1) Autograph Letter Signed, “Rebecca.” Three and a half pages, 7 ¼” x 9”. Philadelphia. February 7, no year. Addressed on integral leaf to “Hon. Joseph Tillinghast Providence RI.” With partial, circular “Philadelphia” postal cancellation. Willing writes concerning the highly publicized divorce of Pierce Butler and his wife, the celebrated actress Fanny Kemble, with whom Willing is acquainted. Willing also comments upon Mrs. Butler’s strong abolitionist sentiments. Regarding Mrs. Butler, Willing writes, in part: “ … she read me extracts from her journal at the South to prove to me that the negroes on the best conducted plantations were in a situation far inferior to that of the lowest class of free-man - white or black … For myself I am decidedly anti-slavery & if I saw a path opened would be an abolitionist but that name at present is mingled with so much that is injudicious & absolutely fanatical, that I do not like to adopt it … ” Fine personal and social commentary upon Fanny Kimble, her unhappy marriage and her devotion to the abolitionist cause. Extremely Fine 2) Autograph Letter Signed, “Rebecca.” One and a half pages, 7 ¾” x 12 ½”. Some cross-writing. Philadelphia. March 15, no year. Addressed on integral leaf to “Hon. J.L. Tillinghast, Providence, RI.” With partial, red circular “Philadelphia” postal cancellation. Willing writes, in part: “ … Mrs. [Henry A.] Wise is in town at present spending the time with her Mother until they sail from Norfolk for Brazil. She seems very well satisfied with their destination .. She was in Washington at the time of the dreadful affair of the Princeton but she was not (as she says Providentially) on board. Mr & Mrs Upshur were very particular friends of Mr. & Mrs. Wise & she evidently felt the catastrophe almost as deeply as those who were more interested … ” During a trial trip down the Potomac with President John Tyler, his Cabinet and about two hundred assorted guests, the Peacemaker guns mounted onboard the USS Princeton burst, killing Secretary of State Uphur and a number of other individuals, including David Gardiner, father of President Tyler’s future wife, Julia, and wounding twenty. 3) Autograph Letter Signed, “Rebecca.” Three and a half pages, 7 ½” x 9 ¾”. Philadelphia. Friday, June 14, no year. Addressed on integral leaf to “Hon. J.L. Tillinghast Providence RI.” With circular, red “Philadelphia” postal cancellation. Willing writes concerning travel plans for mother and sister to visit her father. Tear at wax seal and paper loss from wax seal affecting seven words. Else Extremely Fine. 4) Autograph Letter Signed, “Rebecca.” Three and a half pages, 8” x 10”. Philadelphia. November 30, no year. Addressed on integral leaf to “Hon. J.L. Tillinghast Providence RI.” With circular, red “Philadelphia” and red “Free” postal cancellations. Willing writes, in part: “ … I see by today’s paper that a meeting of Whigs have proposed Mr. Sergeant again for Vice president - Mr. Toland is spoken of too as a candidate for governor & these two proposals seem to me to speak good things on the character of the party in this state - for two more honest politicians I suppose can hardly be found - I suppose there is no chance for Mr. Toland but if he should be Governor he would make the name of Pennsylvania a little more respectable both at home & abroad … ” Good political commentary in this Extremely Fine letter.

Autograph Letter Signed, “H.C. Lybrook.” Two pages, 5” x 8”. Dowagiac, Michigan. September 22, 1881. The letter reads, in part: “ … The death of the President does not appear to excite much feeling among our people all that have been done they have hung the flag on a pole half way up and they have Crepe stretched over the door of Post office and Mrs. Boating has Crepe stretched round the top and on the collumns [sic] of the stoop in front of her shop. The people here are tramping around as usual. There was a company of some 6 or 8 persons men and women came down from Decatur last Saturday and got drunk and were disorderly and they were all taken before the Justice of the peace and fined …” Extremely Fine.

Peyton Randolph (1721 – 1775). First President of Continental Congress, Virginia politician and planter. DS. 1 page. 7 ¼” x 3” mounted to a slightly larger sheet. June 7, 1770. “Then Recd. Of William Cabell, Junr. Fifty pounds in part of my Judgement agst. George Blain, three pounds in part of Juhn Tuggles bond & thirty shillings in part of Moses Campbell, ditto.” Accomplished in a secretarial hand and boldly signed by Randolph at the conclusion. Center fold. Scarce autograph of this important early Patriot.

THEODORE DWIGHT. DS. 1pp. 8" x 10". New York. May 21st, 1888. A "Columbia College Law School" document signed "Theodore W. Dwight" as "Warden and Professor of Municipal Law". This document certified that "Mr. Addison Allen was a member of this LAW SCHOOL for the term of seven months and 20 days commencing first Monday of Oct, 1887. During this time, he was regular in his attendance, made commendable and satisfactory progress in his studies, and sustained a good moral character " The piece has the usual folds, but the signature is very dark and the paper is extremely white. It is in very fine condition

William Lear. (1902 – 1978). Founder of Lear Jet Corp. DS. 1 page. 8 ½” x 11”. Beverly Hills, California, July 29, 1968. A signed filed copy of an authorization for Southern California Savings & Loan Association to “apply my savings account balance of $50,750 toward the purchase of the promissory note and first deed of trust…” for the purchase of a real estate in Los Angeles. On onionskin paper. Couple of file holes at top. Excellent.

WENDELL PHILLIPS (1811-1884) a Prominent abolitionist from 1837, President of the Anti-Slavery Society from 1865-1870. So highly regarded were his oratorical abilities that he was known as "abolition's Golden Trumpet". Like many of his fellow abolitionists, Phillips took pains to eat no cane sugar and wear no clothing made of cotton, since both were produced by the labor of Southern slaves. It was Phillips's contention that racial injustice was the source of all of society's ills. Like William Lloyd Garrison, Phillips denounced the Constitution for tolerating slavery. Autograph Letter Signed. 4pp. 5" x 8". n.p. 4 Dec '81. Phillips writes to a fellow lawyer and friend, Mr. Dyer: "There is no setting ahead of you my bar friend – and reading over and over you exquisitely words – just the sweetest of all notes” as my wife keeps saying. I feel sort of nervous in trying my ‘rentice hand, as Bacus says, at telling you how very beautiful your flowers were – how welcome….” Phillips goes on to relay a song to his friend, then: “…but even without Ben Johnson in my view, my vote’s nothing to yours – Please just think of the most grateful things you could say if you were touched to the very heart & then fancy me saying it – if you can - & it will be alright…Wendell Phillips.” Light toning to folds on last page, else Fine.

James Hamilton, Jr. (1786 – 1857). Governor of South Carolina, congressman from that state. ALS. 1 page. 6 ½” x 8”. Newport, R.I. Aug. 22, 1851. To J. B. Richards; “I have just this day returned from the interior of the state of New York and received your polite & respectable favor. I will so that you may receive them at the Institute on Monday, Nove. 7 or if you will go to the Boston P.O. on Saturday evening at 6:00 you will find a package enclosing such letter or letters as you desire which I will afford with the utmost pleasure….J. Hamilton” Fine.

Autograph Letter Signed, “Gene.” Four pages, 5” x 8”. Philippines. March 23, 1945. The letter reads, in part: “ … The people here are very friendly and generally speak good English the best part of it here is that we can hire our laundry done & fairly cheap too. We had to change our money to Pesos & Centavos because they don’t use American money here … Since we landed her we’ve had one air raid and that’s all we’ve seen of them since . While the Japs were here they forced the Filipinos to work for money which they printed and when they left the money automatically became worthless … I hope by now your snow is gone … it must have been an awful winter. I’d gladly give up all of this for it though … ” Extremely Fine.

Autograph Letter Signed, "Wm. Rotch." One page, 7 3/4" x 9 5/8". New Bedford. December , 1810. Addressed on integral leaf. With circular "Ship Letter" and one other postal cancellation. Rotch writes, in part: : " ... The removal of thy father (my much esteemed friend) I had an account of not long after it took place, but that of thy mother and wife, had not come to my knowledge until the rect. of thy letter ... our distant separation does not preclude the frequent remembrance of the pleasing hours I spent with them in England; many of whom are removed from works to rewards - as to the manuscript thou mentions of our friend I.T. [?] I wish it was in my power to grant liberty for its publication ... it was returned to our Messrs [?] for sufferings who have not yet thought proper to publish it; the reason I cannot tell, but as it is left with them, it would not be thought well to put it to press without their consent ... I have no object the manuscript being shewn to any friend, … tho much correction would be necessary for the press ..." Paper loss from wax seal. Overall Very Fine.