Six Autograph Letters Signed, Chippewa Bay, New York, New York City and New Haven Connecticut, 1911-1912 to Miss Helen D. Whitney, “Hedge Lee”, Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, and 471 Park Avenue, New York
by Bourne, George Galt
six letters, 44 pages, accompanied by original mailing envelopes, some occasional wear and staining to paper, else in good, legible condition. George Bourne, the son of Frederick G. Bourne, multi-millionaire founder of Singer Sewing machines and "Commodore" of the New York Yacht Club, was a 22 year-old senior at Yale when he first met the beautiful Helen Cole Whitney, 20 year old daughter of Charles Elmore Whitney of Boston, heir... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Collection of 12 Incoming Letters, 1817-1840 to John Bouvier, the Pennsylvania Journalist, Lawyer, Politician and Judge who wrote the First American Legal Dictionary
by Bouvier, John
12 letters, 19 pages, mainly quarto, some damp-staining and toning to paper, else neatly inscribed in ink, in good, clean legible condition. In 1839, French immigrant John Bouvier published the first edition of his classic "Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America and of the Several States of the American Union," hoping it would be "useful to the profession" as the first legal dictionary based on American law. Well-received by such notable jurists as... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Autograph Letter Signed, Southampton Furnace, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1835, to Jonathan Morrill, Frankfort Mills, Maine
by Bradbury, Eben
quarto, 4pp., including stampless address leaf, separated at most folds, but repaired with non-archival tape, with only slight loss of a few words of text. 1835 Long letter from a "Yankee" silversmith turned Pennsylvania blast furnace manager and later prominent Massachusetts politician. "Dr Brother, …Situated as we are here in the woods, surrounded by a population unlike that in which our earlier impressions were set…I do not know that the diversity of taste, and character between a New... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Inventory of the Goods &c of Andrew Bradford Late of Philada, decd Taken the 7th Day of March 1742/3”
by Bradford, Andrew (1686?-1742) printer and journalist
folio, 10 pages, on unwatermarked 18th century paper, likely of American manufacture, formerly folded in quarters, docketed twice on final leaf. There are significant condition issues, paper browned and brittle, separated along folds with considerable loss at intersection of center fold, tears repaired with archival tissue. Despite the issues of condition, a unique document listing the estate inventory of a unique figure, a pioneer printer, publisher, and journalist in colonial Philadelphia. Manuscript estate inventory of Andrew Bradford, pioneer printer and journalist... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Typed Letter Signed, as President, Allied Patriotic Societies, New York, March 9, 1923, to an unidentified recipient
by Braman, Dwight
quarto, 1 page, in very good clean condition. No recipient named, but likely sent to Frank Wilson, an upstate New York Assemblyman, urging him to reject repeal of the so-called "Lusk Laws" – remnants of the first American "Red Scare" that followed World War I. In 1919, the Lusk Committee of the New York Legislature – formally the "Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
![Copy of the Record of the Trial of Selden Braynard, in the Municipal Court of Boston. With some Explanatory Remarks, to Correct Impressions made by Inaccurate Reports in the Newspapers. [Printed, not Published.]](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/558/285/1146285558.0.l.jpg)
Copy of the Record of the Trial of Selden Braynard, in the Municipal Court of Boston. With some Explanatory Remarks, to Correct Impressions made by Inaccurate Reports in the Newspapers. [Printed, not Published.]
by Braynard, Selden
octavo, 17 page pamphlet, removed from bound volume, light scattered foxing, else very good. Concerns charges stemming from Braynard's involvement in an unauthorized lottery. American Imprints 28271, 7 locations.
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Autograph Letter Signed, Oswego, November 1st, 1820, to George Tibbitts, Albany
by Bronson, Alvin
folio, two pages, plus stamp less address leaf, formerly folded, else in very good, clean, and legible condition. Letter discussing the status of trade on the Oswego Canal and the level of exports of salt and other commodities bound for Buffalo, Lake Erie, Ontario and Montreal. "Geo. Tibbitts Esq. Sir – Yours of 3rd ult directed to Mr. Morgan was handed me by him as his health did not permit him to reply – by referring to mine of the 4th I found I... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Autograph Letter Signed. Charleston, South Carolina, Nov. 16, 1856, to his son, William K. Browne, c/o D.H. Bartels, Havana, Cuba, per Steamer Isabel
by Browne, G.[eorge] B.
quarto, three pages, plus stamp less address leaf, formerly folded, some tape repairs along folds and fold intersections, else good. Browne was apparently a New Yorker who had become partners in a Charleston dry goods shop which had been in business selling carpets since the 1830s but was now offering imported British and French luxury cloths – cashmere, tweed, silk - and Irish linens to the city's elite. What he undoubtedly did not discuss with his clientele were his private political... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Correspondence and Ephemera of American Lawyer and Democratic Politician, James Sproat Brown, one time U.S. Congressman and Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, written while in Europe, 1872-1878
by Brown, James Sproat
35 letters, 119 pp., 3 envelopes, dated 7 June 1869 to February 1914. Two of the letters are typed, the remaining handwritten, several non James Sproat Brown letters written after his death, plus 12 ephemeral items. James Sproat Brown (1824-1878) James Sproat Brown was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Wisconsin who served in the United States Congress. Brown was born on 1 February 1824 in Hampden, Penobscot County, Maine, the son of Judge Enoch Brown and his wife, the daughter... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Manuscript Letter Copy Book of O. F. Browning's Nursery Exchange of New York City and Chatham, New York, including a section devoted to the "Proceedings of the Third Anniversary of the Universal Peace Union", in New York, letters dated 1869-1870
by Browning, Oscar Foster (1842-1878)
quarto, index at front of volume, 334 pages of letters, plus 15 pages of proceedings from the Peace Union, badly faded pages were not included in the count, plus blanks, several related ephemeral items laid in, bound in original ½ sheep and cloth covered boards. The letters are copied on thin tissue like paper, some are faded, some spotting to text, but overall in very good legible condition. Contains several hundred letters, there are many pages with two letters per... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Collection of Letters from William Cullen Bryant mainly to his brother John H. Bryant, 1815 – 1866
by Bryant, William Cullen (1794-1878)
eight letters (plus two faded letters), 15 pages, some letters damp-stained, and spotted, as well as being a bit brittle, in generally good condition, and readable. William Cullen Bryant, American romantic poet, journalist and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post, here writes his brother, (the earliest letter 1815 is written to his father), concerning business affairs and family news. His brother John had removed to Princeton, Putnam County, Illinois, and the two brothers... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Memorandum Book with Medical Lecture Notes of Dr. Jacob Burger, of Franklin Square, Columbiana County, Ohio, graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1854-1895
by Burger, Jacob
Hardcover. Good. small quarto, 73 manuscript pages, plus blanks, bound in contemporary ¼ leather and marbled paper covered boards, binding, worn, rubbed and scuffed, entries are written in ink, in a legible hand. Dr. Jacob Burger (1832-1903) Jacob Burger was born in October 1832 in Ohio. Burger's 1903 death notice in the American Medicine Journal, states that he graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Autograph Letter Signed, New Lebanon, New York, August 14, 1833, to her mother, Mrs. Michael Burnham, New York City
by Burnham, Liz
quarto, 3 pages, plus stampless address leaf, formerly folded, portion of second leaf torn away, with loss of text, some splits along folds, else in good, legible condition. Miss Burnham recounts a journey from Utica to the Shaker Village of New Lebanon, enroute home to New York, relating one of the hazards of travel at the time, a bad case of food poisoning: "Dear Mother, Monday night at Lebanon. You think I suppose 'tis time we were home – that we are wending... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Archive of Correspondence of Burt, Hildreth and Company, manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery of Harvard, Worcester County, Massachusetts, 1874-1920
by Burt, Hildreth and Company
212 letters, 288 pages, 132 post cards, 49 printed and manuscript ephemeral items, including trade cards, circulars, etc., 13 snapshot photographs presumably of family members c. 1890s-1920s, plus 4 miscellaneous manuscripts, reminiscences etc., by family members c. 1890-1900. The bulk of the materials date between 1876-1880. Archive of primarily incoming correspondence of this firm which specialized in the manufacture of agricultural machinery, the bulk of which dates between the years 1876-1880. The correspondence... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Incoming Correspondence to New York City attorney, William Allen Butler son of early “Albany Regency” member Benjamin F. Butler, written by U.S. Senator George F. Edmonds, of Vermont; U.S. Congressman Simeon B. Chittenden, of New York; & others, 1864-1895
by Butler, William Allen
15 letters, 27 pp., dated 6 February 1864 to 15 March 1895; of the 15 letters, 12 are dated 1879 to 1883; also includes a three-page manuscript note; and 2 used bank checks. Thirteen of the fifteen letters were written to William Allen Butler; they were written by: U.S. Senator George F. Edmonds, of Vermont (5); U.S. Congressman Simeon B. Chittenden, of New York (5); E.C. Benedict of Albany, NY (1); attorney George W. Parsons, of... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Retained Copies of a Series of Highly Detailed Letters in which Butterworth, Superintendent of the U. S. Assay Office in New York, Reports to Treasury Secretary Howell Cobb on the Expediency of Establishing a Branch Mint in New York City, 1860
by Butterworth, Samuel F. (1811-1875)
quarto, three letters, 32 pages, Butterworth's retained copies of this series of letters, on thin tissue like paper, in very good clean and legible condition. Butterworth writes to Cobb a series of highly detailed and informational replies to Cobb's requests for information on the possible establishment of a Branch Mint of the United States in New York City: "United States Assay Office, New York, Mar. 9, 1860 Sir,... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Three Letter Copy Books of John Byrne, President of the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Company, 1901, 1903 -1904
by Byrne, John
Three volumes, quarto, 1,807 letters, 1,920 pages, the letters are mainly typescript on thin tissue paper, bound in ½ red sheep and pebbled cloth, bindings worn and rubbed, back strips missing, text in very good, legible condition. The letters discuss all aspects of the operation of this western Pennsylvania and New York railroad during the years 1901-04. Byrne's correspondents include his vice-president and other employees, officers of other railroad companies, including those of the Erie Railroad, the Pennsylvania Railroad, wall street... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Autograph Letter Signed, New York, 9th Month 23, 1810, to his sister Anna, care of his brother-in-law, Benjamin Ferris, Philadelphia
by Canby, Merritt
quarto, 4 pages, including stamp-less address leaf, formerly folded, else in very good clean condition. A detailed account of Canby's week of travels in upstate New York to visit relatives and fellow Quakers, after sailing from Boston to New York: "My Dear Anna, ... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Argument of Matt. H. Carpenter in the Supreme Court of the United States March 3 and 4, 1868, in the Matter of Ex Parte, Wm. H. McCardle, Appellant, with Extracts from the Brief where Necessary to Explain the Argument. Reported by D. F. Murphy.
by Carpenter, Matthew Hale,
first edition, octavo, 83 page pamphlet, ex-library, handstamp on titlepage, retains front wrapper, removed from bound pamphlet volume, front wrap and titlepage lightly foxed, else a good copy. Important case argued before the Supreme Court concerning Habeas Corpus.
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Autograph Letter Signed, Mt. Vernon Square, Baltimore. Oct. 22, 1854, To Count Jules Menon, former French Consul at Boston, Rue Godot, Paris, France.
by Carroll, Charles, of Doughregan (also known as Charles Carroll V)
Quarto, 4 pages, including stampless address leaf, postal markings on address leaf, formerly folded, in very good, clean, and legible condition. The Carrolls of Doughregan: Rich life of the premier Catholic family in America "in these Know Nothing days." The only grandson of the famed Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the sole Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the fifth Charles Carroll, attached Doughregan, his Baltimore manor house, to his name, to distinguish himself from his forbears. He lived a rich... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Group of Three Autograph Letters Signed written by Dr. Benjamin Bowen Carter, China Trader, and the First American to Learn Chinese written on a China Trade Voyage, Canton, New Holland, Australia, and “At Sea”, 1799-1800
by Carter. Benjamin Bowen (1771-1831)
Folio, 18 pages in ink, on 10 loose leaves, these letters were evidently retained copies, apparently excised from a letter-copy book, some marginal defects minor tears and punctures to several leaves, some chipping, but no loss of text. The letters are written on 18th century paper of American manufacture, made by C & E Burbank, of Massachusetts. See Gravell, A Catalogue of American Watermarks 1690-1835, 30, figs 124-125. Three retained copies of letters by Benjamin Bowen Carter a Rhode Islander who... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
The C. H. Caruthers Railroad and Locomotive History Archive
by Caruthers, C. H. (1847-1920)
C. H. Caruthers Railroad and Locomotive History Archive The long-lost visual archive of Charles Henry Caruthers (1847-1920), consisting of 194 of his highly detailed pen and ink and watercolor drawings of locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company drawn between 1896 and 1919; plus 4 pen and ink drawings (on versos of his colored drawings). The archive also includes 35 cyanotypes of Caruthers' locomotive drawings; 4 photograph albums, containing 477 photographs in all, plus 7 large format photographs – including the very rare... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Description of a View of the City of Jerusalem and The Surrounding Country, Now Exhibiting at The Panorama, Charles Street. Painted by Robert Burford, from Drawings Taken in 1834, by F. Catherwood, Architect.
by Catherwood, Frederick, and Burford, Robert
first edition, octavo, folding plate, entitled: A Description of a View of Jerusalem, now exhibiting at the Panorama, Charles Street, with key to 71 locations in Jerusalem, the 71 sights are described in detail in the text of the pamphlet, 12 pages, original printed wrappers, some wear, and chipping to edges of wrappers, corners somewhat bent and dogeared, else very good. First Boston edition, and the first edition of the description of the panorama first exhibited in the United States by... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Description of A View of the City of Jerusalem and the Surrounding Country, Now Exhibiting at The Panorama, Broadway, Corner of Prince and Mercer Streets, New York. Painted by Robert Burford, from Drawings taken in 1834, by F. Catherwood, Architect.
by Catherwood, Frederick, and Burford, Robert
folding plate, entitled: A Description of A View of Jerusalem, now exhibiting at the Panorama, corner of Prince and Mercer Streets, twelve pages, lacking printed wrappers (and imprint information), some light foxing, removed from bound volume of pamphlets, else in good condition. The 1838 New York edition of the above pamphlet, which marked the inaugural exhibition at Catherwood's Rotunda in New York. American Imprints 49507, five locations. The only copy of this printing at auction we can locate appeared in 2019,... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books
Autograph Letter Signed, Lost River, Alaska, July 12, 1920 to Percy
by C., Donald
quarto, 6 pages, formerly folded, light toning to paper, else in very good, clean and legible condition. Letter discussing the potential mineral development of Lost River. The writer, is clearly a geologist involved in exploring the potential profitability of the area for tin mining, he comments on the climate, topography and condition of the Native population. The area was mined early in the 20th century, but commercial mining was soon abandoned. ... Read More
Offered by Michael Brown Rare Books