For Spacious Skies: The Uncommon Journey of a Mercury Astronaut, Scott Carpenter

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Beautiful and the Damned. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1922. First edition, first state. Rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gil...

Fitzgerald, F. Scott, The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925. First edition, first printing. Rebound in full blue morocco leather with gilt tooling, raised bands a...

This is Helen Keller’s personal reading copy of The New Outlook for the Blind, December 1960, Volume 54, Number 10. The periodical is inscribed in the upp...

This iconic Mercury Seven color lithograph, by artist George Bishop, is a signed limited edition collector's piece celebrating America's seven first space pioneers; the seven chosen astronauts for Project Mercury and the race to space with the Soviet Union. This poster was issued in two limited editions; one edition of only 125 prints and one edition of 1500 prints were created. This lithograph is numbered "513/1500", making this the 513th print in the larger edition. This large lithograph was conceived to raise seed money for the Mercury Foundation. The poster vividly depicts an historic Redstone rocket at the moment of lift off. In the plumes of the rocket's exhaust are the portraits of these seven courageous men, with the Moon in the upper background. The Mercury Seven were made up of Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Deke Slayton, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, and Gordon Cooper. This poster has been hand signed in pencil by six of these seven astronauts for Project Mercury. Gus Grissom did not have the opportunity to participate in the signing, having died tragically in 1967 in the fire that consumed the Apollo 1 team during a pre-flight simulation. Instead, his wife, Betty Grissom, has signed the lithograph over his mission patch in his memory and for the benefit of Mercury Foundation. The astronauts signed largely and clearly next to each of their mission patches. Before Project Mercury, no person had even attempted to reach space. There was no guarantee that the project would work, yet these men volunteered to put their lives on the line for their country and science. The Mercury Seven were devoted, fearless, diligent, and bold — all the heroic attributes that Tom Wolfe waxes poetically about in “The Right Stuff.” Condition: The condition of this lithograph is excellent. Paper is healthy with no tears. The original color is still intact with no fading. The signatures at bottom have been verified as original signatures, not copies or autopen reproductions. Signatures are in pencil. Numbered #513/1500 in bottom margin. The poster is artfully presented framed with two additional photographs of the original Mercury 7...

By Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820) and Pierre Charles L'Enfant (1754-1825). Plan of the City of Washington. Published by Thackara & Vallance, Philadelphia, 1792. Later impression printed on 19th century wove paper. This is a fine 19th century printing of the "official" plan of Washington, D.C. First printed in 1792 by the original publishers, Thackara & Vallance in Philadelphia, this is a later 19th century printing of the fifth recorded engraving of the L’Enfant / Ellicott city plan. The first three issues of this city plan were in published in periodicals, making the fifth edition only the second separately-issued engraving of the plan. In full, the title reads, “Plan of the City of Washington in the Territory of Columbia, ceded by the States of Virginia and Maryland to the United States of America and by them established as the Seat of their Government after the year 1800.” The national capital city is laid out according to a plan originally proposed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant and modified by Andrew Ellicott. L'Enfant was born in Paris, where he trained to be an architect. He came to America in 1777, and served under George Washington as an engineer during the Revolutionary War. In 1791, Washington asked L'Enfant to design the new capital city in the District of Columbia. However, trouble arose between the city and L'Enfant. The City Commissioner needed a finished, printed copy of the plan in order to sell building lots but L'Enfant worked slowly and released only incomplete plans, and proved to be quite obstinate. On instruction from President Washington...

This original wood engraving is titled “The Restaurant of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC.” It was published as a double-page image, in the August 12, 1893 issue of the famous 19th century newspaper Harper’s Weekly. The print was illustrated by Charles Stanley Reinhardt. The House Restaurant, a unique part of life in the Capitol, has been in the same location since the 1857 Capitol Expansion. Congressional members’ busy work schedule made the availability of food on site a necessity. But the restaurant also served as an informal meeting spot for members to continue conversations and deal making. This 1893 print illustrates the convivial atmosphere. Details including elegantly dressed tables...

Published by Croul Family Foundation, Corona del Mar, California, 2001 limited edition no. 1067 in original box Spencer B. Croul and co-authored by Gary Lynch and Malcolm Gault-Williams This very scarce book is the definitive biography of Tom Blake -- the man who invented the surfboard fin...

Antique map titled 'Partie de L'Angleterre' Uncommon map of the English Channel coastline with many boats on the sea. Source unknown, to be determined. Artists and Engravers: Made...

Uncommon miniature map of the region around the Caspian Sea. Including the black sea and several mountains. Source unknown, to be determined. Artist...

Antique map, titled: 'Kaert van de Kaspische Zee volgens bevel van den Czaer (…).' Uncommon map of Caspian Sea. Source unknown, to be determined. Ar...

A wonderful signed photograph of Karen and Richard Carpenter for sale Musical duo Karen (1950-1983) and Richard Carpenter (1946-) were the number one American singing act of the 1970s. Their soft pop sound captivated the hearts of the millions worldwide who hung on every note of their 11 albums. They have sold over 100 million records to date. Karen Carpenter...

Antique map titled 'British Islands to Petshora Bay - White Sea'. Uncommon, large map of the British Islands to Petshora Bay. It shows the White Sea and inse...