Rare Documents

Autographed Letters Signed

Signatures of famous people have been valued throughout history. In the past, autograph books were popular and included signatures from famous people of the day. However, these autograph collectors in the past usually valued only the signature itself, not the letters from which the signatures had come. Thus, they cut only the signature from the letter and pasted it to their autograph books. Unfortunately, because of this many rare documents were lost, but still the signatures themselves were preserved. However, today the importance of both signatures and entire contents of letters has been realized. Letters help to set the framework of the history surrounding the signature.

Our museum features hundreds of cut signatures, complete documents, manuscripts, and letters from great heroes of the past. Some of the signatures included are those of D.L. Moody, the great American evangelist; Charles H. Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers; David Livingstone, historic missionary to Africa; Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who died in a Nazi concentration camp for his stand against Nazism; and many others, including John Wesley, Henry the Eighth, Thomas Cranmer, and much more!

Click here to visit the Autograph Letters Signed Gallery.