This listing is for a rare and wonderful collection of historical documents signed by Vermont politicians. There are the signatures of 14 Vermont governors and 2 U.S. senators in the collection. The documents date back as far as 1797 and include official Vermont papers, personal letters, and signed cards. One document, signed by William Palmer in 1834, refers to the extradition of a horse thief from Canada back to Vermont. One document, signed by Israel Smith in 1808, refers to a soldier's request for one month leave from the military. The documents vary in condition from very good to fair. There is pencil writing on some of them with information about the politician. Some documents have discolorations, tears, and holes. Several of them are attached to backing paper for protection. Please see the full list of documents and set of photographs below, and feel free to contact us with any questions. The photographs are in the same order as the list.
We are contracted to sell to the highest bidder and cannot accept offers to end the listing early.
These autographs are from the collection of an award winning Vermont philatelist and historian, and are guaranteed to be authentic. The winning bidder will have 14 days in which to have them inspected. We will accept a return for a full refund during this time, provided that the items are returned in the same condition as which they were received. After 14 days we will no longer be able to take any returns. The winning bidder is responsible for insured return shipping.
Please see our other listings for more rare, historical autographs.
Isaac Tichenor (February 8, 1754 – December 11, 1838) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as the third and fifth Governor of Vermont and United States Senator from Vermont. Signed letter dated 1797 and signed document with Vermont State Seal dated 1797.
Israel Smith (April 4, 1759 – December 2, 1810) was an American lawyer and politician. He held a wide variety of positions in the state of Vermont, including as a member of the United States House of Representatives, a member of the United States Senate and Governor of Vermont. Signed letter dated 1808.
Richard Skinner (May 30, 1778 – May 23, 1833) was an American politician, attorney, and jurist from the US state of Vermont, and the ninth Governor of Vermont. Signed appointment with Vermont State Seal dated 1822.
Samuel Chandler Crafts (October 6, 1768 – November 19, 1853) was a United States Representative, Senator and the 12th Governor of Vermont. Signed letter dated 1842.
William Adams Palmer (September 12, 1781 – December 3, 1860) was an American politician, a lawyer, an Anti-Mason, thirteenth Governor of Vermont, and a US Senator from Vermont. Signed letter dated 1834.
Charles Paine (April 15, 1799 – July 6, 1853) was an American Whig politician, woolen mill owner, merchant, railroad builder, and fifteenth Governor of Vermont. Signed executive resolution dated 1841.
Charles Kilbourne Williams (January 24, 1782 – March 9, 1853) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1834 to 1846 and as Governor of Vermont from 1850 to 1852. Signed letter dated 1841.
Stephen Royce (August 12, 1787 – November 11, 1868) was an American, a lawyer, a judge, and the 23rd Governor of Vermont from 1854 to 1856. Signed letter dated 1836.
Frederick Holbrook (February 15, 1813 – April 28, 1909) was an agriculturist, politician, and the 27th Governor of Vermont. Signed letter dated 1861.
Horace Fairbanks (March 21, 1820 – March 17, 1888) was an American politician and the 36th Governor of Vermont from 1876 to 1878. Signed card, undated.
Roswell Farnham (July 23, 1827 – January 5, 1903) was an American politician of the Republican Party, an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, a lawyer, and the 38th Governor of Vermont. Signed card dated 1882.
John Griffith McCullough (September 16, 1835 – May 29, 1915) was an American businessperson and attorney. He was Attorney General of California during the Civil War, and the 49th Governor of Vermont from 1902 to 1904. Signed card dated 1902.
George David Aiken (August 20, 1892 – November 19, 1984) was an American farmer and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 64th Governor of Vermont (1937–1941) before serving in the United States Senate for 34 years, from 1941 to 1975. At the time of his retirement, he was the most senior member of the Senate. Signed letter dated 1938.
Harold John Arthur (1904–1971) was the 68th Governor of Vermont from 1950 to 1951. He also served as the 62nd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1949 to 1950. Signed card, undated.
George Franklin Edmunds (February 1, 1828 – February 27, 1919) was a Republican U.S. Senator from Vermont from 1866 to 1891. Signed letter dated 1884.
Matthew Hale Carpenter (born Decatur Merritt Hammond Carpenter; December 22, 1824 – February 24, 1881), born in Moretown, Vermont, was a member of the Republican Party who served in the United States Senate for the state of Wisconsin from 1869–1875 and again from 1879–1881. Signed card dated 1878.