A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 1
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 2
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 3
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 4
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 5
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 6
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 7
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 8
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 9
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 10
A collection of Presidential autographs - photo 11

A collection of Presidential autographs

Lot 218
02.02.2024 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 100
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1129838
Lot 218 | A collection of Presidential autographs
Estimate value
$ 30 000 – 50 000
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A collection of autographs, primarily consisting of clipped signatures, together with several letters and documents from the first 44 Presidents of the United States.

The majority of the collection is housed in a set of custom leather binders bearing a facsimile of the Presidential seal [Including:] WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799) Signature ("Go: Washington"), n.p., n.d. * ADAMS, John (1735-1826) Signature ("John Adams") likely as President on vellum, [Philadelphia or Washington, c. 1797-1801] * JEFFERSON, Thomas (1743-1826) Signature ("Th: Jefferson") as Secretary of State, [Washington, c. 1789-1793 (slight ink blur). * MADISON, James (1751-1836) Franking signature ("James Madison") on a portion of a transmittal leaf addressed to Syvaus Bourne and stamped "FREE" in red ink at lower right. * MONROE, James (1758-1831). Signature ("Jas Monroe") as Secretary of State on vellum, [Washington, c. 1808-1817]. * ADAMS, John Quincy (1767-1848). Signature ("J. Q. Adams") as Secretary of State, [Washington, c. 1817-1825]. Written below "Dept of State". * JACKSON, Andrew (1767-1845) Endorsement signed ("Andrew Jackson") as President, [Washington,] 3 September 1835. Ordering "let them be disposed of as recommended by Col Talcott…". * VAN BUREN, Martin (1782-1862) Signature, ("M. Van Buren"), n.p., n.d. * HARRISON, William Henry (1773-1841) Signature ("W. H. Harrison") dated in his hand, "Cincinnati, 25th Stepr. 1832". * TYLER, John (1790-1862). Signature ("J. Tyler"), n.p., n.d. * POLK, James (1795-1849) Franking signature ("Free J, K Polk C"), n.p., n.d. * TAYLOR, Zachary (1784-1850). Signature ("Z. Taylor"), n.p., n.d. * FILLMORE, Millard (1800-1874). Signature ("Millard Fillmore"), n.p., n.d. * PIERCE, Franklin (1804-1869). Signature removed from a letter ("Very respectfully Yr. friend & Servt. Franklin Pierce." * BUCHANAN, James (1791-1868). Signature ("James Buchanan") on vellum, n.p., n.d. (possibly as Secretary of State (1845-1849) or as President (1857-1861)). * LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1965). Letter signed ("A. Lincoln") as President-elect to Sam. W. Kay, Springfield, 9 November 1860. Lincoln sends his autograph to an admirer (mild toning from adhesive on verso). Body of letter in the hand of John G. NICHOLAY (1832-1901).* JOHNSON, Andrew (1808-1875). Signature ("Andrew Johnson"), n.p., n.d. * GRANT, Ulysses S. (1822-1885) Signature ("U.S. Grant") n.p., n.d. (slightly faded). * HAYES, Rutherford B. (1822-1893). Signature ("Rutherford B. Hayes"), n.p., n.d. * GARFIELD, James (1831-1881). Signature ("J.A. Garfield") n.p., n.d. * ARTHUR, Chester A. (1829-1886) Signature ("Chester A. Arthur"), n.p., n.d. Written on an engraving of the White House * CLEVELAND, Grover (1837-1908). Signature ("Grover Cleveland") n.p., 7 December 1889.* HARRISON, Benjamin (1833-1901). Signature ("Benj. Harrison"), n.p., n.d. * McKINLEY, William (1843-1901). Signature ("Wm. McKinley Jr."), Canton, n.d. With closing sentiment above. * ROOSEVELT, Theodore (1858-1919). Signature ("Theodore Roosevelt") as President, n.p., n.d. On a portion of White House stationery. * TAFT, William H. (1857-1930). Signature ("Wm. H. Taft"), n.p., n.d. * WILSON, Woodrow (1856-1924) Signature ("Woodrow Wilson") Sea Girt, N.J., 12 August 1912. * HARDING, Warren G. (1865-1923). Signature ("Warren Harding") n.p., n.d. * COOLIDGE, Calvin (1872-1933). Signature ("Calvin Coolidge"), n.p., n.d. * HOOVER, Herbert (1874-1964). Signature ("Herbert Hoover"), n.p., n.d.* HOOVER, Herbert. Typed letter signed ("Herbert Hoover") to "My dear Mr. Franklin," New York, 18 November 1952. Declining an invitation to participate in the "Freedom Foundation program." * ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. (1882-1945) Signature ("Franklin D Roosevelt"), n.p., n.d. * TRUMAN, Harry S. (1884-1972). Signature ("Harry Truman"), n.p., 11 August 1959. Adding "here is your autograph." * EISENHOWER, Dwight (1890-1969). Typed Letter signed ("Dwight D. Eisenhower") to Ray Perkins, n.p., 30 August 1948. Complying with an autograph request, and writing that he is "looking forward to seeing you at the luncheon…" * KENNEDY, John F. (1917-1963). Typed letter signed ("John Kennedy") as Senator and Chairman of the Committee on Government Operations to Dr. John R. Steelman, Washington, 27 January 1956. Kennedy thanks Steelman for his appearnce "at the recent hearings on proposals to relive the President of the United States of some of his administrative burdens." [With:] an engraved invitation to Kennedy's 1961 Inauguration (and a photograph of Kennedy's appearance in Lewiston, Maine two days prior to the 1960 election—a moment that inspired the owner to begin collecting). * JOHNSON, Lyndon B. (1908-1973). Signature ("Lyndon B. Johnson") n.p., n.d. on his gilt embossed stationery bearing the Presidential seal and initials. * NIXON, Richard M. (1913-1994) Signature ("Richard Nixon") as Vice-President, n.p., n.d. Inscribed "To Myles Martel with best wishes from…" * FORD, Gerald R. Typed letter signed ("Jerry Ford") to Dr. Myles Martel, n.p., 7 June 1979. Ford thanks Martel for his report on the progress of his book and adding "Personally, I am happy that mine is now in the bookstores instead of still in the typewriter." * FORD, Gerald R. (1913-2006). Typed letter signed with an autopen to Dr. and Mrs. Martel, n.p., 29 March 1978. A letter of thanks. * CARTER, James E. (b. 1924), BEGIN, Menachem (1913 - 1992), SADAT, Anwar (1918-1981). Their signatures on a copy of the title page of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, n.p., n.d., [but c. March 1979]. * REAGAN, Ronald (1911-2004). Typed letter signed ("Ronald Reagan") as President-elect to Myles Martel, n.p., 5 November 1980. Thanking Martel "for the great help in preparing for the Anderson and Carter Debates. Your insight on debate strategy and general coaching were invaluable. The debate with President Carter was, in my view, a critical element in our success in the elections. You should feel proud of your contribution. I am very grateful for your support and dedication." * REAGAN, Ronald. Photograph signed ("Ronald Reagan") as President, [Washington, c. 1981]. Inscribed to his personal debate advisor, Dr. Myles Martel, "Dear Myles — My Very best Wishes — appreciation & Warm Regards." * BUSH, George H. W. (1924-2018). Typed letter signed ("George") as Vice-President to Cy Laughter, [Washington,] 30 October 1981. Declining an honorary directorship of "the National Football League Alumni." * CLINTON, William J. (b. 1946) Autograph note signed ("Bill Clinton") as President to Myles [Martel], Washington, 17 January 2001. Thanking Martel for his support, and adding "Hang in there—"

[Together With:] Several pieces not housed in binders, [including:] * BUSH, George W. (b. 1946). Signature ("George Bush") as President, Washington, 20 September 2001. Signed on the cover of an official copy of his September 11 address to a joint session of Congress, inscribed "to Myles [Martel] Best wishes". * OBAMA, Barack H. (b. 1961). Photograph signed ("Barack Obama") as President, n.p., n.d. * [Also With:] FORD, Gerald R. Document signed ("Gerald R. Ford"), n.p., n.d. A copy of his inaugural address, Washington, 9 August 1974. Inscribed "To Myles, Susan and David Martel, with best wishes". [Matted and framed with:] FORD, Gerald R. Photograph signed ("Gerald R. Ford"), n.p., n.d. Inscribed "To Myles, Susan and David Martel, with very best wishes" * CARTER, James E. Signed document ("Jimmy Carter") n.p., n.d. Accomplished on the first page of a copy of his Inaugural address, Washington, 20 January 1977. Matted and framed. [Also together with:] Engraved invitations to Ronald Reagan's 1981 and 1985 inaugurations.

From the collection of Dr. Myles Martel, a communications advisor specializing in leadership. Martel's career began as a professor at West Chester University, where he also coached the school's debate team, leading them to a national championship in 1970. In the course conducting interviews for his groundbreaking book on debate strategy (Political Campaign Debates: images strategies, and tactics, 1983), Martel came into contact with Ronald Reagan's campaign team who brought him on to serve as Reagan's personal debate advisor. The experience led him to establish his own consulting firm that advises corporate executives, celebrities and political leaders.

The lot includes additional album pages to facilitate expanding this collection in the future.
Place of origin:USA
Auction house category:Letters, documents and manuscripts
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
26.01.2024 10:00 – 17:00
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