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

ST. CLOUD DAVENPORT KISSIMEE FLORIDA FL. Very Good. 1927. On offer is an original 1927 manuscript diary handwritten a young woman whose name we believe is Irene Nafziger and the diary details her first year in the Davenport, Kissimmee, St. Cloud Florida area where she and her mother moved to in 1927. [We surmise Irene might be a Nafziger as she mentions Grandma Nafziger. There was a Henry Nafziger in Davenport during this time.] Irene, a clerk and a teacher, rarely misses a day and relates the mundane day to day duties and chores but also she shares her feelings to her diary. The diary is in decent shape but is coming off the binding and has some staining. Overall the 4½ x 7 inch book is G.; Manuscript; 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, IRENE NAFZIGER, KISSIMMEE, ST. CLOUD, DAVENPORT, FLORIDA, HAINES CITY, WOMEN'S STUDIES, GENDER STUDIES, ORLANDO, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, AUTOGRAPHED, AUTHORS, AMERICANA, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT,… Read More

NANKING SHANGHAI CHINA JAPAN. Good. 1939. On offer is a very unique original manuscript Japanese World War II diary handwritten by a hospitalized soldier, perhaps even a doctor, date March to September, Showa 14 [1939]. Over 68 pages of entries we learn that Mr. Nakahashi contracted malaria in China and was sent to hospitals in Nanking and then Shanghai to recover. His ordeal with the illness with wartime China as the backdrop makes for a unique perspective of the start to the conflict. We also learn he is a soldier, philosopher, devoted husband and overall a wonderful diarist. Here are snippets: April 18 The life in hospital is boring as usual, but it can't be helped. Mr. Tanimura brought some package from Mr. Hirata. I was glad so I sent a thank you letter. Yamanaka came to see me as usual. 19 I sent a card to my kid. ---day seems to get closer for him (her). I wonder what's gonna happen. 21 The patients at army hospital are different from the hospital in Tanchi(?) 26 This is a… Read More

JERICHO VERMONT. Good+. 1798. On offer is a sensational, original relic of late 18th Century religious manifestation being a five [5] page manuscript account of a young girl's religious visions and experiences as detailed and handwritten by an unknown eyewitness. Hannah Coy the 9 year old girl is recorded as having been in a trance and while under its influence having religious revelations of Heaven and Hell and seeing Jesus, God and the Devil. The narrator, it appears, witnessed the child in trance while she saw this vision, the writer basically records what Hannah said and saw using Hannah's own words. It begins thusly: "The month of August the 10th day I began to write the following narrative may be depended on as fact and can, has been witnessed by great number of those who saw and heard it themselves." The testimony continues describing a noted change in Hannah's demeanour: "Hannah Coy of nine years of age was by nature a brightly active girl and as… Read More

Hemp, Robbins, North Carolina, Virginia: Southern US, North Carolina, Virginia, Hemp, Robbins. Good. 1939. Hardcover. On offer is a wonderful look life in a small town in the U. S. South through the eyes of a young working woman. The diary was written in 1939 by Essie Lee Nash. Nash lives in Hemp, North Carolina (now renamed Robbins) and works in one of the mills in town. Our informal research has not turned up any additional biographical information about her. In her diary, she recounts in detail her daily routines and the many people she interacts with. One key consideration is her social life, especially with young men. One such entry reads: "Dear Diary. I just made a mistake but I'll let this be the 'memorial". A lot has happened this month. Dorothy came to live with me. JR got expelled but went back. Cay told her and she told him This past month has been stuffed alright. Roberta got married the first day. Pauline told me that she was pregnant. Wonder what it will be.… Read More

DELAWARE OHIO CLEVELAND AKRON OH. Good. 1930. On offer is a fascinating, original January 1, 1930 to November 9, 1930 manuscript diary handwritten by Grace Elinore Chapman [later Nash], a 21 year old woman, a concert violinist and teacher who would one day soon find love, move to the Philippines and then in 1942 become a prisoner of war under cruel and severe treatment by her Japanese captors. Casual research finds an article regarding her life titled: "An Unbelievable Life: Mother, wife, teacher, POW, author - Grace Nash packs a lot of living into 97 years 'Amazing' Grace; Mother, Wife, Teacher, POW, Author: Grace Nash Packs a Lot of Living into 97 Years." Grace's story is truly unbelievable from how she met her husband to her capture and enduring three years of the most awful treatment and conditions and even giving birth in prison but she did endure and thrived to a goodly age. She is noted for having refused her captors admonition to give up her violin and her… Read More

HOLMES HOLE TISBURY MARTHA'S VINEYARD MASSACHUSETT, 1844. On offer is a super, original 1844 manuscript letter/document regarding Holmes Hole, Martha's Vineyard, where Nathan Mayhew, James Barrows, Charles Smith, Jirah Luce and Leroy M. Yale have signed on as building a new Congregational Meeting House at Holmes Hole, Tisbury. To help finance the construction, these men have been put in charge of selling or leasing pews. Signed on second page by Nathan Mayhew, James Barrows, Charles Smith, Jirah Luce, Stephen Skiff and Josiah Smith. Document is 8 x 11 inches, folds, minor splits along folds, overall G.. Good. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Manuscript.

USA AMERICA TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC. Very Good. 1942. On offer is a large group of 100 or so original manuscript letters handwritten by African-American Corporal Lawson [Nathanial] McManus [1919 - 1991] between May 25th, 1942 to June 12th, 1945 thusly 23 to 26 years old at the time of writing. Corporal McManus served in the Pacific Theatre with the 828th Engineer Aviation Battalion (Coloured). [The 828th Engineer Aviation Battalion was well noted for aiding in the reconstruction of the famous Munda airfield on New Georgia.] The correspondence whose value to the family is evident as it has been lovingly maintained in an archival binder with approximately 235 pages and weighs over 8 pounds. There are many different styles of envelopes and letterhead paper as the letters follow the Corporal's service career through the United States and then overseas. The letters are for the most part addressed to his mother and father who lived in the tiny hamlet of Hamlet North Carolina halfway between… Read More

Goodwin Mills, Maine ME YORK COUNTY SACO KITTERY, 1817. On offer is a super grouping of 5 handwritten stampless letters all from the Goodwin family of Biddeford Maine. The Goodwin family first settled in what is now Maine in the mid 17th century in Kittery, Saco, Biddeford and other areas in York County. Goodwins Mills was founded by Nathaniel Goodwin. Four of the letters are between Nathaniel and his son Amos during the time when Amos is attending the University at Cambridge. The last letter is to one brother James from A. G. Goodwin and Amos. They are dated 1817, 1818, 1821 [2], and 1830. They are all between 2-3 pages in length. While the archive covers a fair bit of local history, commerce and general family matters the letters between the father and son are really quite telling of both the era and ageless dialogue between fathers and sons through the millennia. In this case there seems to be tension between them about Amos and his college career. It seems Amos wants to quit school and his father… Read More

France, 1816. VERY RARE GLIMPSE OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE FRENCH COURT AND A PERSISTENT RESOURCEFUL DOCTOR USING ALL HIS NETWORKING SKILLS. From the estate of the world renowned bibliophile and antiquary, Sir Thomas Phillipps. This document has not been on the open market for over 43 years, when purchased by an esteemed American collector, until now. (Further biographical notes on Sir Thomas are at the end of this item's listing.) THE ITEM: Three letters of varying sizes written by Dr. Naudin. Naudin writes on March 26th, 1816 to Madame La Duchesse explaining he would like to solicit an audience with the Vicomte for the purpose of requesting a raise. He feels entitled primarily because he is the leading doctor at the geriatric hospital and his father-in-law was a commissioner for the Vicomte.The second letter whose only date is April and I think safe to say 1816, is unaddressed but in detail says that he, Naudin, has received permission from La Duchesse to explain in great detail his needs and… Read More

HORNELL, NEW YORK WESTERN NEW YORK. Good. 1938. On offer is a unique little journal written by a woman in upstate New York immediately before the outbreak of WWII. Measuring 6 inches by 3.5 inches, this journal has 72 pages and is 100% complete. There is evidence of pages having been torn out at some time in the past. The handwriting is in pencil and although faint, can be read. The cover is in very good condition and all pages are intact. Although the name on the cover is Emmett Johnson (1914-1992), context suggests that this 1938 diary was written by his mother, Katherine Neary Johnson. She refers to family members by the initial of their first name and 'E' and 'J' crop up repeatedly. The 'E' likely stands for Emmett and the 'J' for her husband, John. They lived around Hornell in upstate New York in what is known as the 'Southern Tier' - the mountainous western part of New York state that borders Pennsylvania. These were the last years of the Great… Read More

New York NY, Virginia VA , 1829. WILLIAM NEKERVIS. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED as Cashier, Farmers Bank of Virginia, (Richmond, Virginia), April 10, 1829. 8 x 10 inches, 1 page + integral stampless address leaf. Horizontal and vertical folds; light soil; some weakness at folds; large docketing note on address leaf; Good condition overall. To T.I. Tobias: ...Since I last wrote to you, two of Mr. Judah's notes have been consolidated and reduced to $240. The debt is now $455, in two notes, $240 and $215, both due 27/30 April. There is a bit of a mystery behind this letter. T.I. TOBIAS was a prominent New York Jewish merchant and importer, active in Jewish and philantrophic affairs in the city, in Congregation Shearith Israel and the Society for the Education of Poor Children and Relief of Indigent Persons of the Jewish Persuasion. But who was the indebted "Judah" named in the letter? It may have been DAVID JUDAH (1799-1876), descendant of an old colonial New York Jewish family, and a would-be… Read More

Milwaukee, WI: Police Officer Log Book Inner City Wisconsin 1960s. Very Good with no dust jacket. Hardcover. On offer is a fine collection of patrol notebooks kept by a Milwaukee, Wisconsin police officer during a tumultuous time in American society. The notebooks belonged to Robert F Neufuss (1926-2010). After serving in the US Navy, Neufuss spent 32 years as a police officer with the Milwaukee Police Department, from 1951-1984. Neufuss was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and married Mary Moser in 1950. Together they raised four children and remained married until Mary’s death in 1999. These patrol notebooks offer an entirely different perspective on community life than a typical layman’s diary. By design, Neufuss’ notes recount the less visible, perhaps more unpleasant aspects of life in the community. A careful reading of his notebooks might also show some of the banality of crime and misdeeds. The following entries will give a sense of what life as a Milwaukee Police… Read More

Providence Rhode Island RI. Good+. 1885. Softcover. This is a "Standard" pocket diary completely filled out for the full year of 1885. The original owner was a "Leonard Newcomb" and although we believe he is in Providence Rhode Island, or very near there. In the diary he mentions East Providence, Brown University, Royce Williams Park, Rocky Point and Pine Grove. Also all the addresses in the back of the diary have Providence Rhode Island as their home. Leonard is faithful at keeping his diary, writing everyday. He loves skating on the river, attends school and on numerous occasions attends the local museum and Opera House. He's also part of a group called "Willing Helpers Society" and the YMCA. He mentions many names such as; Douglas, Charlie Baker, Daves, Hutchinson, William Hodges, Dr. Green, Wheedin, Studley, C. Kneeland, Walter Brown, Edward Buffington, William Chase, Harry Miller, Waldo Parrath, Christopher Pease, Fred Sweet, Joseph Frankland, and… Read More

Clymer, Ny, Rural New York, Upstate NY: Rural New York, Clymer. Good. 1909-1910. Softcover. On offer is a delightful journal kept by a teenage girl in upstate New York in the early years of the 20th century. The author of this diary is Mable Newhouse. She notes on the inside front cover that her age is 18-19 years. Our informal research has not found any other biographical information on her. Newhouse lived in the village of Clymer, NY, located in the northern part of the state. This is very much a rural area. The diary covers the time period of Oct 1909 through Sept 1910. She is living at home and a great deal of her notes detail her daily life and chores: "Frank churn. I help can corn. It was a nice day" [Sept 21, 1909]; "Iron. Pa took me to Clymer. I went to Uncle Frank N. Amy and I went to Aunt Minnie a few minutes Edna came. We had popcorn fritters. Amy and I took Edna uptown" [Feb 22, 1910]; "Mop the back kitchen. Churn. Frank went to town. It rained"… Read More

HAVERSTOCK, LONDON, ENGLAND. Good+. 1901. On offer is a fascinating, enigmatic, original December 1901 to May 1905 Edwardian Era manuscript diary handwritten by we believe Guy Newman of Haverstock in London England. Less than a year after he death Mr. Newman writes a diary that exemplifies the end of Queen Victoria's less sociable more austere reign into the breathy, heady days of Edward's fashionable regency. He writes with a near obsessive qualities: the writing, legible but very small fills each page as he creates a diary of almost extraordinary detail of the doings and happenings from his intimate personal circle to the social and political scene in London to almost the entirety of England: he refers to the two wicked women being hanged in Holloway; the death of Cecil Rhodes; a visit to the Zoo; relatives off to South Africa; train journeys; Royal Tournament; King and Queen's procession just to note the merest of jottings. A banker, the young man who marries in June of… Read More

ROSE ISLAND, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, RI. Good. 1885. On offer is a unique and interesting document from the history of war, weaponry, and the United States Navy. It is the “Report upon the Manufacture of Gun Cotton” produced by a seaman, B. C. Nielsen. The 16-page handwritten report, goes over a wide range of the creation, processing, and use of gun cotton. It begins by defining gun cotton as, “an explosive made from cotton; and is composed of Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, and is made by acting on cotton with nitric and sulphuric acids. It is only necessary to immerse pure dry cotton in a mixture of the purest and strongest nitric and sulphuric acids to convert cotton into gun cotton.” Gun cotton comes from cotton known as “weavers or cop waste, the tangled clippings from the spinning room.” The cotton is boiled then dried and passed through “a centrifugal wringer”. This is just one of the many late-Industrial Revolution era machines that… Read More

LUNDY ISLAND BRISTOL CHANNEL UNITED KINGDOM UK. Good. 1990. On offer is a handmade book and love-letter of sorts to the Island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel. In it’s pages, the author, Julia Abel Smith, has written a tremendous amount of information, not on the local flora and fauna which have been written about many times, but on the local history and buildings that the author believes make Lundy Island one of the most unique places on Earth. The book seems to have been compiled around the late 1980s/early 1990s. There are 15 chapters in all. Two of the chapters are on the local history, while the rest are on the local landmarks on the island. The chapters included in the book are as such: “History of Lundy Island,” “The Barn,” “Bramble Villa,” “The Castle,” “The Castle Cottage,” “Government House,” “Hanmers,” “Millcombe House,” “The Old LIght,” “The Old House and Square Cottage,”… Read More

DEVON ENGLAND. Good. 1946. On offer is a fascinating, original circa 1946 manuscript notebook handwritten by noted British author and Vimy Ridge combatant Ulric Nisbet [Captain H.U.S. Nisbet]. The book is comprised of two sections: a 32 page retrospective autobiography titled "Memories of my Childhood". Flipping the book over and there is an 88 page transcription of materials relating to the First World War, the majority about the capture of Vimy Ridge. We note on page two of his War Experiences he was a Captain in the Royal West Kent Regiment and also a Liaison Officer with the 29th Canadians during the battle of Vimy Ridge. Adding further depth to the manuscript are a number of old postcards, photographs and other related ephemera within these pages including some family photographs and an old programme dated 1910 from a school play he acted in playing Orpheus. BIO NOTES: Ulric Nisbet (1897 - 1987) was a British writer and the author of "Thoughts on the Purpose of… Read More

ITHACA NEW YORK NY LEWISBURG PENNSYLVANIA PA. Good+. 1929. On offer is a super manuscript relic of four [4] early 20th Century science books being the handwritten thesis and archive of college materials of the late, Doctor of Philosophy, W. Norwood Lowry. Included within four [4] large books is the submitted thesis from Cornell University dated May 7, 1929 on 'The Location of the Electromotive Force in the Photo-Voltaic Cell' presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy; a hand-signed acceptance by the special committee (3 individual signatures); Lowry's handwritten Freshman course book containing notes on classic literature, English drama, poetry, vocabulary and music [the front cover of this book reads: "Carbondale High School" and is dated 1913 to1916]; a book with physics materials titled "The Combination Physics Manual and Laboratory Note-Book" which include Lowry's handwritten notes,… Read More

BREMEN GERMANY. Very Good. 1939. On offer is a superb, unique, beautifully kept World War II German naval relic of Kriegsmarine, the German Navy. The writer is a sailor named Eugen Noss. He uses a "Merkblatt", a memo book to record his service and over 43 pages he does so with inordinate pride written in a precise legible script with ink. Though it is a diary the large book format gives it a scrapbook esthetic. Eugen has added depth to his service diary with a number of drawings and pictures. Historians and collectors of the era and the topic will recognize the absolute uniqueness of this manuscript. Here is from, Eugen's own hand, an introduction: "My name is Eugen Noss and I was born on 8 May 1915 as son of (?) and his wife (?), née Ludwig, in Dortmund - ? In 1928 we moved to Baden? This is where my father died from complications of a war injury. He was baptized in the evangelical (Lutheran) tradition. From my 6th year I went to the Volkschule (Primary school)… Read More