Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
127
Signed General Custer carte de visite
CUSTER, GEORGE ARMSTRONG
A rare signed carte de visite of General Custer by Mathew Brady. Albumen print, mounted to publisher's card, circa 1865, the photograph by Mathew Brady. 2 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches (6 x 10) cm. Card is worn, bears some spotting and soft creasing, losses to extremities, notably the upper left, Custer's signature in bold ink, Brady's backmark on verso, and a later pencil annotation.
This carte de visite pictures Custer in his field uniform, wearing his iconic broad-brimmed hat. Custer's renown had reached its height by 1865. The Civil War had ended, and he was regarded as a Union hero. The photograph is from a session in Brady's New York studio, and further cemented Custer's image in the national consciousness. In bold ink, his signature reads: "Yours Truly, G.A. Custer, USA."
Sold for $12,160
Estimated at $3,000 - $5,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
CUSTER, GEORGE ARMSTRONG
A rare signed carte de visite of General Custer by Mathew Brady. Albumen print, mounted to publisher's card, circa 1865, the photograph by Mathew Brady. 2 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches (6 x 10) cm. Card is worn, bears some spotting and soft creasing, losses to extremities, notably the upper left, Custer's signature in bold ink, Brady's backmark on verso, and a later pencil annotation.
This carte de visite pictures Custer in his field uniform, wearing his iconic broad-brimmed hat. Custer's renown had reached its height by 1865. The Civil War had ended, and he was regarded as a Union hero. The photograph is from a session in Brady's New York studio, and further cemented Custer's image in the national consciousness. In bold ink, his signature reads: "Yours Truly, G.A. Custer, USA."
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Apr 16, 2026
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Successful Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 Surpasses Expectations
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Thomas Jefferson Letter Commenting on Toussaint Louverture Achieves $32,000
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY – Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 saw international competition drive strong results throughout the sale and a total that surpassed expectations.
Thomas Jefferson Letter on Toussaint Louverture
Highlighting the sale was a fascinating 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson as president to Maryland Governor John Francis Mercer that achieved a strong $32,000. The remarkable letter captures a rare, candid moment in which Jefferson assesses, with striking clarity, the arrest of Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the Haitian Revolution, by French General Charles LeClerc, Napoleon’s brother-in-law. Jefferson perceptively warned that LeClerc’s actions would erode trust and likely spark further racial conflict—an insight that proved remarkably accurate. Beyond its sharp political foresight, the letter reflects the broader anxiety the Haitian Revolution provoked in the United States, which contributed to decades of diplomatic isolation of Haiti.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
