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<b>Bonhams:</b> MANDELSHTAM, OSIP. 1891-1938. Autograph Manuscript, 2 pp, [Petersburg,] January 1913, entitled

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American Historical Manuscripts from the William Reese Co. - By Michael Stillman American Historical Documents from the William Reese Company. The William Reese Company has issued Bulletin 18: American Historical Manuscripts. This is a collection of handwritten documents pertaining to American issues from the 18th and 19th centuries. Some are from noted American political figures, others from more ordinary citizens involved in major events, such as the Battle of Chippawa during the War of 1812. These are first looks at important times in American history. Here are a few of these manuscripts. Item 1 is an archive of business papers from 1766-1782 of Benedict Arnold that gives us an inside look at America's most notable traitor. Arnold was a businessman, and after some initial successes, things turned sour for him. He was involved in trade when he suffered some serious losses in 1766. He owed far more than he could pay, so he blamed the Sugar Act and Stamp Act for his trade woes. Reese believes that this may have been his major incentive for the patriot cause - blaming the British for his business failures and bankruptcy. Arnold would become a general in the revolutionary cause, but would later sell out to the British. He would escape to England to avoid justice in America, only to find some old creditors there still looking for money. Some of these documents relate to that period. For the remainder of his life, Arnold would be involved in business dealings that often resulted in more controversy for the man whose life was a synonym for controversy. Priced at $42,500. Item 37 is a draft of a letter from Martha Washington to John Adams, prepared by Tobias Lear, along with Lear's retained copy of an accompanying explanatory letter to Adams. These letters were written shortly after George Washington's death in December 1799. A movement soon began in Congress to have Washington buried in the new capitol building being constructed in Washington, D.C. However, in his will, Washington stated that he wished to be buried at his Mount Vernon home. President Adams had been given the delicate task of placing Congress' request to Mrs. Washington. Lear, a longtime aid to General Washington, evidently composed the response, with the help of Mrs. Washington. This draft contains numerous corrections made along the way. The second letter, Lear's retained copy of the accompanying letter, helps to explain Mrs. Washington's sentiments to President Adams. Ultimately, George Washington was buried at his Mount Vernon home. Priced at $85,000. Here is an item that connects American political figures with the book trade. It is a patent for a papermaking machine, dated May 4, 1829. This machine was known as the "Agitator." In those days, machine-made paper (as opposed to hand-made) tended to tear easily as its fibers all ran in the same direction. Hand-made paper interspersed fiber in layers running different directions, giving it greater strength. This machine, invented by Reuben Fairchild of Trumbull, Connecticut, "agitated" the pulp to create interlocking fibers. In those days, patents were signed by the President (obviously, they had less to do back then). The result is this paper patent is signed by President Andrew Jackson, and is also signed by the Secretary of State, who was Jackson's successor as President, Martin Van Buren. $3,000.
American Historical Manuscripts from the William Reese Co. - By Michael Stillman Martha Washington responds to John Adams' request. Item 17 is an archive of reminiscences of people who had encounters with Abraham Lincoln. The compiler was John E. Boos, a noted Lincoln collector from Albany, New York. Boos set out to find the reminiscences of those who had some experiences with Lincoln, usually ordinary people, a half-century after the President's death. From 1912 through 1937, he sought letters from people who had seen Lincoln or heard him speak. Several compilations of material Boos collected have been published, but only one of the 18 documents in this lot appears to have been published. These accounts come from soldiers in hospitals, people who shook Lincoln's hand, heard him speak, or had brief conversations with him. The timing of these letters is such that they would have been accounts from some of the last survivors to have seen Lincoln at a time when few such people would still have been living. $5,000. Item 35 is a letter from A. Callender to his brother Levi Callender dated July 10, 1814. A. Callender had participated in the Battle of Chippawa, an American victory during the War of 1812. The battle took place near Chippawa, Ontario, as Americans attacked the British. The attack was launched as the Americans realized that with Napoleon's deteriorating situation in Europe, the British would likely be able to soon supplement their forces in America. The decision was to attack before such reinforcements arrived. Callender describes the carnage at the scene in his letter: "Arms, legs and in fact every part of body mangled. One was tomahawked in five places through the scull [sic] was brought here alive. Likewise three that were scalped, all save one of which have since died" (Indians were among the combatants). $5,500. The William Reese Company may be reached at 203-789-8081 or amorder@reeseco.com. Their website is www.reeseco.com.

American Historical Manuscripts from the William Reese Co.

- By Michael Stillman

American Historical Documents from the William Reese Company.

The William Reese Company has issued Bulletin 18: American Historical Manuscripts. This is a collection of handwritten documents pertaining to American issues from the 18th and 19th centuries. Some are from noted American political figures, others from more ordinary citizens involved in major events, such as the Battle of Chippawa during the War of 1812. These are first looks at important times in American history. Here are a few of these manuscripts.

Item 1 is an archive of business papers from 1766-1782 of Benedict Arnold that gives us an inside look at America's most notable traitor. Arnold was a businessman, and after some initial successes, things turned sour for him. He was involved in trade when he suffered some serious losses in 1766. He owed far more than he could pay, so he blamed the Sugar Act and Stamp Act for his trade woes. Reese believes that this may have been his major incentive for the patriot cause - blaming the British for his business failures and bankruptcy. Arnold would become a general in the revolutionary cause, but would later sell out to the British. He would escape to England to avoid justice in America, only to find some old creditors there still looking for money. Some of these documents relate to that period. For the remainder of his life, Arnold would be involved in business dealings that often resulted in more controversy for the man whose life was a synonym for controversy. Priced at $42,500.

Item 37 is a draft of a letter from Martha Washington to John Adams, prepared by Tobias Lear, along with Lear's retained copy of an accompanying explanatory letter to Adams. These letters were written shortly after George Washington's death in December 1799. A movement soon began in Congress to have Washington buried in the new capitol building being constructed in Washington, D.C. However, in his will, Washington stated that he wished to be buried at his Mount Vernon home. President Adams had been given the delicate task of placing Congress' request to Mrs. Washington. Lear, a longtime aid to General Washington, evidently composed the response, with the help of Mrs. Washington. This draft contains numerous corrections made along the way. The second letter, Lear's retained copy of the accompanying letter, helps to explain Mrs. Washington's sentiments to President Adams. Ultimately, George Washington was buried at his Mount Vernon home. Priced at $85,000.

Here is an item that connects American political figures with the book trade. It is a patent for a papermaking machine, dated May 4, 1829. This machine was known as the "Agitator." In those days, machine-made paper (as opposed to hand-made) tended to tear easily as its fibers all ran in the same direction. Hand-made paper interspersed fiber in layers running different directions, giving it greater strength. This machine, invented by Reuben Fairchild of Trumbull, Connecticut, "agitated" the pulp to create interlocking fibers. In those days, patents were signed by the President (obviously, they had less to do back then). The result is this paper patent is signed by President Andrew Jackson, and is also signed by the Secretary of State, who was Jackson's successor as President, Martin Van Buren. $3,000.

American Historical Manuscripts from the William Reese Co.

- By Michael Stillman

Martha Washington responds to John Adams' request.

Item 17 is an archive of reminiscences of people who had encounters with Abraham Lincoln. The compiler was John E. Boos, a noted Lincoln collector from Albany, New York. Boos set out to find the reminiscences of those who had some experiences with Lincoln, usually ordinary people, a half-century after the President's death. From 1912 through 1937, he sought letters from people who had seen Lincoln or heard him speak. Several compilations of material Boos collected have been published, but only one of the 18 documents in this lot appears to have been published. These accounts come from soldiers in hospitals, people who shook Lincoln's hand, heard him speak, or had brief conversations with him. The timing of these letters is such that they would have been accounts from some of the last survivors to have seen Lincoln at a time when few such people would still have been living. $5,000.

Item 35 is a letter from A. Callender to his brother Levi Callender dated July 10, 1814. A. Callender had participated in the Battle of Chippawa, an American victory during the War of 1812. The battle took place near Chippawa, Ontario, as Americans attacked the British. The attack was launched as the Americans realized that with Napoleon's deteriorating situation in Europe, the British would likely be able to soon supplement their forces in America. The decision was to attack before such reinforcements arrived. Callender describes the carnage at the scene in his letter: "Arms, legs and in fact every part of body mangled. One was tomahawked in five places through the scull [sic] was brought here alive. Likewise three that were scalped, all save one of which have since died" (Indians were among the combatants). $5,500.

The William Reese Company may be reached at 203-789-8081 or amorder@reeseco.com. Their website is www.reeseco.com.