Search Results: Authors starting with H from Montgomery Rare Books

1959. Modest collection of autographs by six U. S. First Ladies. Three Firsts, Mary Lord Harrison, Edith Roosevelt and Grace Coolidge are free frank signatures on envelopes and Mamie Eisenhower and Bess V. Truman are on First Day Issues of their respective Presidential husbands stamp and Lady Bird Johnson is on a placard from her Stonewall, Texas LBJ Ranch. All are in fine condition, with the legible postmarks from various locations and dates. <br /> <br /> Franking has a long history in the U. S. Former Presidents have routinely been granted the franking privilege by statute. Since 1800, Congress has regularly, granted the franking privilege to widows of former Presidents. From 1789 until 1973, the privilege was granted through individual pieces of legislation. The first such grant was to Martha Washington in 1800. In 1973, Congress enacted general legislation to provide the franking privilege to all future surviving spouses of Presidents. Unlike Members of Congress and other federal… Read More

Washington DC, 1878. 9.75" x 7.5", 3 pp., on lined stationary, impeccable, crisp, readable penmanship. Very fine letter in which Henry writes to Joseph Patterson to thank him for setting up a Smithsonian Institution testimonial to himself. Henry is effusive in his humility and generous in his gratitude. Better than average content from a prson whos signature is seldom encountered. This may have been one of the last letters he ever signed; he mentions an illness in the firs line and he died a few months later on May 13, 1878.<br /> <br /> The first Smithsonian Secretary, Joseph Henry, served from 1846 to 1878. A professor at the College of New Jersey, he was a physicist who conducted pioneering research in electromagnetism and helped set the Smithsonian on its course. Too poor to pay tuition, Henry did not attend the Albany Academy until the late age of 21 despite being admitted to the school earlier. When a position opened up in 1826, Henry accepted a job as the school's… Read More

Cambridge, MA, 1878. Fine. 6" x 4", 2 pp., on folded stationary, previous auction seller wrote "auto" on rear, note is signed "T. W." the poems is signed in full. Addressee is Mrs. Guiney, likely Louise Imogen Guiney. Content: " I send the German book with Schnetzler's (likely German poet August Schnetzler) little poem by express."<br /> <br /> Thomas Wentworth Higginson (Dec 1823 - May 1911) was one of the most distinguished and multi-talented Unitarians of the nineteenth-century, yet few people today are aware of his prominence or the extent of his interests and achievements. Minister, author, activist, lecturer, soldier, naturalist, physical fitness enthusiast. In November 1862 he received an offer to command the first black regiment of the Civil War, the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, which he readily accepted. While in camp, Colonel Higginson socialized with his men and took note of the songs they sang, resulting in the first account in… Read More

New York, 1868. Fine. 8" x 5", 3 pp, usual mail folds, on Mayor's Office Letterhead with NYC crest, some ink feathering to signature.<br /> <br /> John Thompson Hoffman (January 10, 1828 - March 24, 1888) was the 23rd Governor of New York (1869-72). He was also Recorder of New York City (1861-65) and the 78th Mayor of New York City (1866-68). Connections to the Tweed Ring ruined his political career, in spite of the absence of evidence to show personal involvement in corrupt activities. He is to date the last New York City mayor elected Governor of New York. The two volume set refered to in this letter is likely: "Treatise upon the estate and rights of the corporation of the city of New York, as proprietors. New York, E. Jones, 1862" Dear Sir: On the 20th instant I sent you by Espress the two (2)Vol. Hoffman Treatise which you asked for. I enclose the Express receipt. J W Beach informs me you have not rec'd them. I hope they are not lost as I cannot replace them.

Boston, MA, 1894. Fine. 5" x 3", off-white postal. one-cent note card, canceled at Back Bay, Boston. In this note she politely apologies for being unavailable for a previously scheduled appointment.<br /> <br /> Julia Ward Howe (1819 - 1910) is perhaps best remembered as the the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which became the stirring hero anthem during the Civil War, as well as wrote the original 1870 pacifist Mother's Day Proclamation. Her real life's work revolved around the tireless promotion of Woman's Suffrage and Human Rights. At the time of this writing, Howe served as president for the second time of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. She was also president of the New England Woman Suffrage Association, which she served until her death in 1910. Additionally, From 1893-98 she directed the General Federation of Women's Clubs, and headed the Massachusetts Federation of Women's Clubs. "My Dear Miss Ellis, I write to say that… Read More