2014 Rarities of the World

A SPECTACULAR JOHN HANCOCK SIGNATURE ON AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT SIGNED AS GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS. HANCOCK'S DISTINCTIVE SIGNATURE IS THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

John Hancock was one of the wealthiest men in the colonies, and he played a prominent role in Boston during the turbulent times leading up to the American Revolution. He served in the Continental Congress and was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. His large and prominent signature is the most readable of any on the Declaration. After Independence, he was the first Governor of Massachusetts, serving from 1780 to 1785 until he resigned. This appointment comes from that time period. (Image)

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A RARE AND DESIRABLE BOUND BOOK CONTAINING AUTOGRAPHS OF ALMOST ALL OF THE MAJOR UNION GOVERNMENT FIGURES IN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES, INCLUDING ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Based on the dates of office of the members of Congress, this book must have been assembled between December 1861 and February 1862. The date on Lincoln's autograph is the same date that General Order No. 1 was issued, authorizing the advance of Union forces. (Image)

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FINE. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THIS LINCOLN DESIGN, COMBINING PATRIOTIC SENTIMENT WITH A CONTEMPORARY REAL-WORLD ASTRONOMICAL EVENT. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE AS A RAILROAD USE AND WITH THE IMPRINT ON BACK.

The rare "Comet of 1861" design is a wonderful combination of patriotic sentiment on the meteoric rise of our nation's 16th President, who had been relatively unknown before the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the real-world "Great Comet" of 1861. The 1861 comet was one of the brightest of the 19th century, visible to the naked eye for approximately three months, from June to August in the Northern Hemisphere, and by telescope for many months after. As such it was categorized as a "Great Comet", which generally means appearing once or less a decade. On the Fourth of July 1861, a soldier from the Second Wisconsin wrote about the comet, We have been visited for a week past by a very large comet which at full day appears very bright and transparent; late at night the tail stretched nearly to the Zenith while the star was near the horizon." (http://civilwarwisconsin.com/campfire-stories/46-great-comet-of-1861.html). Popular media used the comet as a symbol for events then unfolding, especially the impending Civil War. It appears in several political cartoons of the period, but we believe none are as beautiful or apropos as the Lincoln design on this cover.

Ex Walcott and Myers (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THIS LINCOLN DESIGN, COMBINING PATRIOTIC SENTIMENT WITH A CONTEMPORARY REAL-WORLD ASTRONOMICAL EVENT.

The rare "Comet of 1861" design is a wonderful combination of patriotic sentiment on the meteoric rise of our nation's 16th President, who had been relatively unknown before the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the real-world "Great Comet" of 1861. The 1861 comet was one of the brightest of the 19th century, visible to the naked eye for approximately three months, from June to August in the Northern Hemisphere, and by telescope for many months after. As such it was categorized as a "Great Comet", which generally means appearing once or less a decade. On the Fourth of July 1861, a soldier from the Second Wisconsin wrote about the comet, We have been visited for a week past by a very large comet which at full day appears very bright and transparent; late at night the tail stretched nearly to the Zenith while the star was near the horizon." (http://civilwarwisconsin.com/campfire-stories/46-great-comet-of-1861.html). Popular media used the comet as a symbol for events then unfolding, especially the impending Civil War. It appears in several political cartoons of the period, but we believe none are as beautiful or apropos as the Lincoln design on this cover.

Ex Myers (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE CALVIN COOLIDGE FRANKING SIGNATURE AS PRESIDENT, AND POSSIBLY THE FINEST KNOWN.

Free franking privileges were no longer necessary for presidents after Ulysses Grant changed the system. Penalty envelopes took their place, and presidents were given the free franking privilege for life after they left office. On the day this was sent, Coolidge spent the morning at the White House and then went to the Old State House in Annapolis to witness a reenactment of George Washington's resignation of his command of the Continental Armies on the 150th anniversary of the event. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE CONGRESSIONAL FREE FRANK BY DAVY CROCKETT, THE LEGENDARY AMERICAN FRONTIERSMAN AND TEXAS WAR HERO WHO WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO.

David "Davy" Crockett (1786-1836) represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives, served in the Texas Revolution, and died at the Battle of the Alamo. This legendary American's signature is extremely scarce in any form and of the greatest rarity as a free frank.

Ex Dr. Robertson. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 1794 ACT TO PERMANENTLY ESTABLISH A POST OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES.

In 1794, with passage of the act documented here, Congress permanently established the United States post office. Prior to this act, the postmaster had to go before each Congress to gain authorization to continue the service. Original printings of this historic postal legislation are exceedingly scarce, and of the greatest interest to postal history collectors. (Image)

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A REMARKABLE AND UNDOUBTEDLY UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF A CIVIL WAR PATRIOTIC COVER USED FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND SAVED FROM A MARITIME DISASTER.

Our search for information on the Stella was unsuccessful, but clearly this is an extremely rare salvaged-mail cover and undoubtedly unique as a Civil War Patriotic use.

Ex LeBow (Image)

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