Firearms, Militaria & Ephemera
Thursday, July 30, 2020 | 9:00 AM Eastern
Auction closed.
Firearms, Militaria & Ephemera
Thursday, July 30, 2020 | 9:00 AM Eastern
Auction closed.
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See Special Terms for additional fees
See Special Terms for additional fees
Description
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 – 9AM
Please join us for over 550 lots of antique firearms, swords, daggers, military hats, ephemera, and modern weapons. This is a live salesroom auction with live bidding, absentee bidding, phone bidding, and internet bidding available. There will be a gallery exhibition by appointment only (call 610-269-4040) starting Monday, July 27th at 10am.
Gallery Exhibition by appointment (call 610-269-4040) in Downingtown, PA:
Monday, July 27, 2020 – 10am to 4pm
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 – 10am to 4pm
Wednesday, July 29, 2020 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, July 30, 2020 (auction attendees only with seat reservation – call 610-269-4040) 8am to 9am
Please join us for over 550 lots of antique firearms, swords, daggers, military hats, ephemera, and modern weapons. This is a live salesroom auction with live bidding, absentee bidding, phone bidding, and internet bidding available. There will be a gallery exhibition by appointment only (call 610-269-4040) starting Monday, July 27th at 10am.
Gallery Exhibition by appointment (call 610-269-4040) in Downingtown, PA:
Monday, July 27, 2020 – 10am to 4pm
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 – 10am to 4pm
Wednesday, July 29, 2020 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, July 30, 2020 (auction attendees only with seat reservation – call 610-269-4040) 8am to 9am
x Cancel
Conrad Weiser signed letter
Lot # 1 (Sale Order: 1 of 559)
Conrad Weiser signed letter, dated Sept. 16th, 1739, two page letter written to James Steell (sic), the letter written in support of Leonhard Conrad who destroyed so much timber of the proprietor Richard Penn, humbling begging for pardon and offering to purchase the"bad" land, either 500 or 1000 acres, James Steell (Steel or Steele) was the Receiver General of the colony of Pennsylvania, he was part of a group commissioned by John Penn and was given full power on behalf of the proprietors for the"running, marking, and laying out" of any boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, he was also present for the famous walking purchase in 1737. Conrad Weiser was a Pennsylvania Dutch (German) pioneer, interpreter and diplomat between the Pennsylvania Colony and Native Americans, he was also a farmer, soldier, monk, tanner and judge. Weiser contributed as an emissary in councils between Native Americans and the colonies, especially Pennsylvania, during the 18th century's tensions of the French and Indian War. | Condition Creases, some edge wear and losses to second page, overall very good condition. | Estimate: $800-1200
Ben Franklin's The Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper
Lot # 2 (Sale Order: 2 of 559)
Ben Franklin's The Pennsylvania Gazette, June 11, 1752, number 1226, 15" x 9 1/2". | Condition Toning, center seam separations, minor stains. | Estimate: $100-150
18th c. ledger page for cost of Hessian Forces
Lot # 3 (Sale Order: 3 of 559)
18th century ledger page for cost of Hessian Forces in the service of his Majesty, double sided with both sides signed A true copy R. Arnold, probably Richard Arnold, inscribed An Establishment for the twelve thousand men of the Hessian Forces in the Service of his Majesty, one side with one Regiment of horses with a complete list, the opposing side with one regiment of Dragoons, 18 1/2" x 10 3/4". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Light toning, small tears to top edge. | Estimate: $300-400
Edward Shippen IV signed certificate
Lot # 4 (Sale Order: 4 of 559)
Edward Shippen IV signed naturalization certificate, dated 24th, September, 1765, inscribed "I Edward Shippen Jr. Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of the Province of Pennsylvania DO hereby certify, That at a Supream sic Court held at Philadelphia . . . Before William Allen William Coleman and Alexander Stedman Esquires, Judges of the said Court . . . Ludwick Nosbickle in the County of Bucks being a Foreigner, and having inhabited and resided for the Space of Seven Years in His Majesty's Colonies in America, and not having been absent out of some of the said Colonies for a longer Time than Two Months at any one Time . . . having produced to the said Court, a Certificate, of his having taken the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper within Three Months before the said Court . . . did make and repeat the Declaration (appointed by an Act, made in the First Year of the Reign of King GEORGE the First) . . . and thereupon was admitted to be His Majesty's natural born Subject of the Kingdom of Great-Britain. | Condition Creases, some toning and minor stains, small paper loss at bottom edge. | Estimate: $300-400
Nine early newspapers, to include Civil War etc
Lot # 5 (Sale Order: 5 of 559)
Nine early newspapers, to include Edinburgh Evening Courant newspaper dated February 10th, 1776; the Daily Delta, New Orleans, January 8th, 1861, with southern Civil War news; Sacramento Daily Union, September 30th, 1862 and August 30th 1869, January 27th, 1871; Marin County Journal, January 7th, 1875; The Placer County Weekly Argus, November 4th, 1876; Plumas National, June 28th, 1879; and the Reading Independent, December 25th, 1879. Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Tears, losses. | Estimate: $100-200
Robert Morris, George Clymer and George Walton
Lot # 6 (Sale Order: 6 of 559)
Robert Morris, George Clymer and George Walton signed letter, addressed to the Committee of Congress, Phila., Feby 22, 1777, In congruence of a recommendation from his Excellency General Washington, you are now required to ??? The public money, goods ?? Under your care & custody a reading to the ??? on the shortest of notice. The Quarter Master General will supply you with waggons & give the company of ?? from his department. This being a precautionary measure you are to conduct it with secrecy to prevent any unnecessary alarm to the inhabitants. Addressed to James Mease Esquire. | Condition Tears and separations to all fold lines, small losses to body of the letter. | Estimate: $400-800
Brigadier General William Heath signed letter
Lot # 7 (Sale Order: 7 of 559)
Revolutionary War signed letter of Brigadier General William Heath, City of New York, dated April 1, 1776, inscribed Gentleman, I find my self necessitated to request of you two thousand and twenty five dollars and 5/9th of a dollar for Continental purposes, I am Gentleman with esteem your most humbled servant, also inscribed in lower left corner Committee of Safety of New York, as well as same on verso, 6" x 7 3/4". Heath commanded the Massachusetts forces in the Battle of Lexington and Concord, participated in the defense of New York City and urged General Washington not to abandon the city, and saw action at Long Island, White Plains, and Harlem Heights. Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Minor stains, creases. | Estimate: $500-800
Massachusetts Bay Colony appointment of Bancroft
Lot # 8 (Sale Order: 8 of 559)
Massachusetts Bay Colony appointment of Samuel Bancroft, dated 16th July, 1776, at Watertown, County of Middlesex, bearing fifteen signatures, to include Dan Davis, Benjamin Austin, Wm. Phillips, General (Henry Watson) Powell, Caleb Cushing, W. Spooner, John Whitcomb, S. Holton, D. Sewall, B. White, etc., just two weeks after the United States proclaims its independence from Britain. Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Creases with some losses, stains, fading, losses to right side corners, glued to cardboard. | Estimate: $400-600
George Washington portrait engraving
Lot # 9 (Sale Order: 9 of 559)
George Washington portrait engraving, after David Edwin, published, Philadelphia January 1, 1800, 5 5/8" x 4 7/8". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Stamped on verso - N. Y. Public Library Print Department, Emmet Collection, very good condition. | Estimate: $400-800
George Washington bronze Indian Peace medal
Lot # 10 (Sale Order: 10 of 559)
George Washington bronze Indian Peace medal, 76 mm, together with a French George Washington before Boston bronze peace medal, 68.8 mm. Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Very good condition. | Estimate: $200-300
George Washington signed letter, 1776
Lot # 11 (Sale Order: 11 of 559)
George Washington signed hand written letter, headquarters New York, 8 Sept. (1776), written to Sir (Abraham Yates), I wrote you this Morning by your Express, but forgot to mention a Matter of Consequence. It being determined to remove our Sick to Orange Town, we shall want four large Albany Sloops for that purpose. The fatigue of travelling that Distance by land, would not only be more than the Patients could bear, but we have full Employ for our Waggons in transporting Baggage, Tents & c for the Troops from hence to our out posts. I must therefore beg the favor of your Honourable Body to procure the above Number of Vessels and send them down with as much Dispatch as possible to this City. I am with Respect Your most obt Servt. P.S. I shall be glad to know by Return of the Express when I may probably expect the Sloops down. There are several now on the lower parts of the River with Boards perhaps you might engage them to come this way, which would save time. The text is written in the hand of Tench Tilghman who was Washington's aide-de-camp. Published with some minor variation in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series volume 6, page 262, Philander D. Chase and Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Laminated with tissue, loss to upper right corner, fold lines, minor edge tears. | Estimate: $8000-12000
Pennsylvania Ledger Revolutionary War newspaper
Lot # 12 (Sale Order: 12 of 559)
Pennsylvania Ledger Revolutionary War newspaper, dated October 29th, 1777, 16 1/2" x 10". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Tissue tape repair to center tears, minor stains. | Estimate: $200-300
William Heath signed handwritten letter
Lot # 13 (Sale Order: 13 of 559)
William Heath signed handwritten letter to Lt. General Burgoyne, Headquarters Boston, dated Feby. 10th 1778, inscribed Sir, Your favor this date came duly to hand, I have had a parole for Mr. Wilford which he will please to sign and leave in the hands of Col. Kingston until Col. Keith comes up tomorrow. Mr. Peck who is to attend Mr. Wilford will be at Cambridge by eight o'clock tomorrow morning with the passports, there is a recorded response from Burgoyne in"Naval Documents of the American Revolution: American theatre: Jan. 1, 1778-Mar. 31, 1778", page 709. Israel Keith was an aide-de-camp to Major General William Heath and became deputy adjutant in Boston, where he kept watch of a prison camp that detained British Army officers and soldiers captured in battle, Lt. Col. Kingston was adjutant-general to Burgoyne, 12 1/2" x 7 3/4". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Light stains, small taped tear at center fold on right edge. | Estimate: $400-600
Kent County, Delaware survey for John Dill
Lot # 14 (Sale Order: 14 of 559)
Kent County, Delaware survey for John Dill, dated Jan. 19th, 1778, with a hand drawn map of Hog Island and surrounding land owners, 16 1/2" x 12 3/4". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Fold lines, some stains, some small losses at creases. | Estimate: $100-150
Joseph Nourse handwritten letter
Lot # 15 (Sale Order: 15 of 559)
Joseph Nourse handwritten letter, Philadelphia 2 Nov. 1779, written to Major General (Charles) Lee, Berkeley County, Virginia, the letter is in regards to money owed referencing Colonel (John) Bull, (William) Palfrey, and doctor (Benjamin) Rush. Nourse played a key role in administering the finances of the new Republic as was the first United States Register of the Treasury, he also authenticated each piece of Continental currency by personally signing it. Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Some tissue repairs mainly to lower edge of page one, some toning, minor stains and edge loss. | Estimate: $200-300
John Hancock signature
Lot # 16 (Sale Order: 16 of 559)
John Hancock clipped signature, with paraph, having Approved above signature, mounted to card, 3 3/4" x 2 7/8". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Stain through the word approved which does not touch the signature. | Estimate: $1000-1500
John Hancock unsigned letter to Robert Morris
Lot # 17 (Sale Order: 17 of 559)
John Hancock unsigned letter to Robert Morris, Boston May 7th, 1783, as Governor of Massachusetts, concerning Colonel Richard Gridley's pension, arguing that by leaving the British Army and joining the American cause, supervising the erection of the fortifications of Bunker Hill, he had sacrificed his half-pay pension and should be reimbursed. Hancock was an American merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution, served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 8 3/4" x 7 3/4". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Some repair to fold separations on verso. | Estimate: $1200-1600
Albert Rosenthal watercolor of Elias Boudinart
Lot # 18 (Sale Order: 18 of 559)
Albert Rosenthal (American 1863-1939), watercolor and gouache portrait of Elias Boudinart, signed Max & Albert Rosenthal in lower right, Boudinart was a lawyer and statesman from Elizabeth, New Jersey who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and served as President of Congress from 1782 to 1783, 14 1/2" x 8 3/4". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Vertical streak extending down from top, light toning, small edge tear at bottom. | Estimate: $300-500
Edmund Randolph Governor of Virginia signed lette
Lot # 19 (Sale Order: 19 of 559)
Edmund Randolph, Esquire Governor of Virginia signed vellum deed, dated 17th October 1783 to John Swan in Harrison County, Randolph was an American attorney and politician, seventh Governor of Virginia, and as a delegate from Virginia, attended the Constitutional Convention, second Secretary of State, and the first United States Attorney General during George Washington's presidency, 13" x 13 1/2". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Fold lines, some stains, lacking seal. | Estimate: $100-150
Revolutionary War signed letter from Isaac Huger
Lot # 20 (Sale Order: 20 of 559)
Revolutionary War era signed letter from Isaac Huger, South Carolina, dated Sept. 28th, 1783, who was a General in the Continental Army, the handwritten note inscribed Sir, The bearer Mr. John McWilliams with Mr.. Thomas Walling and Mr. Rolland three honest men (and friends to the United States of America) desirous of settling in Georgia..., 7 1/4" x 6 1/4". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Very light toning, small stains, light creases. | Estimate: $400-600
Two etchings, Entrance of the American Army
Lot # 21 (Sale Order: 21 of 559)
Two etchings, to include Entrance of the American Army into New York, Nov. 25th, 1783, after Chapin, 4 3/4" x 7", and an portrait of Francis Lewis, engraved by C. C. Wright from an original painting 1825, 5 1/2" x 4 1/4". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Unframed, very good condition. | Estimate: $100-150
Thomas Willing signed vellum indenture
Lot # 22 (Sale Order: 22 of 559)
Thomas Willing signed vellum indenture, dated 29th October 1783, Thomas Willing was a delegate to the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania and the first president of the Bank of the United States, for land to Benjamin Davis, 25 1/4" x 18". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Fold lines, overall very good to excellent condition. | Estimate: $200-300
George Clinton signed vellum appointment
Lot # 23 (Sale Order: 23 of 559)
George Clinton signed vellum appointment of John Lamb, dated 22nd, March, 1784, for Collector of the Port of New York, countersigned by Robert Morris on verso, affixed with a wax seal of New York, 14 1/4" x 14 1/4". Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Very good condition. | Estimate: $400-600
Nathaniel Folsom signed New Hampshire Writ
Lot # 24 (Sale Order: 24 of 559)
Nathaniel Folsom signed New Hampshire Writ of Execution, dated 6th day of November 1787, against Winthrop Johnson for one pound, seventeen shillings and four pence for debt owed to Dudley Leavitt Chase of Stratham in Rockingham County, innholder, Folsom was an American merchant and statesman, delegate for New Hampshire in the Continental Congress in 1774 and 1777 to 1780, as well as the Major General of the New Hampshire Militia, he also held the job of chief judge in Rockingham County until his death in Exeter on May 26, 1790, Chase was a major and fought in the Revolutionary War in the Third New Hampshire Continental Regiment, and owner of Chase's Tavern in Stratham. Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition Overall very good condition, creases. | Estimate: $200-400
Thomas McKean signed handwritten letter
Lot # 25 (Sale Order: 25 of 559)
Thomas McKean signed handwritten letter, dated Philadelphia Sept. 26th, 1789, inscribed Gentleman, Captain James McLean has entered into a recognizance, with a sufficient surety, for his future good behaviour (sic) and as he appears to me to be now perfectly sane, you are hereby desired forthwith to discharge him from the present confinements in the hospital, addressed to The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital in lower left corner, verso of second page is inscribed From the Chief Justice Sept. 26,1789. Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from Delaware and Philadelphia, delegate to the Continental Congress, signor of the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation, Chief Justice and second Governor of Pennsylvania. Captain James McLean was captain of the Pennsylvania Invalid Guards. Provenance: The Ephemera Collection of Joseph Rubinfine, Merritt Island, Florida. | Condition 1/2" x 3" repair to lower right corner of both pages but does not interfere with the script or signature, creases, very minor toning. | Estimate: $300-500
