Illustrated catalogue of the notable autograph collection of the late Josiah Henry Benton online

B M 177 M37

(Hi: NOIABLK AL iOC.RAPH C:OLLKC:riON

OF THE LATE

JOSIAH HENRY BENTON

AT ONE TIME PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
COMPRISING IMPORTANT LETTERS BY

AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CELEBRITIES IN

POLITICS, HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THE DRAMA



(JJ r- i V- ,. ,s,



TO BE SOLD AT UNRESTRICTED PUBLIC SALE

BY ORDER OF MRS. BENTON

OS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, MARCH 12th
AND SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 13th. 1920

UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF

THE AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION

MADISON SQUARE SOUTH
NEW YORK CITY




THE AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION

DESIGNS ITS CATALOGUES AND DIRECTS

ALL DETAILS OF ILLUSTRATION

TEXT AND TYPOGRAPHY



ON PUBLIC EXHIBITION
AT THE AMERICAN ART GALLERIES

MADISON SQUARE SOUTH, NEW YORK
ENTRANCE, 6 EAST 23rd STREET

BEGINNING SATURDAY, MARCH 6th, 1920

AND CONTINUING UNTIL THE TIME OF SALE



THE NOTABLE AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

OF THE LATE

JOSIAH HENRY BENTON

AT ONE TIME PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY



TO BE SOLD AT UNRESTRICTED PUBLIC SALE

BY ORDER OF MRS. BENTON

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, MARCH 12th
AND SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 13th, 1920

AT 2^ IN THE AFTERNOONS AND 8:00 O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING

AT THE AMERICAN ART GALLERIES














GEORGE WASHINGTON-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Autograph Eetter, Signed. 179G
[No. 903]



ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF

THE NOTABLE AUTOCiRAPH COLLECTION

OF THE LATK

JOSIAH HENRY BENTON

AT ONE TIME PRESIDENT OF THE HOARD OF TRUSTEES,

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY



TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE OR RESTRICTION

BV ORDER OF MRS. BENTON

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, MARCH 12th
AND SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH L^th, 1920

AT 2:30 IN THE AFTERNOONS AND 8:00 O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING



THE SALE TO BE CONDUCTED BY-
MR. THOMAS E. KIRBY AND HIS ASSISTANTS, OF
THE AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION, Managers

^- • NEW YORK CITY



♦ITS



GIFT



fl7



PREFATORY NOTE REGARDING THE
BENTON AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

The Colkrtiou of Auto-rapli Lrtters of tlir late ,J(.>i:ili II. Benton, is, on
aei-ount of the Xotabic Personages representetl. and the historieal, politital
and literary informatiou eontained therein, one of the most important and
interesting collections of autograph material otTered in recent years at public
sale in Amerca.

Xot only did Mr. Benton obtain letters of the more notable personages in
the field of American politics, history, literature and drama, as well as some
important additions of British and French authors and statesmen; but, he also
succeeded remarkably in his aim of collecting such examples as should con-
tain interesting information relative to the writers* connection with important
events of the period.

With a few exceptions, every letter is ai-companied by a portrait (in most
cases engraved) of the writer, as well as by a typewritten transcript of the
letter; while in a great mimber of instances a typewritten l)iographical note
taken from Appleton's Biographical Cyclopedia accompanies the same. In
all cases, the letter with its accompanying transcript and portrait are neatly
hinged to a specially prepared i)aper fold, thus allowing of the easy turning
of the page. In many instances, the portrait, and in a few cases the original
letter, are neatly iidaid.

Among the special features of the collection are Signed Autograph Let-
ters by All the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the United States from
Washington to the present day ; All the Chief Justices, and most of the Asso-
ciated Justices of the United States Supreme Court; many of whom are repre-
sented bv more than one letter.



A



^33092



CLASSIFIED RESUME OF SOME OF THE MORE
NOTABLE PERSONAGES



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED' STATES
WASHIN(iTON, George (1789-1797)



ADAMS. Johu (1797-1801)
JEFFERSON. Thomas (1801-1809)
MADISON, Jame.s (1809-1817)
MONROE, James (1817-1825)
ADAMS. John Quiucy (1825-1829)
JACKSON. Andrew (1829-1837)
VAN BUREN. Martin (1S37-1S41)
HARRISON, William H. (1841)
TYLER. Johu (1841-1845)
POLK. James K. (1845-1849)
TAYLOR. Zachary (1S49-1S50)
FILLMORE, Millaitl (1850-1853)
PIERCE, Franklin (1853-1857)

WILSON.



BUCHANAN, James (1857-1861)
LINCOLN, Abraham (1861-1865)
JOHNSON, Andrew (1865-1869)
- GRANT, Ulysses S. (1869-1877)
HAYES. Rutherford B. (1877-1881)
GARFIELD, James A. (1881)
ARTHUR. Chester A. (1881-1885)
CLEVELAND, Grover (1885-1889; 1893-

1897)
HARRISON, Benjamin (1889-1S93)
McKINLEY, William (1897-1901)
ROOSEVELT. Theodore (1901-1909)
TAFT, William Howard (1909-1913)
Woodrow (1913-1920)



VICE-PRESIDENTS OF
ADAMS, John (1789-1797)
JEFFERSON, Thomas (1797-1801)
BURR, Aaron (1801-1805)
CLINTON, George (1805-1812)
GERRY, Elbridge (1813-1814)
TOMPKINS. Daniel D. (1817-1825)
CALHOUN, John C. (1825-1833)
VAN BUREN, Martin (1833-1837)
JOHNSON, Richard M. (1.S37-1841)
TYLER, John (1841)
DALLAS. George M. (1845-1S49)
FILLMORE. Millard (1849-1850)
KING, William R. (1850-1853)
BRECKINRIDGE. John C. (1857-1861)



THE UNITED STATES

HAMLIN, Hannibal (1861-1865)
JOHNSON. Andrew (1865)
COLFAX, Schuyler (1869-73)
WILSON. Henry (1873-1875)
WHEELER, William A. (1877-lSSl)
ARTHUR, Chester A. (1881)
HENDRICKS, Thomas A. (1885-1889)
MORTON, Levi P. (1889-1893)
STEVENSON, Adlai E. (1893-1897)
HOB ART. ({arret A. (1897)
ROOSEVELT, Theodore (1901)
FAIRBANKS, Charles W. (1905-1909)
SHERMAN. James S. (1909-1912)
MARSHALL. Thomas R. (1913-1920)



SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE



ADAMS. John
ADAMS, Samuel
CARROLL, Charles
CHASE, Samuel
FRANKLIN, Benjamin



GERRY. Elbridge
HANCOCK, John
JEFFERSON. Thomas
MORRIS. Robert
WILSON, James
WOIiCOTT. Oliver



CHIEF JUSTICES OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
CIIASK. Salmon V. (lS(>4-lST.1i .M AI{S1 1 ALL. .I(.hu (1801-l.s;{r. »

KLLSWOliTII. (HivtT (179(>-17ltU i lilTLKl k;1:. John (1795)

irLLKU. M.lvillo W. (lSHV-1910) TANEV. Koyor Brooke (lS3G-lS0)4i

JAY. John (17s9-179r») WAITK. Morrison U. (1S7MSS,S)



ASSOCIATE JUSTICES OF THE

r,ALl»\VIN. Henry (IS'Ul-lvi » i

itAur.oru. riiiiip p. (is;^g-i.s41)

r.LAT(HI-(»KI>. SauuK'l (18S2-1893)
I*.KAI>Li:V. Josi'ph P. (1S70-1892)
I'.KKWKU. David J. (ls,s9-1910)
CAMPBELL. John A. (1S53-1S61)
CATRON. John (18:17-1865)
CHASE. Samuel (179(MS11)
CLIFFOUD. Nathan (1.S5S-1881)
CURTIS. Benjamin R. (1851-1857)
crSHIN(i. William (1789-1810)
DANIEL. Peter Y. (1S41-1860)
DAYIS. Davitl (18(52-1877)
DAY. William R. (1903-date)
DLYAL. (Jahriel (1811-1836)
FIELD. Stephen J. (1863-1897)
(JRAY. Horace (1881-1902)
(;RIER. Robert C. (1846-1870)
HARLAN. John M. (1877-1911)
HOLMES. Oliver W., Jr. (1902-date)
HFNT. Ward (1872-1882)
IKEDEFJ.. ,L^mes (17!M)-1799)



UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
JOHNSON. Thomas (1791 179:ii
JOHNSON, William (lS01-ls;U)
LAMAK. Lucius Q. C. (1888-1893)
LIYINOSTON. Brwkholst (1807-1823 1
. McLEAN. John (lS2t)-ls(n )
MATTHEWS. Stanley (issi-issj))
MILLER, Samuel F. (1862-1890)
MOOKE. Alfred (1799-1804)
NELSON. Samuel (1845-1872)
PATERSON. William (179.3-1800)
PECKHAM, Rufus W. (1895-1909)
RITLEDGE. Jehu (17S9-1791)
SHIRAS. (Jeorge, Jr. (1892-1902)
STORY. Joseph (1M1-1S45)
STRON(;. William (1870-18.8(H
SWAYNE. Noah H. (1862-1.8,81)
THOMPSON. Smith (1823-1.843)
TODD. Thomas (1807-1.826)
WASHINCJTON. Bushrod (1798-1829)
WAYNE. James M. (1835-1867)
WILSON. James (1789-1798)
WOODBIRY. Levi (1845-1851)



AMERICAN MILITARY MEN OF NOTE

JACKSON. Thomas J.— General.
JOHNSTON. Joseph E.— General
LEE. Robert E.— General
McCLELLAN. George B.— Maj.-Gen
MEADE. George G.— Maj.-Gen.
PORTER. David Dudley— Ad mint 1
PORTER. Fitz-John— Maj.-Gen.
ROSECRANS. William— Maj.-Gen.
SCHOFIELD. John M.— Maj.-iien.
SCOTT. Winfield— Maj.-(;en.
SHEKH>AN. Philip P.— Maj.-Gen.
SHEK^LVN. Thomas— Brig.-Gen.
SHERMAN. William T.— Lt.-Gen.
SI(MKNAP, Jeremy
BROWN, John
BRYANT, William Ciillen
BURROUGHS. Juhu
CLEMENS, Samuel L.
COOPER, James Fenimore
CURTIS, George W.
I>ODGE, Mary Abigail
EMERSON, Ralph Waldo
FROTHINGHAM, Richard
HARTE, Bret
HOLMES, Oliver Weudell
HOAVE. Julia Ward
HOWELLS, William Dean
IRVING. Washington
LONGFELLOW, Henry W.
LOSSING, Benson J.
LOWELL, James R.



MOTLEY. John L.
MURFREE, Mary N.
PALFREY, John G.
PARKMAN, Francis
PARTON^ James
PEMBERTON, Thomas
PRESCOTT, William H.
READ, Thomas
RIPLEY, George
SARGENT. Lucius M.
SAXE. John G.
SHILLABER. Benjamin P.
SIMMS, W. G.
SPARKS, Jared
STOWE, Harriet Beecher
WARNER. Charles I>.
WHIPPLE, E. P.
WHITMAN, Walt
WHITTIER, John G.
WILLIS. M. P.



A FEW OF THE MORE NOTED AMERICAN STATESMEN



A3IES, Fisher — Statesman
ANDREAV, John A.— Gov. of Mass.
BATES, John L.— Gov. of Mass.
BEECHER, Henry Ward— Preacher
BELKNAP, Jeremy— Historian
BERNARD, Francis— Gov. of Mass.
BLAINE, James G.— Secty. of State
BLAIR, Montgomery — Postmaster-Gen.
BOUTWELL, George S.— Gov. of Mass.
BUCKINGHAM, W. A.— Gov. of Conn.
CASS, Lewis— Gov. of Ohio
CHOATE, Rufus— Lawyer
CLAY, Henry— Secty. of State
CLINTON, De Witt— Gov. of N. Y.
CORWIN, Thomas— Gov. of Ohio
CRAWFORD, W. H.— Secty. of Treas.
CROCKETT, Daniel— Pioneer
DAVIS, Jefferson — Confederate Pres.
DOUCiLAS, Stephen— Statesman
DUDLEY, Joseph— Colonial Gov. of

Mass.
EVERETT, Edward— Orator
FESSENDEN, W. P.— Secty. Treasy.



FIELD, Stephen J. — Cal. Senator
GALLATIN, Albert— Financier
GREELEY, Horace— Journalist
GRISWOLD, Matthew— Gov. of Conn.
GRISWOLI), Roger— Gov. of Conn.
HAMILTON, Alexander— Secty. Treas.
HAY. John— Secty. of State
HENRY, Patrick— Revolutionary Ora-
tor
HOAR— George F.— Statesman
HOPKINS, John H.— Vt. Bishop
HUTCHINSON, Thomas — Gov. of

Conn.
JOHNSON, William S.— Conn. Judge
KENT, James— Chancellor of N. Y.
LAURENS, Henry— Pres. Cont. Con-

LIN( '( )LN, Levi— Attorney-Gen.
LIVINGSTON, Robert R.— Statesman
LONG, John D.— (Jov. of Mass.
LYON, Matthew— Ky. Politician
MORGAN, John P.— Financier
MORSE, Samuel F. B.

[Continued



AMERICAN STATESMEN— CoNTi.MEi)



OLNEY. Richard— Secty. of State
OTIS, Harrison Gray- Orator
OTIS. James— Patriot
PAUKEIi. Isaai— Mass. Judge
riNCKNKY. Thomas— Gov. of S. C.
roWNAI.L. Thomas— Gov. of Mass.
rillNCE. Thomas— Colonial Preacher
QIINCV. Josiah— State.sman
RAWSOX, Edward— Colonial States-
man
RITLEDGE, John— Gov. of S. C.

WIKT. William-



SEWARI). Fretlerick— Secty. of State
SEYMorR. Horatio— Gov. of N. Y.
SIIIIUJ:Y. AVilliam- Gov. of Mass.
STA.NTOX. Edwin M.— Secty. of War
STi:i'IIi:.\S. Ali'x. H. — Southern

Stalcsiimii
STOUGHTON, ^Villiam— Gov. of Mass.
SULLIYAN, James— Gov. of Mass.
SEMNEIt. Charles — Mass. Seiuitor
TIUMliULL, J.— Gov. of (Nmn.
AVEBSTER, Daniel— Lawyer
-Eawyer



SOME OF THE MORE NOTED ENGLISH AUTHORS AND STATESMEN



ADDISON, Joseph
AMHERST, William Pitt
ARNOLD. Sir Edwin
P.ARHAil, Richard H.
BASKERVILLE, John— Printer
KESSAM. Walter
BLACK, William
BLESSINGTON. Marguerite
BROUGHAM, Henry, Baron
BROWNING, Robert
BURKE, Edmund
BYRON, George Gordon, Lord
CADELL, Robert— Publisher
CARLYLE. Thomas
COLERIDGE. Samuel T.
COLLINS. Wilkie
CORNWALLIS. Charles, Lord
COWPER. William
CRUIKSIIANK. George
CUNNIN(JHAM, Allan
DE QUINCY. Thomas
DORAN, John
EDGEWORTH. Maria
EDWARD. Albert— King
ELLSWORTH. Oliver
FARADAY. Michel
FREDERICK. Duke of York
FREEMAN. Edward A.
FROUDE, James A.
GEORGE III



GIBBON, Edward
GLADSTONE. William E.
HALLAM. Henry
HARDY. Thomas
HASTINGS. Warren
HAZLITT. William
HONE. William
HOOD. Thomas
HUME. David
INGELOW. Jean
JAMES. G. P. R.
KINGLAKE, Alexander W.
KIN(;SLEY. Charles
KIPLING. Rudyard
LANDSEER. Edward
LEVER. Charles
LINGARD. John
LOCKHART, John G.
LYTTON, Edward R. Bulwer
MAC AULA Y, Thoma.s B.

McCarthy, justin

MANSFIELD. Sir James
MARTINEAI'. Harriet
MKLI'.OURNE. William L.
MEREDITH. (Jeorge
MILL. John Stuart
MILMAN. Henry H.
M(M)RE. Thomas
MoUE. Hannah
MCI. LOCK. Dinah M.

[Cinitiunrd



ENGLISH AUTHORS AND STATESMEN— Coxti:



NELSON, Horatio
NEWMAN, Cardinal
PALGKAVE, Francis P.
PEEL, Sir Robert
PORTER. Jane
POPE. Alexander
RAWLINSON, Sir Henry
RICHARDSON, Samuel
ROBERTSON, William
RUSKIN, John
SAL A, George



SCOTT, Sir Walter
SMITH. Sir William Sidney
SOUTHEY, Robert
STANLEY, Arthur
TENNYSON, Alfred, Lord
TROLLOPE, Anthony
WARREN, Samuel
W^\TSON, John
WELLINGTON, Duke of
WILLIAM IV.
WORDSWORTH, William



FRENCH AUTHORS AND STATESMEN



DUMAS. Alexander
(iUIZOT. Fraugois P. G.
HUGO, Victor
JUSSERAND, Jean A.
LAFAYETTE, Gilbert M.



MAZARIN, Cardinal
NAPOLEON I.
SUE, Eugene

TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de
VOLTAIRE, Marie Arouet de



ACTORS AND ACTRESSES OF NOTE



ANDERSON, Mary
BARRETT, Lawrence
BELLEW. Harold K.
BERNHARDT, Sarah
BOOTH, Edwin
BOOTH, Junius Brutus
BOUCICAULT, Dion
BROUGHAM, Emma
BURTON, William E.
CUSHMAN, Charlotte
DAVENPORT, Edward L.
FECHTER, Charles
FORREST, Edwin
IRVING, Henry
JANAUSCHECK, Francesca



JEFFERSON, Joseph
KEAN, Charles
KEMBLE, Charles
LANGTRY, Uillian
McCULLOUGH, John E.
MACREADY, William C.
MATTHEWS. Charles J.
PATTI, Adelina
RACHEL. Elisa
RISTORI, Adelaide
TERRY. Ellen
TREE. Ellen
WARREN, William
WILSON, Francis
YOUNG, E.



Conditions of Sale

1. Any bid which is merely a nominal or fractional advance may be rejected by
the auctioneer, if, in his judgment, such bid would be likely to affect the sale in-
juriously.

-. The highest bidder shall be the buyer, and if any dispute arise between
two or more bidders, the auctioneer shall either decide the same or put up for
re-sale the lot so in dispute.

3. Payment shall be made of all or such part of the purchase money as
may be required, and the niimes and addresses of the purchasers shall be given
immediately on the sale of every lot, in default of which the lot so purchased
shall be immediately put up again and re-sold.

Payment of that part of the purchase money not made at the time of sale,
shall be made within ten days thereafter, in default of which the undersigned may
either continue to hold the lots at the risk of the purchaser and take such action
as may be necessary for the enforcement of the sale, or may at public or private
sale, and without other than this notice, re-sell the lots for the benefit of such pur-
chaser, and the deficiency (if any) arising from such re-sale, shall be a charge
against such purchaser.

4. Delivery of any purchase will be made only upon payment of the total
amount due for all purchases at the sale.

Deliveries will be made on sales days between the hours of 9 A. M. and 1 P. M.,
and on other days — except holidays — between the hours of 9 A. M. and 5 P. M.

Delivery of any purchase will be made only at the American Art Galleries, or
other place of sale, as the case may be, and only on presenting the bill of purchase.

Delivery may be made, at the discretion of the Association, of any purchase
during the session of the sale at which it was sold.

5. Shipping, boxing or wrapping of purchases is a business in which the
Association is in no wise engaged, and will not be performed by the Association
for purchasers. The Association will, however, afford to purchasers every facility
for employing at current and n^asonable rates carriers and packers; doing so, how-
ever, without any assumption of responsibility on its part for the acts and charges
of the parties engaged for such service.

6. Storage of any purchase shall be at the sole risk of the purchaser. Title
passes upon the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, and thereafter, while the Asso-
ciation will exercise due caution in caring for and delivering such purchase, it
will not hold itself responsible if such purchase be lost, stolen, damaged or
destroyed.

Storage charges will be made upon all purchases not removed within ten days
from the date of the sale thereof.

7. Guarantee is not made either by the owner or the Association of the cor-
rectness of the description, genuineness or authenticity of any lot, and no sale will
be set aside on account of any incorrectness, error of cataloguing, or any imper-
fection not noted. Every lot is on public exhibition one or more days prior to its
sale, after which it is sold "as is" and without recourse.

The Association exercises great care to catalogue every lot correctly, and will
give consideration to the opinion of any trustw^orthy expert to the effect that any
lot has been incorrectly catalogued, and, in its judgment, may either sell the
lot as catalogued or make mention of the opinion of such expert who thereby
would become responsible for such damage as might result were his opinion with-
out proper foundation.

SPECIAL NOTICE.

Buying or bidding by the Association for responsible parties on orders trans-
mitted to it by mail, telegraph or telephone, will be faithfully attended to without
charge or commission. Any purchase so made will be subject to the above Condi-
tions of Sale, which cannot in any manner be modified. The Association, however,
in the event of making a purchase of a lot consisting of one or more books for a
purchaser who has not, through himself or his agent, been present at the exhibition
or sale, will permit such lot to be returned within ten days from the date of sale,
and t\w purchase money will be returned, if the lot in any material manner differs
from its catalogue description.

Orders for execution by the Association should be written and given with
such i)lainness as to leave no room for misunderstanding. Not only should the lot
number be given, but also the title, and bids should be stated to be so much
for the lot, and when the lot consists of one or more volumes of books or objects
of art, the bid per volume or piece should also be stated. If the one transmitting
the order is Tinknown to the Association, a deposit should be sent or reference
submitted. Shipping directions should also be given.

Priced copies of the catalogue of any sale, or any session thereof, will be
furnished by the Association at a reasonable charge.

AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION,

American Art Galleries,
Madison Square South,

New York City.



At The American Art Galleries

madison square south, new york

UNRESTRICTED PUBLIC SALE BY ORDER OF MRS. BENTON

THE NOTABLE AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

OF THE LATE JOSIAH HENRY BENTON

AT ONE TIME PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

First Session, Numbers 1 to 313, inclusive

FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 12th, AT 2:30 O'CLOCK



1. Ai'.iiOT (I).). A.L.S., Ip. folio, "Dunstahlo— Au^t. 21. liSlO. Satv eveg/'

To "Xathl Swift, Esq., Andovcr."'

"/ hare the pleasure to inform ijou, thttt Mtk. A — hun a fine little
Daughter, horn Thursday last — d- both she d- little eheruh are verij
finely. ..."

2. Abbott (J. G. — American lawvci). A.L.S., Ip. l"-inio, Boston, April

27, 110 year. With transcript and portrait. To "My Dear Benton''
stating that he will be in the Supreme Court on the following Mon-
day.

3. Abingei: (Bauox— English lawyer). A.L.S., 3pp. 12mo. To "H. Gar-

den." Feby. 22, 1821. With transcript.

". . . / hcg to inform you that it is altogether unusual to require of
counsel to attend personal conferences out of their own chatnbers except
in the case of the Royal family. ..."

1. AiiiN(;Ei? (Baron — En%;»* e^r* ^