GEORGE A. CUSTER (1839 - 1876) Union major general of cavalry who fought in nearly every battle of the Army of the Potomac, including Gettysburg, and later met his tragic end at the hands of Cheyenne and Sioux warriors at the battle of Little Big Horn. Fine, very early D.S. 1p. 8" x 2", [Hopedale, Ohio, ca. 1855], a manuscript document penned by 16-year-old Custer's principal within which Custer added his name. In full: "The bearer G. A. Custer is a member in good standing of the McNeely Normal School, and we believe him to be a young man of good moral character. [Signed] J. Ogden Princ. of N.S .". Trimmed at top, undoubtedly at the time as we suspect that the principal penned one of these documents for each student, then cut each from the same sheet. Custer attended the McNeely School at the age of 16 to improve his mathematics in order to qualify for admission to West Point. $4,000-5,000