HANDWRITTEN "LETTRE DE CHANGE ET QUITTANCE" - An Official Signed Document, Written and Signed by a "NOTAIRE ROYAL". The document is written on both sides of an 7.5x10" piece of laid rag paper. WRITTEN IN FRENCH. The letter begins "A Limoges Le Deuzieme jour des mois de Novembre mil sept cens vente quatres apres midy..." (Limoges, November 2, 1724, afternoon) There is an Official Stamp of the Seal of Limoges, France on the backside, below which is the signature of the official "Notaire Royal". GOOD condition. The letter has a number of horizontal folds and a vertical fold, all from where it was folded to fit into a small envelope (no envelope is present). There is some edge and corner wear, and a few closed tears at the edges of some of the folds. Overall a sturdy copy with writing that is clear and legible.Would look great framed. Please see the provided images to get a good idea of the letter, its contents, and its condition.

NINE PIECES of EPHEMERA / HAND-WRITTEN DOCUMENTS, COLONIAL and POST REVOLUTIONARY WAR AMERICANA, related to WILLIAM JONES and OTHERS, apparently from PENNSYLVANIA (as per a few indications in the documents, and my research into a few of the names in the documents). All the items are handwritten on various size pieces of laid paper, some have watermarks.Following is a descriptive list of EACH OF THE 9 ITEMS (caps are usually mine): (1) 1783 Handwritten financial document dated October 11th, 1783. Writing on one side only, small calculation on backside. "Received October 11th 1783 of WILLIAM JONES by the hand of HIS SON MATHEW thirty three shillings and six pence in full." Signed by STEPHEN PASCHALL. Paper in FAIR CONDITION, yellowed with age; creases from folding; tape used along top edge for mending. (2) 1769 Handwritten banking memo. Single sheet of paper with miscellaneous notes and calculations. Writing on both sides. Reference to a purchase of 21 oxen on April 2nd, 1769 in the amount of one hundred and ninety three pounds twelve shillings by a William Jones. "Received of WM. JONES One Hundred and Ninety Three Pounds Twelve Shillings in full for 21 oxen Delivered him April 2nd 1769..." Signed by EBENEZER CANFIELD. Ledger notes include: "28 oxen Brought Down Between WM. JONES and JOHN SMITH..."; "MOSES MARTIN bought 2 at..."; "CHARLES MOORE'S horse came Nov 27, Took away March 26th..." Paper in POOR CONDITION, yellowed and faded with age, ink has gone through to other side of paper in places; creased from folding; hole through center of both pages; tape used to attempt to mend tears and holes. (3) 1796 Small Handwritten bank note dated February 5, 1796. Writing on one side only. "Received Feb 5th 1796 of MR. ANTHONY C. (MARNIS ?) four pounds two shillings and six pence in full for [illegible]." Signed by WILLIAM & JOS (JOSEPH) GRAY. Paper in GOOD CONDITION, creased along edges and corners. (4) 1764 Half-page Handwritten bank note dated July 21, 1764. Writing on one side only. "Received of MR. WILLIAM JONES July 21st, 1764 by the hands of your Overseer the sum of three pounds two shillings on Account". Signed by JOHN SAYRE & COMPANY. Paper in FAIR CONDITION, yellowed with age; crease marks from folding; holes along creases; paper loss along right edge; tape repairs on blank backside.(5) 1737 Half-page probably from a banking book, dated 1737 in the top left corner. Writing mostly on one side, a column of numbers on backside. Handwritten page is presumably from a banking ledger, recording amounts and transactions. Nice list of Colonial American Names. List of names with sums: JOHN GRIFFEY, MATTHIAS CARTE, PETTER PETERSON, JOHN (RANSON?), THOMAS CLAYTON, JOSEPH GRIST, GEORGE GRIST, JOHN (RAILIE?) Paper in POOR CONDITION, yellowed and darkened with age; creased from folding; discoloration; tape used to mend tears, tape has discolored paper. (6) Undated Half-page probably from a banking ledger, no date. Writing on one side only. "DR. MATHEW JONES, ESQ. in (acct?) with RICH. (RICHARD) LLOYD. Ledger contains dates and transaction details. Paper in FAIR CONDITION, discolored with age; creased from folding. (7) 1787 Handwritten banking memo dated May 10, 1787. Writing on both sides. "Balance Due WILLIAM JONES..."; "Settled this 10th day of May 1787 By us - WILLIAM JONES, DANIEL (BURCHALL?)". Paper in POOR CONDITION, faded with age; heavy creases from folding; clear (now darkened) tape used to reinforce creases. (8) 1787 Handwritten bank note dated March 12, 1787. Writing on both sides. "Received of WILLIAM JONES the sum of seven pounds being the fees & expense in full for surveying two tracts of land one on STONEY CREEK and the other in MILLFORD (MILFORD) TOWNSHIP". Signed by GEORGE WOODS. There is a written note on the backside that mentions a DR. WILLIAM H. DELANY and a (DR.?) TOBIN. Paper in FAIR CONDITION, yellowed with age; creased from folding; tape used to mend tears. (9) 1796 Handwritten large-page ledger document--dated 1796

HANDWRITTEN WILL of RICHARD DODD, RECTOR of COWLEY, MIDDLESEX COUNTY. DATED MAY 13, 1798. Single-Fold Sheet to make four pages, handwritten on the front page and on the two inner pages. Written on laid-paper with the WATERMARK "ALLEE 1796". The writing is bright and clear, though the calligraphy is somewhat difficult. There are numerous folds from where the will had been folded into a small size, there is some edge wear including a few small closed edge tears. Still a solid, clean, manuscript Will. Here is my transcription of the manuscript Will (pardon my errors): "I Richard Dodd Rector of Cowley in the County of Middlesex revoking all other wills, do make this my last will and Testament.

Imprimo:

I appoint my dear wife Eliz. Dodd & the Revd. Philip S. Dodd my second son the joint executors & the administrators of this my said will desiring & ordering that they will within

in one twelve month of my decease or before of they think proper buy & transfer & place two thousand pounds ________ in the name &

for the use of my son William Dodd & likewise that they buy & place the same sum in the same stock in the name of & for the use of my daughter Frances Margaret Dodd. That they assign and make over

to them likewise these shares.

In the Middlesex _______________ that_______________ / _______________ / names of William / _______________, Dodd _______________. The rest & residue of my property, be it of whatever kind I leave to my dear wife desiring that she will

leave it to her children.

Elizabeth Philip & Charles such shares & proportions as she shall think right & proper (trusting she will not whilst living or at her death leave any improper partiality of

she regards the memory of a Dear affectionate husband who look unwearied pains to save her of them from the distrust she in early life experienced from.

The inability of a most excellent Father and afford him any _______________

I sign this on the thirteenth of May in the Year of our Lord

one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight. - Rich Dodd."

1845 Handwritten Document with Official Stamps. The document grants freedom of travel within Cuba to a Black Slave. SIGNED by LEOPOLDO O'DONNELL "PRESIDENTE GOVERNATOR Y CAPITAN GENERAL." An unusual document, because General Leopoldo O'Donnel is mostly remembered for his ordering the roundup, torture, and massacre of thousands of slaves in 1844, a year that became known as "The Year of the Lash". Handwritten on a single sheet of watermarked paper, 8.5x12", written on one side only though the ink shows through to the backside. GOOD condition. Leopoldo O'Donnel underlined his signature very firmly which caused a thin ear

along the underlining. The paper has toned with age. Overall still solid with writing and stamps that are bright and clear. About LEOPOLDO O'DONNELL (excerpted from Wikipedia): ******Don Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris, 1st Duke of Tetuan, 1st Count of Lucena, 1st Viscount of Aliaga, Grandee of Spain, (Spanish: Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris, I duque de Tetuán, I conde de Lucena, I vizconde de Aliaga, grande de España) (12 January 1809 - 5 November 1867), was a Spanish general and statesman. He was of Irish paternal descent, a descendant of Calvagh O'Donnell, Rí of Tyrconnell. He was born at Santa Cruz de Tenerife a son of Carlos O'Donnell y Anethan (born 1768) and wife Josefa Jorris y Casaviella, and paternal grandson of José O'Donnell y O'Donnell and wife Marie Anne d'Anethan. He had an uncle Francisco and an aunt Beatriz, married to Manuel Pombo y Ante (1769-1829), and had issue. O'Donnell was a strong supporter of the Cristinos, and backed the regency of Maria Cristina in the 1830s.

When General Baldomero Espartero seized power in 1840, O'Donnell went into exile with Maria Cristina, and was involved in an attempted coup against Espartero in 1841. O'Donnell was soon back in power and was sent to Cuba as Captain General in October 1843. He is credited with the massacre of 1844 known as the repression of La Escalera. Thousands of slaves and "free-coloured" people in Cuba ended up in dark dungeons, were tortured and executed in what became known as the 'year of the lash'.******

Two Handwritten Letters, one written on both sides, one written on the front only. Both letters are addressed to Thos W. Langley (Thomas W. Langley). The letters are from Detroit and dated May 6, 1845 and July 25, 1845. I cannot decipher the name of the sender from his signature, perhaps you can. Interesting content with a number of early Michigan names being tossed about: Colonel Stone, Doctor Comstock, Redfield, to name a few. The letters are written on 8x10 inch light blue paper. FAIR condition, folds from where the letters were probably folded to fit into envelopes (no envelopes are present), areas of dark sunburning, a few small holes. The handwriting is clear but somewhat difficult to read. You can have at it from the provided images. Tidbits about Thomas W. Langley (gathered from the Internet): * The 282 foot long Langley Covered Bridge that spans the St. Joseph River in southwestern Michigan, was named after Thomas W. Langley and his family, who were first to settle nearby Centreville in 1831. The bridge features three 94 foot long spans, and is the longest remaining vintage covered bridge in Michigan. * 1831 Thomas W. Langley builds a tavern in Centreville. * Thomas W. Langley became President of Farmers and Merchants Bank of St. Joseph.

Antique German booklet, a Rare "Dienstbuch" (literally translated as "Service Book") from the year 1848 (with later notations from 1850), stipulating the status of the individual bearing this document as "servant class", and stating conditions of their legal employment. Official Document / Booklet, string bound with a portion of the string sealed with wax on the back page, 4.75x7.5", 32 pages. This particular booklet has been given the number 1019 and is made out to a young woman, aged 18. I cannot decipher, from the handwriting, the name and particulars of the girl whose book this was. The servant was required by law to carry this Official Statement of Employment, and had to be shown when proof of employment was required by Police or other authorities. This small publication consists of 32 pages (no covers as issued). Only 9 of the pages have writing or printing, the rest are numbered but blank (kind of like a mostly unused passport). The first page has handwriting and printing, providing points of identification of this Dienstbuch holder. The next 7 pages (2-8) contain printed matter only, including warnings, rules, and governing servitude ordinances. Page 9 is filled in with handwriting, including a couple "1850" dates. I don't know what the writing says, but I have tried to provide a clear image for those of you who might be able to read the it. The bottom of page 9 has an ink stamp that bears bears the name of the town of Gerstungen in Thuringia. The back page (page 32) has an Official Wax Seal. The wax seal is stamped over the binding threads, making it very difficult for pages to be removed so that false ones could be entered. Condition: Toned, foxed, some soiling, but still solid, clear, and fully legible. A wonderful historic document relating to Young Servant Girls in 19th Century Germany.

Important, Rare, Handwritten Letter by JOHN HORTON SLAUGHTER (aka TEXAS JOHN SLAUGHTER, SHERIFF SLAUGHTER, JOHN H. SLAUGHTER), written in 1859 when he was only 18 years old. Single Page Handwritten Letter, single sheet, light blue laid paper with a nickel size blind embossed emblem at the upper right corner, approximately 7.75 x 12 inches. GOOD condition, several folds where the letter was probably folded to fit into a small envelope (NO envelope is present), very small holes where a couple folds intersect, a few ink stains on the blank back side, otherwise solid with writing that is fully legible. Folded is how the letter was preserved and is its normal state. The letter was written to John H. Slaughter's 22 year old friend and trusted horse selling partner JOHN B. LINDSEY, of Frankfort, Kentucky. (The Lindsey / Lindsay family is an old and prominent Kentucky family, as are its relations.) The contents of the letter seem to indicate a familial relationship of some sort between the Slaughter and Lindsey family lines. This pre Civil War letter written at the age of 18 is by far the earliest letter of JOHN HORTON SLAUGHTER that I have seen. It gives a glimpse of his life and ambitions that have rarely, if ever, been recorded. The letter reads in great part: "(??) August 24, 1859. / Dear John / Yours of the 8th has been received and the draft for $500 which was very acceptable. You say you have not heard from me in a long time. I answered your other letter acknowledging the receipt of the other draft & your Aunt also wrote in it making a long letter. I hope you have received it before this in that I left all the matter of collections to your own judgement as I do in this need the money, but I can get along (as I?) have raised a small crop of cotton & I have some cattle & young horses to sell if I could meet with a purchaser. You say your state has gone for the Democrats. You had better quit it and come to Texas, it has gone the opposition ticket. Houston is elected by a large majority. Your relations are all well as usual except (?) who has been quite sick but she is now on the mend... the rest of our family is as well as usual... We don't know (what) you do to stand it in Ky. You must suffer very much. Remember me to all./

Yours Truly, John H. Slaughter." This letter was acquired in Northern California from the estate of a member of (per the estate listing): "a very prominent Southern family, offering... pre-and post-Civil War ephemera (letters and documents)..." Most of the interesting old documents I found related to the LINDSEY FAMILY of FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY, including many documents and letters of JOHN B. LINDSEY (born July 4, 1837, Frankfort, KY, died 1922, Frankfort, KY), among which was this letter. I also acquired an unpublished autobiography by Edwin S. Lindsey, the Grandson of John B. Lindsey. There is a paragraph on page 3 where he writes: "When he was a young man, Grandfather Lindsey had tuberculosis, the dreaded Great White Plague of that age. He went to Texas for better climate and was a horse trader, buying horses in Mexico and selling them in the U.S. West. Those were the wild days of the West, and many were his adventures, which will have to be omitted now. He recovered his health and returned to Frankfort, where he practiced law very successfully till he retired at the age of eighty four". This paragraph matches perfectly with the Slaughterhouse letter urging the young John Lindsey to leave Kentucky and join him in Texas. About JOHN HORTON SLAUGHTER (excerpted from Wikipedia): "John Horton Slaughter, b. 1841 d. 1922, also known as Texas John Slaughter, was an American lawman, cowboy, poker player and rancher in the Southwestern United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After serving in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, Slaughter earned a reputation fighting hostile Indians and Mexican and American outlaws in the Arizona and New Mexico territories."

1867 JULES-EMILE PLANCHON HANDWRITTEN LETTER to DR. V.A. SIGNORET, plus two of J.-E. Planchon's ORIGINAL WORKS on the FRENCH PHYLLOXERA VINEYARD PLAGUE, plus a SIGNED WORK by J.-E. Planchon's brother, GUSTAVE PLANCHON. THREE PAGE HANDWRITTEN LETTER by JULES EMILE PLANCHON to DR. VINCENT ANTOINE SIGNORET (addressed to "Monsieur", but clearly to Dr. Vincent Antoine Signoret, identified by the other included items that are described below). The letter is on a single-fold sheet, making 4-pages. Handwritten on the front page and the two inside pages, the back page is blank. Signed by J. E. Planchon at the end of his letter, with his current positions as Professor and Director of Pharmaceuticals in Montpellier, written beneath his signature. AN IMPORTANT LETTER - Written during the time J-E PLANCHON was investigating the cause of the destruction of grape vines throughout Europe. Much of the letter discusses botany, with botanical words such as: Chènes, Coccus, Gramutii, Pulvinatus, Chermes, Cultivés, Coquilles, Èspece, etc. Much of the letter has to do with scale insects, a specialty of the letter's recipient, DR. V.-A. SIGNORET. The letter is dated: Montpellier le 10 Decembre 1867. It appears that the letter was originally sent to GUSTAVE PLANCHON, the brother of JULES EMILE PLANCHON, in response to a booklet written by Gustave Planchon titled: LE KERMES DU CHENE - AUX POINTS DE VUE ZOOLOGIQUE, COMMERCIAL & PHARMACEUTIQUE. But the letter by Signoret to Gustave Planchon was either intercepted by or forwarded to Jules Emile Planchon, who read it and responded to it. THE LETTER IN THIS AUCTION IS THE LETTER BY J.-E. PLANCHON to SIGNORET, it DOES NOT include the assumed letter written by Signoret to Gustave. However... GUSTAVE'S BOOKLET IS INCLUDED. The booklet has printed blue wrappers, sewn binding, 5.25x8.25", 47 pages. Published in PARIS and MONTPELLIER, 1864. The booklet is SIGNED and INSCRIBED by GUSTAVE PLANCHON at the top of the front cover: "hommage de l'auteur / Gustave Planchon (signed)". The booklet has the ink-stamped signature of SIGNORET on the half-title page, again on page 7 (the beginning of the text), and a third time on the blank bottom of the last page (page 47).

Handwritten on the front cover, presumably by SIGNORET is "ecrit à M. Planchon le 21 Nbre 1867". This corresponds nicely with the December 10, 1867, date on the letter by E.-J. Planchon to (presumably) Signoret. The booklet also has a handwritten, single-line, relevant note on page 23, presumably by Signoret. ALSO INCLUDED are TWO BOOKLETS on GRAPE VINES and VINEYARDS by J. E. PLANCHON. (1) An 8 page booklet titled "LA PHTHIRIOSE ou PEDICULAIRE DE LA VIGNE CHEZ LES ANCIENS - Et Les Cochenilles de la VIGNE Chez Les Modernes". A separately bound extract from the Societe des Agriculteurs de France, 1870. (2) A 16 page booklet titled "NOTES ENTOMOLOGIQUES SUR LE PHYLLOXERA VASTATRIX". A separately bound extract from the Societe des Agriculteurs de France, 1869. IN SUMMARY, THIS AUCTION IS FOR: (1) A 3-PAGE HANDWRITTEN LETTER BY JULES-EMILE PLANCHON. (2) A 42 PAGE Booklet by GUSTAVE PLANCHON, SIGNED by GUSTAVE PLANCHON, and owned by VINCENT ANTOINE SIGNORET, with his stamped Signature and Handwritten notes. (3) AN 8 PAGE Booklet by JULES EMILE PLANCHON on VINES both Ancient and Modern. (4) A 16 PAGE Booklet by JULES EMILE PLANCHON on PHYLLOXERA, the Plague that was destroying the Vineyards of France and Europe. CONDITION: The letter is solid, there are some stains, spots, creases and edge toning but the writing is clear throughout. The letter has a number of folds from where it was folded, presumably to fit into a small envelope.

The booklet by Gustave Planchon has a couple of creases and spots, but remains solid and nice.

The 8 page booklet has some creases but remains sturdy, bright and clean. The 16 page booklet is soiled, has edge wear, creases, and tears, has some foxing, and has some early previous owner's margin marks and text underlining.

SIXTY-TWO (62) ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT INDENTURES relating to the PORTOBELLO ESTATE / PORTOBELLO ROAD AREA in NOTTING HILL, LONDON, accompanied with 62 HAND DRAWN COLOR PLAT MAPS, a CONVEYANCE and LEASE SCHEDULES. ALL are SIGNED by various notable individuals. These important real estate transactions took place in 1868 and 1869. Bound in hard covers.

The main SELLER of the properties was CHARLES HENRY BLAKE and the main BUYERS were THE FREEHOLD SECURITIES COMPANY LIMITED, JOHN PARSON, and THE LAND AND HOUSE INVESTMENT SOCIETY. Sixty-one of the 62 indentures were transactions where C. H. Blake was the seller. Other individuals named in the indentures and conveyance include HENRY BESSEMER, Henry Hyde, William Honeywood, William Burchell the Younger, and other wealthy, movers and shakers of the day. Frank Richardson, Solicitor for both The Freehold Securities Company and The Land And House Investment Society, signed many of the indentures as a witness.

The indentures and conveyance are bound in a book that was presumably made to hold them. Hardcovers, textured cloth covered boards with leather spine and corners, five raised spine bands, gilt title "PORTOBELLO ESTATE" on the front cover, 10x15 inches (25x38 cm), 147 pages (74 leaves). The indentures are all printed on watermarked laid paper.

The first item is a long manuscript CONVEYANCE titled: "PORTOBELLO ESTATE In the parish of Saint Mary Abbott Kensington in the County of Middlesex - Copy of the CONVEYANCE of the above property to HENRY BESSEMER ESQUIRE and of the LEASES for which said property is subject". The INDENTURE that is part of the Conveyance is dated the 16th day of December 1869. It is 21 pages long and includes a FULL PAGE HAND COLORED PLAT MAP showing the properties on Golbourne (Golborne) Road between Portobello Road and Wornington Road, and a LEASE SCHEDULE that fully describes each parcel. Numerous signatures at the end of the Indenture / Conveyance.

The subsequent 61 INDENTURES are between CHARLES HENRY BLAKE of Stanley Crescent, Notting Hill, in the County of Middlesex, and either JOHN PARSON, or THE FREEHOLD SECURITIES COMPANY LIMITED, or THE LAND AND HOUSE INVESTMENT SOCIETY. Nineteen are dated in 1868, the others in 1869.

Each Indenture has a hand drawn plat map of the property in question, all presumably part of the Portobello Estate. Most of the indentures are 2 pages long, some longer.

Condition: The covers have some old water staining / shorelining, scrapes, rubs, and general wear; the gilt title "Portobello Estate" is rubbed; else the covers are solid and doing their job well. The front and rear endpapers are recent. The bound in indentures have gray and brown stains, substantial on many of the pages, present on all the pages. Perhaps these are ink blotter stains, or offsetting from where these indentures were originally stored, or simply caused by unstable ink and colors, I do not know. The good news is that the manuscript writing is FULLY VISIBLE AND LEGIBLE beneath all the stains. The first two leaves have a 2x2.5 inch (5x7 cm) area of tearing, mostly in the blank spine gutter area but affecting some text words. The tears could be archivally repaired. The first two leaves, and a couple other pages, have a pea size hole that affects some letters. There is 1/2 inch (1 cm) of worming to the bottom blank margin of the last 3 leaves. The last leaf has a quarter (the U.S. coin) size hole in its center affecting some words. This last leaf is blank on the verso, so the affected words are only on the recto.

An incredible group of important historic indentures with plat maps showing the Victorian Era property sales of the PORTOBELLO ESTATE that led to the development of the fashionable PORTOBELLO ROAD / NOTTING HILL region of London that we know today.

This archive of PORTOBELLO ROAD indentures belongs in a museum, imho.

HANDWRITTEN LETTER by EDWARD MATTHEW WARD to FRANK GASKELL. Stationery is blind-stamped engraved "Glen Aray Lodge, Windsor". The letter is dated 3rd January 1878. (Ward died just 12 months later, 15 January 1879, a suicide.) Written on a single-fold piece of stationery, making 4 pages. The letter is on 2 pages, the front page and an inner page. The letter reads (as best I can make out): "My Dear Mr. Gaskell Many thanks for the Photo with which I was much pleased and by which I can imagine that the dress must have cut a very good figure in the room & I am glad that my suggestion was of any use to you in the matter. I very much envy you your Roman trip which must have been very enjoyable to you more [especially] in such excellent companionship of Mr. W. Wood who must be so au fait in all that belongs to the Eternal City, and the funeral of the gook King must have been very [impressive] and interesting and a thing to have seen. It is now nearly thirty eight years since I was in Rome, where I remained three years, but I have a most vivid recollection of it & all its glories, & still live in hopes of again seeing it before I die, though at present I see no probability of my being able to enjoy so great a pleasure in [the] future. It must have greatly altered since I was there & I have no doubt in the main for the better, especially in a sanitary point of view, though perhaps not altogether in [picturesqueness], but on one point I am sure it must have done so & that is in its government which when I was there was simply diabolical. I hope that we shall have the pleasure of seeing your father down here during his stay in London and immediately on receiving your letter yesterday I wrote a letter off to him at Wootton to be forwarded & I have no doubt that he will receive it tomorrow. I shall however send him a line to the Reform Club to make matters more sure, as I am most anxious for him to come down here and see the Windsor Tapestry Manufactory should he be able to spare the time. Mrs. Ward unites with me in kindest regards to Mrs. Gaskell & the rest of your family circle. & believe me, Yours ever Sincerely, E. M. Ward". CONDITION: The letter has a vertical and horizontal fold, perhaps from being folded to fit into a small envelope. The blank backside has paper remnants, as if the letter had been glued to a mount at some point and later removed. There is a small ink-stamped name on the black backside "K. J. Turner". The writing remains bright, clear and fully legible. Edward Matthew Ward RA (London 14 July 1816 - 15 January 1879) was an English Victorian narrative painter best known for his murals in the Palace of Westminster depicting episodes in British history from the English Civil War to the Glorious Revolution.

Original FIRE INSURANCE POLICY for a SALOON in SAN FRANCISCO. The SALOON and DWELLING was located at "No. 600 Pine Street, Corner of Dupont Street, San Francisco, California." This was a $2,000 fire insurance policy for the year beginning November 28, 1883 through November 28, 1884.

Single sheet, printed on both sides, with detailed handwritten information on the front side.

SINGED by the PRESIDENT of Hartford Fire Insurance Company, George L. Chase, and others.

Lying flat and fully opened the document measures 11x17 inches. The document was meant to be folded into a small size and has one horizontal fold across the middle and two vertical folds.

GOOD condition: No tears or pieces missing, there is browning along the edges, areas of light age toning here and there, and the small amount of ink handwriting on the backside has mostly faded away.

An interesting piece of SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY. Wonder what became of the SALOON on 600 Pine Street? Wonder if the dwelling part of the saloon was dwelling by the hour?

Would look great mounted and/or framed.

This document will be sent folded in half horizontally, as it was stored. It will be well protected.

LEDGER for a GENERAL GROCER & MERCHANDISE STORE in STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. Hardcover Ledger / Day Book, cloth covered boards with leather corners, 8x17 inches, lined inner pages, 162 pages running from April 2, 1883 to October 22, 1883. (The ledger originally had more than 162 pages, but all pages after 164 have been torn out.) There are approximately 2,000 entries. Each entry has the client's name (usually a full name), a description of the item(s) sold, the price of the goods purchased, and whether paid or unpaid. There are 100s and 100s of Names. It seems that Everyone who lived in Stroudsburg in 1883 shopped at this store. Just a few of the names, picked at random, are: Jerome S. Williams, Casper (aka Caspar) Metzger, John Tidd, John Shiffer, Thomas Stemple, Frank Fetherman, Amos Shoemaker, Charles Everitt, Peter P. Shaffer, Charles Woehrle, Samuel Hood, Henry Pye, Thomas Stemple, and many, many, many more. Items sold include: Old Judge Cigarettes, Cigars, Eggs, Peanuts, Matches, Pails, Corn Powder, Maple Sugar, Sacks, Tea Cakes, Barrell Crackers, Fruit Jars, Journals, Texas Jack, Envelopes, Manilla Paper, Rags, Candy, etc. etc. Condition: The covers are soiled, have spotting and some marks, and the leather covered corners are worn; nonetheless these original covers are still doing their job well. Internally, the first 16 pages and the last 2 pages have some large tears, some a few inches long, and chips. The tears are mostly closed tears that run across some of the entries. Many of the tears could be repaired with tape. There is a piece missing from the top of pages 9/10 and 15/16 that removes most of the first entry on all of those pages. A few other pages here and there have some tearing and wear at their blank top margin. As noted above, all the pages after 162 were torn out of this ledger. The paper remnants of the torn out pages remain at the rear. Despite these flaws, this ledger remains solid, with pages that are bright, clean and clear. The handwriting, filling every one of the 162 pages, is dark, easy to read, and fully legible. Want to know who lived in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in 1883? This genealogically rich ledger will tell you!

This is a SIGNATURE and MEMORY BOOK belonging to Madeline Buckle. Filled with signatures and inscriptions from numerous schoolmates. All are addressed "To Madeline" and most are signed with full names. Many of the signatures are followed by a place and date, the place being "CARLIN NEVADA" and the date being 1889.

The inside front cover reads: "Madeline Buckle / Dec. 25th, 1888 / Carlin Nevada".

Hardcovers, 7x8.5 inches, about 60 unnumbered pages (30 leaves). 38 pages have an inscription and signature.

Condition: The covers are in POOR condition, they are scraped and rubbed, most of the spine covering has peeled off, and the covers are basically disbound. Internally, ALL the inner leaves are disbound (i.e. laid in loosely), and have some foxing, toning, and edgewear (including small closed tears), but the signatures and inscriptions are in good shape, bright, clear, and fully legible.

An interesting look at the residents and genealogy of CARLIN NEVADA in 1889, from the mouths of babes (or at least young students!)

In the late 19th century, as viticulture began to develop and expand across the United States, Fredonia, New York nursery owner George Stephen Josselyn (1842-1912) became a leading propagator, grower and distributor of grapevines, current and gooseberry plants for wine and table. He introduced Fay's Prolific Currant, Campbell's Early Grape and the Josselyn Gooseberry.

Spring 1890 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AMERICAN GRAPE VINES by George S. Josselyn, Fredonia, N.Y. 1890 First edition. Engraved paper covers, side-staple bound, 9.25" x 6.25", 16 pages (unpaginated), illustrated with color frontispiece, a full page b&w grape engraving, decorative borders, and engraved covers. Also included is a handwritten postcard from author George Josselyn to William H. Moon (1849-1911), proprietor of The Moon Nursery in Morrisville, PA who founded the National Nurserymen's Association, organized the Ornamental Grower's Association and was president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. GOOD PLUS CONDITION: front cover has edge chip in the front margin and rear cover has a bottom corner chip at the spine fold (not affecting text), the spine fold has closed tears and small chips, and the covers are lightly age-toned, otherwise the covers remain attached, bright and clean. Internally, just some age-toning and spots of foxing, otherwise bright, clean and unmarked. Rare 19th century wine ephemera, no institutional holdings of this 1890 Spring Catalogue are recorded in the OCLC.

Original Vintage Ferris Brothers Company Trade Catalogue Brochure circa 1910. Illustrated fold-open catalogue, 7.25" x 3" folded, opens to 24" with printing on both sides. Twenty styles of corsets and accessories are described and illustrated with a black & white photograph or drawing. VERY GOOD Condition: light wear from age and use, a stiff horizontal crease (probably from mailing), and some penciled manufacturers notations indicating discontinued items and prices, otherwise this rare brochure is solid and bright.

In 1878, Sherwood Bissell Ferris and his brother Murray W. Ferris started Ferris Brothers in New Jersey, manufacturers of corsets, corset waists, and other waists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ferris Brothers is important historically because they led a health movement against old fashioned tight-lacing rigid bone corsets and waists. Their corsets were considered healthier and more natural for women and girls because they didn't harmfully cinch the waistline too tightly, were more comfortable, and allowed freedom of movement for sports, and maternity.

PLAYS I HAVE SEEN. A SCRAPBOOK used by CAROLYN CARTWRIGHT of SAN FRANCISCO that gives details, along with clippings, of the PLAYS she went to in 1912, 1913 and 1914. The scrapbook of PLAYS I HAVE SEEN is in a book published by Dodd, Mead & Co. in 1909. The published book was meant to be used as a theatre goers scrapbook, with space for information on Title, Author, Theatre, Date, With whom, Attendance, General Comments, Cast, Portraits and Scenes (space for pasting clippings from newspapers),

etc. Example: Title: Dream City. Theatre: Savoy Theatre. With whom: Uncle Lyman, Aunt Katharine, Mama, Pap, Lucile and I. Attendance: Fair. General Comment: Uncle Lyman fell asleep, but Lucile and I thought it was awfully funny. HARDCOVER BOOK, green cloth covered spine, gilt title to the front cover and spine, 5x8 inches, inner pages meant to be used for writing details and as a scrapbook, 224 pages. Most pages are filled with handwritten information and/or newspaper clippings. MOST of the plays viewed are dated 1912 to 1914 (first 201 pages), with a couple at the end from the 1930s. GOOD condition, the front endpapers have a homemade cardpocket and a handwritten Date Due slip, clearly childish and not real, perhaps made as a warning to a little brother or sister; overall this scrapbook with handwritten notes and clippings is in solid condition, with writing that is always bright and clear. A great look at theatre going in San Francisco in 1912, 1913 and 1914, from a young woman who clearly enjoyed the theatre going experience.

Three Page Handwritten Draft Letter by a Politically Progressive Texas Man re: Reforming the Texas Republican Party: "I am one of the progressives who is in favor of co-operation with you in trying to restore the Republican Party to its former prestige and usefulness..." The draft letter is written by W. E. Singleton (Captain WILLIAM E. SINGLETON) of Jefferson, Texas, and addressed to "Hon. C. A. Lyon" (Honorable CECIL ANDREW LYON). The draft letter is dated "Jefferson Texas / Feb (17th and 18th), 1916". It is interesting to note that Cecil A. Lyon died two months after this draft was written, and William E. Singleton died within a year after this draft was written. Both deaths marking the end of "Progressive Republicans" in Texas. This draft letter is handwritten, it is the same text written out twice, once in pencil and once in ink, as if in practice for a finished letter that would (presumably) be sent. Three pages written on one side only of three sheets of watermarked laid-paper 5x8". The text is as follows: "I am in receipt of your circular letter of date February 4th (?) and will say: I am one of the progressives who is in favor of co-operation with you in trying to restore the Republican Party to its former prestige and usefulness. I am very much in favor of a conference of the leading Republicans and Progressives to try and adjust their differences and will be glad to meet with you and assist in any capacity in bringing about harmony and party discipline. I am very sincerely yours, W.E. Singleton". POOR condition, thumbprint size chip on the right side of the sheets, lesser chipping at the bottom right corner, all sheets have two horizontal folds from where they were folded to fit into an envelope, one sheet has insect holes all along its upper fold, almost splitting the sheet into two parts, another sheet has some insect holes across its top fold, the chip and holes affect some text, all sheets have some toning and foxing; NONETHELESS, the writing is clear and the text legible. An interesting historic letter regarding PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICANS in TEXAS in the early 20th century. About the PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN ERA (from Wikipedia): ******During the 1910s and 1920s, progressives formed a faction in the Republican Party. They typically held center-left views on most issues, supporting broad government involvement in business, particularly breaking 'trusts' and limiting the size of corporations, reforms in government, income taxes, universal health care, and other forms of 'social justice'. This faction gradually shrank, with many joining the Democratic Party as it shifted to the left. Prominent progressive Republicans included Theodore Roosevelt, Hiram Johnson, and Robert La Follette.****** About CECIL ANDREW LYON (from the Texas State Historical Association website): ******On the heels of the Republican convention, when Roosevelt bolted the party to run as the candidate of the National Progressive Republican League, Lyon led the state Progressive convention, which met at Dallas. He served as this party's state chairman and as a national committeeman from 1912 until his death. After Democrat Woodrow Wilson's victory Lyon worked to unify the Republican party in the state. He called for a meeting of reunification that convened in Dallas in March 1915 and served as the first step in healing political wounds. Lyon, however, played only a small role in that reunification, for he died on April 4, 1916. At the time of his death, in addition to his political activities, he was president of the Lyon-Gray Lumber Company, vice president and general manager of the Hardeman County Irrigation Company in Sherman, and a member of the board of directors of the Great Southern Life Insurance Company of Houston.****** The Jefferson Texas Home of CAPTAIN WILLIAM E. SINGLETON is a Historic Landmark.

1917 HENRY DINGLEY COOLIDGE - 35 HANDWRITTEN PAGES - LECTURE ON PARLIAMENTARY LAW & PROCEDURE. His personal, manuscript lecture notes, with many hand corrections and changes, for a lecture he gave at a "Parliamentary Club" meeting. The pages are hand numbered, some numbered "a" and "b" (e.g. 30a, 30b); 35 total pages. Handwritten on one side of 6" x 9" sheets of paper (a few sheets are somewhat smaller). Most of the paper is plain paper, originally blank on both sides. Some of the latter sheets are written on the blank backsides of paper that is printed with "THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS - 1917 - AN ACT" and associated information on the other side (i.e.the original printed documents were being reused as scrap paper for these lecture notes). The lecture notes are undated, insofar as I can tell, but I'm assuming 1917 based on the date on the printed backsides of a few sheets. Along with these lecture notes are 3 sealed envelopes with "HENRY DINGLEY COOLIDGE / CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS" printed on the envelope flap (the envelopes are sealed, but there is nothing inside, and they are unopened); a piece of unused printed stationery; and a letter addressed to "Mr. Henry D. Coolidge, Clerk to the Senate, Concord, Mass." on "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts / Executive Chamber / State House, Boston" letterhead. The letter is signed by (?). It is in response to a recommendation by Coolidge for the appointment of Henry J. Walcott to some position or other. The letter is dated August 1, 1910. Condition: The sheets are toned and have some signs of light handling, wear and use; but overall they are clean, bright, clear and fully legible. About HENRY DINGLEY COOLIDGE (from the Internet): ******Massachusetts Senate Clerk Henry Dingley Coolidge (1858-1922). Coolidge, a direct descendant of Mayflower pilgrim William White, served as Clerk for the Massachusetts Senate for 33 years. He is known for writing the revised and updated "MANUAL FOR THE USE OF THE GENERAL COURT" in 1889, and a number of subsequent revisions of the same book. Henry D. Coolidge's General Court Manual became an important, standard, widely used. legal reference work.******

DEED transferring PROPERTY from multiple members of the FLETCHER FAMILY, most living in Maryland, some in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the LECOMPTE FAMILY. The deed is dated 1922. "ALL that part of a tract of land, called ECCLESTON'S SEAT and JOSEPH'S RIGHT, situated in a neck called MORRISON'S NECK in the Neck Election District of Dorchester County, State of Maryland, which is more particularly described as follows: Benning..." Lots of FLETCHER family members are named, along with related family members. MANY have signed the document. 6 page document, 8.5x12.5 inches, pages printed on one side only. Bound in a printed paper cover. POOR condition. The cover is torn, dirty, stained, has some 2" tears, and is missing its bottom half. However, it is not part of the inner document pages that make up the deed and was meant more for filing purposes. The 6 inner pages comprising the document are complete. They have several folds, as normal, are toned, have some foxing, and are edge worn. They have some handwritten corrections, a tax stamp, and an official notary blindstamp. A worn copy with a damaged and half-missing cover, but the deed is complete and full of some nice genealogical references to early Maryland residents.