For the collector of Victoriana or autographs of noted writers, here is an authentic signature of the English 19th century novelist and satirist WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY (1811-1863), found on what appears to be a library slip. The writing on the slip refers to the borrowing of the book "Histoire de la Reine Zarah et les Zarasiens", 1712. This little piece of history gives some indication of the reading habits of the famous author...

An albumen photograph of the Arc de Triomphe at the top of Champs Elysée in Paris France. It is by the unknown photographer E.F.. Titled in a thin margin at the bottom of the negative, “26 (E.F.) Paris – Arc-de-Triomphe.” The photograph is mounted on thin white cardboard. On the back is stamped, November Club, presumably the owner at one time. The image is 8 5/8 x 11 1/8 inches (22 x 28.5 cm)...

An albumen photograph of a gargoyle located high on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Unknown photographer. Written in the negative in the lower right, “1003, Paris Notre Dame.” The gargoyle emerges from the waist up with a human torso, a dragons ridge on the back of the elongated neck, pointed ears, deep sunk eyes and a slit for a nostril in a rounded snout. 10 ½ x 8 inches (27 x 20 cm) mounted with transparent corners in a 16 x 20 inch (40.5 x 51 cm) mat...

An albumen photograph of an entrance and most of one wing of the Louvre from the roof of another wing. Titled in the negative 0n the lower close to center, “LE LOUVRE,” and with the photographer’s red stamped signature, “Achille Quintet” on the backboard just below the photograph on the lower right, Faintly in the lower right corner in the negative is the number 62. The photo is 7 3/8 x 9 5/8 inches (19 cm x 24...

Of considerable historical interest, a black and white photograph of renowned American late 20th century political figure EDMUND MUSKIE (March 28, 1914 – March 26, 1996), inscribed at bottom margin in felt tip pen "To Steve/with the bet wishes of a friend/Ed Muskie". Muskie was an American politician with a long record of public service...

An original sepia-toned photograph of a middle aged man and his bicycle, with pencil note on the reverse side "Taken on Riverside Park/July 1898 by Sadie Coger", and again on black backing paper "My Dad taken/N New Jersey". The bicycle certainly seems to be quite an advanced model for its time, resembling strongly today's models. There is no glass, frame is simple strip wood, and photo is loose. Small framing nail penetrates wood of frame...

A letter typed on US Senate stationery, dated June 3, 1966, hand signed in brown ink by Ted Kennedy (1932-2009) when he was on the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. The senator was responding to correspondence from a George McCullough of New York City, which evidently dealt with McCullough's concerns about sharply increased LSD use in the United States...

A group of 21 handwritten, typed and printed documents from northern Mexico, dating to the turn of the century, (the earliest, 1885, the latest, 1905, with most clustered between 1896 and 1901), one of those documents actually signed in ink by Porfirio Diaz, (1830-1915), the Mexican general and politician who for seven terms totaling over 30 years was the president of Mexico...

Antique early map of central England's Oxfordshire county, by cartographer Robert Morden, originally published in 1695. This map is nicely hand colored. It measures 17" by 15" inside the green mat and 24" by 22" framed (no glass). The mat was seemingly permanently affixed over the margins of the map by the framer, but the central portion of the map does not appear to be laid down as there is play to the surface. There is central horizontal crease and slight handling creases in the field...

A miniature size hand written in Latin manuscript page, double sided, measuring 4 1/4" by 3", and 8 1/2" by 6 1/2" nicely framed, likely of religious content. Written neatly in brown ink with red capitals in places, much as would be seen in an antiphonal sheet. Condition of this little item, a survivor at many hundreds of years old, is excellent.

Original faded green ink pen signature and dedication by the famous heavyweight boxing champion and cultural icon of the 1920's, JACK DEMPSEY (1895-1983). The dedication reads "To the Old Boy himself my friend John Early Best Wishes Jack Dempsey Nov 22 -22 Memphis. Tenn", all written on top of a sepia-toned photo of the champ in his boxing days...

Original, HAND SIGNED AND INSCRIBED black and white photo from 1965, of the 36th president of the United States, LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON (1908-1973). Johnson became president upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas in 1963. He was elected to the office on his own in 1964. A Democrat, he oversaw the ramping up of the war in Vietnam and landmark social legislation. The photo is inscribed to one Ellen Oshim. The writing reads "To Ellen Oshim/with best wishes...

Ballpoint pen inscribed and signed black and white photograph of quarterback Bill Nelsen of the Cleveland Browns, circa early 1970's, the dedication reading "--Bob-- Best of luck in your future/your cousin Bill Nelsen". The photo measures 9 7/8" by 7". It is loose but protected in a simple inexpensive frame. Bill Nelsen (born 1941) was part of the 1962 national championship team at USC, and went on to a long career in pro football, as a player with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Br...

A black and white 1950's photo of the famous Argentine, Juan Peron (1895-1974), inscribed in ink at bottom "al senor Herbert He. Jillson, con gran afecto/Buenos Aires, 18 febrero 1955/Juan Peron". The piece measures 14" by 9" inside the mat and 18 1/2" by 13 1/2" framed (no glass, as found). This is a fascinating piece of history. Peron of course was a world-famous figure at mid century. He was three times president of Argentina from 1946-1955, and again briefly from October 1973 to July 197...

A pair of typed letters on White House vice-presidential stationery, one dated October 27, 1972, the other dated August 27, 1973, each addressed to Beverly Hills, CA friends of the 39th Vice President of the United States, SPIRO T. AGNEW (1918-1996). The first letter thanks the couple for working hard on behalf of the party for the upcoming November 1972 election (Richard Nixon/Agnew against George McGovern and Sargent Shriver); the second, written only weeks before his October 10, 1973 resigna...

Rare original handwritten letter, apparently dating to the year 1801, by the famous, iconic English-language historical novelist, playwright, poet, and judge SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832). This is a folded sheet of ancient paper, measuring 8" by 5", two sides of which bear writing. When acquired it was in a frame with the engraved image of him, as autograph materials are often framed. The old tape has dried so they were moving around loose inside, and therefore I have photographed the two piec...

Early 19th century map of the world, in Mercator projection, the Pacific Ocean at center, titled at upper right "Mappemonde sur la Projection de Mercator", measuring 10" by 14 1/2" inside the double mats, and 16" by 21" as nicely framed. The map might date to about the 1820's. The United States is shown as "Etats Unis". There are numerous picturesque early geographic names like "Is. Sandwich/Owhyhee", "Othahiti", "Nouvelle Hollande" for Australia, The map is printed on old style paper. Othe...

An page from a fifteenth century "Book of Hours", DOUBLE SIDED, page 6 3/4" by 4 3/4, framed with glass on both sides to facilitate viewing. There are 16 lines of text in Latin, decorative borders and capitals with extensive use of gold. According to Wikipedia, books of hours were Christian devotional books popular in the Middle Ages. They are considered the most common type of surviving medieval illustrated manuscripts. Generally they contained prayers and psalms. As the fifteenth century wore...