Space & Autographs Auction Space & Autographs Auction Jan. 2014 | Page 94

Historical

487X

486

488

Session I: Wednesday, January 15, 2014

489X

Estimate

Estimate

– BLACK AMERICANA –

American – Historical, cont.
486

/D 1941 JOHN PAUL GETTY SIGNED LETTER .... PH $1200-1700

A typed letter signed ‘J. Paul Getty’ to Mr. Bankhead, sending
information about his travels that was necessary in order to
get a new passport. Travels listed start from childhood, and
mainly involved Europe, but also a trip in 1912 to the Far East
and a couple trips to Mexico. He visited the 1936 Berlin
Olympic Games, visited Russia in 1935 and was in Europe at
the outbreak of war in 1939. Moderate chipping at margins,
some soiling, and hole punches at top. (University Archives LOA).
487

490

Account Book kept aboard Ship ‘Boy’ from Newport, RI, to
Havana, Cuba, where the DeWolf family of Rhode Island
maintained slave plantations even after the slave trade was
banned by the United
States. Manuscript
book is 76 pages,
measures 7"x8½” and
bound with string.
Book
contains
passenger list, list of
cargo and prices,
debts and accounting.
Products include
sw eet meats, coffee,
sugar, rum, cigars,
wine and ginger. Of
note are ‘Sickness &
funeral charges for
the late Levi DWolf of
Bristol R.I.’ includes
nursing charges,
medicine and grave
($2). The DeWolf family was involved in the slave trade
between Rhode Island and Cuba, even after it was banned by
the United States, often by using Spanish- flagged ships. Fine
condition. (University Archives LOA).

/D 1942 J. PAUL GETTY SIGNED CHECKS (x8) .... PH $400-600

J. Paul Getty (1892-1976), American business executive and
one of the richest men in the world during his life, signed these
eight checks, drawn on Chase National Bank, NY. Each signed
‘J. Paul Getty’, and measures 8½”x3". Dates range from
October-December 1942. Dark, bold fountain pen signatures
of this famous businessman. Very fine.
488

D 1960s HELEN KELLER OWNED BRAILLE
DOCUMENT .......................................................... PH $300-400

Typed page of Braille (9"x11") on tan card. Two lines, most
probably a retained copy typed by Helen Keller on Braille
typewriter to be typed on paper by her secretary. Provenance
in part: Letter dated Feb 15, 2001 (copy included). ‘I grew up
as a child in the home of Helen Keller, which was sold to my
father...after Ms. Keller’s death in 1968. The house where I
and undoubtedly Ms. Keller had fond memories was located
at 163 Redding Road in Easton, Connecticut. When cleaning
out the house we found several items... Also found in the house
was a large group of letters written in Braille that were owned
by Ms. Keller and which I am on this day parting with.’ Fine.
(University Archives LOA)
489

/D 1999 JOHN GOTTI LETTER TO GEORGE DECICCO’S
DAUGHTER ...................................................... PH $1500-2000

From prison, John Gotti writes to the daughter of mobster
George DeCicco, longtime Capo in the Gambino crime family,
about snow, his family and 3rd grandchild on the way.
Handwritten letter on notebook paper, signed ‘Love/Johnny,’
1½ pages, no date, but accompanied by the original envelope
postmarked Springfield, Missouri, January 15, 1999, slit open
at top. Signature in upper left ‘Gotti, #18261-053’ above printed
address. Addressed by John Gotti to Barbara DeCicco on Staten
Island, NY. Fine condition.

491

D 1840 SLAVERY BILL OF SALE ........................... PH $200-300

Slip of paper (196x85mm) with the following text in black
ink: ‘October 14 1840 Received of John Plecterman (?) and
James G. Lindsay (Confirm as presented by the Count Court
of Orange) two hundred Dollars in payment for two old negroes
offered to the lowest bidder’ then at right in blue ink is signature
of Nancy Terrill, the seller. Could be from North Carolina or
Virginia. Very fine.

[phone] • www.RegencySuperior.com

Page 92

Autographs 03.pmd

1822-24 SLAVERY SHIP ‘BOY’ ACCOUNT BOOK
........................................................................... PH $2000-3000

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11/27/2013, 3:15 PM

Regency-Superior