1638 LETTER JEAN DE LA VALETTE Henry of Navarre, France's great hero & subject of Dumas' novels, survived the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre to establish the modern French nation. Jean Louis de la Vallette, the Duke of Epeiron, was one of Henry's loyal governors & opponent of Cardinal Richilieu, who finally destroyed him in 1641. 1638 letter from Vallette to "Madame". 1p 8 x 6" ink, w pencil notations.
Circa: 1638
Manufacturer: NA  

STATUE OF LIBERTY FORT WOOD a nice original item of American history- The Statue of Liberty was built using the old US Military Post, Fort Wood, New York Harbor, a star-shaped fort as the base for the Statue of Liberty. A very scarce US Army officer's letter from Fort Wood, NY, 1835- Major Joseph Plympton writes to Washington National Intelligencer editors Gales & Seaton, re his subscription to their newspaper. 1p 8 x 11 ink, als, vg. Major Plympton was a noted Florida Wars commander, led the US Forces at the Battle of Dunn's Lake, Florida, 1842. a very scarce item!
Manufacturer: NA  

LOST AT SEA One of the famous American maritime shipwrecks of the 19th century was the loss of the The US Navy ship. USS Albany, a 20 gun sloop, last heard of Sept 28, 1854, which foundered at sea. Sailmaker James Frazier was lost with all 210 men aboard US Navy Yard pay check, Brooklyn, NY, issued Feb 1, 1850, to frazier, and signed on front by him. A scarce martitme signature.
Manufacturer: NA  

JOSIAH BARTLETT SPINNING WHEEL SPINDLE A neat relic of a Signer of the Declaration of Independence- 9" wrought iron spindle which held the wool thread spun on colonial spinning wheel. Interesting design, came from Signer of Decl of Independence Josiah Bartlett Museum, The wheel was an important symbol of the American Revolution, as patriots strove to freee themselves of English import cloth. Comes w copy of an auction sale tag & Bartlett Musuem sale history.
Manufacturer: NA  

FORT TRUMBULL CONNECTICUT US Army Pay Voucher for an officer at Fort Trumbull, Connecticut, issued May 1819, lists pay for Lt Henry Saunders, US Artillery, & his servant. 11 x 16" ptd/ink. 1p vg. The Fort Trumbull later became the first home of the US Coast Guard Academy. Scarce.
Manufacturer: NA  

REVOLUTIONARY WAR WOOD CANTEEN A nice wood keg canteen with oak staves, turned wood ends, and wrought iron bands . The center bends have holes for the iron loops that held the sling, one loop remains. The hardwood stopper that remains may be original, The canteen shows usual wear, iron bands are dark but sound, and a 1/4" approx hole w 2nd hardwood "cork" was added about 1" from the spout. Approx 8 x 7". Vg, w age worm holes. As shown in Neuman "Collector's Encyclopedia of the American Revolution".
Circa: NA
Manufacturer: NA  

ORIGINAL CRIMEAN WAR COLOR LITHOGRAPH A great framed Crimean War color lithograph, showing Allied soldiers digging in, snowbound trenches overlooking Sebastobol, the Crimea, w caption "Sebastopol From the 26 Gun Battery on the Extreme Right of French Attack", w imprints by Goupil, Paris, publ March 20, 1855 by Paul & Dominic Colnaghi & Co, 13 & 14 Pall Mall East,… Publishers to Her Majesty", litho by Day & Son. Vg & handsome colors, in gilt wood frame, approx 24 x 17". Vg.
Circa: 1855
Manufacturer: Paul & Dominic Colnaghi & Co  

REVOLUTIONARY WAR MILITARY CANTEEN A very early military style wood keg canteen with strap iron bands 7 cross-straps , one with iron ring, for shoulder sling. The oak body is approx 11" tall by 9" x 7", w 2 spout holes in top end. The wood has damage at one rim, and is missing the strap iron end bands. The staves and ends are all hand carved.
Circa: NA
Manufacturer: NA  

1812 LETTER RE AARON BURR TREASON An historic letter, from Lt Justus Post, US Army, Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, March 17, 1812, , to a fellow officer, re fort news, gossip, & Army news, and Lt Post expresses the opinion that Col Burr should go to Mexico. Justus Post Justus Post became a noted Missouri pioneer. 3pp ink. Vg. (Aaron Burr had just returned to America, after a 4 year exodus following his acquittal on treason charges, having been accused of trying to organize his own nation in the Southwest).
Circa: 1812
Manufacturer: NA  

THE NEW ENGLAND PRIMER The most widely used school book of early America , The New England Primer, first ptd 1690s, was re-issued into the mid 1800s; often the only school book available on the early Frontier! The widely issued 1843 edition was made from the 1777 edition, and features woodcut of American Patriot John Hancock"President of the American Congress", w 1844 copyright by Ira Webster, Hartford, Connecticut.This tiny 50 plus pp children's pocket edition incl the ABC's, each w illus of sinners, demons, hellfire, and is the first printing of the child's prayer "Now I lay Me Down to Sleep". A rare primer, w blue paper covered wood board covers. Covers wornt binding fair. Scarce.
Circa: 1843
Manufacturer: Ira Webster, Hartford, Connecticut  

MAINE ENTERS THE UNION 1820 A fascinating look at America in 1820. an original "Acts of the 16th Congress", 1st Session, 1820, ptd Davis & Force, Washington, w 147 pp of Acts passed incl Admission of the State of Maine to the Union everything from Florida , Michigan, Arkansas Territory, Indiana, Illinois, Kickapoo, Chippewa Tribes, w list of signers, US Army & Navy Appropriations, Forts, Military Grants for Revolutionary War veterans,President James Madison Proclamations, frontier roads, canals, slave trade, light houses, etc. Paper covers absent. Complete, binding vg, waterstains, vg overall avg wear.
Circa: 1820
Manufacturer: ptd Davis & Force, Washington  

BENNINGTON VERMONT CENTENNIEL an historic Vermont newspaper published for the Centenniel of the Battle of Bennington, Vermont. August 16, 1877 issue of the Vermont Centenniel newspaper, publ by Childs Brothers, w front page illus of the battle ground of Bennington, map of Bennington Heights showing the battle lines, illus of the Old Mill where the Battle ended, Colonel John Stark, program for the parade , & illus of the Proposed Bennington Battle Monument. 4pp vg.
Manufacturer: Childs Brothers  

AMERICAN GENERAL JOHN WALBACH 1811 LETTER John De Barth Walbach, a German cavalryman came to America in the 1790s, and won distinction in organizing the new US Army, serving as General Alexander Hamilton's aide; the "Walbach Towers" curious stone forts built along the Atlantic Coast, notably include one near Portsmouth New Hampshire's Fort Constitution, were built by him. A rare letter from Walbach, at Portsmouth, Feb 7, 1811, re shipment of guns from Portsmouth to Charleston, SC, the delay is due to severest storm in years, but he is attempting to clear the garrison, despite the incredible snow drifts, and apologizes for the scribble as his hands are "stiff with cold". Walbach became the US Army's oldest General at age 93. 1p 8 x 11" ink.
Circa: 1811
Manufacturer: NA  

WAR OF 1812 ERA MASSACHUSETTS SEACOAST FORT Circa War of 1812 US Army Annual Clothing Return, for long list of uniform items issued at Fort Independence, Fort Pickering, Fort Sewell & Springfield". For Captain Nehemiah Freeman's Company of Artillerists, lists everything from epaulets & cockades to stocks and gaithers. 6 x 7", ink, sgd by Capt Nathan Freeman, US Artillery. These forts were at Salem, Mass, Marblehead, & Boston's Inner Harbor; Freeman was commander at Fort Independence, Boston. Undated. VG
Manufacturer: NA  

COLONIAL AMERICAN PAGEANT a great outdoor photo of a 19th century Colonial Pageant, perhaps Jamestown Settlement, Virginia, or New England, perhaps Salem or Plymouth, Massachusetts Thanksgiving? A crowd of colonists w broad hats, shoe buckles, ladies w bonnets, soldiers w muskets, 16th century steel helmets & breastplates, and even a few live sheep l Circa 1890s, . 9 x 11" photo Mat chipped, but a really neat image! vg.
Manufacturer: Unknown