An album containing over 150 autographs, drawings and writings from key figures of the US civil war era will headline Swann Auction Galleries' March 19 sale in New York.

It's valued at $80,000-120,000.

Over 150 notable people from the civil war era signed the book

The intriguing lot was compiled by the wife of Union army general Egbert Ludovicus Viele. It was sold in an auction at the 1864 New York Metropolitan Fair to raise funds for soldiers wounded in the fighting.

The book includes a signature from Abraham Lincoln, who writes: "Mrs. E.L. Viele, I send this line for your album as you request."

Ulysses S Grant writes, "Knowing the great benefits received by troops under my command…at the hands of the United States, and other, Sanitary Commissions, I cannot refrain expressing my approval of, and desire for the success of, the enterprise."

Non-military signatories include the poet Nathaniel Hawthorne and the novelist Victor Hugo.

An archive of letters from Richard Nixon to the manager of his 1946 campaign, Roy Day, are valued at $8,000-10,000.

Nixon was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946. The letters span the period from 1945-1974 and offer a fascinating insight into his rise to power.

In one example, dated November 1949, he writes: "Some time ago I promised to let you know my decision relative to the United States Senate race next year.

"I have now decided to seek the post, and it is my intention to wage an aggressive, hard-hitting campaign against the Socialistic Welfare State policies which have been consistently supported by the incumbent Democratic Senator, Sheridan Downey ."

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