Search Results: Titles starting with I from Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc.

TLS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. December 14, 1982. Austin, Texas. A typed letter signed “James A. Michener” on “The University of Texas at Austin” letterhead. He wrote to Robert Briner about a boycott of South Africa: “How pleasing it was to hear from you and to know that you still take interest in the things you did when I wrote about your operations. You raise a most difficult point, but it is one about which I have thought a great deal, and about which I was at one point more outspoken than most. Let me share with you my thinking as of today. Some years ago I supported an international boycott of South African sport, because I felt that the managers of that country needed a knock on the head to remind them of how the rest of the world felt. I think a great deal was accomplished by the protests in England, Australia and New Zealand, and never apologized for my attitude at that time. I now believe that the boycott served its purpose, and that to prolong it would be counterproductive. I… Read More

BRET HARTE (1836-1902). Harte was a Nineteenth Century poet and author best known for writing about life in early California. 9 pages. 5 ½” x 7 ¼”. A complete set of illustrated verses from Bret Harte’s 1870 poem “Plain Language from Truthful James”, later known as “The Heathen Chinee”. The poem was intended as a satirical critique of nineteenth-century Californian prejudices against the Chinese, but it was interpreted by much of its readership as anti-Chinese and was often republished in that context. Harte himself, however, was strongly against racism. These images are from a series published in 1870 by Chicago’s Western News Company with illustrations by Joseph Hull. They pages are in fine condition with some light aging and staining.

(CANNONS). AM. 5pg. 8 ¾” x 11”. No date. No place. A lengthy autograph manuscript that appears to regard making shot for cannon, or some other form of metal working. The document seems to be in German and has four detailed, elaborate drawings on the fourth page of a tower. It has a pulley at the top and shows a carload being hauled upwards. The manuscript is in fair condition with folds, a couple of holes that go through all four pages, and a fifth page attached to the other four that has some larger holes in it.

(FIRST NATIONS TRIBES). ALS. 1pg. September 5, 1788. Beauport (Quebec City). An autograph letter signed “Peter Stuart” and written to “Messrs. Davidson & Lees”. Stuart was a Quebecois businessman, and his letter concerns debts due to him and his business partners by First Nations tribes. “Gentlemen As you seem to apprehend that in the suit brought by Messrs Tho. Dunn Wm. Grant & myself, for payment of the debts due by the Indians on the posts of the Domain & Mingan an argument may be raised against you from my having ordered the Clerks of the different Posts, On the Commencement of the new lease to bring to the debit of the different Indians, the amot. of the debt due to the Old Compy I think it Justice to declare that such entries were made in the Books by my Orders, with out your knowledge, which I did not think necessary to inform you of till lately. And in Justice to the old Compy, I thought it equitable that the am’ts should be recpt so as the said amot. could not be paid but to the… Read More

ALS. This letter was penned in 1907, just 15 years after Naismith's invention of the game. The student, named Glenn, states in part: "...Our class practices for basketball tonight but I don't believe I will go out for the team I don't care enough for it. I like to see the game but I don't believe I will play even if I was sure of making the team...". The letter is in very fine condition overall and accompanied by the original envelope. I have never seen an earlier dated basketball letter

(WORLD WAR II IN INDIA). AL. 4pgs. N.d. [1941-2] N.p. An unsigned, handwritten letter to Mrs. Pollard in America, from an Indian servant who survived a 1941 Japanese attack in Burma during World War II. He details his family’s flight from Burma back to their native Madras, India. “Most Respected Madam Having thanked you for your kind letter and asked me to describe about my tedious & dangerous journey from Burma to my native place Madras after cursed Japs. Horrible Bombardment in Rangoon & other places in Burma. The first Bombardment which took placed on 23rd December 1941 at 10:30 A.M. at mail time…I did not leave the Bungalow like other servants did they gave some false excuses dishonest to master & cared their lifes more than master’s. Thank God he who encouraged me & strengthened me to be honest & faithful to my master till my death…merciful master paid my wages in addition to any pay master paid Rs 100 hundred for my way expenses & ordered me to go to Calcutta by walk…We had none… Read More

(CONFEDERATE LETTER). ALS. 4pgs. May 15, 1862. Lake Beautyfull. An autograph letter signed “Georg Curle” by an inhabitant of the Confederate south. The writer empowers the recipient to negotiate a marriage contract on his behalf. He also mentions the Civil War obliquely, calling the Union “the Lincolnists”, as well as his economic struggles: “…But you say you had commenced a negotiation with Cos M. P and did not know what to say to her I had in one of my former letter ?? you with all power to act for me and close the contract with her and had supposed you so understood it be such have been watching with much interest to here [sic] the result, so I hope you will not feel at a loss to know how to act, but close the matter as if I were present say to Cos MP to be ready I expect to be in about the first of July all she has to say is to say yes and we will go before the parson and have the not [sic] tied at once. Know all men by these presents that I Goerg Curle do hereby constitute Sally… Read More

ALS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. March 13, 1879. Bridesburg, Pennsylvania. An autograph letter signed “Barton H. Jenks” to Moses Taylor concerning a San Francisco to China undersea cable: “I have taken the liberty of referring to you Cyrus W. Field Esqr, as to my not being easily led astray, by visionary projects; you will remember I projected the Union Central Railroad from Schuylkill Co to the Lehigh Valley Rail road and united with Judge Packer. Mr. Sayer & others in presenting that matter to your attention; I am calling Mr. Field’s attention to an instrument for Deep Sea Sounding, without a line; its use will save time & money in ascertaining the bottom of the Pacific Ocean for laying his Cable from San Francisco to China. With considerations of esteem…”. The letter is in fair condition with waterstaining and fold separations that have been repaired.

DS. 1pg. 8 ½” x 11”. July 10, 1884. Cheyenne, WY. An invoice signed “O. B. Mitcham” for “Ordnance and Ordnance Stores turned over by Lieut. O. B. Mitcham to the Depot Quartermaster at Cheyenne Depot, Wyo. for transportation to the C. O. Co A, 6th Inf, at Fort Douglas, Utah in obedience to order of Department Comdr. dated July 10, 1884…”. The invoice was for one box of 2000 rifle bullets, weighing 155 pounds. Mitcham was later known for decrying the Army’s lack of automatic small arms at the turn of the century, leading to the development of the M1 Garand Rifle prior to World War I. Fort Douglas, in the Wasatch mountains overlooking the Salt Lake Valley, was a frontier outpost with friendly, and at times not so friendly, relations with Mormon settlers and native tribes. The document is in very fine condition, and has two horizontal folds.

ISAAC GUGGENHEIM (1854-1922). Guggenheim was the eldest son of Solomon Guggenheim and an industrialist in his own right. PS. December 12, 1917. N.p. A photograph inscribed and signed “Very sincerely yours, Isaac Guggenheim Dec 12/17”. Guggenheim signed this sepia, bust-length portrait on the bottom margin. It is in fine condition.

ISAAC F. QUINBY (1821-1891). Quinby was a Brigadier General in the United States and Union Armies. His Civil War service included commanding the 7th Division of the Army of the Tennessee. ADS. 1pg. December 17, 1850. Headquarters, 1st Military Department, Fort Adams, RI. An autograph document signed “I. F. Quinby”. The document is a military order appointing five men to a court martial to take place two days hence. “Orders No. 3} A General Court Martial to consist of five members (a greater number cannot be detailed without manifest injury to the service) will convene at Fort Constitution N.H. at 10 o’clock a.m. on Thursday the 19th day of December 1850 or as soon thereafter as practicable for the trail of such prisoners as many be brought before it. [A list of court members follows, including Robert Anderson, the commander of Fort Sumter at the time of the shelling] By order of Col Gates I. F. Quinby”. According to an annotation on the verso, the court martial was later cancelled. The… Read More

IVAN TURGENEV (1818-1883). Turgenev was a Russian author. ALS. 1pg. February 25, no year [c. 1882]. 50 Rue de Douai, Paris. An autograph letter signed “Iv. Turgenev”. He wrote in French to writer and influential political figure Juliette Adam (1836-1936), accepting a dinner invitation. In translation, it reads “I will certainly come to dinner at your place on Wednesday, all the while knowing how much it will be difficult for me to replace the great Skoheleff, who takes after Charles XII and not only because of his face.—I will give you at that time 5000 fr. From Vereschaguine, another type of Charles XII; I will tell you how and why.—In the meantime – a thousand friendly salutations. Iv. Turgenev”. Skoheleff was Russian General and military hero Mikhail Skobelev, who had recently been ordered home to Russia. Vereschaguine was Russian painter Vasily Vereshchagin. It is in fine condition with minor faults.