Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894). Poet and Essayist; Physician; Educator; Father of distinguished Supreme Court Justice. ALS signed in the third person. One page.4 ½” x 7”, mounted to another larger sheet measuring 6 ½” x 8 ½”. Holmes writes; “Dr. O. W. Holmes regrets that his engagements prevents his having the pleasure of accepting the polite invitation to attend the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Duxbury. Boston, June 14th, 1887”. Center fold. Very Fine

Oliver Wolcott (1726-1797). Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Wolcott also served as Governor of Connecticut. Partially Printed Document Signed “O Wolcott.” One page. April 18, 1778. The document reads, in part: “KNOW all Men by these presents that I Capt. Ozias Bissell acknowledge ourselves jointly and severally bound myself to the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut, in the penal Sum of Ten thousand pounds L.M. to be paid to said Governor and Company … this 18th Day of April Ad 1781 THE CONDITION OF THE ABOVE OBLIGATION IS, That Capt. Ozias Bissell is appointed Pay Master to his Company in Col Levi Wells Regiment of State Troops.” Ozias Bissell was a member of the 4th Connecticut Regiment, adopted into the Continental Army June 14, 1775. The Regiment took part in the Battle of Quebec. Following this Ozias Bissell’s company was disbanded in December of 1775 at Cambridge, staying to serve at the siege of Boston. Usual folds. Three circular areas of paper loss at right edge, else Very Fine.

OLIVER WOLCOTT (1760-1833) United States Secretary of the Treasury and Governor of Connecticut. Autograph Letter Signed, “Oliv. Wolcott.” One page, 7 7/8” x 10”. New York. November 6, 1804. Addressed on integral address leaf to ROGER GRISWOLD [(1762-1812) Governor of Connecticut and U.S. Representative] Wolcott writes: “My Dear Sir, This will be presented to you, by Mr. Peter Sauve, who with his associates Messr. Noel Destrehan & Peter Derbigny, are charged by the People of Louisiana, with a Memorial to Congress, on subjects highly interesting to that country. From sources of information, on which I place implicit reliance, I venture to recommend these Gentlemen to your particular attention, as distinguished in point of character, property and influence: - as men of intelligence and amiable manners, the will recommend themselves, in such a manner, that any observations from me would be superfluous. I have the honor to be with the highest esteem, Dr. Sir you obedt. Servt. Oliv Wolcott.” When the United States took possession of the Province of Louisiana in 1803, the three memorialists mentioned immediately assumed important roles in the nascent government of the Louisiana Territory: Pierre Derbigny was appointed Secretary to the municipal council, and Noel Destrehan and Pierre Sauve were appointed First Adjunct and Second Adjunct, respectively. Despite the political influence these men held in Louisiana, the United States Congress passed a highly unpopular law in 1804 that divided the Louisiana Territory into two parts, The Territory of New Orleans and the District of Louisiana. Even worse, the act explicitly barred the importation of foreign slaves, a severe impediment to territorial growth. In response to these onerous restrictions, Louisiana planters and merchants quickly drafted a petition for the repeal of these restrictive portions of the recently passed act and elected Sauve, Derbigny, and Destrehan to serve as their delegates before Congress. The men proved able delegates, achieving Congressional approval for their petition in March of 1805, and paving the way for Louisiana’s admittance into the Union.

DONALD “DEKE” SLAYTON. (1924-1993). American astronaut. Slayton became an astronaut in 1959. He was one of the original seven Mercury astronauts. He has spent over 216 hours in space on one spaceflight. In 1975, Slayton flew aboard the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The Apollo spacecraft linked up with a Russian spacecraft. The crews of each country spent nine days performing experiments together. Slayton left NASA in 1981.

Document Signed. 10 1/3 pp. n.p. n.d. Commentary on his experiences while training and working during the Mercury 7 period. Entitled "A Job For Everybody," Slayton details the division of responsibilities of each of the seven as they worked through the development of equipment and procedures to be used in the early space flight missions.

He comments "...John Glenn, whose capsule was picked up by a destroyer while he was still inside, tried to crawl out through the top hatch but found it easier to blow the side hatch and come out that way…”

Boldly signed in blue ink at conclusion. Fine example. Accompanied by a signed statement by a colleague of Slayton’s who acquired it, that the manuscript was later incorporated into a book published about the Mercury missions.

OTIS SKINNER (1858-1942) American actor best known for his Shakespearean roles. Autograph Letter Signed, “Otis Skinner,” on his Tour of Otis Skinner letterhead. One page, 5” x 8” Chicago. September 27, no year. Skinner writes: “ My dear Miss Kimball: Your letter forwarded from New York is an interesting personal note in the “Bourbon Question” accept my thanks for you pleasant expression. Most truly yours, Otis Skinner.” Usual folds. Come light foxing. Overall Very Fine.

An extraordinary letter in which banker OTTO KAHN writes to thank New York Judge George Ingraham for Releasing a presumed German Spy. OTTO KAHN (1867-1934). Investment banker, collector and philanthropist. Typed Letter Signed, “O.H. Kahn,” on Kuhn, Loeb & Co William and Pine Streets New York letterhead. One page, 8 ½” x 10 7/8”. New York. June 30, 1919. To GEORGE L. INGRAHAM. (1847-?) Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court. Kahn writes to thank Ingraham for his assistance in securing the release of Mr. Rudolf Hecht. During World War One, Rudolph Hecht, a vice president of the investment banking firm Chandler and Co, Inc., was arrested by agents of the Department of Justice and sent to the internment camp at Ellis Island and then to a prison camp near Fort Oglethorpe, GA. Although the reason for his arrest was not disclosed at the time, it appears likely that Hecht’s prominent position as a former German army officer and his personal friendship with two German attaches expelled from the U.S. as spies played a role in his short-lived interment. Extremely Fine.

PHINEAS T. BARNUM (1810-1891). American showman. Autograph Letter Signed, “P.T. Barnum,” on stationary bearing a profile of Abraham Lincoln. One page, octavo. “Waldemere, Bridgeport Ct.” June 30, 1880. Verso bears a detailed line drawing of Lincoln’s Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. Barnum writes: “Abraham Lincoln’s cheerfulness and wit were invaluable to him in the taxing years of our civil war. Cheerfulness to a good man or woman is always a mighty sustaining power. Mr. Lincoln’s unwavering faith that Good would finally overcome Evil buoyed his spirits through the darkest hours. Of Mr. Lincoln’s inflexible honesty & purpose, there is but one opinion throughout the world, He was a noble whole-souled tender hearted man. He was a model President of this model Republic. His fame is justly immortal. P.T. Barnum” P.T. Barnum, the consummate showman, was also a staunch Republican, and a vocal supporter of Abraham Lincoln. In this heartfelt letter, Barnum recalls the martyred former president, gone for fifteen years. An attractive letter with line drawings on recto and verso written by America’s greatest showman that offers heartfelt commentary upon one of the nation’s greatest presidents and enduring symbols, Abraham Lincoln.

Paddy Chayefsky (1923 – 1981). American playwright and novelist. 7 ¼” x 10 ½”. Inscription signed to an autograph seeker, on his personal imprinted letterhead. “To Bernard Baker, sincerely yours, Paddy Chayefsky”. Folds. Excellent condition.

[Civil War – Union Medical]. Surgeon John H. Janeway – Partly-printed pay document for himself and one black servant. Signed by Janeway as “Brt. Maj. & Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.” Nov. 1, 1865. Folds. Extremely Fine.