Fine Autograph Letters, Ephemera, and Americana from the Estate of Paul C. Smith

Auction Details

The Americana, letters, and ephemera listed in this auction come directly from the estate of the nephew of the late Paul C. Smith (1908-1976). They have never before been offered to the public.

Paul C. Smith was born in Seattle on Nov. 24, 1908. After finishing high school he traveled across the country working as a prospector and lumberjack before becoming resident manager in New York of the Anglo-California National Bank in 1930. He was then 22.

After three years in investment banking, he entered the newspaper business as a cub reporter. He freelanced as a foreign correspondent throughout Europe until 1933, when he joined The Chronicle as financial editor. He became editor-in-chief a year later and editor and general manager in 1937. During a tour of Europe with former President Herbert C. Hoover in 1938, Smith commented on the tense political situation and suggested that another large-scale war was imminent.

During World War II, he served in the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Office of War Information. Smith was one of the first Marines to land on Guam and was awarded the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit for service in the Pacific.

By this time, Paul C. Smith was firmly rooted in the upper echelons of American political and military society, and exchanged dozens of letters with the likes of John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover, Adlai Stevenson, Chester Nimitz, and many more.

Mr. Smith left The San Francisco Chronicle in 1953 and took on the job of saving the collapsing Crowell-Collier magazines. He closed the magazines in December 1956 and left the company two months later. Mr. Smith chronicled the decline of the magazines and his own health in his autobiography, “Personal File,” published in 1964.

Steptoe Online Auctions Inc. is proud to offer this distinguished collection of Americana and Autographs for sale.
The Americana, letters, and ephemera listed in this auction come directly from the estate of the nephew of the late Paul C. Smith (1908-1976). They have never before been offered to the public.

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Seven Adlai E. Stevenson Typed Letters Signed as Governor of Illinois, April - November 195221 - Seven Adlai E. Stevenson Typed Letters Signed as Governor of Illinois, April - November 1952
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Seven Adlai E. Stevenson Typed Letters Signed as Governor of Illinois, April - November 1952 All letters addressed to Mr. Paul C. Smith as "...
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Sold to Oakcollect for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Two Adlai E. Stevenson Typed Letters Signed "Adlai"; one re: 1956 Presidential Election22 - Two Adlai E. Stevenson Typed Letters Signed "Adlai"; one re: 1956 Presidential Election
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Two Adlai E. Stevenson Typed Letters Signed "Adlai"; one re: 1956 Presidential Election All letters addressed to Mr. Paul C. Smith as &...
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Two Robert A. Taft Typed Letters Signed "Rob. A. Taft" as U.S. Senator; ea. 10 1/2" x 8 1/8" 1952-5323 - Two Robert A. Taft Typed Letters Signed "Rob. A. Taft" as U.S. Senator; ea. 10 1/2" x 8 1/8" 1952-53
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Two Robert A. Taft Typed Letters Signed "Rob. A. Taft" as U.S. Senator; ea. 10 1/2" x 8 1/8". Both letters addressed to Mr. P...
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Lowell Thomas and Two Lowell Thomas Jr. Typed Letters Signed; d. 1954-55-5624 - Lowell Thomas and Two Lowell Thomas Jr. Typed Letters Signed; d. 1954-55-56
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Lowell Thomas and Two Lowell Thomas Jr. Typed Letters Signed; d. 1954-55-56 All letters addressed to Mr. Paul C. Smith as "Dear Paul", ...
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Rudy Vallée Letter Signed "Rudy Vallée" as on Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/8"; Sept. 25, 195625 - Rudy Vallée Letter Signed "Rudy Vallée" as on Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/8"; Sept. 25, 1956
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Rudy Vallée Letter Signed "Rudy Vallée" as on Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/8"; Sept. 25, 1956. Letter addres...
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Rudy Vallée Letter Signed "Rudy Vallée" on Personal Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 195626 - Rudy Vallée Letter Signed "Rudy Vallée" on Personal Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 1956
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Rudy Vallée Letter Signed "Rudy Vallée" on Personal Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/8"; May 12, 1956. Letter ad...
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Harry S. Truman Printed Autograph on Personal Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 8"; Sept. 5, 196227 - Harry S. Truman Printed Autograph on Personal Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 8"; Sept. 5, 1962
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Harry S. Truman Printed Autograph "Harry Truman" on Personal Letterhead. One page, 10 1/2" x 8"; Sept. 5, 1962. Not hand signed....
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Sold to islanders2 for (5.00 + 1.25BP) = 6.25
 
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Three Earl Warren Autograph Letters Signed "Earl Warren" as Governor of California, 1946-195228 - Three Earl Warren Autograph Letters Signed "Earl Warren" as Governor of California, 1946-1952
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Three Earl Warren Autograph Letters Signed "Earl Warren" as Governor of California, 1946-1952 All letters addressed to Mr. Paul C. Smit...
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Sold to HISTORYMAK.. for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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Six Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; May-December 193829 - Six Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; May-December 1938
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Six Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; May-December 1938. All letters addressed t...
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Sold to islanders2 for (125.00 + 31.25BP) = 156.25
 
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Lot of Herbert Hoover & San Francisco Chronicle Original Press Releases, Confidential Notes, etc.30 - Lot of Herbert Hoover & San Francisco Chronicle Original Press Releases, Confidential Notes, etc.
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A significant lot including original press release of Herbert Hoover's Feb. 13, 1946 address "The Obligation of the Republican Party",...
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Seven Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover" or "H.H.", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 195231 - Seven Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover" or "H.H.", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 1952
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Seven Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover" or "H.H.", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 1952 All letters add...
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Sold to Oakcollect for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Two Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 195532 - Two Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 1955
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Two Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 1955. Also included are several Hoover-rel...
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Sold to Yotahawki for (50.00 + 12.50BP) = 62.50
 
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Three Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover" or "H.H.", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 195633 - Three Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover" or "H.H.", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 1956
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Three Herbert Hoover Letters Signed "Herbert Hoover" or "H.H.", ea. One Page 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; 1956. Also included ...
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Selection Herbert Hoover and Paul Smith-related Letters and Carbon Copies etc.34 - Selection Herbert Hoover and Paul Smith-related Letters and Carbon Copies etc.
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Selection Herbert Hoover and Paul Smith-related Letters and Carbon Copies etc.
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Ann C. Whitman Letter Signed as Secretary to the President on White House Letterhead; June 4, 195535 - Ann C. Whitman Letter Signed as Secretary to the President on White House Letterhead; June 4, 1955
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Ann C. Whitman Letter Signed as Secretary to President Eisenhower, on White House Letterhead. One page, 10 1/4" x 7 7/8"; June 4, 1955. ...
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Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr. (NBC) & Gardner "Mike" Cowles (LOOK) Letters Signed 1954-195536 - Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr. (NBC) & Gardner "Mike" Cowles (LOOK) Letters Signed 1954-1955
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Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr. (NBC) & Gardner "Mike" Cowles (LOOK) Signed Letters Two letters addressed to Mr. Paul C. Smith, President ...
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Selection of Herbert Hoover and Hoover Commission Related Publications37 - Selection of Herbert Hoover and Hoover Commission Related Publications
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Selection of Herbert Hoover and Hoover Commission Related Publications.
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Sold to Chipster3 for (5.00 + 1.25BP) = 6.25
 
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Bohemian Club Presentation Publication to Herbert Hoover at the Bohemian Grove; July 31, 195438 - Bohemian Club Presentation Publication to Herbert Hoover at the Bohemian Grove; July 31, 1954
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Bohemian Club Presentation Publication to Herbert Hoover at the Bohemian Grove; July 31, 1954. Written, in part: "To Herbert Hoover, good...
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Sold to mtbacs for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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J. Edgar Hoover Letter Signed "Edgar" as FBI Director, One page, 10 1/2" x 8"; October 19, 195339 - J. Edgar Hoover Letter Signed "Edgar" as FBI Director, One page, 10 1/2" x 8"; October 19, 1953
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J. Edgar Hoover Letter Signed "Edgar" as FBI Director, One page, 10 1/2" x 8"; October 19, 1953. An interesting letter exchan...
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Sold to yuanz2001 for (40.00 + 10.00BP) = 50.00
 
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James Roosevelt Letter Signed as DNC Committeeman. One page, 11" x 8 1/2"; Apr. 3, 195240 - James Roosevelt Letter Signed as DNC Committeeman. One page, 11" x 8 1/2"; Apr. 3, 1952
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James Roosevelt Letter Signed as DNC Committeeman. One page, 11" x 8 1/2"; Apr. 3, 1952.
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Quantity : 1 | Start Price : 10.00 | Estimate : 40.00 - 60.00
 
 
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