ALABAMA from David M. Lesser, Fine Antiquarian Books LLC

[Courtland, Lawrence Cty., Alabama, 1840. Single page, 7-3/4" x 12-3/4." Entirely in ink manuscript. Dated June 20, 1840, and signed at the end by Watkins and Swoope, with Jno. J. McMahon as witness. Inner edge is irregular. Closed tear [no loss] repaired expertly at blank bottom margin. Very Good. This documents records the terms of a wager on… Read more about this item

New Orleans, 1864. 8" x 10." Printed broadsheet [several type fonts and styles], completed in manuscript. Old folds for recording and filing. Very Good plus. Haden [also spelled Hayden, on the verso] pledges his allegiance to the United States, and signs with his mark on 25 March 1864 at Fort Pike, Louisiana. A physician certifies him as "free… Read more about this item

[Montgomery, Alabama, 1861. Autograph document, entirely in ink manuscript, in the hand of Alex. B. Clitherall, Assistant, and signed "J.J. Harper, Secretary per Alex B. Clitherall Asst." Letter written by Clitherall, an Alabama lawyer and assistant to Burton Harrison, Jefferson Davis's private secretary. Written on the recto of first leaf; docketed, in the probable hand of Harrison, on recto… Read more about this item

Single leaf, 8" x 13," completely in ink manuscript on blue paper. Old folds, a few pinholes along folds affecting six to eight letters. Else Very Good. "DEAR SIR, I HOLD A COMMISSION FROM YOUR EXCELLENCY AS BEAT COMMANDANT BEARING DATE OF FEB. 14TH 64. I HAVE FILLED THE DUTIES IMPOSED UPON ME BY SAID COMMISSION, TO THE… Read more about this item

1861. Each letter 1-4 pp, in legible ink manuscript, and usually docketed. The supplicants write from Demopolis, Marion, Montgomery, Haynesville, the Exchange Hotel [Montgomery]. Very Good. Alabama seceded on January 11, 1861. Our first letter is dated January 28, from several Demopolis citizens [Nathan B. Whitefield, Howard Henderson, David Taliaferro, and A.J. Byard] urging the appointment of Colonel… Read more about this item

Folio sheet, folded to 7-1/2" x 9-3/4." Written in neat ink manuscript on first two pages. Third page blank, docketed on page [4]. Very Good. Francis Strother Lyon [1800-1882], an Alabama lawyer and Democratic politician, wrote this letter to Governor Moore. Lyon had been a Whig Congressman in the 1830s and, having chaired the State Delegation to the… Read more about this item

Demopolis, 1861. [4] pp, folded folio sheet. Ink manuscript written on the first two pages, docketed on last page. Old folds, Very Good. Each of the six petitioners-- James Taylor Jones, Jno. T. Liman, Nathan B. Whitfield, R.M. Campbell, O.H. Prince, and [--] Torbert-- signs in his own hand, on the day Lincoln was inaugurated as President. The… Read more about this item

Hamburg, Alabama, 1862. Single leaf, in ink manuscript on recto, docketed on verso. Old folds, Near Fine. Having reviewed Governor Shorter's "proclamation calling on all exempts to form into Companies," Pack says he has "been thinking of getting up a company for Home protection, for our Country will be when the conscripts leave, very scarce of men &… Read more about this item

Charleston, S.C.: Walker and James, 1850. 44pp, stitched in original printed green wrappers [small blank corner chip]. Light occasional foxing, minor dusting, Very Good. Dr. Nott made significant contributions to the conquest of Yellow Fever. But he went off the rails when, fancying himself an expert on the subject of Race, he argued that the different races did… Read more about this item

Tuscaloosa: Marmaduke J. Slade, Printer, 1837. 52pp, disbound and lightly foxed. Good+. A Vermont-born educator, Woods sojourned for nearly a decade in the South, first at Transylvania University in Kentucky (where Jefferson Davis went to school) and then as President of the University at Tuscaloosa. After this valedictory he returned North. Ellison 306. Sabin 105121. AI… Read more about this item

[Baton Rouge, 1961. Original printed title wrappers and staples. ii, 18 pp. Fine. With a typed letter, signed by H.M. Aldridge, laid in, to Judge Walter Jones, Editor of 'The Montgomery Lawyer,' September 29, 1961, urging publication of Kernan's Address in that periodical. The introduction is signed in ink and type by H. Payne Brezeale, of the… Read more about this item

Centreville, Alabama: Central Enquirer Job Printing Office, 1857. Original printed yellow wrappers, stitched. 10, [2] pp. Lightly foxed, old Historical Society rubberstamp and withdrawal. Very Good. Centreville, the Bibb County seat, is a little town in south central Alabama. This rare imprint records the Constitution of the Shelby Association of Baptist Churches; Minutes of proceedings and doings of… Read more about this item

Montgomery, Ala.: Barrett & Co., 1886. Original printed yellow wrappers, stitched. 186pp. Light wrapper wear, Very Good. Palmer, the State Superintendent of Education, says, "The teachers of the colored race are very earnest in their efforts to dispel illiteracy, and are doing a work that should receive the encouragement of the State." Reports are printed for the Peabody… Read more about this item

Montgomery, Ala.: T.C. Bingham & Co., Printers and Binders, 1879. 30, [2 blanks] pp. Stitched, original printed front yellow wrapper present. Some penciled number scrawls, light wear and dust. Good+. T.C. Howard entered the copyright in the Middle District of Alabama in 1879. The pamphlet promises that the "beauty and simplicity" of its instruction "will enable the… Read more about this item

Birmingham, Ala.: Roberts & Son, 1888. 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". 18, [2] pp. Illustrated front wrapper and title page. Stitched in original printed yellow wrappers. One wrapper spot, a clean text. Very Good. The rare founding documents of this little Lodge, based in Bessemer, which was founded in 1887. Chancellors and Knights are listed. "Sound bodily health"… Read more about this item

[Mobile, 1891. Oblong 8vo. Caption title [as issued]. Original staples. 24 leaves, printed on rectos only. Bit of loosening and light dusting, else Very Good. The Company's Charter, issued by the latest Alabama General Assembly, authorizes the Company to build "a belt line railroad around the city of Mobile, connecting with all lines that enter the city, thence… Read more about this item

Selma, Ala.: Jas. S. Jacob, Printer, 1875. Original printed purple wrappers [front wrap sunned, rear wrap detached and torn at extremities, spine worn]. Stitched. 25, [1] pp. Text with light spotting, Good+. The pamphlet prints the list of Officers, the Call of the Convention, the Rules of the Convention; and the Proceedings, with list of delegates, committee reports,… Read more about this item

[Mobile?, 1888. 16pp, stitched. Caption title, as issued. Toned, Good+. Russell served in the Confederate Army, then practiced law, became general counsel to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and was active in post-War Democratic Party politics [National Cyclopedia of American Biography]. Here he endorses the Democratic presidential ticket of Cleveland and Thurman. This was Grover Cleveland's… Read more about this item

Leon County, Florida and Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, 1852. Broadside deed, 7.75" x 12". Printed, completed in manuscript. Lightly tanned. Old folds, a few short fold splits [no text loss]. Signed by Parish and three witnesses. Verso has acknowledgment of Parish, signed by C.M. Cook, Commissioner in the State of Alabama, and an acknowledgment of filing by Hugh Archer, Jr.,… Read more about this item

Montgomery, Alabama: Barrett & Brown., 1866. 24pp, original printed dark blue wrappers with title in gilt [gilt lettering faded and difficult to read; some extremity chipping]. Occasional light spotting, else Very Good. With many Montgomery names listed, this Alabama masonic report is quite scarce. OCLC 21654284 [2- Samford, U. of Alabama]. Not in Owen or Ellison.