‘Secret' Patton Letter Garners $10,350 in La Jolla

The top lot contained Patton's thoughts on a new armored division.

'Secret' Patton Letter Garners $10,350 in La Jolla Auction

LA JOLLA, CALIF. - Early American History Auctions, Inc. (EAHA) conducted a December mail bid auction consisting of 1,382 lots of autographs, coins, currency, and Americana. A 1943 autograph letter signed by General George Patton, giving his thoughts on an new armored division and marked "Secret," brought $10,350, the event's top lot.

Two documents signed by John Jay and Samuel Huntington as president of the Continental Congress sold for $8,250 and $2,420 respectively. An Andrew Johnson autograph letter signed realized $5,174, and an Albert Einstein typed Letter signed in 1939, congratulating a New Yorker on his work with Jewish refugees, mad $4,888.

A lot composed of the signatures and cartes-de-visites of James Garfield and his assassin, Charles Guiteau, reached $2,990. A "Huntington" Declaration of Independence fetched $3,450, and a Thomas Jefferson "Free Frank" sold for $2,530. A George Washington cut signature achieved $4,313. An 1864 book, "The Last Men of the Revolution," with cartes-de-vistes of five Revolutionary War survivors, realized $2,300, and a signed Alexander H. Stephens carte-de-viste by Brady brought $1,898.

A Confederate album containing cartes-de-vistes of 26 generals sold for $3,450, and a Civil War era Federal surgeon's instrument kit realized $5,563. A decorated drum from the War of 1812 brought $5,750, and a sailor's knife with whalebone inlays, circa 1850, made $2,990.

The images and signatures of Garfield and his assassin fetched $2,990.

Highlights in colonial and Continental coins and currency included a 1652 Massachusetts "Oak Tree" shilling, No. 5, PCGS graded about uncirculated, which sold for $8,050, and a 1760 Voce Populi, Nelson 7, choice about uncirculated, rarity 7, which brought $1,610. In Washington coinage, a 1795 Washington Grate Halfpenny, Large Buttons, PCGS graded MS-62 Brown made $2,041. In Fugio Cents, a 1787 Fugio Cent, Pointed Rays, States/United, Newman 8-B, SEGS graded Mint State 62 Red and Brown sold for $1,058.

In US coinage, a State of Virginia, 1861, $50 Treasury Note, CR 3, crisp uncirculated, realized $2,875. Three groups of 25 1864 $50 T66s, all crisp uncirculated, brought $1,208, $1,265, and $1,208 respectively. An FR-224, 1896 $1 Silver Certificate, "Educational," CGA graded crisp uncirculated 62 fetched $1,006.

A William Penn medal in Copper, uncirculated, sold for $1,870. A James K. Polk medal in bronze, gem uncirculated, went for $1,150, and an 1850 James Buchanan medal in bronze, superb uncirculated, realized $1,210.

Encased postage featured a 1 cent "S. Steinfield" New York, rarity 7, which brought $4,773, and a large American stamp collection, which made $4,313.

A French and Indian War British pattern marine/militia musket, dated 1758, fetched $5,750, and a British pattern infantry musket, circa 1777, achieved $4,025. A powder horn form General George A. Custer's personal effects went for $4,600.

A selection of 58 lots of rare playing cards decks from a collection being offered throughout 2001 had several highlights. Among them, Union Playing Cards, American Card Co., 1865, brought $2,070; Caterson & Brotz, Philadelphia, 1885, sold for $2,070; Babes In The Woods, 1893, by George H. Walker & Coas, Boston went for $1,898, as did Hustling Joe I, by USPC Co., 1895.

Sections of Americana, Lincolniana, slavery-related material, newspapers, political ephemera, and antique maps were also offered. A Homann map, circa 1720, "Regni Mexicani Seu Novae Hispaniae," fetched $1,725.