EarlyAmerican History Auctionslives up to its namesake onceagain with an offering of 216lots, including numerousimportant and unique items.This auction is presentedonline only on its website andthrough the Invaluable auctionplatform. The array coversmultiple collecting fields,including historic autographs,engravings, documents, USNavy, Colonial and Revolutionary War documents, Continental and Colonial currency,George Washington, Federalperiod, Abraham Lincoln andCivil War encased postagestamps and artifacts, Blackhistory, historic maps, pluspolitical and decorative Americana. Absentee bidding hasalready opened, with the saleclosing on September 20 atnoon.

The sale begins by offeringmany historic, autographedlots. The first lot across theblock is a unique BenedictArnold (1741-1801) 1772 fourpage autographed document,signed nine times within thebody of the text, as either"Benedict Arnold," or "Arnold,"this likely being BenedictArnold's own original retainedcopy of a land transaction,written at New Haven, Conn.($8/10,000).

There's a specialJune 17, 1776, dated early Revolutionary War John Bradfordsigned, Boston, letter reportingContinental Navy successes,mailed to John Hancock as thepresident of the ContinentalCongress, regarding five American privateers engaging British naval forces, with the docket handwritten by JohnHancock ($8/12,000).

Anotherlot provides a unique opportunity to acquire the only knownsurviving example bearingPresident James Buchanan'sand his full cabinets' signatures written on a single sheetof paper ($2,5/3,500).

A favorite outstanding historic highlight of this auction isa "Valley Forge January 28,1778-dated" (seven times),Revolutionary War manuscriptdocument signed by the captains or NCOs of seven different companies of the ThirdNew Hampshire Regiment ofthe Continental Line duringtheir horrific winter encampment at Valley Forge. Thismanuscript document is areceipt for new stockings beingdistributed to the troops during the famous winter wheremany soldiers suffered anddied from frostbite, some without stockings or shoes for theirfreezing feet ($12/18,000).

An associated lot offers a trueRevolutionary War originalpair of stockings of the typebeing distributed in thisunique document ($500/600).

Yet another favorite rarity isan original circa 1770 American Colonial era, completehandmade tricorn black woolhat, with its black silk cockadefully intact, apparently madefor an American militiaman,Ex: Virginia Museum historicaldisplay ($8/10,000).

Also on offer from the collection of Ambassador J. WilliamMiddendorf II is the finestknown historic map the firstLondon Printing of "A Prospective of the Battle fought nearLake George, on the 8th of September 1755..." engraved byThomas Jefffreys. As one historian called it: "The only engraving that exhibits the Americanmethod of bush fighting." Theonly other example to appearat auction in the last 40 yearswas 2005 hand-colored Middendorf-Guthman copy($50/60,000).

Early American Colonial andContinental currency is represented with an array of certified or unique examples. TwoContinental Congress currencynotes include a rare April 11,1778, $8, Yorktown Issue, BlueCounterfeit Detector, PCGSgraded GEM NEW-65PPQ($5/6,000) and a September 26,1778 Philadelphia Issue $60Blue Counterfeit DetectorPCGS graded GEM UNC-66PPQ ($1,5/2,000) both notescurrently the finest certifiedexamples.

Many rare Colonialera notes include May 8, 1740Redated May 8, 1746, Colony ofConnecticut, Three Pounds,Contemporary Counterfeit, Fr.CT-56eCFT, Ex: Ford III auction, PCGS Banknote gradedChoice Fine-15 ($4/6,000);August 27, 1755, Colony ofConnecticut, Two Shillings Sixpence, PCGS graded Very Fine-30; (1774) Undated, Province ofGeorgia, Ten Shillings, UnifaceIssue, PCGS Banknote gradedVery Fine-20 ($5/7,000); andmajor rarity 1737, Province ofthe Massachusetts Bay, FivePence, Printed Text with Ornamented Woodblock Bordersface and back, PCGS Banknotegraded Choice Very Fine-35 thePrior Newman Plate Note, Ex:Ford-Boyd Collections, the Finest Known ($4/8,000).

The American RevolutionaryWar is well represented withmany historic documents, artifacts and letters. These includea 1774-dated RevolutionaryWar era manuscript document,Boston, relating the news thatKing George III has prohibited the export of gunpowder, armsor ammunition to the American Colonies and has soinstructed the colonial governors, ($8/10,000).

Another lotdocuments a Black soldier,Robert Freeman, who served inthe Connecticut Line of theContinental Army, Revolutionary War, a pay order signed "X"with his mark, The "ValleyForge Muster Role Project"records Robert Freeman as aprivate, with the 8th Connecticut Regiment. serving at ValleyForge Camp ($3/4,000)

For military hardware collectors amuseum quality, circa 1776Revolutionary War era, BritishCoehorn mortar, cast bronzewith the royal cipher of KingGeorge II on top, complete withits wooden block carrying andfiring base with all securingiron and side handles, appearsunused ($3,5/4,500) Anothermilitary favorite is a circa1776, perhaps earlier, Eighteenth Century, bronze Burstcannon marked on top "P 14,"placed on a modern woodstand, with large explosivepowder ($4/6,000).

George Washington is wellrepresented starting with aMarch 10, 1753 dated originalFrederick County, Va., manuscript land indenture, writtenwith "Surveyed By Mr GeorgeWashington" then as a 17-year-old, working for his relativeLord Fairfax, and this document is signed by Fairfax($4/6,000).

These are but a few of the 216historic auction lots currentlypresented. For information,www.earlyamerican.com or858-759-3290.