Sale 1291 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 25-26 July, 2023
Category — Diamond Collection of Spanish-American War: Historical Corresp. & Covers
U.S.S. Olympia, Hong Kong, May 30, 1899. Dateline on enclosure with fascinating contents, an officer writes of Admiral Dewey's refusal to meet with a U.S. Consul suspected of helping Aguinaldo, and of his spending time with Hobson the war hero and encloses Hobson's signature as a souvenir, with Hong Kong, 1891, 10c Violet on Red (44) also with second enclosure dated June 4, cover with tied by "Hong Kong JU 5 99" circular datestamp and used to Waco Tex., some splitting along folds of enclosure, cover with some insect wear, otherwise Fine, interesting contents
5c Dark Blue (281). Tied by "San Francisco Cal. Jul. 5 2-PM '98" machine cancel on cover to Rear Admiral George Dewey, Commander U.S. Fleet, Hong Kong, China, marked "Personal" with wonderful content original letter from Dewey's friend and classmate Commander George Coffin, letter begins "My Dear Dewey" and talks about American victories in Cuba as well as the public's admiration for Dewey, stamp with minor perf toning, Very Fine, accompanied by biographical information on Coffin
Thomas A. Edison's War-Graph, Featuring the Battles of San Juan Hill and Manilla Bay. 1c Blue entire addressed to Proctorsville Vt., two enclosures including flyer datelined at Proctorsville Oct. 5, 1899 for "A Fine Entertainment" and describing the films that were to be shown including the Battles of San Juan Hill and Manilla Bay, also a pink admissions ticket for "Thomas Edison's Latest War-Graph" at the Grand Opera House Akron O., featuring Admiral Dewey's parade, Very Fine and wonderful historical items for early motion pictures, the Dewey parade and other Spanish-American War films by Edison Co. can be seen at the Library of Congress website, at https://www.loc.gov/collections/spanish-american-war-in-motion-pictures/about-this-collection/
General Merritt took Manila on Saturday, the 13th instant. Printed telegram with "North China Daily News, Extra. Shanghai 16th August, 1898 2P.M.", with "Imperial Chinese Telegraphs" part-printed cover and addressed to Tientsin, cover with some overall toning, still Very Fine and attractive item
Theodore Roosevelt. Two signed letters datelined at Camp Wikoff, Long Island N.Y., on Aug. 30 and Sep. 5, 1898, both expressing regret that he is unable to undertake a request, one with speckled toning spots, other with minor ink spot, Very Fine
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Theodore Roosevelt. Significant group of items culled from the larger Diamond Spanish-American War Prominent Peoples collection (lot 735), three are letters signed by Roosevelt during the months of the war, including June 6, 1898 typed letter to an officer in the 71st Regiment stating "We may both meet in Cuba!", June 11, 1898 typed letter "On board Yucatan" saying he may not be able to look up an individual "until we land in Cuba. I hope we land soon.", the latter part in manuscript, July 27, 1898 datelined "In camp near Santiago de Cuba", also several other letters or covers signed by Roosevelt including Dec. 6, 1898 on New York Republican State Committee letterhead, Feb. 27, 1899 as Governor of New York (toning), pardon signed as President for a Spanish-American War soldier, fascinating letter signed in 1917 explaining to a correspondent the story of his attempt to lead troops in World War I and President Wilson's rejection of the request, a signed engraving, also later Roosevelt family items including Edith Roosevelt free franks and signed letter from Theodore Roosevelt Jr. as Governor General of the PhilippinesAN OUTSTANDING AND SCARCE GROUP OF THEORDORE ROOSEVELT SIGNED LETTERS OR DOCUMENTS, SPANNING 1898-1917.
See our website PDF for a complete scan.
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AN EXCEPTIONAL ASSEMBLAGE OF LETTERS AND OTHER MATERIAL SIGNED BY PROMINENT FIGURES OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. A LIFETIME ASSEMBLAGE FROM THE DIAMOND COLLECTION.
To appreciate the full breadth of this collection we recommend viewing. For those who cannot do so we have a linked PDF on our website of much of the collection, with scans of the front (and many backs) of each sleeve -- though this presents limits since many letters are multi-page (and some of it was not practical to scan). In addition, below is a non-comprehensive list of highlights in alphabetical order:
One signed by all members of the Peace Commission (with photos of each); several from Secretary of War Russell A. Alger; four from Clara Barton including on a ship awaiting invasion of Cuba; General James J. Bell (Medal of Honor); William Jennings Bryan; Tasker Bliss; Admiral Charles Clarke; George Cortelyou; Secretary of State William Day; Queen Isabella II of Spain (signed "Isabel"); Admiral of the Navy George Dewey including four cards with signature, Oct. 12 and Dec. 14, 1898 signed letters on Flagship Olympia stationery, approximately ten additional 1899 or later Dewey signed letters, plus engravings and other ephemera; several from General Maximo Gomez; Senator Mark Hanna; several Senator Henry Cabot Lodge; General Henry W Lawton (Medal of Honor) while commanding forces fighting in the Philippines; numerous General Fitzhugh Lee (one of four Confederate Civil War generals who served as a U.S. general during the Spanish-American War); several Secretary of the Navy John D. Long; President William McKinley including signature on White House stationery dated Aug. 19, 1898 and three signed "WMK" on separate White House cards with short notes; Treasury Secretary William G. McAdoo; General Arthur MacArthur; several from Commanding General Nelson Miles including May 9, 1898 order to begin the invasion of Cuba; House Speaker Thomas Reed; artist Frederick Remington; Theodore Roosevelt including two signed letters as Acting Secretary of the Navy; Secretary of State Elihu Root; William Howard Taft as President with two letters dated 1910 on White House stationery; Admiral Richard Wainwright, who was first officer on the Maine when it exploded; five from General Joseph Wheeler, who was another of the four Confederate generals to serve as U.S. generals during the war; also many other admirals, generals, senators and congressmen. A truly exceptional collection.
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AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION OF SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR LETTERS AND EPHEMERA, REPRESENTING A LIFETIME OF COLLECTING FROM THIS FASCINATING PERIOD OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
To appreciate the full breadth of this collection we recommend viewing. For those who cannot do so we have a linked PDF on our website of much of the collection, with scans of the front (and many backs) of each sleeve -- though this presents limits since many letters are multi-page (and some of it was not practical to scan). In addition, below is a non-comprehensive list of highlights:
One thick binder with Cuba-related letters from 1850's to 1898, including related to early attempted invasions; Little Cuba book on the Cuban Revolution and the story of "Love, War and Startling Adventure"; thick binders with letters written during the war; covers and letters from numerous individual soldiers, including full or partial correspondences, some killed in action; many letters describing battles, minor engagements, blockades, landing of troops, campaigns in each theater, camp life, political commentary, etc.; several letters discussing the cause of the USS Maine explosion; letter by an eye witness to the sinking of the Merrimac (the only U.S. ship sunk by the Spanish Navy during the war); letters from members of the "Rough Riders" including description of Battle of San Juan Hill; covers for soldier ballots for election of 1898; diary of officer in the Spanish Cardenas Regiment; good amount of immediate post-war material including invitation to the Treaty of Paris; many, many others.
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