American civil engineer and inventor (1820–1887) who holds more than 50 patents; during the Civil War, Eads constructed several ironclad ships for the United States Navy. Three ALSs, each signed “Jas. B. Eads,” ten pages in total, Fifth Avenue Hotel and personal monogrammed letterhead, dated between 1881 and 1882, each addressed to Portia Stockley. One letter, dated January 26, 1882, in part: “I was very sick about 6 weeks ago. Came near dying. I had over worked myself and was attacked with virtigo and vomiting. I am getting gradually over the effects of it but am not entirely well yet. If I had died, you would have lost a good friend and one who loves you very much. But I don’t intend to die until after the ship railway is finished. I want you to be on the first ship that crosses the isthmus.” In very good to fine condition. Accompanied by the original hand-addressed mailing envelope for the Fifth Avenue letter, as well as several photos related to the Stockley family.
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