Exceptional, museum-worthy report, handwritten by Thomas Jefferson as President, regarding the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Letter is addressed to William Jarvis of the U.S. consul in Lisbon, Portugal, dated 6 July 1805, describing the historic expedition that Jefferson authorized during his Presidency. In its entirety: "Sir / Since my letters of the 19th & 20th of July 1804 I have received your favors of Oct. 6 Nov. 14-25 Dec. 3 1806 & May 15 1805. As also some articles of fruits & for which I may you accept my acknowledgments. The pipe of Arruda vine came also safely to hand, and is indeed of very superior quality. I should be glad to receive always of exactly the same quality, adhering to the rule of putting no brandy to them. I had been for some time expecting your draught [draft] for the amount; but as you mention in your last that when you forward another pipe you will draw for both, I shall hold myself in readiness, and will be glad the vine would come out in autumn, so as to be here before the winter sets in. It gives me much pleasure to see a hope that Portugal may be able to preserve her neutrality. That a government so just & inoffensive should be forced into a war with which it has nothing to do shows the most profligate disregard to human rights. It is a great felicity to us and it secures all our other felicities, that so wide an ocean is spread between us & the lions & tygers of Europe, as enables us to go forward in the path of justice and independence fearing nothing but our creator. The great powers of Europe could do us injury by sea & on our shores. But the spirit of independence in the country at large they can never bend. We are now suffering from privateers on our coast, and are therefore fitting out a naval force to go & force them to keep a reasonable distance from our shores. Capt. Lewis who has been sent to explore the Missouri to its source & thence to pursue the nearest water communication to the South sea, passed the last winter among the savages 1600 miles up the Missouri. Deputies from the great nations in that quarter (2500 miles from hence) are now on their way to visit us. Lewis finds the Indians every where friendly. He will probably set back in 1806. Receipt my friendly salutations and assurances of respect." Document measures 8" x 10" on two pages, with integral fly-leaf addressed to Jarvis in the hand of Jefferson's secretary. Toning and folds throughout, with minor tape residue at top and a tiny chip at lower right corner. Near fine condition with bold, legible handwriting. An important piece of handwritten history by the President who commissioned America's greatest exploration adventure. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A near exact copy of this letter resides in the Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Papers. One of the two letters was produced by Jefferson's polygraph machine (used from 1804 until his death), which provided an immediate copy of his handwritten letters. Though impossible to determine which copy was produced by the pen that Jefferson held, Jefferson typically kept the machine-produced letter as a copy for himself. Since this letter was mailed to William Jarvis (unlike the letter in the LOC), it's probable that this letter was the one handwritten by Jefferson.

This item sold in 2011 for $226,871.00

Original pine coffin that held the body of Lee Harvey Oswald from his burial on 25 November 1963 until his exhumation on 4 October 1981. Amidst conspiracy theories that a look-alike Russian agent was actually buried in place of Oswald, a fierce legal battle erupted between Robert and Marina Oswald with the former trying to stop the exhumation and the latter pushing it forward. Marina's side prevailed, forcing an exhumation to determine who was actually buried in Oswald's grave. As Lee Harvey Oswald's coffin was lifted, evidence of extensive water damage to the casket was apparent -- the cover was weak in many areas and in one place had caved in partially exposing the remains. The coffin's wood exterior was very soft from moisture damage, and had dark areas of discoloration. Visible along the sides were the tarnished original metallic ornamentation. The interior of the casket also showed splotchy dark discoloration and moisture-softening of the wood. A portion of the original fabric that lined the top of the casket had fallen upon the decomposed remains. After a thorough medical examination, the pathologists assigned to the case officially identified the body as Oswald's as dental records positively matched. At a press conference later that day the following famous statement was made, "The remains in the grave marked as Lee Harvey Oswald are indeed Lee Harvey Oswald." After the news conference, Oswald's remains were transported back to Rose Hill Cemetery for re-interment in a new casket and vault. The original deteriorated coffin offered here, measures 80" long x 24" deep, with the thickness of the sides of the casket approximately one inch. Sitting on wood crate which measures 84" x 24". Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity by Funeral Director Allen Baumgardner, who assisted at the original embalming of Lee Harvey Oswald and later purchased the Miller Funeral Home along with all of its property.

This item sold in 2010 for $87,468.00

Incredible First Draft of Lee Harvey Oswald's Death Certificate -- Signed by His Brother Robert Oswald as Next of Kin -- With "Shot by Jack Rubenstein" Crossed Out

Document Signed

One of a kind, museum-worthy piece related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. This first draft of Lee Harvey Oswald's death certificate is signed by Robert L. Oswald as the relative who was notified of the death, and by Funeral Director Paul Groody, with both signatures required by Texas law. Upon taking the document to the county registrar's office, however, the Justice of the Peace mistakenly wrote "Shot by Jack Rubenstein" under the section of "Describe How Injury Occurred." As Jack Ruby had not yet been tried for Oswald's fatal shooting, he was told of his error and crossed out this part, but then decided to write up a new death certificate. This "first draft" copy was thus never filed (the "second draft" death certificate is, of course, housed with the state of Texas and is not available for private ownership). Original 9.25" x 7.5" document is filled in on both sides in black and blue ink with details of Lee Harvey Oswald's death including the immediate cause of death, how long he lived after being shot, the exact time and place of death, whether an autopsy was performed, etc. It also lists Oswald's vital statistics such as social security number, address, age, race and occupation. Filled out on both front and verso, with most of the information, including signatures and crossed-out part, on the front. In very good condition with very light wrinkling along the center fold, and light soiling to verso. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from Allen Baumgardner, the current Director of the funeral home that buried Oswald, and who assisted at Oswald's embalming and burial.

This item sold in 2010 for $49,374.00

Henry VIII Document Signed in 1512, Gathering Troops to Invade France -- "...[Those who do not report for duty are] to be...punished..."

Meriwether Lewis 1807 Document Signed Related to the Famed Lewis & Clark Expedition -- Lewis Receives 5 Months Pay From the Expedition Upon Returning to D.C.

Rare Declaration Signer & Virginia Gov. Thomas Nelson Autograph Letter Signed One and a Half Months Before the Yorktown Surrender -- "...I think the game is nearly up with Cornwallis..." -- 1781

Exceptionally Scarce Apollo 11 Flag Flown to the Moon -- the Finest Lunar Flag One Could Hope to Own

Lyndon Johnson Leather Briefcase -- Personally Owned by the President

Benjamin Franklin 1785 Document Signed as President of Pennsylvania -- Excellent, Bold Signature

King George VI's Personal Attache Case -- With Royal Crest and "G VI R" Mongrammed in Gold