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

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Signed Historic Documents from Stuart Lutz Highlights of Stuart Lutz's latest acquisitions. By Michael Stillman Stuart Lutz Historic Documents has issued a "highlights catalog," one that includes some of their most intriguing new acquisitions. In keeping with the changing times, they've limited the catalogue to the "highlights," while the complete listing of available items, along with color photographs, are available as a download from their website. Still, the printed edition affords a look at a few of the new signed documents, and provides a persuasive invitation to visit the website for more. Here are some samples of what is now available. Displayed on the cover is a letter from President John F. Kennedy, written a little over two months before he was assassinated, to author Jacob Baal-Teshuva. Baal-Teshuva had compiled a book of essays titled The Mission of Israel. This was a book of essays in support of the State of Israel, with notable figures such as Lyndon Johnson and Eleanor Roosevelt offering contributions. President Kennedy was among the contributors. He wrote that the survival and success of Israel was essential and that there was no real conflict between the aspirations of the Israelis and those of the Arabs. In his letter to Baal-Teshuva, Kennedy thanks him for sending a copy of the book and states that he looks forward to reading it. Priced at $5,000. Here is a most entertaining "Dear Jane" letter from one Loring Barker to his sweetheart no more, a Betsey Torrey, in 1792. Barker considers himself a complete cad for his actions in marrying another. Writes Barker, "This is to inform you that there was such a person as Loring Barker and I am very sorry you ever knew there was such a person." He later adds, "...there is not a more miserable creature living than I am," a sentiment probably shared by Miss Betsey. However, a few other lines in the letter indicate that Betsey perhaps overplayed the hard-to-get hand, or maybe she was just thankful Barker elected to marry Polly Ross instead. He notes that Betsey had many times told him she wished to live a single life (doubtful), that she deserved someone better than he (possible), and that she had rejected his previous overtures. In what one suspects is a bit of an ingenuous though very polite excuse, Barker claims, "I have often been told that Miss Torrey was too worthy a person for me to have, and have taken it into consideration and think so myself." I'll bet Polly Ross must have appreciated that! From what we can tell, Barker and Miss Ross were married in 1791, but it was not until June 12 of the following year that he got around to telling poor Betsey. In the letter, Barker speaks of all of this happening after he left Pembroke. He evidently returned, since Barker is buried in Pembroke, Massachusetts. Perhaps it was in anticipation of his return that he wrote this belated "Dear Jane" letter. Oddly, it appears that Elizabeth Torrey was married in November of 1792 in Pembroke to one Isaac Bowen Barker. Whether Loring Barker and Isaac Barker were related is unclear, but probably not closely if so. Loring lived until 1848, Betsey until 1851. $300.
Signed Historic Documents from Stuart Lutz Adm. Yamamoto planned to dictate terms of America's surrender from the White House. It wasn't to be. New York City was never the strongest base of support for the Union effort in the Civil War. Many residents offered no more than lukewarm support for the cause, and as the need for soldiers dragged on, the city erupted in draft riots in 1863. Offered is a December 31, 1863 check, signed by Mayor George Opdyke to a "Patk Coyle" for $28.45. The check is marked in red as for "Riot Damages." Opdyke was a wealthy banker and merchant, opponent of slavery, strong supporter of Lincoln in 1860, and a zealous supporter of the Union effort, energetic in putting down the draft riots. However, those riots ended any chance of his re-election, and Opdyke eventually split with Lincoln over other issues. $250. Sarah Polk, widow of President James Knox Polk, wrote to the widow of her husband's Secretary of the Navy, John Y Mason, in 1859, shortly after Mr. Mason died. She expressed her sympathies and recalled the times "which associated your honored husband with the life of my own dear lamented..." Mrs. Polk offers the guidance that "Submission to heaven, tears & the lapse of time, alone can assuage such anguish." Mrs. Polk would have much experience with the comforting aspects of the passage of time. Her husband died three months out of office, while she lived for another 42 years, outlasting six of the first ladies who succeeded her. $1,400. The Office of War printed a dramatic poster in 1942 to encourage support for the war effort. It contains a picture of, and quote from, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto. The quote states, "I am looking forward to dictating peace to the United States in the White House at Washington." This copy of the poster is signed by U.S. Admiral Chester Nimitz. Nimitz planned the mission which shot down Yamamoto's plane and killed him in 1943. $1,250. The website for Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, where you may download the complete catalogue, is www.HistoryDocs.com. Their telephone number is 973-275-9699.

Signed Historic Documents from Stuart Lutz

Highlights of Stuart Lutz's latest acquisitions.

By Michael Stillman

Stuart Lutz Historic Documents has issued a "highlights catalog," one that includes some of their most intriguing new acquisitions. In keeping with the changing times, they've limited the catalogue to the "highlights," while the complete listing of available items, along with color photographs, are available as a download from their website. Still, the printed edition affords a look at a few of the new signed documents, and provides a persuasive invitation to visit the website for more. Here are some samples of what is now available.

Displayed on the cover is a letter from President John F. Kennedy, written a little over two months before he was assassinated, to author Jacob Baal-Teshuva. Baal-Teshuva had compiled a book of essays titled The Mission of Israel. This was a book of essays in support of the State of Israel, with notable figures such as Lyndon Johnson and Eleanor Roosevelt offering contributions. President Kennedy was among the contributors. He wrote that the survival and success of Israel was essential and that there was no real conflict between the aspirations of the Israelis and those of the Arabs. In his letter to Baal-Teshuva, Kennedy thanks him for sending a copy of the book and states that he looks forward to reading it. Priced at $5,000.

Here is a most entertaining "Dear Jane" letter from one Loring Barker to his sweetheart no more, a Betsey Torrey, in 1792. Barker considers himself a complete cad for his actions in marrying another. Writes Barker, "This is to inform you that there was such a person as Loring Barker and I am very sorry you ever knew there was such a person." He later adds, "...there is not a more miserable creature living than I am," a sentiment probably shared by Miss Betsey. However, a few other lines in the letter indicate that Betsey perhaps overplayed the hard-to-get hand, or maybe she was just thankful Barker elected to marry Polly Ross instead. He notes that Betsey had many times told him she wished to live a single life (doubtful), that she deserved someone better than he (possible), and that she had rejected his previous overtures. In what one suspects is a bit of an ingenuous though very polite excuse, Barker claims, "I have often been told that Miss Torrey was too worthy a person for me to have, and have taken it into consideration and think so myself." I'll bet Polly Ross must have appreciated that! From what we can tell, Barker and Miss Ross were married in 1791, but it was not until June 12 of the following year that he got around to telling poor Betsey. In the letter, Barker speaks of all of this happening after he left Pembroke. He evidently returned, since Barker is buried in Pembroke, Massachusetts. Perhaps it was in anticipation of his return that he wrote this belated "Dear Jane" letter. Oddly, it appears that Elizabeth Torrey was married in November of 1792 in Pembroke to one Isaac Bowen Barker. Whether Loring Barker and Isaac Barker were related is unclear, but probably not closely if so. Loring lived until 1848, Betsey until 1851. $300.

Signed Historic Documents from Stuart Lutz

Adm. Yamamoto planned to dictate terms of America's surrender from the White House. It wasn't to be.

New York City was never the strongest base of support for the Union effort in the Civil War. Many residents offered no more than lukewarm support for the cause, and as the need for soldiers dragged on, the city erupted in draft riots in 1863. Offered is a December 31, 1863 check, signed by Mayor George Opdyke to a "Patk Coyle" for $28.45. The check is marked in red as for "Riot Damages." Opdyke was a wealthy banker and merchant, opponent of slavery, strong supporter of Lincoln in 1860, and a zealous supporter of the Union effort, energetic in putting down the draft riots. However, those riots ended any chance of his re-election, and Opdyke eventually split with Lincoln over other issues. $250.

Sarah Polk, widow of President James Knox Polk, wrote to the widow of her husband's Secretary of the Navy, John Y Mason, in 1859, shortly after Mr. Mason died. She expressed her sympathies and recalled the times "which associated your honored husband with the life of my own dear lamented..." Mrs. Polk offers the guidance that "Submission to heaven, tears & the lapse of time, alone can assuage such anguish." Mrs. Polk would have much experience with the comforting aspects of the passage of time. Her husband died three months out of office, while she lived for another 42 years, outlasting six of the first ladies who succeeded her. $1,400.

The Office of War printed a dramatic poster in 1942 to encourage support for the war effort. It contains a picture of, and quote from, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto. The quote states, "I am looking forward to dictating peace to the United States in the White House at Washington." This copy of the poster is signed by U.S. Admiral Chester Nimitz. Nimitz planned the mission which shot down Yamamoto's plane and killed him in 1943. $1,250.

The website for Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, where you may download the complete catalogue, is www.HistoryDocs.com. Their telephone number is 973-275-9699.