ALS in French, signed “L. Pasteur,” one page, 5.25 x 8, December 22, 1885. Letter to a gentleman. In full (translated): “I received from Mrs. Billings (the wife of the doctor accompanying the young Americans who were bitten) a letter in which she asks me to have the boat met by someone who speaks French and English. I will reply that you will be there, since I believe that your plan to be there has not changed.” In fine condition, with light scattered creases and toning, and a trivial tear to left edge.
After five years of extensive study of the rabies virus and the successful treatment of several infected dogs, Louis Pasteur faced his first human patient in July of 1885. Certain that the severely bitten nine-year-old Joseph Meister would not survive without treatment, he began the course of the 13 injections; after administering all 13, one each day, in progressively stronger doses, Meister regained strength and never developed rabies. After a second successful treatment on a bitten shepherd four months later, word spread and people began to seek him out for the vaccinations. When four boys in New Jersey were bit by a rabid dog (the Americans referred to in this letter), a fundraising effort arose to help send them to France, accompanied by American surgeon Dr. John Shaw Billings, via ocean liner for Pasteur’s treatment; despite the long travel, the boys all returned home in January of 1886 in excellent health. Three months later, Pasteur would officially present his results, announcing only one fatality out of 350 patients who received the vaccine. An excellent letter from the crucial stage of the vaccine’s history, regarding four of his earliest rabies patients. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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Incredibly rare manuscript DS in Japanese, one page, 23.5 x 18, April 18, 1940. Document in which the Emperor of Japan confers the Imperial Order of Meiji upon Eiichi Yamamoto. In full (translated): “By the grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the throne with unbroken imperial line, hereby confers the Second Class of the Imperial Order of Meiji upon Eiichi Yamamoto who is currently decorated with Senior Fifth Rank and the Third Order of Merit, and invests him with the insignia of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star, granting him with the benefits and privileges associated with this rank and honor. I have set my hand and caused the seal of the Empire of Japan to be affixed at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, this 18th day of April, 1940.” Boldly signed by Hirohito and countersigned by Yasumaro Shimojo, Junior Third Rank, the First Order of Merit, Director of the Decoration Bureau and by Kohei Utsunomiya, Senior Fifth Rank, the Fourth Order of Merit, Clerk of the Decoration Bureau. In fine condition, with folds around the perimeter of the document and some scattered light creases.
Air Force One in-flight booklet cover, 5 x 8, undated [but February 26, 1962] with an image of the aircraft and the presidential seal, with “Aboard the Presidential Aircraft,” printed along the bottom, signed near the bottom in black ink, “John F. Kennedy,” and signed near the top, “Best regards—J. H. Glenn, Jr.,” “Virgil I. Grissom,” and “Alan B. Shepard, Jr.” Grissom’s signature has been carefully traced over, probably by Grissom himself as it is in the same ink as the other signatures. In fine condition, with a uniform shade of mild toning from previous display, and some light mounting remnants to reverse. Accompanied by an unsigned vintage glossy 10 x 8 photo of Kennedy and all of the Mercury astronauts at the White House on October 10, 1963, where they were to receive the 1963 Collier Trophy.
Credit card receipt for King’s American Express, 4.75 x 3, dated October 12, 1963, for a charge of $87.38 at the Hyatt House Hotel in Los Angeles, California, signed at the bottom in blue ballpoint, “Martin L. King, Jr.” In fine condition, with a couple cancellation holes to signature, diagonal crease to lower right, expected carbon marks, and an authentication label affixed to right side. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Acclaimed director of Ossessione, Death in Venice, and The Damned (1906–1976). Scarce matte-finish 5.25 x 3.25 photo of Visconti seated at his desk, signed in green felt tip, “Luchino Visconti, Wien 1969.” In fine condition. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
Scarce early Rolling Stones fan club card, 5.25 x 4.75, signed in the lower border in blue ballpoint by Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman. Slight brushing to the Jones signature and creases to right corner tips, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Tracks. Originally obtained in Derby on October 11, 1963, when the Stones were playing a concert at the Gaumont Theatre. A great example signed by the classic lineup. Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RR Auction COA.
A profoundly influential composer, the prodigious Wolfgang Amadeus (1756–1791) has become practically synonymous with the classical genre; his older sister Maria Anna (1751–1829), nicknamed ‘Nannerl,’ was herself a talented musician, especially noted for her abilities on the harpsichord and fortepiano. Fascinating autograph musical manuscript, one page both sides, 11.75 x 4.5, no date but circa 1770s. Present on one side in the hand of Wolfgang Amadeus is a portion of a cadenza for an unidentified concerto in F, comprised of one right-hand note and the two final left-hand chords. On the opposite side is a lengthy autograph musical passage in the hand of his sister Maria Anna, nicknamed ‘Nannerl,’ written on three two-stave systems, comprised of arpeggiated sixteenth notes over figured bass. Manuscript bears a few notations by a distinguished former owner of the manuscript, conductor and critic John Ella (1802–1888). In very good condition, with a noticeably repaired central vertical tear and overall soiling. Provenance: Sotheby’s, December 2010.
Color glossy 11 x 14 full-length photo of Jackson in samurai garb, signed in black felt tip. In very fine condition. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Roger Epperson/REAL. RR Auction COA.
Serial no. 382654B, caliber .32-20 Winchester. The 24.25″ octagonal barrel has a poor bore and a full length magazine. It has a factory front sight with a German silver tip and a period replacement elevator adjustable buckhorn rear sight. The straight grip walnut stocks have a crescent buttplate. The left side of the buttstock has two small personalized carvings. The first may be a cattle brand; it has a small square with an attached arrow. The second is simply a square with about one inch sides. The magazine tube is a replacement that retains most of its blue. The rest of the metal has a mottled gray/blue patina with a couple of vice jaw marks on the barrel and some recent fine rust towards the muzzle. The barrel address is very good and the mechanism works well. The stocks show moderate wear with the tangs proud of the wood and small slivers of wood missing at the tangs. The dust cover is still present. This antique Winchester was made in 1891.
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