1843 Peter Force rice paper copy of the Declaration of Independence.

An 1866 Liberty Seated dollar with motto, $4,830.

Rare Rice Paper Copy of the Declaration of Independence Reaches $25,875 at EAHA

LA JOLLA, CALIF. – Early American History Auctions, Inc. (EAHA) completed its February 9 Mail Bid Auction, consisting of 1,106 lots of autographs, coins, currency and Americana. Prices include 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Autographs included 1843 Peter Force rice paper copy of the Declaration of Independence selling for $25,875; an autograph letter signed by George Washington, with over 350 words in his hand ($19,550); two documents signed by Benjamin Franklin as President of Pennsylvania ($10,350 and $6,900); an autograph letter signed by Elias Boudinot as President of the Continental Congress ($3,220); and a document signed by Henry Laurens as President of the Continental Congress ($2,128).

A check signed by James Madison, as President, brought $2,300, and a document signed by Patrick Henry as Governor of Virginia made $2,875; a photograph signed by Thomas Edison ($3,330); a signed and inscribed portrait of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr ($3,220); and a signed carte de visite of Robert E. Lee sold for $4,025.

A Mary Todd Lincoln free franked envelope made $2,875; a document signed by Franklin Pierce as President and Jefferson Davis as Secretary of War ($2,875); a military commission signed by Theodore Roosevelt as President and William H. Taft as Secretary of War ($2,185); an autograph copy of America signed by Samuel Francis Smith made $2,588, and a Civil War substitute certificate signed by “Boss” Tweed came in at $4,312.

A Dali art book, twice signed by the artist, sold for $2,070, and a photograph signed by baseball great Ty Cobb brought $2,760.

Other highlights included a printed copy of the 1777 British Act repealing the Townshend Acts ($3,680); a silhouette of General Nathanael Greene ($2,358); a Minute Men account book from the Bucks County Militia ($2,070); a letter from Thomas Cushing, as the Continental naval agent, to John Hancock, who was President of the Continental Congress ($1,495); a 1777 Connecticut militia document ($2,760); a Civil War recruiting broadside for the 15th regiment of infantry ($1,783); a photograph of Lincoln at the headquarters of the Fifth Army Corps at Antietam ($2,530); a cabinet photo of Lincoln ($1,840); and a document pertaining to the bankruptcy of Civil War photographer Mathew B. Brady ($3,163).

Highlights of Colonial Currency included a large size “Ashby” note, March 4, 1773, signed by Peyton Randolph and John Blair, choice extremely fine ($1,495); a 1773, 20s Georgia Redemption Issue, about very fine ($2,070); a June 8, 1777, Georgia $7 “Liberty Cap” vignette, red “in,” choice crisp extremely fine ($1,323); a 1778 Georgia $20, “Rattlesnake” vignette, variety C, extremely fine ($1,725); and August 18, 1775, Massachusetts, 2s, Paul Revere engraved “Sword in Hand” issue, choice about extremely fine ($5,750).

Also, an April 2, 1776, North Carolina, $71/2 “Colonial American Flag” vignette, choice very fine ($1,725); a June 1, 1775, South Carolina, £50, “Woman Frightened by a Storm” vignette, choice extremely fine (1,150); and a March 6, 1776, South Carolina, £25, “Flourishing Tree & Fallen Tree” vignette, choice extremely fine ($1,553).

In Confederate currency, an archive of six official letters, in which Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Treasury Secretary Charles G. Memminger ask Congress to authorize new CSA banknotes and stock certificates, realized $10,638.

Six different lots of 25 uncirculated 1864 $50 T-66s, all crisp.

Medals and Indian Peace Medals included a 1777 Benjamin Franklin “Américain” plaque by Nini, choice uncirculated ($2,070); a 1797 John Adams Indian Peace Medal, small size in bronze, gem uncirculated ($1,817); and an 1853 Franklin Pierce Indian Peace Medal in Bronze, gem uncirculated ($1,035).

United States coinage featured an 1866 Liberty Seated dollar, with motto, SEGS graded proof-65 toned ($4,830); an 1868 Seated Liberty half dime, PCGS graded mint state-65 ($1,265); a 1906-D Barber half dollar, NGC graded mint state-66 ($2,185).

In gold coinage, an 1807 Capped Bust $5 gold half Eagle, breen-5E, very fine-20, rarity-6+ ($1,449), and an 1874 Coronet type, variety 2 $10 gold Eagle, NGC graded mint state-60 ($1,495). In Pattern Coinage, an 1872 Pattern Trade dollar, Judd-1214, silver, proof-61, brought $2,990.

Antique maps included a circa 1635 “Americae Nova Tabula” by Willem Blaeu ($4,485). A circa 1708 “New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania & c” by H. Moll ($1,150) and a circa 1720, “Totius Americae Septentrionalis et Meridionalis…” by Homann, realizing $1,380.

Extensive other sections were also offered, including Americana, black history, political ephemera, posters, photographs, newspapers, Judaica, guns and edged weapons, playing cards, fossils, and cultural artifacts.