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Our Next Historic Auction is September 2010
(MEXICAN ARMY SOLDIER IS INDUCTED BY A NOTORIOUS BANDIT!) $200.00
60078-15
Partly printed document, 1p., folio, Monterrey, Sep.1, 1834, a contract binding Jesus Rodriguez Cantu into the First Cavalry Company of Nuevo Leon. The document bears a holographic description and two signatures from GREGORIO PEREZ and includes a Filiacion del Soldado, a brief synopsis of the soldier's parentage; his father, Antonio Rodriguez, was a local city official. Countersigned by AGAPITO TREVINO (1829-1854) as a witness. Trevino, signing as a youth and son of a wealthy landowner, would grow up to become the infamous El Caballo Blanco (The White Horse), a feared robber who galloped through the Mexican hills scouring towns for victims. Trevino was known for never killing his victims, instead making them dance to the sound of his harmonica at gunpoint after he robbed them. Authorities captured Trevino, but he escaped prison in 1853, an act which so infuriated the government they sentenced the bandit to death. Police captured Trevino in 1854 and shot him dead in the Plaza Hidalgo. Trevino died leaving rumors that his horde is buried in Cerro de la Silla. Fine.
JAMES CALHOUN $1,750.00
50926-1
(1845 - 1876) American military officer, brother-in-law to George A. Custer and First Lieut. of Co. L, 7th Cavalry, killed in action on the Little Big Horn. A fine association and quite rare D.S. "James Calhoun" with rank in another hand, as First Lieutenant of the 7th Cavalry and Post Adjutant, 1p. oblong 8vo., Fort Lincoln, Dakota Territory, Aug. 24, 1875 (less than a year before his death at the Little Big Horn), to Lt. Chance at Bismarck. Calhoun signs a true copy of a letter sent by Bvt. Major Gen. George A. Custer to Chance: "...The order relieving you by Lt. Humbert is revoked. Show this to Lt. Humbert will rejoin his company. (Signed) G. A. Custer Brevet Major General Command'g Post". Trimmed at bottom, else fine condition, with related photos (copies). Apparently, Chance got a second chance - we found no record of his dying at the Little Big Horn.
BOSTON CUSTER $4,750.00
50688-1
(1848 - 1876) Younger brother of George and Thomas Custer and brother-in-law of First Lt. James Calhoun, Boston served as a guide to George and was killed along with his two brothers at the Little Big Horn. Very rare fine content and association A.L.S. "Bos", 3pp. 8vo., Monroe, Mich., Jan. 15, 1868 to his brother, Gen. George A. Custer at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In part: "...We are all well except Mother...She has not gone down to Newis' [?] yet, but wants to soon, and when she does it will be very lonesome...we have one month's vacation on account that there is not money to pay the teachers...I am very much obliged for that money you sent me, and it came just in the right time. Auti, I am going to tell you something...I suppose Mag had told you, I am going to try to live a Christian life, God being my helper...if I have done anything to hurt your feelings or wronged you in any way, I ask pardon for all...I intend to go to that naval school...I will be twenty the last day of next Oct...I want you to answer soon and write me a long letter...". Fine condition, sold with holograph transmittal envelope to George Custer, thus signing his last name a second time.
MEXICAN WAR SURGEON'S LETTER $180.00
60078-8
War-date A.L.S. from surgeon William A. Hammond, patriarch of the famous family of the same name, 2pp., 4to, New Orleans Barracks, Jan. 17, 1847, to his daughter, Ann Hall. Hammond includes some rumors about the ongoing war with Mexico, in part: "...The Mexicans may intend fighting from the breastworks at St. Louis Potosi [San Luis Potosí] until driven from them which they will certainly be before the middle of March heat unless peace is made which I think is doubtful...some excitement about Santa Anna moving to cut off Worth at Santillo...[we may make] movements on Vera Cruz and make it and Tampico the base of operations...". Hammond, a surgeon and army major, died in Benicia in 1851, and left behind successful progeny, including William Hammond, Jr., army Surgeon General during the Civil War, George Hammond, a Navy surgeon who served with Comm. David Farragut in the Civil War, and Richard Pindell Hammond, an artillery major who served at the Battle of Chapultepec, was personal friends with Robert E. Lee, and was father of famous industrialist and engineer John Hays Hammond. Hammond makes several references to his sons, in part: "...I would go at once to Mexico and perform my tour but the anxiety about William, George & [illegible] has me decided to remain for the present...I hear from Richard occasionally thru the paper he is well and stands very highly as a military man with everyone...". Minor folds and slight soiling at folds with a small hole from the wax seal, else very good.
MEXICAN WAR OFFICER'S LETTER HOME $250.00
60078-40
War-date A.L.S., 3pp., 4to., Alvarado, May 11, 1848, from Army officer D.S. Edwards to his wife in "Sing-Sing" [Ossining], NY, updating her about his deployment. In part: "...Keep out of debt as much as you can. In order to do that you will have to keep an economical table and travel very little...We talk of having peace by the 15th instant in which case I may soon be at home, and go straight to work...". Edwards also makes notes about his observations of Mexico, in part: "...The Indians are very numerous in the interior & threaten to drive all but their own race out of the country as they are now attempting to do at Yucatan...". Minor folds, else fine. The letter's verso contains a fine Mexican War cancellation: "VERA CRUZ MEXICO MAY 11" with a "10" also stamped thereon.
MEXICO DEFENDS ITSELF FROM "SAVAGE INDIANS" $120.00
60078-56
A.L.S. "Jose Ygnacio de Saldana", 2pp, 8vo, Victoria, June 25, 1842. De Saldana writes in Spanish about the government approval he obtained for purchasing twenty eight pesos and six reales' worth of gunpowder and lead for defending the region against the "savage indians". File holes along left margin and chip at top left, otherwise very good.
SANTA ANNA RESTORES THE ORDER OF GUADALUPE $150.00
60078-58
Rare pamphlet issued by the Mexican government under Santa Anna, "Decreto para la Organizacion de la Nacional Y Distinguida Orden Mexicana de Guadalupe," 11 pp. 8vo., printed in Mexico by J.M. Lara, 1853 [in Spanish], with decrees by Santa Anna and listings of all member officers. Following the death of Agustín I, the Order fell out of use and remained inactive for thirty years until Santa Anna convinced Pope Pius IX to recognize it in 1854. It quickly fell in disuse again following the successful Ayutla Revolution and the ousting of Santa Anna from government, making this pamphlet obsolete by the time it was printed and disseminated. Light age toning to wrappers, else fine. The Order of Guadalupe was a royal order limited to less than one thousand recipients. It remains entirely banned by the Mexican Constitution.
U-2505 SNORKEL THERMOMETER $275.00
60086-7
Fine relic from a German U-Boat 2505, the thermometer attached to the main pipe of the submarine snorkel's air intake. The thermometer is stamped with the date, "14 12 44" in blue ink on the back, with a pencil-written note, "Schnorkel Luftrohr oben". The housing is black bakelite and the scale itself is aluminum, showing a unique measurement system in celsius. The U-2505 was laid down on May 23, 1944 and commissioned on November 7, 1944. It is a Type XXI submarine, the first German sub designed to operate completely submerged. The U-2505 type never saw combat and were all buried in the Elbe II bunker in Hamburg, where this thermometer was recovered. Had such U-boats been made in higher quantity and been able to enter the war, they would in all likelihood have dramatically affected naval fighting and possibly the war entirely. Fine.
BLACK SPANISH-AMERICAN SOLDIER PORTRAIT BY BLACK PHOTOGRAPHER $200.00
60876-1
A fine cabinet card with decorative embossed mat bearing an extremely rare combination of attributes, in that it pictures and is signed by Corporal U. H. NORRIS, Co. A. 9th Ohio Vols., an all-black unit, and was taken by Arthur Macbeth, a black photographer in Charleston, S.C.. On verso is the photographer's backstamp which, interestingly, bears an image of himself at center of the vignette, leaving no doubt as to his race. Norris signs on verso: "Compliments of Corpl. U. H. Norris Co. 'A' 9th O.V.L. Camp Maion, D.C. London, Ohio". The 9th Ohio was the only black unit from Ohio during the Spanish-American War. Photograph in very good condition; mat bears some wear and a significant fold at bottom right corner, an easy repair.
BLACK SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR SOLDIER PHOTO $100.00
60876-2
A fine cabinet card showing a Black soldier from the 9th Ohio Vols., an all-black unity, in a head and shoulders pose, ca. Spanish-American war. Backstamp by M. M. Fox of Springfield, OH. The 9th Ohio was the only black unit from Ohio during the Spanish-American War. Slight scuff to mat at bottom, else very good condition.
IDENTIFIED BLACK SPANISH-AMERICAN SOLIDER $200.00
60876-3
A fine image showing a Black soldier in the 9th Ohio Vols., the only all-black unit from Ohio, in front of a tent at Camp Marion, S. C. The soldier is identified as Capt. Robert R. Rudd, possibly in his hand, and dated Dec. 25, 1898. No backstamp. Photo detached a bit from its mount, light mounting trace to top margin, else very good. The 9th Ohio was the only back unit serving in the Spanish-American war.
IDENTIFIED BLACK SPANISH-AMERICAN SOLDIER $200.00
60876-4
A fine cabinet photograph showing John W. Greene of Co. A. in the 9th Ohio Vols., the only all-black unit from Ohio and the only black unit to fight in the Spanish-American war. Greene is shown full-standing in uniform. Backstamp by Harper & Co., Washington, D.C., and Greene identified - possibly in his hand - on verso. A bit of fading at left margin, light wear as expected and overall very good.
BLACK SPANISH-AMERICAN SOLDIER PHOTO $100.00
60876-5
A fine photograph showing a young soldier from the 9th Ohio Vols., the only all-black unit from Ohio, and also the only black unit serving in the Spanish-American War. The photograph is 3 7/8" x 5 1/4" and was likely detached from a cabinet style mount. It shows the soldier in full-length standing by his flag, with rifle and canteen at the ready. Light fading and a bit of wear to edges, otherwise very good condition.
BLACK SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR SOLDIERS AT CAMP $150.00
60876-6
A fine cabinet card showing two black soldiers in camp during the Spanish-American War. The soldiers were part of the 9th Ohio Vols., the only all-black unit from Ohio who one who also fought during the war, and this photo comes from a 9th Ohio archive. The image shows an officer at his writing desk, with a private standing at attention to the left. No backstamp. Light fading, a bit of light wear, overall good.
BLACK SPANISH-AMERICAN SOLDIERS AT CAMP $200.00
60876-7
A fine image showing three black Spanish-American War officers at rest in camp. The officers were part of the all-black 9th Ohio Vols. and comes from an archive of the unit. The 9th was the only all-black unit from Ohio, and also the only black unit to fight in the War. The image measures 6 1/2" x 5 1/2" (with decorative mat), backstamp by L. L. Barton, Washington, D.C. Bottom left corner of mat chipped, light wear but overall very good condition.
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