William Dudley (1686 – 1743) a man of brilliant talents, which he exercised both in civil and military life. At the age of twenty he was sent on a most important and delicate mission to Canada, to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. Son of Joseph Dudley Colonial Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1702 to 1715. Samuel Gerrish. Publisher, bookseller. A strong advocate of the Regular Singing Movement in Boston during the 1720’s. John Weld. Member of the prominent Weld family of Massachusetts. “Whereas my honoured Granfather Joseph Weld of Roxbury has recorded to him in the records of Roxbury, two hundred & seventy eight acres in the four thousand granted to Roxbury by reason of Dedham, ( ) them as may be seen by the records of the town and general court and John Weld being the only surviving grandchild of the said Joseph have & Do by these presents convey and make over to my cosin Joseph Weld of Roxbury all my right, title or interest in the said two hundred & seventy eight acres or what may be granted to me on the petition now to be preferred to the honorable court to have & to hold the same to the said Joseph Weld his heirs & assigns forever. As witness my hand & seal this 24th Novr. 1736…Signed by John Weld at the conclusion and witnessed at left by Sarah Weld. William Dudley has signed below indicating that John Weld appeared “and acknowledged this instrument as his voluntary act & deed” John Weld signs again on the following page “It is agreed by & between the parties within …John and Joseph Weld that in case of any heirs of the first named Joseph except the within grantor shall recover any right or part in the within granted…the said John or his heirs will repay to Joseph, his heirs or assigns the one half of the consideration money…John Weld. Below, Prominent Bostonian Samuel Gerrish signs recording the transaction. A superb association of prominent Massachusetts individuals signing a single land memorandum document.

William Green (1873 - 1952) Second long-term president of the American Federation of Labor, serving from 1924 until his death in 1942.TLS. 1 page. 8 1/2” x 11”. On imprinted American Federation of Labor Letterhead. Washington, D.C. December 12, 1945. Addressed to Mr. Harold Sherwin of Rosalia, Washington. “Dear Mr. Sherwin: I acknowledge receipt of the letter dated November 30th signed by you and other members of the Adult Bible Class of the Rosalia Methodist Church. I cannot believe that you mean to convey the idea that wage proposals submitted by different groups of labor are unreasonable and unjustifiable. In this letter, however, you and your associates do not draw the line between reasonable and unreasonable proposals. Very truly yours, Wm. Green President American Federation of Labor.” A choice example for display.

John Wanamaker. ANS. 1pp. 8" x 13". Philadelphia. Nov 13, 1899. An autograph note signed by famed merchant John Wanamaker that states: "To The Real Estate Trust Co of Philadelphia Please deliver above Bonds to Mr. Williams & take his receipt for the same & Oblige Jno Wanamaker". There is a typed statement above: "RECEIVED of John Wanamaker Twenty five thousand dollars in Lehigh Valley Railroad Company Trust fives, to be held in trust by this Company as collateral for payment of rewards for detection of offences under his proposition made public this date. Said Bonds to be returned on surrender of this receipt one year from date." The document is in very fine condition overall.

EDWARD F. SWIFT (d. 1932). A son of Gustavus Swift Sr, the founder of Swift and Company, Edward served as president of Compania Swift Internacional, S.A. and Swift Refrigerator Transportation Co. He also served as vice president of Swift and Company and a director of numerous corporations. A "Proxy and Waiver Irving National Bank" document signed "Edward F. Swift". The document assigned several other men to vote for Swift at the stockholders' meeting. It is in Fine condition, with the exception of two pin holes with a dark signature and a 10 cent red Document stamp.

[The James Franklin Printing Press] In 1717, James Franklin, older brother of Benjamin Franklin, returned home to Boston afer serving as a printer’s apprentice in England. He brought with him this printing press. Made in London of unseasoned English elm, probably about 1650, the press proved to be rugged enough to take over a century’s worth of continuous hard work. It was a “common press,” designed to be dismantled for easy transport. Upon his return to Boston with the press, James Franklin established one of the first newspapers in the American colonies, The New England Courant. Soon Franklin’s younger brother, Benjamin was place with Jams as an apprentice by their father. This relationship turned sour, however, and Benjamin ended his apprenticeship early by running away to Philadelphia.The strong political views that James expressed in the editorials of the Courant provoked the Boson authorities to censor him. Like so many before him, rather than submit to their authority, he left the restrictive atmosphere of Massachusetts and came to the more tolerant Rhode Island in 1725. James Franklin created printing history when he arrived in Newport. He became the most prolific printer in Rhode Island printing the currency of the colony, The Acts and Resolves of the General assembly, hundreds of broadsides, almanacs, and countless other printed pieces. He established Rhode Island’s first-if shore lived- newspaper, the Rhode Island Gazette, which was published between 1732 and 1733.By 1733, Benjamin Franklin had established himself as a printer in Philadelphia. James Franklin died in 1735, and Benjamin Franklin took his nephew, James Franklin, Jr., as his apprentice. Young James remained with his uncle until he was old enough to return to Newport and take over management of him family’s shop in 1748. In the meantime, Anne Franklin, James’ widow, and her daughter took over the shop.In 1758, after James, Jr. returned from Philadelphia, the Franklin family established the Newport mercury, which has been in continuous publication to this day. It is now published by the Sherman Family who also publishes the Newport Daily News, James Jr. died in 1762 and his mother once again took over the printing operation, this time with her son-in-law Samuel Hall.In 1768, Hall sol the press and the business to Solomon Southwick. In July 1776 Southwick printed copies of the Declaration of Independence for all the towns of Rhode Island. Southwick continued using the press until the American Revolution. During the war, Solomon Southwick buried part of the Franklin Press behind his house on Broadway in an attempt to hide from the British. A local Tory informed on Southwick and the British dug up the press for their own use during their occupation of the city.

[Criminal History]. Broadside. 6 3/4" x 12". Printed by Opinion Printing, Rockland, Maine. Poems commemorating the execution by hanging of Louis H. F. Wagner and John True Gordon "who were hung at Thomaston, Me., June 25, 1875." In 1873, northern New England witnessed two brutal axe murders within three months apart from one another. The first of the murders occurred when a German-born fisherman named Louis Wagner killed two women, Anethe Christensen and Karen Christensen. Wagner had recently moved to the area and was living in poverty. He worked for a local fishing company where he financially lived day to day. He was known for complaining to his fellow workers about his lack of money and poor clothing. Furthermore, Wagner often talked about he adored Anethe Christensen despite not being able to have her. On one night in March, Wagner tried to solve his problems himself. He stole a local fisherman’s boat and began to row out to Smuttynose Island. His plan was to rob, murder, and possibly rape the three Christensen sisters who lived there alone. With only a hand-axe, Wagner was able to kill two of the three women while severely injuring the other. Amongst the intensity of the situation, one sister was able to escape and hide in the rocks on the beach until neighbors saw her around dawn. Wagner was eventually convicted of murder and hanged at Maine State Prison. Wagner maintained he was innocent until he was hung, and the warden of the prison supported his claims. On the day of Wagner’s hanging, another axe-murdering man, John True Gordon, accompanied Wagner. Also claiming his innocence, Gordon had far more evidence against him. The farm house of Almon and Emma Gordon was brutally ravaged and burned on June 16, 1873. Both Almon and Emma, as well as their year and a half old daughter were killed. Almon and Emma’s six-year-old son was brutally injured but survived. The testimonies of those in the house and the blood found on items in John True Gordon’s living quarters were major players in the conviction. However, the most powerful piece of evidence was the fact that John was vehemently trying to save furniture while the farm burned down rather than trying to save a single member of the family. In the end, it was determined that John’s motivation was likely to have involved his father’s passing of the family farm land to his younger brother Almon. There was also speculation that John had a very conflicting relationship with Almon’s wife, Emma. A rare broadside from the hanging that features pictures and descriptive poems about both killers. We are aware of one other in existence though others are likely to be found. Some light dampstaining, Fine.

Ethan Allen (1738 - 1789). Ethan Allen can be recognized for his many accomplishments; however, American Revolutionary War hero is his greatest distinctions. As leader of the famous Green Mountain Boys he led a campaign throughout Vermont and the surrounding area during the Revolution. His Green Mountain Boys were able to capture the British Fort Ticonderoga amongst winning other battles. ADS. 1 page. June 5, 1782. Allen writes in full indicating receipt of payment of a note due him; “June the 5th day 1782 then received of John Grant the full contents of a certain note in my favour against him and do hereby discharge the same it being the only note which I have against him as witness my hand -Ethan Allen” This discharges the debt to Ethan Allen from a fellow Green Mountain Boy John Grant. A choice and rare full Allen ADS. Few mounting traces on verso. Fine.

François Joseph Paul de Grasse (1722 – 1788). French Admiral who commanded the French Fleet at the Battle of Chesapeake, leading to the British surrender at Yorktown. DS. 1 page. 8” x 12 ½”. Signed while “Aboard the Orient, March 8, 1778” Article of the Gunner aboard the ship L’Orient. Not fully translated though the document details the cordage necessary for mooring cannons following the new method of procedure. The quantities of rope and other details of the procedure are provided. The Orient was an 80 gun ship in the French navy. In 1778 it was reduced to 74 guns and was wrecked in Trincomalee in the East Indies in February 1782. (Wikipedia). Folds. A scarce war date document signed by the French naval commander who secured American victory at Yorktown through his naval blockade.