Autograph manuscript notebook, the working notebook for the verses later published in The Seraphim, and Other Poems.. No Place, 1835-1837

This extraordinary manuscript is Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s heavily revised autograph working notebook for The Seraphim, and Other Poems, the book that first brought her fame.

$550,000

Autograph letter signed as President to Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas [with] American flag bunting from Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theatre. Washington, Executive Mansion, May 27, 1861

Abraham Lincoln, writing at the outset of the Civil War, recommends that the Army admit three volunteers from the highly divided city of Baltimore. He advises Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas, “I hate to reject any offered from what is called a Southern State.” [offered with] Bunting from the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre.

two items: $275,000

Map of Beijing, painted on silk. [China, Daoguang Period], (1820-1850)

This splendid, enormous hand-painted map of Beijing shows and names the main streets, official residences of imperial family members, important buildings, temples, geographical features, fortifications and garrisons of the Forbidden, Imperial and Inner Cities.

$250,000

United States flag flown to the Moon on Apollo 11. NASA, July 16-24, 1969

This American flag, flown to the Moon on Apollo 11, is one of the most sought-after relics of space exploration.

$165,000

Autograph manuscript signed on Leaves of Grass and Whitman’s mission in the world, beginning “Your Washington, Jefferson, and Monroe …”. Camden, May 25, 1889

In this outstanding manuscript Whitman describes his historical “mission,” his place in American literature, and the role of the great poet in fostering relations among the the people of the world. Whitman sent these words to his English friend, the artist Herbert Gilchrist, to deliver at Whitman’s 70th birthday banquet on May 30, 1889. Whitman, then ailing and not slated to speak at the event, takes this opportunity to speak through Gilchrist.

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Autograph manuscript on Ralph Waldo Emerson. No place, n.d.

In this fine, heavily revised manuscript Whitman implicitly contrasts his poetry with that of his mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson. Whitman begins by declaring that Emerson “has not the coarse animalism or the ecstatic religious sense. But let us be thankful for what he has …” Those very elements, “coarse animalism” and an “ecstatic religious sense” were two of the elements that Whitman brought to American literature. Whitman continues,

$85,000

Autograph letter signed to Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Camden, New Jersey, 9 August 1878

“The Good Gray Poet” to the Poet Laureate. Tennyson was the most important of of the many English literary figures who subscribed to the “Author’s Edition” of Leaves of Grass, privately issued by Whitman in 1876. Hearing that Whitman was “in great straits, almost starving,” Tennyson sent him five pounds virtually as an outright gift, rather than the more modest subscription price (Kaplan, Walt Whitman).

$60,000

Ink and wash drawings of Jewish subjects and of musical instruments, Signed by Daguerre. “Dessiné le 12 Novembre 1822 LJM Daguerre.”, 1822

$38,000

Autograph manuscript account of his brother George’s movements in the Civil War. No place, [1863]

Whitman’s brother fights in the war: the origin of the poet’s nursing service.

$35,000

Armstrong and Aldrin raising the U.S. flag on the Moon’s surface. NASA, [1969]

Signed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the first two men on the Moon. This image was taken by the Maurer Data Acquisition Camera (DAC, pronounced “dak”). The DAC made films through the Lunar Module Pilot’s window during the approach and landing of the LM and took stop motion photographs during the EVA at the rate of one frame per second.

$32,000