American Historical Ephemera and Photography

2 items related to Sanitary Commission President, Henry W. Bellows. Including: BELLOWS, Henry W. (1814-1882). New York, 22 February 1865. One page letter on U. S. Sanitary Commission letterhead. Signed ("Henry W. Bellows"). Writing on George Washington's birthday, Bellows waxes poetic, with a reference to slavery: "While we keep his birthday on Earth, He is keeping our Country's birth into a new & heavenly life, a Birthday of Freedom for a Peace, which he emancipated in dying." -- CDV portrait of Bellows by Jacob Shew, Near Pine, San Francisco, with Shew's pictorial imprint on verso. -- Together, 2 items related to Henry W. Bellows.

4 mounted albumen photographs of scenes and subjects related to the U. S. Sanitary Commission. Each captioned in print below image and copyrighted on mount recto by Alexander Gardner or GARDNER & GIBSON in 1862. Titles include: Lodge No. 4, for Invalid Soldiers -- Lodge No. 5, for Invalid Soldiers -- Propeller 'Elizabeth' -- and The Home. -- Together, 4 photographs, each approx. 3 7/8 x 2 7/8 in. on 6 x 4 1/2 in. mounts.

5 x 7 in. tintype plate featuring a group portrait of young ladies who appear to be working on a craft project. Verso bears paper label with ink inscription reading, "Preparations being made at Miss Holcomb's Seminary for the United States Sanitary Fair - June 1864, Philadelphia, Penna."

Cabinet card featuring a group of sailors, soldiers, and civilians outside of a building with signage reading, "Soldiers' Reading Room." Verso with 3-cent revenue stamp affixed and with ink inscription reading, "Old Nat. Theatre / NW Cor 10th and Vine Sts. / Phila? Pa."

And 5 other items, including 2 stereoviews, a handbill for a performance of Macbeth for the benefit of the U. S. Sanitary Commission, a clipped signature of a Swiss theologian which was sold for the benefit of the Philadelphia Sanitary Fair in 1864, and a circular "To the Citizens of New-Hampshire" from Governor Joseph A. Gilmore.