Illinois from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

U.S. Grant's confidante and right-hand man John Rawlins (1831-69) was a fellow Galena, Illinois resident and served as his chief of staff throughout the Civil War and rose to the rank of brevet major general; Grant appointed him Secretary of War, but he served only six months before dying at age 38. His younger brother Lemmon (1834-95) was one… Read more about this item

Fascinating archive of student papers from a University of Illinois engineering undergraduate, dated between 16 January 1894 and 20 March 1896. Consists of 109 "themes" (rectos only) on 130 ruled leaves, each 8" X 10½", each signed and dated on the verso by Fergus. Overall very good. Each bears a strong vertical fold running down center (as turned in),… Read more about this item

The powerful Republican senator from Illinois (1967-85) was often considered presidential timber. Bold signature in black ink (dated "2/26/68" in his hand at upper right) on a special heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. Near fine. Single staple hole at upper left. Accompanied by a very good unsigned 8" X 10" glossy photograph, an informal closeupt of a… Read more about this item

This Illinois attorney and politician served in Congress as a Democrat from 1875 to 1895, later serving as United States judge for the northern district of Indian Territory and as chief justice of the United States Court of Appeals of Indian Territory. Large, bold signature and "Springfield / Ill. / Aprill 18, 1878" on a 5" X 3" slip.… Read more about this item

This Illinois businessman and Republican politician served three terms as a highy-regarded U.S. Senator (1967-85). Bold signature in blue fountain pen, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., n.y. Near fine. Percy signs at left, while a small (1¼" X 1 3/4") printed portrait of Percy has been affixed at right, making it in effect a signed photograph. … Read more about this item

This colorful and legendary steamboat captain pioneered steamboating on the upper Mississippi River in the mid-19th century; he was first president of the Galena, Dubuque and Minnesota Packet Company and founded the city of Winona, Minnesota. Partly-printed DS, 1p, 8" X 10", Chicago, IL, 1871 January 1. Very good. Faint age toning; paper loss (approx. 3½" X 2") at… Read more about this item

This colonel was a diplomat and government official active in the International Railway Congress (made president of the Allied Railway Commission 1919) and served as a technical advisor to President Hoover for Austria; he's best known, though, as the assistant commissioner for the Chicago "Century of Progress International Exposition" under former Postmaster-General Harry S. New as commissioner. Large, bold… Read more about this item

Early resident of this important Illinois lead-mining town, which for a time produced a high percentage of the world's lead ("Galena" is Latin for lead) and was supposed to become the great hub of the Midwest before Chicago's natural geographic advantage supplanted it; today's Galena is remembered as the adopted hometown of Ulysses S. Grant. ALS, 2pp (single leaf),… Read more about this item

This Cleveland merchant became well-known as an abolitionist, reformer and occasional publisher; among his writings are "The Sabbath" (1840), "The Immigrant's Good Samaritan" (1848), "Law and Government" (1849), "Thoughts on the Fugitive Slave Law and Nebraska Bill" (1955), "The Great Law Book" (1857), "Word of Christ" (1857) and "The Slavery Question Settled" (1862). ALS, 1p + integral address leaf,… Read more about this item

Noted Chicago medical figure -- as Chicago's long-time coroner was the chief investigator into the St. Valentine's Day massacre (February 14, 1929) and was on the scene within a half hour of the slaughter; he later served as the president of the Chicago Board of Health. TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Chicago, IL, 1958 January 14. Addressed to Warren… Read more about this item

Illinois senator (1913-21) and politician. Humorous ALS, 1p, 7¼" X 10½", Springfield, IL, 1922 September 29. Addressed to Waldo C. Moore. Very good. Responding to a request for "my autographed Check for one cent...The chemical basis of all roughage for animals in the framework is cellulose. This sheet of paper contains more of the basic material for the boss… Read more about this item