Rare books from Kurt A. Sanftleben, LLC

New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1907. First Edition. Pictorial Boards. Very Good. Wylie, Charles (photographer). Oblong 8vo. Wonderful early Teddy Bear book illustrated with photographs and featuring two Steiff stuffed bears. Includes photos of tin houses, toy soldiers, a soft monkey, and lots of dolls. Full-page photographs alternate with text pages. Sound binding with original cloth spine in nice shape. Hinges have old neatly done cloth reinforcement. Clean pages with an occasional finger smudge. Several leaves have faint corner folds. Pencil gift inscription on front free endpaper. Some soiling and wear to cover. A very nice example of a very scarce children's book.

Unlisted Publisher, 1861. Map. Very Good. Map size - 7.75"x9". Leaf size - 9"x10.5". Clean with some folds; probably from a book. Very short closed tear at right margin; small piece of tape on reverse. Uncommon Civil War map showing the Battle of Port Royal. Publisher unknown, but probably contemporary. The Battle of Port Royal was one of the earliest amphibious operations of the American Civil War, in which a United States Navy fleet and United States Army expeditionary force captured Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, between Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, on November 7, 1861. The sound was guarded by two forts on opposite sides of the entrance, Fort Walker on Hilton Head Island to the south and Fort Beauregard on Phillip's Island to the north.

Boston & Charlestown, MA: Free Democratic State Committee & Republican Club, 1854. Leaf. Very Good. Two early contribution receipts; one from the Boston Republican Club in 1856 and the other from the Free Democratic State Committee of Massachusetts in 1854. The Free Democratic Party was one of several splinter political parties (e.g., Liberty Party, Free Soilers, etc.) that formed in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which repealed the Missouri Compromise and opened up the new territories of the United States to slavery. The Free Democratic Party quickly banded together with other anti-slavery parties to form the Republican Pary in 1855. The Free Democratic Party receipt was printed by J. S. Potter & Company; the Republican Party receipt is manuscript. Both receipts are made out to Oliver Smith, a prominent Massachusetts businessman, philanthropist, and statesman.

New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1858. 3rd Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good. Revised, Enlarged, and Richly Embellished with Engravings." Complete with 267 pages and tissue-protected frontispiece showing the author. 28 full-page diagrams with in-text illustrations throughout. Sound binding with intact hinges. Clean pages; front free endpaper has a faint corner crease. Light cover wear; the gilt cover decoration is in nice shape. The spine is sunned and the lettering is faded but still legible. . Includes information or the game's origin, tables, cues, cushions, balls, rules, techniques, shots, jargon, and playing rooms, as well as sections on billiards humor and Shakespeare as a billiard player. This was the second book on billiards published in the U.S. The Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame notes that "Michael Phelan is considered by many to be the Father of American Billiards as a player, inventor, manufacturer and tireless popularizer of billiards. He played in and won the first billiard… Read More

Washington, D.C.: The National Intelligencer, 1822. Newspaper. Very Good. The Pirate Fight (The Action of 9 November 1822)" by "An Officer on board the Schooner Alligator" in The National Intelligencer. Washington, D.C.: December 5, 1822. This article, which is included in the entire four-page newspaper, recounts in detail the battle between the American Schooner USS Alligator, commanded by Lieutenant William Howard Allen, of the West Indies Squadron and three pirate ships, probably commanded by Diabolito. The battle took place off the coast of Cuba on November 9, 1822. It occupies over 18" of front-page column space and has a large, capitalized headline. The paper is toned but supple; generally clean with some staining at the upper right. The spine appears to have been neatly mended. At the time of battle, the pirate force had in its possession five US merchant vessels. The Alligator, although out-gunned and out-manned, had an experienced crew which recently captured another pirate ship after a… Read More

"It is terrible to see the enemy so near that you see the blood lust in each other's eyes. I killed my Germans at Chateau Thierry."
Marne River and the Argonne Forest, 1918.
An amazing first-hand account by one soldier of heroism and bloody hand-to-hand fighting at the Marne River and in the Argonne Forest, two battles that turned the course of World War One.
This grouping consists of two combat letters, a French Croix de Guerre, and one newspaper clipping.
The earliest letter, dated July 25, consists of four pages and is enclosed in an envelope postmarked with an indistinct flag cancelation from APO 2 (Paris).
The second letter, written from a Base Hospital and dated 31 October 1918, has seven pages and is enclosed in an envelope, dated November 5, from APO 798 (Meaves-sur-Loire).
The Croix de Guerre has a bronze star affixed to its ribbon.
he newspaper clipping recounts Wild's action at the 2nd Battle of the Marne. Everything is in very nice shape except the envelopes which are worn and have… Read More

Redwood City, California, 1940.
This typed letter, dated 17 October 1940 and signed by a prominent Issei member of California's Japanese-American community presents a 2' x 4' silk U.S. flag to an unnamed person, presumably a government official or journalist. Both are in nice shape; the display case is not original nor part of this lot.
The letter reads in part:
"At the present time, both Europe and the Far East is going through a turmoil, and the results of the outcome no one knows. . .. We are very fortunate to be living in this democratic country where everything is plentiful. . .. Most countries are striving to get what is lacking in their country. They cannot get amicable term to obtain what they need; therefore, they are using force, the result being war. This country should stay neutral and not help any country if she wants to continue in peace. As soon as this country start to meddle in others' affair there will be a rebound . . . and the result will be a grave one. . .. As a symbol of the… Read More

"Taking survivors aboard. . .."
This large album measures 12" x 9.5" and contains well over 250 glued-in photographs, most measuring about 4" x 2.5". The photographs are captioned in white ink on 46 of the album's 48 pages. Ten additional photographs are laid-in including a 10" x 8" official group photograph of the crew (with a two-inch closed tear) and two smaller portrait photos of Chambron in uniform (one is full length). Everything is in nice shape.
The well-composed photos picture all members of the ship (quarterdeck, bow, guns, lifeboats, etc.), the ship's crew (many identified), dirigibles, other U.S. Navy vessels, dirigibles, airplanes, depth charges, prisoners, torpedoed and burning ships, rescue operations with survivors including mascots, and much more.
The Corsair III, a luxury yacht, was built by T. S. Marvel Shipbuilding for J. P. Morgan and launched in December 1898. After Morgan died, it was inherited by his son, J. P. Morgan Jr.
With the outbreak of World War One, the yacht was leased… Read More

Various locations, 1895-1925.
This archive consists of four medical school tests, eight letters, and one handbill advertising the sale of Grace's mansion. All in nice shape, however, worn mailing envelopes accompany three of the letters.
Grace was the daughter of Abraham Hillard Frances, a prosperous physician who had graduated from the Philadelphia College of Medicine. Grace followed in her father's footsteps, attending the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women, one of the first and few medical schools that accepted females. After graduating in 1899, Grace married Claudius Franklin Wilson, a young lawyer. and both opened practices in Morristown, New Jersey; The couple apparently split time between there and Asbury Park and had homes, including a mansion known as "Eagles Nest", in both locations. Although Grace mothered several children, city directories show she practiced medicine until at least 1925. Highlights from this archive include:
Four different manuscript medical tests or, perhaps,… Read More

One "published and sold by George D. Jewett", the other by "Wm. C. Hale", both of Hartford, Connecticut, 1853. Envelope or Cover. Very good. Both envelopes are postally used and measure approximately 5" x 3".
One features five morose workmen passing a bottle within a scroll that reads "Intemperance is the Curse of the World. Three vignettes on the left show a group of men brawling outside of a saloon, a woman and child entering a pawn shop, and several men using a hatchet and sledgehammer to destroy barrels labeled "Demon Gin" and "Rum". On the right, above a slogan that reads, "Execution, Operation & the effects of the Maine Law" are two vignettes, one showing a happy couple in front a large home and a dignified man wearing a sash that reads "Love, Purity, and Fidelity" standing in an idyllic garden. It bears a North Chester, Massachusetts manuscript postmark dated June 20. It is accompanied by a Philatelic Foundation Expert Committee certificate attesting to its "Genuine Usage. The envelope contains… Read More

"Extortion and want of Virtue has taken almost possession of Every Person upon this Continent, the Enormous sums of Public money which is daily expended and the great depreciation of it will if not shortly put stop to end in our ruin. . .."
Philadelphia to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1779.
This two-page letter, datelined Philad'a 15th Feb'y 1779, was sent by Colonel Ephraim Blaine, the Commissary-General for the Middle District of the Continental Army, to Colonel John Davis, the Deputy Quartermaster General for Army's Western District who was located at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
In it, he apprises Davis of his difficulties in raising funds and obtaining supplies. He also provides a summarized status of the leaders of the Quartermaster Corps.
"Nothing material has passed since your departure from this city. Genl. Green left it the Second Morning after you. I convey'd him and Colonel Wadsworth fifteen miles, the morning he set out had some little conversation with him about the Western department, but nothing… Read More

"Concerning the Acquisition, which certainly no Nation has ever made a more important one to its Interests than the U.S. has done. Pray God its Peace and Prosperity may not be interrupted. . .."
New Orleans, 1807.
This 1807 two-page stampless folded letter, measuring 16" x 11¾" unfolded, was sent by Dr. Robert Dow, a long-time Scottish immigrant, living in New Orleans, Louisiana Territory, to John Watkinson at Middletown Connecticut. The letter was carried to New York as indicated by the annotation, "favored by Mr. Barnard" where it was placed into the mail system. It bears a circular 22 August New York postmark in red and manuscript rate marking, "12½", which at the time was the cost to send a letter between 90 and 150 miles.
In this letter, Dow expresses both admiration for the Louisiana Purchase as well as concern about potential international complications.
"Concerning the Acquisition, which certainly no Nation has ever made a more important one to its Interests than the U.S. has done. Pray God… Read More

A separate volume continuation of Benjamin Franklin's Some account of the Pennsylvania Hospital which was published in 1754.
Philadelphia: B. Franklin, and D. Hall, 1761. String bound. This was prepared by the hospital's "committee on publication" and printed at Franklin's printing house.
The pamphlet, measuring approximately 7½" x 10", is complete but for the preliminary title leaf (provided in facsimile). It is paginated continuously with Franklin's first volume, and its pages are numbered 41-77. It is string-bound to period paper stock in the rear. Some soiling and foxing with insect predation along the right margin which does not affect the text. (See Evans' American Bibliography #7197 and Morton's The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital.)
The impetus for publishing this continuation was the realization by the hospital managers in 1759 of a pressing need to raise funds for the facility. After the situation became desperate following an unsuccessful petition to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1760,… Read More

"At the request of Col Fremont I send you the inclosed answer to the charge made at the Attorney Genl's Office of fraud in the Survey of his Mariposa Grant."
San Francisco, 1859. Unbound.
Both Blair and James had been free-soil Democrats who were instrumental in both forming the new Republican Party in 1856 and securing John C. Fremont to run for President on its ticket. Although, Fremont was not one of the major candidates to represent the Republicans in his hat was still in the ring, and this letter suggests that he, Blair, and James were preparing to defend against lingering political charges of fraud regarding his ownership of the most important California goldfield, the Mariposa Ranch.
James's letter is datelined "San Francisco / Aprl 5th 1859 reads,
"My Dear Sir / At the request of Col Fremont I send you the inclosed answer to the charge made at the Attorney Genl's Office of fraud in the Survey of his Mariposa Grant."
Its envelope is franked with a 10-cent green type 1 Washington stamp (Scott… Read More

Envelope or Cover. Very good. Two-page letter and endorsement enclosed within a stampless cover. The letter was written by Justus Ingersoll on 6 December 1841 and endorsed by General Winfield Scott on 17 December before forwarding to the Secretary of War, John C. Spencer. The endorsement is signed "Winfield Scott", and a postscript is initialed, "W. S." The cover bears a circular "Detroit / Mich" postmark dated December 10 and a "FREE" handstamp. Additionally, a 5¼" x 8"print of Scott as a Lieutenant General is included. It was engraved and published by J. C. Buttre of New York, circa 1863. Everything is in nice shape. Ingersoll's request reads in part: "I do hope and trust General that it will be your good pleasure to give me the appointment at this place - of Military Store Keeper: as I candidly do not know how to support my family otherwise. [You] gave it to me before; at the last reduction I lost my place. I did suppose it was permanent. Do General, give me this situation for seeing that I… Read More