Search Results: Authors starting with B from Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.

Richmond, Virginia. Good in Good dust jacket. 1932. Ephemera. On offer is a letter from a grocery wholesale firm during the Great Depression in America. The letter, dated Nov 1932, was written by Douglas B Beattie, the Secretary of a Richmond VA grocery wholesaler. Staples Grocery Co was in business near the beginning of the 20th century. It operated until 1943 when it was bought out by a larger competitor. Our informal research on Beattie found very little information. He was born in 1881 and lived until 1966. It appears that, at age 84, he was murdered by several young men. His letter was addressed to a Miss Vaughan. It is a reply to her letter concerning some items she was purchasing. He assures her everything should be alright. Amusingly he notes: “Our cachet is not very satisfactory, but it is a “cachet” and that’s what counts”. For a social historian, the letter captures a pleasant moment in time during an otherwise time of grinding economic turmoil. The… Read More

FRANKLIN, MICHIGAN MI. Good. 1927. On offer is an original, super 1927 manuscript diary used as a notebook handwritten by popular Franklin Michigan magician E.B. Wilhelm. Using a large page a day book by "Dodge Reports - Yearbook" for 1927 not as a diary but more of a catch-all wherein he details many technical matters of his performances and acts including running orders, load notes, prop lists, stage blocking, scripting, secret codes, jokes, poetry and more. Historians, researchers and collectors of the Magician's trade will find insight into Wilhelm's life, personality, passion and his particular stage styling as there are a number of multi page entries where he describes his routines, his 'patter', plans for his performances and many of the magic effects from beginning to end. The 8.5 x 5.5 inch book has a broken spine; some pages excised from the back and is about one third full but overall G.; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall;… Read More

Annapolis Maryland MD Usa: US Navy Doctor's Wife in Annapolis Maryland. Good. 1916-1927. Hardcover. On offer are two diaries written in the early years of the 20th century, written by Gertrude Steele, wife of Dr. John Murray Steele USN. Gertrude Steele was born in 1865 and passed away in 1931 at the age of 66. Her husband had graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Pennsylvania in 1875 and had immediately joined the U. S. Navy, rising to the rank of Commander. They lived in Annapolis, MD. Our informal research has not turned up any additional biographical information. The first diary dates from 1916. Her entries show that she enjoyed a good standard of living, reflective of her husband's standing in the community. Her entries are replete with the names of her many friends and acquaintances: "An ideal spring day - washed and shopping - then I met Connie Johnston and walked around with her to Carolyn's - & there C&D were so cordial & made us stay to… Read More

Brooklyn New York, Minneapolis MN. Very Good. 1868. On offer is a Civil War era archive of five [5] books of which two are the handwritten manuscript diaries from 1868 and 1869 of M. B. Thurlow. Ms. Thurlow lived in Brooklyn, New York and helped run a store on South Street, New York. There are daily entries from July 24th 1868 to December 31st 1869. Very intensly written, sometimes even cross-written, each day begins with a weather report plus store activities. Otherwise Ms Thurlow makes personal comments, tells the events of the day and identifies relatives and social activities. It appears that the store has dealing with quite a number of ships and there is an address for a Captain Masston of San Francisco prominently recorded. There are a number of trips recorded to Ithaca New York where we believe she had more family. Also, there are many, many dozens if not hundreds of names which will provide a treasure trove for genealogists and historians. Along with the two diaries are two… Read More

WEST TISBURY MARTHAS VINEYARD WOODS HOLE NANTUCKET, 1892. On offer is a very interesting group of two [2] original circa 1892 manuscript letters dated U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey Camp (Katama), West Tisbury (Martha's Vineyard), Massachusetts, from team member M. B. Safford to his mother, and his brother, Ed. The content, in part, reads: 1. [West Tisbury, no date, presumably 1892, to his mother; 4 pp.] "This week we moved camp 12 miles & set it up again and got in two days' field work. We are in a new sort of country. High bluffs along the shore and higher hills back inland, strewn with enormous boulders, as well as smaller ones, all of which were left by the glaciers. On a hill about a mile to the north of us, we can look over all the island and sound to north and ocean to south. We can see New Bedford, Woods Hole, the Elizabeth Islands and Newport and Block Island on the west, Gay Head and Noman's Land look just at the foot of the hills. Nantucket lies at the southeast and… Read More

PORCUPINE CREEK HAINES, ALASKA AK. Very Good. 1936. On offer is a very interesting manuscript journal handwritten by W.B. Beatty who self titled his book 'Porcupine Creek Journal, Haines, Alaska…..Alaska - Sunshine Gold Mining Co. and beginning June 20 over approximately 50 pages through to August 25, 1936 details his work in the field while doing geology and survey work. Tipped in at the back is a wonderful original photograph of Dave Hatch's Cabin, on the road to Porcupine Creek. Overall VG. ; Manuscript; Folio - over 12" - 15" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, ALASKA - SUNSHINE GOLD MINING CO., PORCUPINE CREEK, W.B. BEATTY, HAINES, ALASKA, GOLD MINING, SURVEYING, ALASKAN GEOLOGY, DAVE HATCH'S CABIN, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, AUTOGRAPHED, AUTHORS, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE,… Read More

PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA PA. Very Good. 1834. On offer is a wonderful, relic of Americana being an autographed stampless cover letter signed [ALS] by Deborah Duane, nee Bache. Duane [1781-1863] was the granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin and her mother was Sarah Franklin and her father was Richard Bache. This charming 7-3/4 x 9-1/2 letter dated 'Phil. July 15th, 1834' with a light red Phil postmark is written to her nephew Lieut. A. A. Harwood in Newport, Rhode Island. A lovely, personal letter, reading in part: "... Yours announcing the birth of your second son was duly received... I could not avoid a momentary regret, that he had not been a girl, not on his own account, but on that of sweet little Bess, for I do fear you will both spoil that 'dear stouter' ... Give my best love to Sarah, and tell her to jog your memory about a home in Newport for us..., " signed D. Duane. BIO NOTES: Deborah Bache married William John Duane (1780-1865) in 1805; he was Secretary… Read More

Madison, Wisconsin. Good with no dust jacket. 1932-1933. Spiral bound. On offer is an excellent description of college life in the American Midwest during the Great Depression. In a notebook titled "Climbing the Ladder of Success," Richard A. Bachhuber, a University of Wisconsin student, chronicles his freshman year from September 1932 to June 1933, giving us a fascinating look at student life during this grim time. Bachhuber writes: "First day at college. We got here about 10 o’clock this morning. We came to the Dorms (Bob & I) and got our rooms arranged. ... Attended a Dormitory Freshman get together at the Union ... We had cider and doughnuts for refreshments. Not very interesting otherwise. …" (September 13, 1932). "... Got our Chemistry 6 week tests back and I only got a C+. We had a Math test and as far as I know I got about 65 or 70. I don’t know what’s wrong. I’ll have to do better. Rowed as usual tonight for about an hour.… Read More

ABOARD THE BARGE ALICE. Good. 1905. On offer is a fascinating, original 1905 ship's log book of approximately 160 pages handwritten in pencil by Captain C.H. Bacon of the Barge "Alice." His loads are coal which he delivers to Hartford, Naubuc, Middletown Asylum, Rocky Hill, &c. By 1906, he is taking on water pipe at Elizabeth Port and Port Reading, then delivering it to Newport, Providence, and New London. In October, he goes back to hauling coal from New Jersey ports to Hartford, Middletown, Naubuc and Pawtucket. Laying up is delayed until Jan. 3, 1907, and the work resumes in March, &c., &c. Capt. Bacon hailed from Middletown, Connecticut. His schooner, the Hattie A. Butler, is on the list of vessels lost or damaged in the catastrophic Portland Gale of November, 1898, when she was in Vineyard Sound off Massachusetts. She was wrecked near Angelica Point, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, with the loss of one crew member. Researchers and collectors of nautical… Read More

1895. On offer is a wonderful copy of 'Etretat: Hamlet of the Setting Sun - a Norman Village and its Surroundings' by Henry Bacon (1839-1912) the American Impressionist artist. This smallish utterly charming book published by Brentano's in 1895 uniquely contains eleven original watercolor illustrations by Bacon as evidenced by his initials on a number of the drawings. This is a very unusual relic of Bacon's work beautifully executed. Overall VG.. Good+. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Manuscript.

Boonville, NY. Good. 1886. On offer is a very interesting diary kept by a young woman in upstate New York in 1886. Measuring 5 3/4 inches by 3 1/2 inches, the slim volume contains about 150 pages including memoranda. The diary portion is 100% complete. The covers, binding and pages are all in good condition. The handwriting is legible. Tucked into the diary are three newspaper clippings. These are obituaries published in the local papers. Two refer to the death of her mother in 1914. The third refers to a man who is possibly related to her by marriage. There are also 2 photographs in the diary - 1 is a family grouping and the other is a portrait of a young woman. Research confirms that the picture of the young woman is indeed Jennie Bacon. Interestingly, in the same pocket that held the photographs was a folded paper package that contains a small calibre bullet casing. The flyleaf is inscribed "Jennie Bacon, Layden NY Jan 4th, 1886". Research establishes that she was born in… Read More

France. Good with no dust jacket. 1765. Ephemera. On offer is a lovely, handwritten legal document referencing a seigneurial holding in the northeast of France. In the mid-18th century. The document is entitled Queritur, Latin for Article. It opens with the identification of the landholding, as demonstrated in the following excerpt: Il y a une seigneurie et cour feodale appelee Westhove [ ] en la paroisse de Neuve Eglise [ ] de Bailleul. [Translation: There is a seigneury and feudal court called Westhove [ ] in the parish of Neuve Eglise [ ] de Bailleul]. The document goes on to outline certain rights of this seigneur: …aiant haute [ ] et basse justice et le seigneur a droit d' etablir un bailly. [Translation: …having a high [ ] and low justice and the Lord has the right to establish a Bailly]. The document goes on at length to discuss this. It ends with another person’s comments, noting it was delivered at Bailleul on July 1st, 1765 and signed de Baey. For a historian… Read More

Venice, Italy. Good+. 1767. Ephemera. On offer is a fine example of an order issued by a senior Venetian government official in the mid-18th century. The document was written in 1767 by Paolo Baglioni, the Podestra or Chief Magistrate of Chioza (modern-day Chioggii). Chioza dates back to the Roman times. The community lies on a small island at the south end of the Lagoon of Venice. Its existence has always been linked with Venice. For much of the Middle Ages, Chioza was under the rule of the Republic of Venice and has been referred to as “Little Venice” because of its canals. Venice had been an independent and very wealthy city from 687 AD until 1797 AD. Fishing was always part of the economy of Chioza but the city’s main economic activity became the salt trade. Our informal research has not found any additional information about the author of this note. The document does make reference to a “militia”. This small document measures 5.5 inches by 8.25 inches. It… Read More

RED CREEK; NEW YORK. Good. 1940. On offer is an excellent collection of 4 diaries (1940, 1943, 1944 and 1945) and ephemera from a farm woman who lived in rural upstate New York. All diaries measure 7.5' x 5.0', each contains 183 pages and memoranda, and all of them are in good condition. 1940, 1944 and 1945 diaries are 100% complete, 1943 diary is 50% complete. Gladys Bailey lived on a farm in upstate New York, quite close to Lake Ontario. She was born on April 29th, 1912. A handwritten genealogy in the ephemera indicates that she was born in 1912 (maiden name Weisner) and married to James Emery Bailey, who came from Nelson, Pennsylvania and was in the logging business. She had two children, Donald and Mae. She lived on the family farm with her extended family. The diaries portray in detail the daily events and happenings on a mixed-use farm in mid-20th century: "Washed clothes and got them dry. Ironed in afternoon. Mother called Belle Robinson done chores. Had a big… Read More

Sherbrooke, Quebec, Cananda. Very Good. 1913. Original Cloth. Ruth Bailey is 29 years old, Jan 28th, 1913. She is a very dedicated diarist recording the highlights and weather each and everyday. She notes bank depostis and purchases and all manner of entertainments she attends. Letters received and written are all recorded. She also mentions many hundreds of people and local events of which here is a hodge-podge: Dr. Darch, Jessie and Eleanor St. Denis, Alex Blue funeral, Jenny Boynton, Jimmy Harkness dropped dead on his train, Maude Thompson, Mount Notre Dame Convent, Henry Birks and Sons, Mina Kerr, Louisa Phillips in Cuba, Mrs. Chas. B. Howard, Dr. Shreve's Lenten lecture, Jean Mitchell marriage Bruce Fletcher reception cancelled because old Mrs. McKecknie died, organist Mr. Bearder concert at St. Peter's, Nellie Long, Chief Davidson burial, Juvenile Pollard Co. of Australia's stage production 'Sargeant Bruce', etc., etc. Ruby is also a religious Roman Catholic (she… Read More

Holland New York NY. Good+. 1887. Softcover. On offer three diaries all belonging to Hattie Baker of Holland, New York. This first diary represents the year 1887 when Hattie turns 21 and I she was very faithful when writing in her diariy. Once you start reading this personal memoir her amazing life story unfolds which only makes the reader want to know more about Hattie. Intertwined between the pages of her diary you'll find subtle hints, little pieces to the puzzle that give our young woman a sense of mystery to her life. For example, on October 8th, 1887 she writes, "This day will never be forgotten, H & I".Or at one point in the later diary she has been corresponding with a Mr. Smith and in her diary she writes. "I reached my brink this morning, wrote to Mr. Smith. Have a headache, everything is so strange.." and that's just the start. She's also quite the seamstress, sewing dresses and jackets for many people. She travels, attends plenty of social… Read More

SOUTH DARTMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS. Good. 1880. On offer is a very unique and rare diary collection spanning nearly fifty years. There are 8 diaries plus 1 leather wallet. The diaries were written between 1880 and 1929. The diary measurements, pages and degree of completeness are as follows: diary 1880 measures 4.75 x 3.0, has 365 pages and is 100% complete; 1882 - 4.0 x 3.0, 365 pages,15% complete; 1923 - 4.0 x 2.5, 52 pages, 40% complete; 1924 - 4.0 x 2.5, 52 pages, 20% complete; 1926 - 5.0 x 3.0, 92 pages, 100% complete, 1927 - 6.0 x 3.0, 60 pages, 100% complete, 1928 - 4.75 x 3.0, 92 pages, 100% complete; 1929 measures 4.75 x 3.0, 60 page, 100% complete. The leather wallet is worn but complete. In its four sections is a collection of newspaper clippings dating back. The covers are in good condition. The oldest diaries show a bit more wear. The pages are all intact and the bindings are good. The handwriting is tight but legible. The collection is rounded out by a leather wallet… Read More

ABOARD THE S.S. WEST CACTUS BRAZIL SOUTH AMERICA. Good. 1935. On offer is a super pair [2] of manuscript 8 x 10 inch notebooks handwritten we believe by a sailor named William H. Ballou. While he does not identify himself in these books he is known though other writings to be one and the same person. The notebooks detail an extended trip from the USA to South America including the Amazon River dated February 19th 1935 - September 17th 1935 aboard the SS West Cactus of the McCormick Steamship Co. William's job title is Fireman aboard the ship but has other duties and is kept very busy but he is a dedicated diarist who details the characters aboard ship, the Ports of Call including: Port Gamble, Port Ludlow, Coos Bay, Port Townsend, Amazon Delta, Atlantico Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and many, many more. They are carrying a load of lumber and passengers including an author only identified as Mr. Gifford who we believe could be Edward Winslow Gifford who wrote a couple of books… Read More

CONCEPTION CITY, CHILE. Good. 1889. On offer is a super, rather intriguing group of letters [17 w/10 covers] written by a young American gentleman living in Chile circa 1889 whose name we conclude was George Bambach Hawes as evidenced by a letter addressed to a Myra S. Curtis. Hawes apparently died in 1917 and this letter typed in Spanish is from Elena Bambach Hawes. All letters except for three are from George and dated 1888 and 1889. The letters are quite lengthy some five or six pages several double sided. George lived in Conception City, Chile working for Banco de Concepcion as a bank teller. All of George Bambach Hawes letters are written to Miss Myra S. Curtis of Mendota Illinois. Apparently he was infatuated with her, and considered her his companion. There is mention of romance, but also some travel in these letters some contain great descriptions of life in Chile. It seems his family mother, father, and sisters were already living in Chile. John writes that he should just… Read More

BOURISP FRANCE PYRENEES. Good. 1759. Manuscript. On offer is a super relic of French Catholic devotion being a manuscript book of the famed story "Saint Alexis" or "L'illustre Olympie" by Nicolas Mary Desfontaines [b. circa 1610 in Rouen, d. 4 February 1652 in Angers; actor, playwright and novelist and noted French poet [see BIO NOTES]. Over 80 pages handwritten by a young Pyrenees student in very nice, steady, calligraphic hand and as stated on the title page: "Tragédie copiée par moy Jean Baratgin habitant du lieu de Bourisp le 24 May mil Sept Cent cinquante neuf 1759". A separate title page at the rear identifies the Teacher, M. Jure and the Ecole Bourisp. One online source provides: "The best known of the early Old French saints' lives is the Vie de Saint Alexis, the life of Saint Alexis, a translation/rewriting of a Latin legend. Saint Alexis fled from his family's home in Rome on his wedding night and dwelled as a hermit in… Read More