Office of the Southern Pacific Rail-Road Company / No. 54 Wall-Street / New York, May 30, 1857.” It is addressed to W. P. Mehville Wilne, Esq. of Sandusky, Ohio, and franked with an imperforate Franklin stamp (Scott #9) canceled by a black, circular New York postmark. In nice shape with a tiny bit of soiling to the edges. The notice reads... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1941 – A letter from a Shanghai trader soliciting clothing and textile business from the San Diego Submarine Base in anticipation of a coming war between Japan and the United States
by The Reliance Company
Shanghai, China, 1941. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This one-page typed letter from The Reliance Company of Shanghai, dated 12 July 1941 was sent to “The Ship’s Service Dept.” at the” U.S. Naval Station U.S. Submarine Base” in San Diego, California. It is enclosed in its mailing envelope with appropriately franked Chinese stamps canceled by legible Shanghai postmarks. In nice shape. The letter repeatedly references “world conditions” and suggests that orders should be place quickly. It... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
Photograph album documenting two itinerant roughnecks' travel through New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio until they found jobs at the Woodville Oil Field
by Unidentified compiler
New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, 1923. This 8" x 6" album contains 37 b/w photographs, each measuring approximately 4.75" x 3". The crisp, well-composed snapshots are chronologically arranged and neatly glued to the album pages. Most have been captioned in white, but much of the writing has faded. In addition to the rugged workmen, equipment, and environment of 1920s oil fields, these images show the men's Model T Ford, roadside tent camping, and a big campsite at Cleveland's Euclid Beach Park. Ohio... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1864 – A New York soldier sarcastically describes life at Camp Wadsworth, which was a contraband holding encampment located in Fairfax, Virginia
by Captain James W. Cooke
Camp Wadsworth, Fairfax, Virginia, 1864. Unbound. Very good. During the early years of the Civil War, hordes of enslaved people from Northern Virginia escaped to the District of Columbia, becoming known as contraband. In order to provide a place these refuges could be cared for and controlled, D. B. Nichols, the Superintendent of Freedman, determined to relocate as many as possible on secessionist property outside of the city. To that end he seized two farms in Fairfax County... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1854 – A newly arrived young railroad engineer hired by Chile sends a letter home to his mother raving about life in Santiago
by David W. Cunnningham
Unbound. Very good. This four-page letter was written by David W. Cunnningham on October 10, 1854, from Santiago, Chile to his mother in Boston. Its mailing envelope is not present, but an old photocopy (included) shows the letter was forwarded to Mrs. Andrew Cunningham.of Boston by Loring Brothers & Company. David W. was a Harvard-trained engineer known for his work on the Cochituate Aqueduct, the Manchester and Lawrence Railroad, the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad, the... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1922- 1952 - Group of 13 vernacular snapshots showing wheat farming images related to the DeBoer family near Luverne, Minnesota
by The DeBoerFamily
Luverne, Minnesota, 1952. Unbound. Very good. The thirteen photographs in this lot range in size from approximately 4½" x 2¾" to 3½" x 3½" to 5" x 4". All but two are captioned either on the reverse or in the image margins. Three are dated between 1922 and 1924. They show family members, horse-drawn carts, a pickup truck, tractor, outbuildings, and plow. One of these photos is annotated "Old Homestead . . . Old Fordson traded... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1829 – A letter from New Jersey Senator Mahlon Dickerson explaining his fear that opponents will likely thwart the building of the Delaware & Raritan Canal
by Senator Mahlon Dickerson
Washington DC, 1829. Unbound. Very good. This free-franked stampless letter signed by Senator Mahlon Dickerson measures 15.5” x 9.75” unfolded. It is datelined “Washington 12th Feby. 1829” and was sent to James Parker, the Collector of the Port of New Jersey at Perth Amboy. It bears a circular Washington City postmark dated the same day. In nice shape. The letter reads in part: “The Legislature of New Jersey are about to pass if they have... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1838 – A letter containing a Massachusetts Militia Brigade Order describing in detail how an upcoming muster of was to be conducted
by Brigadier General Gardine Dickinson
Greenfield, Massachusetts, 1838. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This three-page stampless folded letter measures approximately 15½” x 9½” unfolded. It was sent by Major Elihu Clark on the order of Brigadier General Gardine Dickinson in Greenfield to Captain Stephen Baker in Chesterfield. The letter is datelined “Greenfield, Sept. 4th 1838” and the order is datelined “Head Quarters 2nd Brig. 4th Div. / Conway Aug. 19 1838”. The cover bears a circular Greenfield postmark in red, a 10-cent manuscript... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1817 (1907) – Large lithograph advertisement for the prominent British shipbuilder who inspired Robert Fulton, one of whose ships appears in the background
by Barrodall Rob[er]t Dodd
Probably New York, 1907. Unbound. Very good. This large (16.5” x 12.5”) chromolithograph reprint of an 1817 British advertising aquatint was printed in the United States, probably in conjunction with the 1907 centennial celebration of Robert Fulton’s first commercially successful steamboat in the world. Identical to the original, which was published by R. Ackermann of London, except that the title was changed from View of British Steam Vessels Under Weigh to Steamers Vessels Under Weigh.... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1855 & 1859 - Pair of letters regarding the operation of one of the most productive gold mines in the East that generated over $1 million dollars in its first eight years of operation before the Civil War, approximately $35 million in today's money
by James Dorn
"We done a fine business the two first years and made nearly 30000 Dollars clear each year, but this year we will not clear ten thousand. [We] drove for the vein at the depth of 715 feet . . . and think we will do well next year. . .." One three-page and one two-page stampless folded letters. They were sent by James Dorn who owned two mines in partnership with his brother, William Burkhalter "Billy" Dorn, to Joseph Slocum, in... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1864 - "THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE STEWART GOLD MINING COMPANY IS ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND SHARES, PAR VALUE OF FIVE DOLLARS EACH" - An official printed list of all stockholders in a Colorado gold mining company that was mt to tax assessors
by Charles Durham
This one-page shareholder list measures approximately 5" x 8". It was printed on 28 May 1864 and mailed three days later to the "Assessors of Bridgewater, Massachusetts." It is franked with a 2-cent black Jackson stamp (Scott #73) which at the time was the pre-paid rate for sending printed materials. It bears a circular Boston/Paid postmark dated May 31. In nice shape.The Stewart Gold Mine was one of many mines to spring up in the Central City region of Colorado... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1849 – A letter describing an assembly of 20 Massachusetts militia companies at Boston, an upcoming visit of President Zachary Taylor, and an outbreak of Cholera
by “E.B.”
Boston, Massachusetts, 1849. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This two-page letter, written by “E.B.” to his “Friend S.” is datelined “Boston Aug 19 . . 49”. Very well written and easily readable. In nice shape. In this letter E.B. reports on an unusually, large two-day militia “encampment held at Neponset about 6 miles from Boston. “There was twenty uniformed companies and they looked pretty nice. It was a regular old fashioned country muster on a big... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC
1829 – A letter from a young man to his cousin, who he fears is romantically toying with one of his friends
by “Edward C.
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, 1829. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This three-page stampless letter was written by “Edward C.” in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania to his cousin, Louisa Elliott in Harrisburg. It is dated May 14th, 1829, and bears a double-circle Huntingdon postmark dated May 15 along with a somewhat ornate manuscript “Paid 12½” rate mark. In this letter, Edward questions his cousin with regard to her affection for her fiancé, his friend “K”, while expressing some rather harsh opinions regarding the... Read More
Offered by Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC