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(CHASING MEXICAN WOMEN AT THE BORDER) $250.00
60078-21
Good content A.L.S. by Texas soldier William Beggs, an enlisted man, 3pp., folio, Camp G. W. F. Wood, Texas, Oct. 18, 1857 to his friend J.A. Richards at Camp Duncan, Texas. The army established Camp Wood by the Nueces River in Texas at the site of an abandoned San Lorenzo mission in order to take the fight closer to the home of marauding Indians. Beggs tells Richards he is stationed "... in the wilderness of the living..." and spends the majority of his letter discussing his personal and professional pursuits. In part: "...glad to hear that your health was improving, and I hope in the course of a few weeks you will be able to 'duty' around... and let the Mexican ladies go to H-ll; for my own part, I think I have got quite enough of such cattle; but still, you are aware that I always had a liking for the 'beauties' while I was in Eagle Pass, and I hoped they learned me a 'lesson' which I will not soon forget. But let the Mexican women go to the Devil... I understand, from good authority, that we are also going to get twenty horses for the use of this Post... and I 'calculate' or 'reckon' we will have great times, charging through the bushes after the 'Injuns'...". Tears at top corners not affecting text or signatures, blank bottom of second page gone, else very good.

(THE FRENCH MOVE INTO MEXICO PRECEDING MAXIMILIAN) $175.00
60078-7
War-date A.L.S. "L. Bellinger", 2pp. 4to, Monterrey, Mexico, Sep. 5, 1865, to his father in Eagle Pass, Texas. Bellinger, an American expatriate living in Mexico as an entrepreneur, informs his father of the business situation in Monterrey, noting that everything from hotels to commodities like corn meal are failing in price. Bellinger's note includes a crucial observation about a group of Frenchmen planning to purchase a local hotel. In part: "...Mr. P is trying to close the hotel... He as many others feel confident that that a war with the U.S. is inevitable and near at hand... Some French were in the house the other day and spoke as if they intend to take it for a hospital...the most of the Americans have left". Bellinger here is referring to France's intervention in Mexico as part of the "Maximilian Affair". When Benito Juarez stopped paying interest to foreign countries in 1861, France invaded with Great Britain and Spain. France, partly to take advantage of Mexico's abundant mines, attempted to create a proxy monarchy with the Emperor of Austria's brother, Maximilian, on the throne. France was emboldened to do so because the United States was too embroiled in its Civil War to utilize the Monroe Doctrine and intercede. However, that situation changed in 1865 when the Civil War ended; Gen. Philip Sheridan was ordered to secretly drop arms along the Rio Grande for Mexican units, and to begin patrolling the Texas border. Napoleon III fled and Juarez executed Maximilian. Minor folds with a small tear and holes at top right, age toned, else fine.

WORLD WAR I ARCHIVE OF CAPT. CHARLES A. WILLIAMS $400.00
50960-1
A fine war-date letter archive of Capt. Charles A. Williams, Ordnance Department who served in Europe from December 1917 through the summer of 1919, mainly in France. Williams entered the service as a Lieutenant due for the Intermediate Ordnance Depot #4 located at Camp Foecy in the city of Tours (one of roughly 25,000 American troops), and left the service with captain's bars. The lot consists of 36 letters written between December 15, 1917 and July 7, 1919, 134 pp., most accompanied with an envelope canceled by the Army Postal Service. The correspondence is entirely written to Williams' mother, and details the adventures of a barrel-chested Brooklynite seeing Europe for the first time from the relative safety of the rear, and provides interesting insights both into Williams and a United States at war. Williams' tour was mainly one of safe minutiae, in part: "[December 15, 1917] ...I sleep on my cot for which I had no trouble obtaining a nice mattress and pillow on memorandum...am in a small wooden hut...", but at least part of Williams clearly itched for battle: "[February 13, 1918]...my hopes are high and it looks as though the way might be opening up for me to get where I can feel that I am taking a little personal thrust at the enemy...". Williams never saw the enemy, but did have several scrapes with danger, including when lightning struck his arms depot and started a gasoline fire, in part: "[July 18, 1918]...by the time I covered that short distance the men were all at the spot with their firefighting apparatus, but the gasoline was shooting flames and the place was a roaring furnace...". The highlight of Williams' tour of duty was his selection to help run the United States' Army of Occupation, headquartered in Antwerp: "[May 6, 1919]... this Antwerp job is the best thing that has happened to me yet in the Army...". Perhaps most interesting historically is Williams' impression of African American enlisted troops stationed at the depot, in part: "[March 31, 1917]...It certainly seems as though the South must have sent all her sons over here... There is a contingent of negroes here... They are a labor company and handle heavy artillery ammunition, and you should see how gingerly the handle the big ones...". The lot includes several relics, including Williams' circular dog tag, captain's bar, and collar decorations, as well as a 22" x 15" flag (red background with white middle square adorned with central blue star), the official menu for "Christmas Day 1918" at the Officers' Mess, several 3" x 5" b/w photographs of damaged buildings in Tours, and a 1918 YMCA 3 ?" x 4 ?" Christmas Card, with a printed inscription: "A thousand leagues separate us, but do not divide our Christmas Day", boldly signed "Charlie". Usual toning and folds, else overall very good to fine condition .

MACARTHUR, DOUGLAS $550.00
48761-1
(1880 - 1964) American general and Allied Supreme Commander in the Pacific in World War II, accepted the surrender of Japan and was later dismissed by Truman for advocating an invasion of China.Fine association I.S.P., 11" x 14" b/w, a chest, up portrait in uniform inscribed: "To Mrs. Varney With best wishes Douglas MacArthur". In (toned) presentation folder, very good. Florence Varney was MacArthur's personal secretary at Remington Rand from the time he joined the firm following his sacking by Truman until her retirement in 1961. With a copy of his letter of thanks to her following her retirement.

(MEXICAN WAR COMMISSION REQUEST) $200.00
60078-32
Fine content A.L.S., "J. L. Beck", 1p., 4to, Richmond, Sep. 3, 1847, a letter from a Kentucky resident to President James K. Polk on behalf of one Andrew Burnam. In part: "...I would beg for your favorable consideration... asking the appointment of Dr. Andrew Burnam as Surgeon to one of the Regiments of Volunteers now being raised in this state... I believe that those who are now volunteering to go to Mexico, would prefer him to any other physician in this District... Having just returned from the Army in Mexico, I know something of the arduous duties a Surgeon has to perform there, and speak advisedly when I say that Dr. B. is well qualified to perform those duties...". Lot includes a transmittal cover addressed to Polk bears a "FREE" stamp and stamp cancel at Richmond. The letter has minor folds and blue ink stain slightly affecting text, else very good.

COMMODORE MATTHEW C. PERRY'S BRASS TELESCOPE $4,000.00
60114-1
A compelling relic of the naval service of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, his 34 1/2" (extended) brass telescope, very likely used by him on his historic voyages to Japan in 1853 and 1854. The telescope still bears its original brown leather wrapping hand-stitched with yellow thread, with lens cap and a small drop-down cover for the eyepiece. No maker's marks are apparent, though the telescope appears to be of period construction and is in good working condition. This historic relic had descended directly down through Perry's family until offered at a Baltimore auction earlier this year. The telescope is accompanied by a letter of provenance from a Baltimore attorney who consigned the cane (and other items) to that auction. The attorney is the son of the second wife of Oliver Hazard Perry, a direct descendant of the commodore. The letter reads, in part: "...Mr. Perry was born on March 5, 1915 in Rhode Island and was a direct descendant of Oliver Hazard Perry of the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie...[he] died in Pompano Beach, Florida in 1986. Mr. Perry left these items to my mother, Louise Colie Perry, to whom he was married at the time of his death...She was first married to my father...That marriage ended in divorce. Mr. Perry and my mother were married on June 14, 1975 in Baltimore, Maryland...Mr. Perry left these items to my mother who eventually gave the items to me. Mr. Perry said that all these items came down through generations of his family and that all the items were at one time owned by either the Oliver Hazard Perry of Lake Erie fame or that man's brother, Matthew Perry...". We have also undertaken efforts to confirm the provenance of this item, and are convinced of the veracity of the letters of provenance. Perry was directly descended five generations from Commodore Perry, borne out by census and genealogical data, and the Baltimore City Clerk's Office has confirmed that Louise Woods and Oliver Perry were indeed married June 14, 1975.

(SAC AND FOX INDIANS) $200.00
60078-45
A.D.S. "John Beach", 1p. legal folio, Iowa Territory, Sep. 26, 1842, an invoice for repair of the Sac and Fox Agency's Council House, countersigned by JOHN CHAMBERS. In part: "...For materials required in repairing the Council House at the Sac & Fox Agency for us of the Commissioner in negotiating the treaty of 1842...". John Beach, an Army officer during the Black Hawk War, held the last position as US Indian Agent to the Sac and Fox tribes of Iowa, while John Chambers served as governor of what was then the Iowa Territory. The Sac and Fox Agency endeavored to bring modern farming practices to the Indians, and introduced "mission schools" that enforced Christianity on the tribes and forbade their native tongues. On October 11, 1842, Beach, Chambers, and the agency held a Council Meeting in the repaired meeting house and enacted a treaty gaining most of Iowa. In part: "...The confederated tribes of Sacs and Foxes cede to the United States, forever, all the lands west of the Mississippi river, to which they have any claim or title, or in which they have any interest whatever...". Minor folds and foxing, else fine.

1830 ABSTRACT OF INFANTRY TACTICS $120.00
16643-1
Lot of two leather-bound editions of Abstract of Infantry Tactics; Including Exercises and Maneuvers, published by Congressional order by Hilliard, Gray, Little and Wilkins, Boston, 1830. The books are identical, each with 133 pages with illustrations concerning the manual of arms, marching, etc. for groups from single soldiers to entire battalions. There is a wealth of information contained within these scarce volumes! One edition shows wear to covers with contents slightly foxed and thumbed, generally very good, the second copy lacking the first twelve pages but essentially in the same condition. Two pieces.

(WILSON, WOODROW) $90.00
16894-1
A pair of rare newspapers printed onboard the U.S.S. GEORGE WASHINGTON as it carried a triumphant Woodrow Wilson from France to the United States following the conclusion of the Peace Conference at Versailles. The papers, titled "The Hatchet", are dated June 30 and July 2, 1919, and are each 2pp. large octavo. The earlier paper is nearly entirely devoted to Wilson's mission, including stories on the signing of the peace treaty, his arrival onboard with the signed documents, a message signed in type by Wilson to the officers, crew and returning doughboys onboard, with an editorial on the treaty. The second paper has general shipboard news with comments from returning soldiers. Both of these rare newspapers are in very good condition.

ALBERT KESSELRING $150.00
52095-1
A.L.S. on his personal letterhead, 2pp., 8vo, Bad Wiessee Sud, Feb. 21, 1958, in German to a Comrade Buchwald regarding internal matters of the neo-Nazi Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten (Steel Helmet, League of Frontline Soldiers) at Lubeck. In part: "...The honors at Lubeck oppressed me much more than perhaps you might imagine. I increasingly have the impression that Z.F. Tag [?] was not the right man. What I firmly believe is that... he did not have much interest in Lubeck, and that he had an exaggerated respect for you as a Freemason...". Kesselring refers to Buchwald's dissatisfaction with the Stahlhelm's handling of some personnel issues, the Stahlhelm being an organization Kesselring was elected to head while still in prison for war crimes. Kesselring also mentions his health. Moderate middle fold with slight tears at both ends, else fine .

BATTLE OF BRITAIN CRASHED ME-109 COMPRESSOR RELIC $200.00
60097-2
A neat relic from the Battle of Britain, a deformed compressor fitting from an crashed Me-109 flown by Luftwaffe ace Leutnant Erick Bodendieck of 4./JG 53. On Sep. 18, 1940 Bodendieck found himself engaged in a dogfight with British ace R. W. Exspring of 66 Sq., jumped as Exspring was involved in a fighter sweep over Kent. The German plane crashed at Guilton Ash, near Sandwich at 5:05 PM after Bodendieck bailed out severely wounded, later to be captured. From the personal collection of World War II and Civil War historian Michael Miner. Miner's thirty-year collection was built through an extensive system of contacts he developed with artifact hunters and diggers in Europe and the Far East, and he maintained careful records of the items he amassed.

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