[ Autographs ] JOHN S. MOSBY (1833 - 1916) Confederate officer, "The Gray Ghost" led his Partisan Rangers on numerous troublesome raids against Union forces and supply trains. Two exceedingly rare and important A.D.S.'s, "John Mosby", 3pp. folio, Goodson, Virginia, 1859,the original manuscript drafts of the by-laws for the town of Goodson Bristol). Mosby writes fourteen clauses to the by-laws, providing goodinsight into the nascent law enforcement policies of Goodson in the antebellum era, and resplendent with references to the expected racialdiscrimination. In small part: "...1. Any person or persons guilty of fighting, riot, disorders or disturbances of the peace shall if a negro be punished by lashes, & if a white person shall be fined -- however, that when any slave shall commit of the foregoing offenses the whipping may be remitted on the discretion of any one of the trustees on the payment of the owner...Any person violating the Sabbath shall if a negro be punished by stripes & if a white person befined...Any person who shall be found drunk on the streets shall if a negro be punished by stripes & if a white person be fined...Any negro found on the streets after 9:00 pm without a written permit from the owner shall be punished by stripes on in lieu thereof the owner...Any white person allowing more than three negroes to assemble at his houseat any one time shall be fined & the negroes be punished by stripes...The town Sergeant is required to arrest and report all persons guilty of any of the foregoing...he shall receive 50 cents for arresting any person to be paid by the person arresting -- or if a slave by the owner or hirer...". Additionally, there is a manuscript draft of Mosby's proposed by-laws for "...All Shows, Circuses & Exhibitions", in small part: "...Any person exhibiting a stallion or jackass shall be fined. Any person permitting the carcass of any dead animal to lie on his premises shall forfeit & pay to the Corporation. No person shall be permitted to carry on business within the Corporate limits which is injurious to the health of the citizens of the town...". Mosby arrived in Goodson in 1858, and was the first lawyer to reside there. At the tender age of 25, he composed and wrote the town by-laws of which our fine examples comprise a part. Sold with a much later A.L.S. from Mosby, 1p. 4to., Washington, Oct. 26, 1911, to Sam King, commenting upon his by-laws, in part: "...In looking over some old papers today I came across the enclosed document in my handwriting. I remember composing it...You see that it reflects the conditions of theage when it was written -- which seems to be 1,000 years ago. Neither side of Bristol was dry in those days...". Some cockling, fold tears (expertly repaired) and age-toning consistent with age, but boldly written and very legible. Attractively presented in an album with biographical information about Mosby, photographs, and contemporary commentary. A unique and historically significant grouping. E6,000-8, 000