WILTON, Conn. - eTradeWire -- .,Letters boldly signed by early American historical giants George Washington, John Hancock and Thomas Paine, plus a 1963 Christmas card signed by both JFK and Jackie, and an archive of material signed by Lincoln and Douglas, will all come up for bid in University Archives' online auction slated for Wednesday, February 1^st at 11 am Eastern time.

The Rare Manuscripts, Books & Sports Memorabilia auction features historical material from multiple collecting categories. All 460 lots are up for viewing and bidding now (on the University Archives website, plus LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com.

"Our February auction offers many exceptional buying and collecting opportunities and is especially strong in the U.S. Presidential, Early American, Science and Sports collecting categories, with 25 lots relating to professional baseball, basketball, hockey, boxing, soccer and even horse-racing," said John Reznikoff, the president and owner of University Archives.

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"In addition," Mr. Reznikoff added, "the Aviation/Space, Entertainment, Literature, Art, and Music categories are also abundantly represented. February's assortment of historical documents, rare books, photographs, relics, ephemera, exonumia, ceramics, apparel and sports memorabilia should start the year off with a bang. Collectors, mark your calendars for this important auction."

George Washington signed a document as "G. Washington," authorizing the discharge of Corp. Robert Pappe from a Horse Troop on Dec. 10, 1783. In recognition of his "attention and fidelity" to Washington, Pappe was awarded his military-issued "Horse, Arms and Accoutrements." Days later, Washington resigned his military commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army at Annapolis, Md. (est. $20,000-$30,000).

Patriot pamphleteer Thomas Paine wrote an autograph letter signed to a Quaker friend in London on July 12, 1806, confirming reports that he had narrowly missed injury or death on Christmas Eve 1805, when an assailant opened fire at Paine's home in New Rochelle, New York, possibly motivated by Paine's public criticism of Christianity or views in general (est. $24,000-$35,000).

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A three-page autograph letter signed by John Hancock on March 11, 1777 conveyed the latest news from Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress was to convene, to his wife Dolly in Baltimore. In it, Hancock mentions (but discounts rumors) that, "… General Howe is bent on coming here, [with] another report … that the Merchants at New York are packing their goods and putting them on board ships and that the troops are going away" (est. $20,000-$30,000).

For more information, visit www.universityarchives.com.