A presentation copy of Jonathan Mayhew's A Discourse, Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers, etc., signed by John Adams, is expected to fetch $20,000-$30,000.
A cabinet card portrait photograph of Charles Dickens, signed on April 20, 1868—the final day of his 1867-1868 American Reading Tour—carries an estimate of $15,000-$18,000.
A typed letter signed by Martin Luther King, Jr., dated January 16, 1964, expresses gratitude to a California professor for congratulating him on being selected as TIME magazine's “Man of the Year” for 1963. Its estimate is $5,000-$6,000.
A newspaper clipping signed by Babe Ruth, headlined “Babe Takes a New Grip After Signing,” comes PSA/DNA slabbed and certified authentic, with an estimate of $3,500-$5,000.
The auction showcases exceptional historical material spanning numerous collecting areas, from autographs, documents, and archives, to books, photos, artwork, and relics.
Even the most discerning collector will find this October auction a remarkable chance to expand and enrich their holdings.— John ReznikoffWILTON, CT, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — A John Hancock signed document dated January 1, 1776; a Martin Luther King, Jr. typed letter signed and dated January 16, 1964; a Babe Ruth signed newspaper clipping; and a Charles Dickens signed cabinet card portrait photograph from 1868 are among the standout lots in University Archives’ online-only Rare Autographs, Manuscripts, Books & Photographs auction, scheduled for Wednesday, October 21st, starting at 10am Eastern Time.
The sale is packed with scarce and sought-after collectibles spanning numerous popular genres. The full catalog—448 lots—is currently open for viewing and bidding on the University Archives website—www.UniversityArchives.com—as well as on Invaluable.com, Auctionzip.com, and LiveAuctioneers.com. Telephone and absentee bids are also being accepted.
“The October auction gives even the most selective collector a unique chance to broaden and strengthen what they already own,” said John Reznikoff, president and owner of University Archives. He also noted, “The catalog features the second tranche—more than sixty lots—from The Douglas Wertman Collection, primarily political items gathered and curated personally by the longtime Secretary of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club.”
The John Hancock signed document, dated New Year’s Day, 1776, promotes William Scott, a New Hampshire minuteman, to the rank of Captain in the 16th Regiment of Foot. Scott had been injured during the Battle of Bunker Hill, yet refused to abandon his post despite his wounds. He later escaped a Canadian prison and eluded British capture at Fort Washington. Estimate: $12,000-$15,000
The Martin Luther King, Jr. typed letter signed, dated January 16, 1964, thanks a California professor for congratulating him on being named TIME magazine’s “Man of the Year” for 1963 in a seven-page feature. As the first Black man to receive this honor, King saw the recognition as a positive advancement for the Civil Rights Movement. Estimate: $5,000-$6,000
The Babe Ruth signed newspaper clipping is headlined “Babe Takes a New Grip After Signing.” It is PSA/DNA slabbed and certified authentic. The photo caption may have referenced the Sultan of Swat’s ambidexterity: the southpaw penned with his right hand. Another lot from this same autograph collection includes a Lou Gehrig signed card, PSA/DNA slabbed and graded MINT 9.
The Charles Dickens signed cabinet card portrait photograph was autographed on April 20, 1868, the very last day of Dickens’s 1867-1868 American Reading Tour. On that date, at New York City’s Steinway Hall, Dickens read selections from “A Christmas Carol” and Pickwick Papers, telling his American audience he would always remember them. Estimate: $15,000-$18,000
Lot #1 in the sale is a John Adams signed presentation copy of Jonathan Mayhew's A Discourse, Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers; with Some Reflections on the Resistance Made to King Charles I (Boston: Re-Printed by Hall & Goss, 1818.) This sermon, originally published in 1750, affirmed and validated the idea of political resistance against tyranny, as guided by Romans 13:1-7, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.” Estimate: $20,000-$30,000
An Abraham Lincoln one-page autograph letter, PSA/DNA slabbed and graded PSA Mint 9, is signed and addressed to Pennsylvania Gov. Andrew G. Curtain, dated July 25, 1864. Lincoln asks Curtain to pass along a thank-you note to a well-wisher who had given Lincoln a cane made from wood salvaged from the wreck of the Confederate ironclad vessel the U.S.S. Virginia, which fought in the naval Battle of Hampton Roads in March 1862. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000
A George Washington signed three-language partial ship’s passport dated February 4, 1796, counter-signed by Secretary of State Edmund Randolph, contains safe conduct papers—in English, French, and Dutch—protecting Henry Tredick’s brig Drake on its voyage from Portsmouth, N.H. to the British West Indies, most likely Martinique. Estimate: $18,000-$25,000
The centerpiece of a Harry Truman-related archive is a Truman-signed Citation for a Medal of Merit that references the “Manhattan District Project in development of the atomic bomb.” The award was given posthumously to Charles M. May, Deputy Chairman and Executive Director of the War Manpower Commission, 1943-1945. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000
A Thomas Jefferson signed document, dated November 8, 1791, approves a Congressional act granting South Carolina an extension to finish the U.S. Census of 1790. The census enabled the activation of the 1787 Three-Fifths Compromise—which counted non-whites as 3/5 of a white person. A PSA/DNA LOA is included. Estimate: $12,000-$15,000
An Edgar Allan Poe carte de visite after Mathew Brady, as published by Edward Anthony in New York, not dated but likely from the early 1860s, is known as the “Ultima Thule” portrait. The original photograph of Poe was taken by Edwin H. Manchester in Providence, Rhode Island, just four days after the poet’s attempted suicide in November 1848. Another lot in the sale is a rare Nathaniel Hawthorne signed carte de visite.
A notable 21st-century artifact is an entrance ticket to the World Trade Center’s “Top of the World” Observatories, located on the 107th Floor of the South Tower in New York, date- and time-stamped September 10, 2001 at 12:16 pm. Less than 24 hours later, both Twin Towers had collapsed after being struck by two hijacked passenger airliners. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000
A circa-1956 Marilyn Monroe autograph manuscript, consisting of a statement of 130+ words, describes her impressions as an “observer student” allowed to audit Lee Strasberg’s acting classes at the Actors Studio. Monroe’s manuscript shows contemporaneous edits and comes with a typed transcription by her publicist Pat Newcomb. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000
Here is a link to the catalog on the University Archives website: https://www.universityarchives.com/auction-catalog/rare-autographs-manuscripts-books-photographs_6G2EXM32T1
University Archives has earned global recognition as a leading source for rare items of this nature. The firm is actively seeking quality material for upcoming auctions, offering a unique opportunity for sellers. Anyone with a single piece or a collection that could suit a future University Archives auction may call John Reznikoff at 203-454-0111; or email him at john@universityarchives.com.
University Archives was established in 1979, as a division of University Stamp Company, by John Reznikoff, who began collecting stamps and coins in 1968, while in the third grade. Across the industry, Reznikoff is regarded as the foremost authenticity expert for manuscripts and documents. He advises law enforcement, dealers, auction houses, and both major authentication firms.
University Archives is situated at 88 Danbury Road (Suite #2A) in Wilton, Conn. To find out more about University Archives and the online-only Rare Autographs, Manuscripts, Books & Photographs auction scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, visit www.UniversityArchives.com.
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John Reznikoff
University Archives
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