Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - June - 2009 Issue

Signed American Documents from Joe Rubinfine

The Wright brothers and sister in 1909. Nice hat.

The Wright brothers and sister in 1909. Nice hat.


Item 29 is a most interesting letter to New York Herald publisher James Gordon Bennett from President Abraham Lincoln on September 28, 1861. The Secretary of the Navy had denied permission to one of the Herald's reporters to accompany Lincoln on a trip down the Potomac. Lincoln tells the publisher that he has declined giving the reporter permission as he does not know why the naval Secretary denied approval and does not want to overrule him without knowing his reasons. Lincoln goes on to assuage any fears the pro-Lincoln publisher might have, but in a way that might sound like a bit of a warning, though it probably was not so intended: "I write to assure you that the Administration will not discriminate against the Herald, especially while it sustains us so generously, and the cause of the Country so ably as it has been doing..." $45,000.

Item 59 is a photograph of the flying Wright family, taken the only time the three siblings sailed together. Shown are brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright, with their sister Katherine in between. It would have been taken in May of 1909 as the three were returning from France. It is signed by Orville, and likely at a later date (Wilber died just three years later, but Orville lived until 1948). $2,000.

You may reach Joe Rubinfine at 321-455-1666 or Joerubinfine@mindspring.com.

Rare Book Monthly

  • High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
    High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
    High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
    High Bids Win
    Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines
    and Machine Manuals
    December 24 to January 9
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
    High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
  • Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare.
    The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
    Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens.
    A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Golding.
    Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
    Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll.
    Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien.
    The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: John Milton.
    Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD

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