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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Two Dwight Eisenhower-related Documents; One Printed Letter and another, Both ex-P. C. Smith Coll.101 - Two Dwight Eisenhower-related Documents; One Printed Letter and another, Both ex-P. C. Smith Coll.
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Two Dwight Eisenhower-related Documents; One Printed Letter and another, Both ex-P. C. Smith Coll.
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Start Price : 5.00 | Estimate : 20.00 - 30.00
 
 
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Lucius Beebe, Frank H. Bartholomew, Ernest K. Lindley, etc.102 - Lot of Letters incl. Signed Lucius Beebe, Frank H. Bartholomew, Ernest K. Lindley, etc.
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Lucius Beebe, Frank H. Bartholomew, Ernest K. Lindley, etc. All from the Estate of Paul C. Smith.
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Two Chester Bowles Typed Letters Signed "Chester Bowles"; re: Postwar Stabilization103 - Two Chester Bowles Typed Letters Signed "Chester Bowles"; re: Postwar Stabilization
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Two Chester Bowles Typed Letters Signed "Chester Bowles"; re: Postwar Stabilization. Both letters addressed to Paul C. Smith, who was a...
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Two Samuel Goldwyn Letters Signed "Sam" as Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Sept. 1953 & June 1955104 - Two Samuel Goldwyn Letters Signed "Sam" as Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Sept. 1953 & June 1955
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Two Samuel Goldwyn Letters Signed "Sam" as Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Sept. 1953 & June 1955. Both letters written to Paul C. Smit...
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Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to JPellerin for (10.00 + 2.50BP) = 12.50
 
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Oveta Culp Hobby, Milton S. Eisenhower, Christian A. Herter, etc.105 - Lot of Letters incl. Signed Oveta Culp Hobby, Milton S. Eisenhower, Christian A. Herter, etc.
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Oveta Culp Hobby, Milton S. Eisenhower, Christian A. Herter, etc. All from the Estate of Paul C. Smith, also includes s
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Amadeo P. Giannini, Leslie A. Nichols Jr., Peter Whitney, etc.106 - Lot of Letters incl. Signed Amadeo P. Giannini, Leslie A. Nichols Jr., Peter Whitney, etc.
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Amadeo P. Giannini, Leslie A. Nichols Jr., Peter Whitney, etc. All from the Estate of Paul C. Smith, who was at the tim
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Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to yuanz2001 for (10.00 + 2.50BP) = 12.50
 
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Herbert Hoover Jr., Ogden R. Reid, Drew Pearson, etc.107 - Lot of Letters incl. Signed Herbert Hoover Jr., Ogden R. Reid, Drew Pearson, etc.
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Herbert Hoover Jr., Ogden R. Reid, Drew Pearson, etc. All from the Estate of Paul C. Smith.
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Estimate : 30.00 - 50.00
Sold to Chipster3 for (5.00 + 1.25BP) = 6.25
 
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Herbert Hoover Letter Signed "H.H." as Former President. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/8"; May 1, 1952108 - Herbert Hoover Letter Signed "H.H." as Former President. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/8"; May 1, 1952
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Herbert Hoover Letter Signed "H.H." as Former President. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/8"; May 1, 1952. Letter written to Paul C. S...
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Philip L. Graham Letter Signed "Phil" as Washington Post Publisher. One page; Sept. 24, 1956109 - Philip L. Graham Letter Signed "Phil" as Washington Post Publisher. One page; Sept. 24, 1956
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Philip L. Graham Letter Signed "Phil" as Washington Post Publisher. One page, 11" x 8 1/2"; Sept. 24, 1956. A letter addresse...
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Charles A. Halleck Letter Signed as Office of the Majority Leader. One page; July 16, 1954110 - Charles A. Halleck Letter Signed as Office of the Majority Leader. One page; July 16, 1954
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Charles A. Halleck Letter Signed as Office of the Majority Leader. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 7/8"; July 16, 1954. A letter addressed to Mr....
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G. Frederick Reinhardt Handwritten Letter as Ambassador to the Soviet Union. One page; Dec. 9, 1946111 - G. Frederick Reinhardt Handwritten Letter as Ambassador to the Soviet Union. One page; Dec. 9, 1946
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G. Frederick Reinhardt Handwritten Letter as Ambassador to the Soviet Union. One page, 10 1/2" x 8"; Dec. 9, 1946. A letter addressed t...
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Two James Forrestal Letters Signed as Secretary of the Navy; 9 Jan. and 13 Feb. 1946112 - Two James Forrestal Letters Signed as Secretary of the Navy; 9 Jan. and 13 Feb. 1946
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Two James Forrestal Letters Signed as Secretary of the Navy. Both letters written to Paul C. Smith as Chief Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle.
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Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
 
 
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Two James C. Hagerty Letters Signed as Press Secretary to the President; April 18 and Aug. 14, 1956.113 - Two James C. Hagerty Letters Signed as Press Secretary to the President; April 18 and Aug. 14, 1956.
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Two James C. Hagerty Letters Signed as Press Secretary to the President, on White House letterhead. Each one page; 9 1/4" x 6 1/4", April ...
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Estimate : 50.00 - 100.00
Sold to ramónXQF for (10.00 + 2.50BP) = 12.50
 
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Lot of 4 Congressional and American Political Signed Letters to Paul C. Smith, 1955-1956114 - Lot of 4 Congressional and American Political Signed Letters to Paul C. Smith, 1955-1956
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Lot of 4 Congressional and American Political Signed Letters to Paul C. Smith, 1955-1956. At the time, Smith was President of the Crowell-Collier Publ
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Estimate : 40.00 - 60.00
Sold to Yotahawki for (10.00 + 2.50BP) = 12.50
 
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Anthony Eden Letter Signed as Foreign Secretary. One page, 7 1/2" x 4 3/4"; Dec. 7, 1951 & Others115 - Anthony Eden Letter Signed as Foreign Secretary. One page, 7 1/2" x 4 3/4"; Dec. 7, 1951 & Others
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Anthony Eden Letter Signed as Foreign Secretary. One page, 7 1/2" x 4 3/4"; Dec. 7, 1951 & Others Also included are a telegram from...
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Sold to pattiewhack for (20.00 + 5.00BP) = 25.00
 
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Charles A. Willoughby, Lenore Coffee, James H. Duff, etc.116 - Lot of Letters incl. Signed Charles A. Willoughby, Lenore Coffee, James H. Duff, etc.
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Lot of Letters incl. Signed Charles A. Willoughby, Lenore Coffee, James H. Duff, etc. From the Estate of Paul C. Smith.
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Philip L. Graham Letter Signed "Phil" as Washington Post Publisher. One page; Mar. 14, 1956117 - Philip L. Graham Letter Signed "Phil" as Washington Post Publisher. One page; Mar. 14, 1956
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Philip L. Graham Letter Signed "Phil" as Washington Post Publisher. One page; Mar. 14, 1956 A letter addressed to Mr. Paul C. Smith (&q...
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Lot of Memorabilia From Estate of Paul C. Smith, Chief Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle118 - Lot of Memorabilia From Estate of Paul C. Smith, Chief Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
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Lot of Memorabilia From Estate of Paul C. Smith, Chief Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
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Estimate : 20.00 - 30.00
Sold to Chipster3 for (5.00 + 1.25BP) = 6.25
 
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Lot of American-Korean Foundation Letters incl. Signed Edgar M. Queeny Letters etc. 1956119 - Lot of American-Korean Foundation Letters incl. Signed Edgar M. Queeny Letters etc. 1956
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Lot of American-Korean Foundation Letters incl. Signed Edgar M. Queeny Letters etc. 1956. All from the Estate of Paul C. Smith, President of the Cr
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Palmer Hoyt Letter Signed as Editor of The Denver Post. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; July 28, 1953120 - Palmer Hoyt Letter Signed as Editor of The Denver Post. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; July 28, 1953
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Palmer Hoyt Letter Signed as Editor and Publisher of The Denver Post. One page, 10 1/2" x 7 1/4"; July 28, 1953. Letter written to Paul...
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