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Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana
Freeman’s, Chicago, Philadelphia · 20 Aug 2026
This sale ended on 20 August 2026. The page is kept for reference.
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About this listing: the details were supplied by the auction house. Bidding, payment and collection are handled by the auction house, not by Auction Eagle, and Auction Eagle is free for bidders. Spotted an error? Tell us.
About this sale
This sale offered 207 lots, listed under Firearms & Militaria and Memorabilia & Autographs. It closed on Thursday 20 August 2026. Freeman’s has 8 other upcoming sales on Auction Eagle.
Highlights from this sale
A selection of lots from the catalog.
![[African-Americana] Bacon, Benjamin C. Autograph Letter, signed on Printed Circular "To the friends](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741212_1_x.jpg)
Lot 1[African-Americana] Bacon, Benjamin C. Autograph Letter, signed on Printed Circular "To the friendsEstimate $1,500 - $2,500![[African-Americana] (Bacon, Benjamin C.) Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society Printed Circular](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741213_1_x.jpg)
Lot 2[African-Americana] (Bacon, Benjamin C.) Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society Printed CircularEstimate $800 - $1,200![[African-Americana] Birney, James G. Signed Printed Circular of the American Anti-Slavery Society](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741214_1_x.jpg)
Lot 3[African-Americana] Birney, James G. Signed Printed Circular of the American Anti-Slavery SocietyEstimate $2,000 - $3,000![[African-Americana] Chapman, Maria W. Autograph Letter, signed, on Printed Circular, "Address](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741215_1_x.jpg)
Lot 4[African-Americana] Chapman, Maria W. Autograph Letter, signed, on Printed Circular, "AddressEstimate $5,000 - $8,000![[African-Americana] Colin, Paul. Le Tumulte noir](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741216_1_x.jpg)
Lot 5[African-Americana] Colin, Paul. Le Tumulte noirEstimate $4,000 - $6,000![[African-Americana] Cuffe, Paul. Autograph Letter, signed](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741217_1_x.jpg)
Lot 6[African-Americana] Cuffe, Paul. Autograph Letter, signedEstimate $15,000 - $25,000
The auction house’s description
Freeman’s August 20, 2026, Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana sale highlights the continued celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of America. It includes important documents related to the American Revolution, Presidential history, the African-American experience, fine works of literature, natural history, and much more. The sale is led by an extremely rare 1781 French loan document printed and signed by Benjamin Franklin and used to help fund the American Revolution (est. $200,000-$300,000); a first edition of The Book of Mormon ($100,000-$150,000); and two very important letters signed by President George Washington, one transmitting the first major law passed by Congress ($100,000-$150,000), and the other reaffirming the American Treaty of Friendship with Morocco ($50,000-$80,000). Other highlights include the Surveying Commission of the Continental Congress settling the New York/Massachusetts border ($30,000-$50,000); a very rare book signed by famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking ($15,000-$25,000); a rare letter signed by early African-American businessman Paul Cuffe ($15,000-$25,000); autograph notes in the hand of Dr. Charles A. Leale, the first physician on site after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln ($12,000-$18,000); a large collection of printed and manuscript documents fresh to market from Rev. Samuel J. May, a founding member of the New England Anti-Slavery Society in the 1830s, and a lifetime ardent supporter of the abolitionist movement.
Full catalog and bidding: view on liveauctioneers.
Catalog Lots
207 lots in Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana.
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Lot 1
[African-Americana] Bacon, Benjamin C. Autograph Letter, signed on Printed Circular "To the friends
$1,500 - $2,500
-
Lot 2
[African-Americana] (Bacon, Benjamin C.) Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society Printed Circular
$800 - $1,200
-
Lot 3
[African-Americana] Birney, James G. Signed Printed Circular of the American Anti-Slavery Society
$2,000 - $3,000
-
Lot 4
[African-Americana] Chapman, Maria W. Autograph Letter, signed, on Printed Circular, "Address
$5,000 - $8,000
-
Lot 5
[African-Americana] Colin, Paul. Le Tumulte noir
$4,000 - $6,000
-
Lot 6
[African-Americana] Cuffe, Paul. Autograph Letter, signed
$15,000 - $25,000
-
Lot 7
![[African-Americana] [Douglass, Frederick] May, Rev. Samuel J. Group of 3 Receipts for the Purchase](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741218_1_x.jpg)
[African-Americana] [Douglass, Frederick] May, Rev. Samuel J. Group of 3 Receipts for the Purchase
$1,500 - $2,500 -
Lot 8
![[African-Americana] [Jackson, Andrew] Protest of the American Anti-Slavery Society](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741219_1_x.jpg)
[African-Americana] [Jackson, Andrew] Protest of the American Anti-Slavery Society
$4,000 - $6,000 -
Lot 9
![[African-Americana] [King, Martin Luther, Jr.] Obsequies Martin Luther King Jr.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741220_1_x.jpg)
[African-Americana] [King, Martin Luther, Jr.] Obsequies Martin Luther King Jr.
$500 - $800 -
Lot 10
![[African-Americana] May, Rev. Samuel J., and Evan Lewis, and George Benson, and Rowland Greene](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741221_1_x.jpg)
[African-Americana] May, Rev. Samuel J., and Evan Lewis, and George Benson, and Rowland Greene
$4,000 - $6,000 -
Lot 11
![[African-Americana] May, Rev. Samuel J. Autograph Letter, signed on Verso of a Printed Circular](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741222_1_x.jpg)
[African-Americana] May, Rev. Samuel J. Autograph Letter, signed on Verso of a Printed Circular
$2,000 - $3,000 -
Lot 12
![[African-Americana] May, Rev. Samuel J. Printed Invitation, "A Call to the New-England Anti Slavery](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/197/426935/237741223_1_x.jpg)
[African-Americana] May, Rev. Samuel J. Printed Invitation, "A Call to the New-England Anti Slavery
$1,000 - $1,500
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Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana?
Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana was held on Thu, Aug 20, 2026 · 10:00 am (ET) in Chicago, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Freeman’s.
Is this auction online or in person?
This is an online-only auction, so you bid through the live catalog.
How do I bid or view the catalog?
View the full catalog and register to bid on the live catalog at https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/426935_books-and-manuscripts-including-americana/.