July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
Pair of Autograph Letters Signed by William B. Sprague, on lettersheet of the law firm he and his son shared, both addressed to Major James H. Manning, of Albany, pertaining to stamp and autograph collecting, includes: ALS, 3pp. quarto, November 9, 1910, and reads in part: “..I know you will pardon my tardy acknowledgement of your kind favor in the shape of postage stamps and clippings, when I explain to you that I have been waiting until I could make a further search for autographs. Many of the stamps you sent me will be very useful, and the ‘specimen’ envelopes are extremely interesting as curios. I was very glad to have them. Under a separate cover, I am sending you the result of a thorough inspection of the contents of the two suit cases. I greatly fear there is nothing which you will value very highly, besides the letters. I found a good deal in the way of memoranda and catalogs in my grandfather’s handwriting, all dealing with his collection, and these I should be happy to send you...I thank you very much for your continued interest in my stamp collection, and your willingness to aid me. I am particularly interested in stamps of the Confederate States, and the United States between 1843 and 1851. Anyone who had letters of that period would be sure to have very desirable stamps...” Fine...plus; ALS, 1pp. quarto, October 29, 1910, and reads in part: “...In running through some papers of my own the other day, I came across the enclosed letter, written by the president of Harvard to my grandfather, and it occurred to me that you might like to put it with the other letters...I have taken a great deal of pleasure in going through the stamps, and have made some very substantial additions to my collection...” Fine. (2 items)
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