Search Results: African Americana from Citation Books, ABAA/ ILAB

Autograph Letter Signed: "Wm Hay" to "Col Botts" Winchester, [Virginia], probably November 12, 1861. Single sheet measuring 8 inches by 10 inches folded to form 4 pages (2 blank), approximately 54 words on the recto recorded in ink in Hay's hand, docketed in another hand on the verso (approximately 17 words) & addressed to "Lt Col Botts, PM" in Hay's hand.
Old folds, soiled & stained (partially obscuring a portion of the docket text), moderately soiled, modest edge wear, otherwise Good.Addressing Lawson Botts, William Hay relays his concerns about a stranger in town: "Col Botts -
Dear Sir -
There is a man / staying at the Union Hotel / by the name of Sinclair who / says he has been discharged from / the Northern Army - he has the / appearance of a story hunting / man & I think he is a suspicious / character
 Very truly yrs,
 Wm Hay
 Winchester 12th, 11(?), 61"(?) [probably November 12, 1861] Docketed on the verso:"Winchester, Va 12 __?__ / Wm Hay Doctor at / Sinclair staying / at the Union… Read More

Berkeley & Jefferson Counties, Virginia (now West Virginia): not published, 1786 - 1842. Group of ten folio manuscript documents and one partially printed document completed in manuscript involving the real estate transactions of Charles & John Yates in the upper Shenandoah Valley. Approximately 29 pp. in total, all docketed.
Each exhibits expected wear including original folds with associated splits and separations (one document with a small area of archival tissue repair), creasing, tears, small losses (occasionally briefly affecting text), soiling, toning and foxing.
Charles Yates (1728 - 1809) emigrated from England in 1748, first to New York and then, in 1752, to Fredericksburg, Virginia. A prosperous merchant and importer, he was also deeply involved in real estate speculation in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties (now West Virginia). Advancing in years, unmarried and childless, he solicited his brother, John Orfeur Yates of Liverpool, to send one of his sons as heir apparent. Young John Yates… Read More

No place [in or near Charlestown, Virginia, now West Virginia], May 14, 1857. Manuscript Document Signed, "Articles of Partnership, F. Yates & Co." Tall 4to (12.5" x 7.75"), single sheet, approximately 221 words recorded in ink on laid paper, signed by Francis Yates, Charles Aglionby, & John Yates Beall (apparently for sister Janet M. Beall). Docketed in pencil on the verso.
Folded twice vertically & once horizontally, moderately soiled, couple of short splits along the horizontal fold, small archival tissue repair on the verso, otherwise very good.
Text transcribed in full below:
"G.W. Fox owed Francis Yates $4688.50, Charles Aglionb $2912.67, & John Y. Beall $494.00. He failed & gave deed of trust on the Halltown Mill property to secure them. On the fourteenth of May, 1857 Francis Yates, to avoid the delay & expense of a Trustee's sale, bought the above mentioned property for the sum of $15,480.67 to be paid as follows - $7377.50 to the estate of J. Yates, dec'd and for (?) $8.00 cost of deed - &… Read More

Chicago, Nov[ember] 30, [1947 ?] to "Archer" [H. Richard Archer]. 8vo, 1 page on illustrated "The Stevens, Chicago" letterhead, approximately 31 words recorded in ink, signed by Armitage.
With:
Exhibition Notice: "Gardner Cowles, President and Editor of Look Magazine, presents an exhibition of Books & Typography by Merle Armitage, April 29 - May 5, Lilienfeld Galleries ..." Single sheet measuring 10 inches by 8.25 inches folded once vertically forming 4 pages (two blank) providing a short biography & accolade:
"Merle Armitage has made a major contribution to contemporary typography and design. His bold approach is solidly based on the fundamental premise that design is a medium of communication. His books have been honored by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Rounce and Coffin Club, and by various universities and libraries. His titles for MGM pictures set new standards in the industry, and many authorities including Bruce Rogers believe is the he is the greatest contemporary designer.… Read More

No place [Wilmington, Vermont ?]: Unpublished, various dates 1950s - 60s. Manuscript in bound volume. Octavo, 9.5 inches x 6.5 inches, original red cloth with an unrelated printed paper spine label. Binding lightly faded & soiled, corners bruised, otherwise Very Good. Internally, a bit age toned, otherwise Fine. Pages 1 through 69, recorded in different inks excepting 4, are hand-numbered, very occasionally dated, with several initialed "L.D.C." presumably written sequentially between the mid to late fifties & early sixties (as suggested primarily by correspondence). Pages 53 & 54 comprise a poem entitled "Two Graves" which are typed & pasted in. Page 65 provides a tipped-in TLS on "Old Sturbridge Village" letterhead dated November 26, 1962, signed by editor & author Catherine Fennelly accepting for publication Mrs. Chambers poem, "Covenant," which is supplied in manuscript on the adjacent page. Page 69 features a tipped-in TLS from August Derleth on his letterhead dated November 17, 1962 accepting… Read More

Columbus, Ohio: L.P. Rayl & Co, Publishers, 1855. First edition. 8vo, 64 & [1] pages of printed text followed by 57 decorated & illustrated pages to record births, deaths, marriages, etc, of which 30 contain annotations in manuscript relative to John Grant (1688 - 1776), a British emigrant to Boston, & descendants. Original black cloth lettered & decorated in gilt & blind. Sabin/ Dictionary of Books Relating to America C 23765 (erroneously providing 1851 as year of publication).
Corners bumped & rubbed, shallow losses at spine extremities, cloth split about 2 inches at the upper joint, embossed blind stamp of "MC Lilley, Binder & Blank Book Manufacturer" at front free endpaper, previous owner's name at front pastedown, small silk flower & lock of hair taped to the verso of the ffep, scattered modest foxing, Good or so & still quite serviceable.Interesting content throughout, an excerpt from the manuscript portion is provided below: "Capt John Wise, whose daughter John Grant the 2nd married, was a… Read More

[Alexandria, Virginia]: not published, 1878 -1879. Marbled paper over card stock measuring 8 inches by 6.5 inches with the partial printed label of Episcopal High School on the front cover containing 92 pages recorded in ink on ruled paper. With small booksellers' label of J. & W.J. Entwisle of Alexandria at the verso of the front cover.
Very worn: Covers half perished (affecting printed label), soiled, foxed, edge wear, still quite useful.
William Edward Craighill (1863 - 1916) was the son of Union General William Price Craighill who himself rose to the rank of general. Young Craighill was a student at Episcopal High School which was the first high school in Virginia.

[Orangeburg, South Carolina]: unpublished, September, 1950 - June, 1956. Quarto (10.5" x 8.25"), 154 pages recorded in different hands & inks in "Standard Blank Book No. 21."
Binding a bit rubbed & soiled, otherwise very good & internally about fine.
A voluminous account of this auspicious group providing minutes, membership rolls, summaries of educational presentations, and often descriptions of performances & events. In addition to Ms. Shuler, contributors include: Elise Watson, Arnette Culler, Margaret G. Yongue, Mrs. Otto Warren, Jr., & Ellen Putnam.
"March, 1953.The meeting was then turned over to Mrs. J.C. Godowns, chairman of the folk dance festival. She introduced Mrs. T.F. Reid who gave an interesting study of folk music. Mrs W.O. Whitsell assisted her by the folk melodies at the piano … Following the program the hostesses served delicious punch, sandwiches and cookies, and a social hour was enjoyed."

Adamsville, Ohio, Manuscript Diary for 1856 comprising entries by Evan J Crane as recorded in publisher Sheldon, Lamport & Blakeman's Daily Pocket Diary For 1856: For The Use Of Private Families And Persons Of Business. 24mo (6" x 4"), 122 unnumbered pages of entries in ink followed by 2 pages of "memoranda," 13 pages of "cash accounts," & 4 pages of brief sporadic account entries thereafter. Original limp black roan with fold-over flap Binding rubbed, partially split & torn along the fold, entries often light without compromising legibility, otherwise Very Good Evan Crane (1827 - 1894) taught school in the winters & farmed in the summers. In 1857, with wife Cassandra (nee Geyer), he moved to Sonora near Zanesville & operated a general merchandise business. As noted in Perrin's History of Morrow County and Ohio, Crane took a prominent part "in the slavery and temperance reforms … and his influence has always been on the side of right, the question with him being the way of duty, and when it is… Read More

Plymouth, [England], undated (circa 1830's) 8vo (9.25" x 7.5"), 69 unnumbered pages recorded in ink on watermarked "J Lavender 1826" wove paper (followed by many blank leaves) Contemporary marbled paper over boards backed in green sheep Binding rubbed, scuffed, & soiled, rear hinge started, modest foxing & toning, otherwise Very Good A really stunning example of ink on paper which includes calligraphy, beautiful italic cursive script, occasional drawings & other decorative elements Young Master Siestone has recorded his course of study in vulgar fractions covering addition, subtraction, multiplication, & division, including rules, examples, & practical applications:"The hold of a ship contains 442 gallons of water This was emptied out by two buckets, the greater of which holding twice as much of the other, was emptied twice in three minutes, but the less three times in two minutes, and the whole time of emptying was 12 minutes"Pigot's Directory for 1822 - 1823 lists the academy of William Visick on… Read More

[Charlestown], Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia), "at the Court-House," November 5th & 8th, 1814. Original partially printed document on laid paper completed in manuscript (including corrections) measuring 7.25 inches by 7.25 inches. Signed in ink by George Hite on November 5, 1814 on the recto & by Edward McGuire & Joseph Gamble on November 8, 1814 on the verso. Old folds, moderate edge wear, some staining, otherwise Very Good. "Whereas Robert O. Grayson and Marguerite Susan, his wife, of the County of Frederick in the said Commonwealth have by their certain Deed of Bargain of sale bearing the date of November 1814 sold and conveyed unto John Yates of the County of Jefferson in the said Commonwealth and whereas Marguerite Susan cannot conveniently travel to the County of Jefferson ..." George Hite (born Charlestown, 1761 - 1816) served in the Revolutionary War as a Lieutenant in the Army attached to the Cavalry of Lee's Legion ["Light Horse Harry" Lee]. Additionally, he was the first… Read More

Garden City, New York: Stage & Screen, (1998) First edition, this copy inscribed & signed in ink by Leight at the half-title page, with signed TLS on letterhead laid in. 8vo, 116 pp, plus 4 unnumbered pp of illustrations from photographs. Publisher's black paper over boards lettered in silver on the spine, in pictorial dust jacket A fine copy in very good or better dust jacket, slightly rubbed, with a couple of short tearsStarring Edie Falco & Frank Wood, Side Man won the 1999 Tony Award for Best Play & was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama."Side Man is a mesmerizing, often harrowing family drama set in the smoky, blue-tinged world of jazz." ~Excerpted from the dust jacket

Thunderbird Country Club, Rancho Mirage, CA. November 3, 1978. Small 4to, single sheet typed, approximately 126 words, on beige watermarked notepaper Boldly signed "Ginger" in blue ink by Miss Rogers. With the original typed, stamped, & canceled matching envelope.
Folded for mailing, slightly soiled, otherwise near fine in neatly opened envelope.
Addressing dancer/ performer Larry Merritt, Miss Rogers provides her upcoming schedule & requests Mr Merritt's reply, noting that she had "tried to get you via telephone, but unfortunately you were never in!"
Ginger Rogers is ranked number 14 on the American Film Institute's list of female stars of classic American cinema.

Washington, D.C.: Unpublished, 1925. Typed Letter Signed. Washington, D.C., May 4, 1925, to Stewart Bell, Jr. of Winchester, Virginia. Quarto (11" x 8.5"), 1 page on watermarked National Geographic letterhead, approximately 214 typed words signed in ink by Grosvenor.Folded for mailing, lightly toned, otherwise Near Fine. The authenticity of Gilbert Grosvenor's signature is unconditionally guaranteed.Replying to young William Bell, Jr., then about 15 years old, Grosvenor, son-in-law of Alexander Graham Bell, who was then president of the National Geographic Society and the first full time editor of the society's iconic magazine, writes in part:
"In reply to your letter In reply to your letter of April 25, regarding material on the history of the Canadian flag, I take pleasure in calling your attention to the material on "The Flags of the British Empire," especially pages 378 to 381, in a work entitled "Flags of the World," published in 1917 by the National Geographic Society ..."

35 West 45th Street, New York, November 21, 1933. TLS on letterhead, Joseph P Kennedy to Robert Jackson at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. 4to, single sheet measuring 10.5 inches by 7.25 inches, approximately 168 typed words on the recto, verso blank, signed in green ink, "Joe Kennedy."
Folded twice vertically, lightly foxed, toned, & soiled, easily Very Good or better.
Addressing "Dear Bob," Kennedy declines an invitation to attend a social event for his daughter, noting that he will be in Palm Beach from "the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas." Kennedy does ask to be kept on the list as "even [he] might get there some day."
Robert Jackson was a New Hampshire lawyer who became secretary of the Democratic National Committee in 1931. An instrumental advisor to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his first campaign, Jackson planned strategy & secured commitments from delegates for the 1932 nominating convention. He resigned his DNC position in 1934 after Roosevelt decried the appearance of… Read More

"John R(ebel) Peacock, Unpardoned, Unrepentant, Unreconstructed. High Point North Carolina, Confederate States of America."
High Point, North Carolina, September 13, 1954. Typed letter signed on illustrated letterhead. Quarto (11" x 8.5"), single sheet, verso blank, with the original mailing envelope.
Folded twice horizontally, slight edge wear & soiling, otherwise very good. The envelope is soiled & a bit tattered but still good.
Mr. Peacock, addressing T.T. Perry,Jr. of Charlestown, West Virginia, who was Charlestown's postmaster, writes of his disappointment at missing Mr. Perry's visit & in doing so utilizes his unusual letterhead which features an illustration in color depicting a Confederate battle flag & printed advice from Mr. Peacock about retaining Confederate currency:
"Save your Confederate money, people. The South will surely rise again."
John Peacock was an agent for Bankers and Shippers Insurance of New York. He apparently passed away later in 1954 having never witnessed a resurgent… Read More

Burlington, [Vermont]: "Sold at wholesale by booksellers, and at retail by merchants generally throughout the state," [1857]. First edition thus. 24mo (5.25" x 3.25"), [7], 166 & 2 pages, with map & illustrations, plus 24 unnumbered pages for notes. Publisher's black diced limp roan, wallet style with fold-over flap.
Moderately rubbed & soiled, shallow loss at the base of the flap, occasional scuffs, light foxing & toning, previous owners name in pencil at the title page, otherwise Good or better.
In addition to text describing towns, railroads, business men, literary institutions, etc., as well as advertising, this directory provides a lengthy section for memoranda by day of the month, each month preceded by an illustrated page for moon phases, aspects, events & laconics. Previous owner W. Brigham has added brief annotations in pencil for 112 days generally regarding business affairs & travel.

Burlington, [Vermont]: "Sold by merchants generally throughout the state," [1855]. First edition thus. 24mo (5.25" x 3.25"), [8], 9 - 190 pages, with map & illustrations, plus 24 unnumbered pages for notes. Publisher's black limp diced roan, wallet style with fold-over flap.
Moderately rubbed & soiled, tear at the flap, occasional scuffs, light foxing & toning, previous owners name in pencil at the title page, otherwise Good or better.
In addition to text describing towns, railroads, business men, literary institutions, etc., as well as advertising, this directory provides a lengthy section for memoranda by day of the month, each month preceded by an illustrated page for moon phases, aspects, events & laconics. Previous owner W. Brigham has added brief annotations in pencil for 59 days generally regarding business affairs & travel.