THADDEUS S. C. LOWE (1832-1913) Civil War balloonist and aerial spy for the Union Army; first American military aeronaut; chief of U.S. Army Aeronautic Corps; devised system of long distance signaling in 1862; inventor and scientist; invented compression ice machine [manufacturing the first artificial ice in U.S. in 1866], and of apparatus for producing water gas; established Lowe Observatory in California. Uncommon financial A.L.S. "yours &c T.S.C. Lowe", 1p, 8vo, New York, Feb 28, 1868, to his partner James T. Ames about investors' growing interest in his ice compression machines for ships, and their pledged subscriptions to finance the project. In part: "...Mr. Reed thinks that with a strong letter from you, he can finish up his subscriptions next week. I know of sixty thousand dollars subscribed by three good parties ... but as his subscriptions cannot be called in until one hundred thousand is subscribed by reliable parties ... is his reason for a strong letter. He is desirous of forming his company and ordering some machinery ... and advancing thirty thousand dollars on the same which I think he can do in the course of one or two weeks...". Lowe was seeking financing and venues at this time to further market his compression ice machine aboard steamships so that shipping farm produce long distances could be feasible. A scarce aeronautical autograph, very good. $450-550