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GALLE EMILE: (1846-1904) French artist and designer who worked in glass, considered one of the major innovators in the French Art Nouveau movement. An excellent Autograph Manuscript Signed, Emile Galle (in the third person to the title page and also within the text), twenty pages (including the title page), 4to (and a few smaller), n.p. (Nancy), n.d. (1884), in French. The manuscript, largely penned to the versos of Galle's personal printed stationery, is the artist's working draft (containing numerous corrections) of his report to the jury of the Central Union of the Decorative Arts VIII Exposition on the production and manufacture of his glass, including various specimens, and featuring details of the technical procedures of decoration and the diverse new applications derived from it, in particular new glass colouration including double and triple marbled glass, precious stone imitations, the use of air bubbles, extension of the palette of opaque enamels on glass, the use of transparent and translucent enamels on glass (other than cobalt oxide enamel), rare and strange decorations and new engraving procedures etc., in part, 'The exhibitor presents this year some tones coloured from the block (chrome oxide, iron oxide and diverse combinations of iron oxide, cobalt, manganese); some free imitations of precious stones, transparent, translucent or marbled with opaque veins. These colourations are obtained by introduction of diverse oxides and metallic salts in the glass, of opal glasses, and glasses coloured with gold or copper oxide….He still presents glasses with the introduction of gold sheets, platinum, finally some doublets and triplets with marbled sheet. Some specimens offer absolutely new effects, unprecedented use of which, neither modern or antique, offer any example…..the exhibitor asks the jury to examine the following samples…..Octopus light cigar case….cylindrical pot and tray…..basin with glass stopper, sapphirine colour, or blue quartz colour (composition based on potash) with translucent enamels…..Emile Galle incidentally reminds that glass, coloured with a small quantity of cobalt oxide in a pretty sapphire tone, colour which was since vulgarised by some French and foreign glass manufacturers, was emitted by him in 1878…..(and)…..commercialised by him under the name Clair de Lune, it was produced successively in Germany under the name Mondschein and in England under that of Moonlight Glass. A sample of this shade can be seen in the Decorative Arts museum……Marbled glasses with purple and bluish colours disclose the presence of gold. These marbling are yellowish when seen by reflection and red or pink by refraction…..These colours, interesting from the point of view of techniques, are not less interesting as regards decoration for the resources they offer the artist. Unfortunately, in considering the industrial use only, this procedure does not seem very practical, its effect being too variable…..it still requires some spendings of imagination to create interesting subjects out of their strange shapes…..The exhibitor also presents some tinted glasses containing gold and platinum sheets introduced in the glass in order to serve as foreground to enamels…..all the exhibitors decorations are handmade……The vivid desire to create….enamels on glass, a production with a really modern and French character, has led the exhibitor to research the colours that neither the Damas or Venise enamellers, nor the German painters have used in their productions, some reds and blues for example, some blacks, yellows and greens, some purples, pinks and violets, and most of all half tones, fine and broken shades, greys, flesh and ivory tones. Their judicious use, without dashing the decoration of the glass, can add to it a certain piquant…..diverse appropriateness between the decoration and the objects' destination had led Galle to research other translucent enamels than the old and magnificent blue derived from cobalt. Some objects having to represent the decorations by refraction as well as by reflection, it became necessary to enlarge the enamel palette in a sense contrary to opacity…..Emile Galle pays the greatest attention to the composition of the drawings intended to be executed in touret engraving. He never uses the fluor hydric acid engraving. It can be no use to him in the artistic effects he is searching for…..' Within the draft Galle details over eighty glass objects that he is presenting at the exposition including vases, scent bottles, bowls, tankards, goblets, cornets, a clock (made for the Queen of Italy), jugs, wine glasses etc. A manuscript of fascinating content and accompanied by a vintage unsigned 5 x 8.5 cabinet photograph, the albumen print by Otto Wegener of Paris depicting Galle in a head and shoulders pose and with the photographer's imprint to the lower mount. Some light overall age wear and a few creases and small tears (most noticeable to the left edge of the title page). G to VG, 2 

WILLIAM IV: (1765-1837) King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1830-37. D.S., William R, as King, at the head, one page (vellum), oblong folio, Court at Saint James's, 19th August 1830. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is a military commission appointing Vere Webb to be a Captain in the Rifle Brigade 'commanded by our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor Arthur, Duke of Wellington K.G. Field Marshal of Our Forces', countersigned at the foot by William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne (1779-1848) British Prime Minister 1834, 1835-41 and previously Home Secretary 1830-34. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. Some light age wear, VG

ALBERT VII: (1559-1621) Archduke of Austria who served as Sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands with his wife Isabella Clara Eugenia from 1598-1621, and as Viceroy of Portugal 1583-93 and, briefly, as Archduke of Lower and Upper Austria from March-October 1619. An interesting L.S., Alberto, one page, large folio, Brussels, 22nd December 1605, in French. The manuscript letter is addressed to all of the lieutenants, governors, colonels, captains and men of war, provosts, mayors, aldermen and other justices, officers and subjects who may have cause to read it, and is a commission for Pierre Launay, an archer of the guard, to lead the tercio of Don Pedro Carmiento (?), lately arrived from England, asking that they be allowed free passage 'et le chemin accomodes de vivres et aultres choses necessaires pour leur meilleur passaige, Et enchargeons aud. Archier de tenir la main vers le Me de camp, Capnes et officiers dud. Tercio de faire vivre leurs gens en bon ordre et discipline militaire, et faire de sorte quilz se contentent raisonnablem. des viandes ordinaires que les subiectz auront en leur maison, sans leur demander ou les contraindre d'aller cercher du pain blancq, vin, poisson, chair de mouton, de veau et semblables boissons et viandes extraordinaires' (Translation: 'and the route accommodated with provisions and other things necessary for their better passage, and charge the said archer to join with the master of camp, captains and officers of the said tercio to make their people live in good order and military discipline, and to do so that they are reasonably content with the ordinary meats that the subjects will have in their house, without asking them or forcing them to go and get white bread, wine, fish, meat of mutton, veal and similar drinks and extraordinary meats') and also advising that the archer will notify the governor or principal officer of the province in advance of their arrival. With the small remnants of the affixed seal. Some extensive, small holes to the text and some splitting at the folds, slightly affecting the text and signature. FR The tercio military units of the Spanish Army, active during the reign of the Spanish Habsburgs in the early modern period, were renowned for the effectiveness of their battlefield formations and provided a crucial step in the formation of modern European armies. 

VINCENT FRANCOIS-NICOLAS: (1766/67-1794) French radical, Secretary General of the War Ministry in the First French Republic, a significant figure in the French Revolution and a prominent member of the Hebertist faction. Guillotined. L.S., Vincent, one page, 4to, n.p. (Paris), 27th June 1793, in French. Vincent writes, in full, 'Laisser Tisson chef d'un bataillon de volontaires nomme gal. de brigade dans un autre armee. A quelle armee Pille adjutant general est-il employe?' (Translation: 'Leave Tisson, leader of a battalion of volunteers named Gal. Brigade, in another army. In which army is Pille, adjutant general, employed?'). A manuscript note in an unidentified hand, made in response to Vincent's instructions and enquiry, appears in the left margin. Autographs of Vincent are scarce as a result of his execution by guillotine at the age of 27 having been tried and found guilty, along with fellow Hebertists, of conspiring in an attempt to overthrow the Committee of Public Safety and ensure the reestablishment of the monarchy. Some light age wear and a few minor stains to the lower edge, otherwise VG

BRICHANTEAU NICOLAS DE: (1582-1650) French nobleman and memoirist. D.S., Nicolas de Brichanteau Nangis, with one line of text in his hand, one page (vellum), oblong 4to, n.p., 1611. The manuscript document, in Middle French, is untranslated although relates to a payment of three thousand six hundred livres. With a contemporary docket to the verso. Some light age wear and minor dust staining, otherwise VG

DICKENS CHARLES: (1812-1870) English novelist. A very fine, extensive A.Q.S., Charles Dickens (an excellent example, with paraph), one page, 4to, n.p., 28th April 1858. Writing in his characteristic blue ink Dickens has neatly penned a twenty-three-line quotation from David Copperfield, in full - -"We had only one check to our pleasure, and that happened a little while before I took my leave, when Miss Mills chancing to makesome allusion to tomorrow morning, I unluckily let out that, beingobliged to exert myself now, I got up at five o'clock. WhetherDora had any idea that I was a Private Watchman, I am unableto say; but it made a great impression on her, and she neitherplayed nor sang any more."It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu; and shesaid to me in her pretty coaxing way - as if I were a doll, I usedto think:"Now don't get up at five o'clock, you naughty boy. It's sononsensical!""My love", said I, "I have work to do""But don't do it!" returned Dora, "Why should you?"It was impossible to say to that sweet little surprised faceotherwise than lightly and playfully, that we must work to live."Oh! How ridiculous!" cried Dora"How shall we live without Dora?" said I"How? Anyhow!" said Dora.She seemed to think she had quite settled the question,and gave me such a triumphant little kiss, direct from herinnocent heart, that I would hardly have put her out ofconceit with her answer, for a fortune" -  David Copperfield, by……'  Signed and dated by Dickens at the foot of the quotation. Autograph Quotations Signed by Dickens are extremely rare, and this is a particularly handsome and desirable example, both for the physical size of the paper and length of the quotation. A few light stains to the right edge, only very slightly touching the concluding letters of three words, all of which remain perfectly legible. About VG The present quotation is taken from towards the end of A Little Cold Water, the title of chapter 37 of David Copperfield, published in 1850. The passage illustrates, for the first time, how a shadow is temporarily cast over David's love for Dora Spenlow, his future wife. Copperfield is deeply in love and does not quite comprehend what the reader sees: Dora, in her present childlike state, unable to cope with the responsibilities of a household, will prove little more than a hindrance to him. Maria Beadnell, Dickens's first love whom he met in 1830 is thought to have been the model for the character Dora in David Copperfield. Dickens regarded David Copperfield, a largely autobiographical work, as his favourite amongst all the novels he wrote. The quotation was written and signed by Dickens at a significant time in his life, making his choice of passage an interesting one. A year earlier, in 1857, Dickens had fallen in love with the actress Ellen Ternan, and his passion for her was to last the rest of his life. Dickens was increasingly finding his wife, Catherine, to be an incompetent mother and housekeeper, causing him financial worries. In May 1858, after Catherine accidentally received a bracelet meant for Ellen Ternan, Dickens and his wife separated, and Catherine would never see her husband again.  After separating from his wife Dickens undertook a series of hugely popular and remunerative reading tours, and the present quotation was signed during the first such tour, which lasted from April 1858 to February 1859 and consisted of 129 appearances in 49 towns throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. The original manuscript of David Copperfield was bequeathed by Dickens to his friend the biographer and literary critic John Forster (1812-1876), who in turn bequeathed the manuscript (together with other books, pictures and important manuscripts) to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. American Book Prices Current record only three other examples of quotations from David Copperfield signed by Dickens as having appeared at auction in the last 25 years. 

HERSHEY ALFRED: (1908-1997) American bacteriologist and geneticist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1969. Typed Manuscript, unsigned, one page, 4to, n.p., 14th May 1970. Hershey responds to a researcher's questionnaire entitled World Inquiry, to be used for their book Panorama of the Human Mind, with their manuscript questions at the head of the page, '1. Were your scientific “debut” easy or difficult? 2. Did means of living enable you to make yourself known in science? 3. What work (or what discovery) made yourself more famous? Which do you consider as the best? 4. What is your “maxim of life” (or motto)?' Hershey's typed answers appear beneath and state, in full, '1. In my day and for a person of my economic status a college education was seldom possible, to say nothing of graduate school. Nevertheless, I have the impression that I always followed the path of least resistance. 2. I have always been dependent on my earnings as a scientist. As far as I know, my work reached the scientific public only through the means of communication available to all scientists. 3. My principal work had to do with mechanisms of inheritance as seen in bacterial viruses. 4. The greatest happiness, and the rarest privilege, available to humans is the opportunity to think about one thing day and night'. Together with a printed 8vo pamphlet entitled The Bacteriophage Lambda, being a paper authored by Alfred Hershey and William Dove and originally published in 1971, signed ('Alfred Hershey') by Hershey in blue ink with his name alone to the cover. VG to EX, 2  

GARCIA DE LEON Y PIZARRO JOSE: (1770-1835) Spanish politician who served as Minister of State of Spain (i.e. Prime Minister) from 1816-18. D.S., Jose Pizarro, one page, folio, Cadiz, 11th April 1812, in Spanish. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, states that the King has resolved, in the name of the Regency of the Kingdom of Spain, to grant a passport to Mariano Carnerero and his sister, who are to travel to Lisbon, and further instructing the Captains General, Commandants, Governors and other ministers etc. that they may come into contact with not to cause Carnerero or his sister any embarrassment on their journey and instead to give them any assistance they may require. Signed by Pizarro at the foot and with a printed coat of arms neatly inlaid to the lower left corner. With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear to the upper edge, VG

MASSENA ANDRE: (1758-1817) French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, one of the original eighteen Marshals of the Empire created by Napoleon. D.S., Massena, one page, slim oblong 4to, General Headquarters of Genoa, 8th March 1800, addressed to the Commissioners of the National Treasury in Paris, in French. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is signed by Massena in his capacity as the General in Chief of the Army of Italy, and requests that, in sixty days, the sum of 2000 Francs be paid to Citizen Vissei, Treasurer of the Ligurian Republic. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG  

DALI SALVADOR: (1904-1989) Spanish surrealist artist. A remarkable illustrated autograph Manuscript Signed, Salvador Dali, five pages (separate leaves), large folio (16 x 17”, 40 x 42.5 cm), n.p., 1953, in a singular language based on French interspersed with Hispanisms and other words phonetically reproducing the Catalan accent. Dali’s manuscript is entitled Mes secrets sinematographiques (‘My Cinematic Secrets’) and was originally published in the review La Parisienne in February 1954 in an adaptation by Michel Deon who normalized Dali’s deviant spelling and syntax. The manuscript in its original form, with important variations, therefore reveals the delirious orality of the Dalian text, the artist first affirming the conviction of his genius in cinematographic art by recalling the importance of his first two films, Un chien andalou and L’Age d’or, and by demeaning the role of the filmmaker Luis Bunuel in their realisation, further unveiling his film project La Brouette de flesh and describing the delirious visions and hallucinations he intends to put into images, in part, ‘Il i ha peu près une semaine que ge viens de découbrir que dans ma vie ge suis en tout en retard environ de 12 ans, cinéma i compris, il i a 11 ans que ge progète de faire un film intégrallement totalitairement cent pour cent hiper Dali, donc cela veut dire que vraisenbleblement ce film se tournera infin, l'ané prochaine - Ge suis le contraire du verger et du lu de La Fontaine comme que dans ma vie, et déjà dans mon adolescence ge réalisse tan de chosses sensationelles ….À 27 ans j'arrivai à Paris et ge créé avec Buñuel 2 films qui resteron historiques le Chien andalou et L'Âge d'or. Dernièrement Buñuel a faid tout seul d'autres films me rendan ainsi l'inmense service de que tout le monde puisse enfin savoir à qui apartené le côté génial et le côté primaire dans Le Chien andalu et L'Âge d'or…….Por qu'un film soit prodigieux la première des chosses c'et que l'on puisse croire au prodige que l'on vous montre, pour cela avant tout autre chosse il faut en finir avec le répugnant ritme cinématographique, cete conventionelle et anuyuesse [ennuyeuse] rétorique du mouvement de la caméra - même dans lé plus cumun mélodrame coment croire à l'asasin, si la caméra le suis en travelin partout même dans lé lavabo où il va laver le sang de ses mains?.........Mon prochain film sera exactement le contraire d'un film expérimental de vangarde et surtout de ce que l'on apelle aujurd'hui “créatif” sinonime de l'imitation servile de tous les lieux comuns du triste art moderne. Mon film sera une vrai istoire d'une feme paranoyaque amureusse d'une bruète qui succesivement se revêt de tous les atributs de la persone aimé, le cadabre de la quelle avais servi pour moayen de transport ; jusqu'à s'incarné à nouveau en elle, la bruètte devien de chair et c'et pour cela que mon film s'apellera La Bruètte de chair. Tout espectateur rafiné ou hutre moayen sera forcé de participer au délire de ma fétichiste, car il s'agit d'un cas rigureussement vrai, et cera raconté, come aucune documentaire n'est capable de le réalissé….. Ainssi ge peut déjà asurer à mes lecteurs que dans mon film il verron avec toute la minutie des mouvements lents se dévelopent dans la plus rigu­reusse euritmie arcangélique, l'un après l'autre 5 cignes blancs explosan. Les signes seron trufés de pomes grenades elles aussi munis d'une charge explosive adécuate, de façont que quand on aura pu observé avec minuci les derniers entre-déchirements des entrailles des cignes, se produiront les explosions des pomes grenades, de sorte que probablement tel que nous avons déjà expérimenté les grains de la pome grenade progetés à la périférie du décartelage anatomique, parvenan à causse de leur petite taille par les intertices jusqu'aux plumes en suspension, orteron cellesci, tell que l'on peut rêvé et surtout rêvassé, doit se produire entre les cor­puscules de lumière (graines de pome grenade et ondes lumineusses représentés por les blanchisimes arcangéliques plumes du signe). - De sorte que les corpuscules dans la dite expérience auron la corporaïté de Mantegne et les plumes le flue qui fit fameux le peintre Eugène Carrière. Aussi on pourra voir une escène, représentan la fontaine de Trevi à Rome, les fenêtres s'ouvran et 6 rinocéros tomben à l'eau, à chaque chute de rinocéros un paraplui noir s'oubre émerjan de l'eau de la fontaine…….Dans un'autre oportunité 100 ziganes españols tueron et dépèceron jusqu'à ne lessé que son esquelette pelé, un éléfant dans une rue de Madrid (transposan ainsi une fameuse scène africaine que g'é lu dans un libre). À un moment doné qu'oùs apéressent les côtes du paquiderme, deux ziganes (lesquels malgré leur frénési sauvage n'arrêten pas un instin de chanter du canté hondo pénétren à l'intérieur pour atraper les viscères meilleures, quer, rognongs ect….’ (Translation: ‘It’s been about a week since I’ve just discovered that in my life I’m about 12 years late in everything, including cinema, it’s been 11 years since I’ve been planning to make a film entirely totally one hundred percent hyper Dali, so that means that this film will probably end up being shot next year – I am the opposite of the orchard and the lu de la Fontaine as in my life, and already in my adolescence I did so many sensational things……At 27 I arrived in Paris and I created with Bunuel 2 films that will remain historic, Le chien andalou and L'Âge d'or. Lately Bunuel has made other films on his own, so that everyone can finally know to whom belonged the brilliant side and the primary side in Le chien andalou and L’Age d’or……For a film to be prodigious, the first thing is for people to be able to believe in the prodigy that is shown to you, for that, before anything else, it is necessary to put an end to the repugnant cinematographic rhythm, this conventional and boring retort of the movement of the camera – even in the most common melodrama how to believe in the assassin, if the camera follows him in travelling everywhere, even in the sink where he will wash the blood from his hands?.......My next film will be the exact opposite of an experimental vanguard film and above all of what we call today “creative” if not the servile imitation of all the commonplaces of sad modern art. My film will be a true story of a paranoid woman in love with a brute who successively takes on all the attributes of the loved one, the corpse of which had served as a means of transport; until it is embodied again in herm the bruètte becomes flesh and that is why my film will be called La Bruètte de flesh. Any refined viewer or Moayan oyster will be forced to participate in my fetishist’s delirium, for this is a strictly true case, and it will be told, as no documentary is capable of realising it……Thus I can already assure my readers that in my film he will see with all the meticulousness of the slow movements developing in the most rigorous archangelic  euritimia, one after the other 5 white swans exploding. The signs will be riddled with pomegranates, also equipped with an adequate explosive charge, so that when we have been able to carefully observe the last tearings of the entrails of the swans, the explosions of the pomegranates will occur...) In the left margin of the third page Dali has drawn two illustrations of male figures, the first somewhat grotesque and the second in a Cubist style, seemingly with another man emerging from his torso. A wonderful, rare manuscript which is distinctly Dali in its composition. Some very light, minimal age wear, VG OWING TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED - PLEASE REFER TO IAA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 

LEOPOLD II: (1835-1909) King of the Belgians 1865-1909. D.S., Leopold, one page, large oblong folio, Brussels, 12th December 1889, in French. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, appoints Leon Dosogne to be the Belgian Consul General for British India and Ceylon, residing at Calcutta, who will 'en cette qualite exercer, conformement aux dispositions des lois, arretes et instructions, les fonctions qui lui sont conférées' (Translation: 'in this capacity exercise, in accordance with the provisions of the laws, decrees and instructions, the functions conferred on him') and further stating 'Prions Sa Majesté la Reine de Grand Bretagne et d'Irlande, Imperatrice des Indes de permettre que le sieur Leon Dosogne exerce librement l'emploi qui lui est confere, sans souffrir qu'il y soit apporte aucun empechement' (Translation: 'Pray Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, to allow Mr. Leon Dosogne to freely exercise the office conferred on him, without suffering any impediment'). Signed by the King at the foot and countersigned by Joseph de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay (1836-1892) Belgian diplomat and politician who served as Foreign Minister 1884-92. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. Some light staining and minor age wear and a few small tears to the upper edge, G 

BOLAN MARC: (1947-1977) English guitarist, singer and songwriter, a pioneer of the glam rock movement in the early 1970s with his band T. Rex. Autograph Manuscript notes, unsigned (although featuring his name Marc in three places within the text), one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d. (c.1970). On ruled notebook paper, and in various coloured inks, Bolan has penned a series of notes, including deletions, relating to the recording of the song Seagull Women (released as Seagull Woman), in part, 'acustics (sic) mixed down….marc tracked on change down….mixed together lightly play Gibson thru out….Piano on C-C7-F-D7….guitar solo…Fender….drum pounded floor tom tom, deep sound Bass, marc tracked riff voices….on end drums on own, marc little acustic (sic) riff once'. One of the deleted notes, relating to 'deep sound', states 'First try Fuzz Hendrix sound'. An extremely rare Bolan manuscript, particularly considering the musician's tragically early death in a car crash at the age of 29. A single file hole to the right edge, not affecting the text, VGSeagull Woman appeared as track four on the B-side of the album T. Rex which was released on 18th December 1970 and had been recorded at the Trident Studios in London from July - August in the same year. The track represented the first time that Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman ('Flo and Eddie') provided back-up vocals to a T. Rex song. The duo would go on to sing on most of the group's subsequent string of hits.   

SCIENTISTS: An unusual 4to sheet of paper featuring the manuscript title Maxims of Life of the great scientists of the whole world in the hand of a researcher at the head of the page, beneath which appear four individual autograph statements signed by various scientists, comprising (in order of appearance) Eugene Rabinowitch (1901-1973) Russian-born American biophysicist known for his work in photosynthesis and nuclear energy, 'Il y a toujours un ordre au dessous du desordre, un senses au dessous imbecilite et une harmonie au dessous du chaos' (Translation: 'There is always order below disorder, sense below imbecility and harmony below chaos'); William Alfred Fowler (1911-1995) American nuclear physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1983 'It is important that science be integrated into a rational and stable society'; Evry Schatzman (1920-2010) French scientist hailed as 'the father of modern French astrophysics', 'La vie ne se réduit pas à une formule. Si j'avais une maxime, ce pourrait etre "comprendre le monde pour pouvoir le transformer"' (Translation: 'Life is not reduced to a formula. If I had a maxim, it could be “understanding the world in order to be able to transform it”'); and K. S. Ranganathan (Director of the BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Government of India, King Institute, Madras, India, from 1948-57), 'Acquire knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Be modest and try to understand other points of view'. With various ink annotations in the hand of a collector to the left margin. VG 

TALLEYRAND-PERIGORD & FOUCHE: TALLEYRAND-PERIGORD CHARLES MAURICE DE (1754-1838) Prince of Talleyrand, French clergyman, politician and diplomat, Prime Minister of France, 1815 & FOUCHE JOSEPH (1759-1820) 1st Duc d'Otrante, 1st Comte Fouche. French statesman and revolutionary who served as Minister of Police (1799-1810, 1815) under Napoleon Bonaparte. D.S. by both Talleyrand ('Charles Maurice') and Fouche ('Comte de l'Empire Fouche') individually, one page, folio, Schoenbrunn, 24th August 1809, in French. The partially printed document, with manuscript insertions in the hand of Fouche, is addressed to Monsieur Laffontan, President of the Canton of Valence and is an Extrait des Minutes de la Secretairerie d'Etat ('Extract from the Minutes of the Secretary of State') originally issued by Hugues-Bernard Maret, Duke of Bassano, on behalf of Napoleon I, and states that they have deemed it appropriate to convene the assembly of the canton on 17th October 1809, and consequently order Laffontan to execute, and cause to be executed, the provisions of the acts of the Constitutions of the Empire, further stating 'Nous avons fait connaitre a notre premier Inspecteur de la Gendarmerie, et au General commandant la 10 eme Division militaire, que vous avez seul la police de l'assemblee; que nulle force armee ne doit etre placee pres du lieu de ses seances ni y penetrer sans votre requistion; qu'ils doivent ordonner de deferer a celles que vous adresserez aux Commandans de la Gendarmerie, et de vous preter assistance, si le cas l'exige et que vous le demandiez' (Translation: 'We have made it known to our first Inspector of the Gendarmerie, and to the General commanding the 10th Military Division, that you alone have the police of the assembly; that no armed force should be placed near the place of its meetings or enter there without your request; that they must order to defer to those which you will address to the Commanders of the Gendarmerie, and to lend you assistance, if the case requires it and that you ask for it'). Signed at the foot by Talleyrand in his capacity as Vice-Grand-Elector and by Fouche in his capacity as Minister of the Interior (rare as such; Fouche only served in the post from 29th June to 1st October 1809) and with a circular blind embossed seal beneath. With blank integral leaf. Some light, minor staining to the lower left corner and a very small hole to the centre of the text, otherwise VG

[LOUIS XV]: (1710-1774) King of France 1715-74. Manuscript document issued in the name of King Louis XV and bearing a secretarial signature ('Louis'), one page (vellum), large oblong folio, Paris, 4th May 1720, in French. The document gives orders for, in part, 'Provisions de Capitaine de la Capitainerie du Havre pour le S. de Cauville.....[charge entre autres de]......faire faire le Guet et Garde pour empecher les descentes et desseins d'Ennemis et Pirattes' (Translation: 'Captain's provisions of the Harbour Master's office at Le Havre for the S. de Cauville…..[responsible for, amongst other matters]……having the Watch and Guard made to prevent the raids and designs of enemies and pirates'). With contemporary endorsements to the verso countersigned by Louis-Alexandre de Bourbon (1678-1737) Count of Toulouse, Grand Admiral of France, the son of King Louis XIV and his mistress Francoise-Athenais, Marquise de Montespan, Joseph Fleuriau d'Armenonville (1661-1728) French politician who served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1716 and as Secretary of State for the Navy from 1718-22, and several others. Some light damp staining and a few other minor faults, G 

CLEMENCEAU GEORGES: (1841-1929) French Prime Minister 1906-09, 1917-20. Autograph Manuscript Signed, G Clemenceau, two pages, 4to (separate leaves, at one stage cut into four quarters, presumably by a publisher, the first three quarters presently joined together at the verso, and the final quarter loose), n.p., n.d. (c.1898), in French. The manuscript, with various corrections in Clemenceau's hand, is entitled Le silence de Brisson and states, in part, 'Le silence des peuples est la lecon des rois. Le stenographe inoccupe de la Chambre propose a la notation des silences, m'informe que le silence du president des representants du peuple, a la rentree du parlement, est la lecon de notre elyseen roitelet. Certains attendaient que M. Brisson parlat…..En une harangue enflammee il aurait celebre l'alliance, l'alliance mysterieuse dont nul ne saurait dire encore si c'est un astre qui se leve ou le simple mirage d'une bulle de savon. Il aurait chante Hanotaux, et son epee d'humeur, avec ce vers un peu libre pour refrain: Maintenant qu'il est aime, les innocents n'ont qu'a se bien tenir. Il nous aurait appris Felix et ses magnificences, les prouesses du Bruix, la pipe de Merizier domptant le mal de mer, et le fameux discours au journaliste parisien: "Ne m'attaquez pas, c'est pour la patrie". Il nous aurait montre la Russie en delire accourant au Francais qui lui apportait le secours de.....et de ses canons. Nous aurions vu le Tsar accepter tout et nous payer noblement d'un geste auguste qu'enregistrera l'histoire. Nous aurions appris......de ce que notre ministre Hanotaux ayant prononce le mot d'alliance a la tribune le 10 juin 1895, il avait suffi de deux ans a l'empereur de Russie pour repondre "Nations alliees", le 31 aout 1897. Le protocole a de ces exigences. Nous aurions su pourquoi nous ne savions rien de la grande chose dont nous devions nous rejouir. On nous aurait montre la France de la place de l'Opera manifestant bruyamment sa surprise de voir la nation glorieuse des siecles jouer encore un role dans le monde. Eblouis, nous aurions admire le resplendissement des grandes modesties…..Miraculeux spectacle qui ne nous fut das donne!....[Brisson] a prefere le silence au mensonge et je l'en loue. Je le louerai plus encore si au courage du silence, apres une si longue attente, avait succede l'audace de la verite. Il y a des choses a dire a Henri Brisson, des choses attendues. Le silence est august. Mais la parole enfante. La parole suivie de l'action. Il suffit pour cela de pouvoir, et, quand on peut, de vouloir'. (Translation: 'The silence of the people is the lesson of kings. The unoccupied stenographer of the Chamber proposed to note the silences, informs me that the silence of the president of the representatives of the people, at the return of parliament, is the lesson of our elyseen's petty king. Some are waiting for Mr. Brisson to speak……In a fiery harangue he would have celebrated the alliance, the mysterious alliance of which no one can yet say whether it is a rising star or the simple mirage of a soap bubble. He would have sung Hanotaux, and his sword of humour, with this somewhat free verse for refrain: Now that he is loved, the innocents just have to behave. He would have taught us Felix and his magnificence, the prowess of Bruix, Merizier's pipe taming seasickness, and the famous speech to the Parisian journalist: “Don't attack me, it's for the country”. He would have shown us Russia in delirium rushing to the French who brought him the help of…..and his guns. We would have seen the Tsar accept everything and pay us nobly with an august gesture that will be recorded in history. We would have learned…..from what our minister Hanotaux having pronounced the word alliance at the tribune on 10th June 1895, it had sufficed two years for the Emperor of Russia to answer “Allied Nations” on 31st August 1897. The protocol has these requirements. We would have known why we didn't know about the great thing we were to rejoice in. We would have been shown France from the Place de l'Opera, loudly expressing its surprise at seeing the glorious nation of the centuries still playing a role in the world. Dazzled, we would have admired the resplendence of great modesty…..A miraculous spectacle which was never given to us!.....[Brisson] preferred silence to lies and I praise him for it. I would praise him even more if the courage of silence, after such a long wait, had succeeded the audacity of the truth. There are things to say to Henri Brisson, things to expect. Silence is august. But the word gives birth. Word followed by action. It is enough for that to be able, and, when one can, to want.'). A manuscript of interesting political content. With four blue crayon publisher's annotations to each of the four quarters of text and some light overall age wear and a few tears and pinholes to the edges and margins, GHenri Brisson (1835-1912) French Prime Minister 1885-86, 1898.Gabriel Hanotaux (1853-1944) French statesman and historian, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1894-95, 1896-98.   

RANKE LEOPOLD VON: (1795-1886) German historian. D.S., Leopold von Ranke, one page, oblong 8vo, Berlin, 23rd November 1846, in German. The manuscript document states that Ranke 'vouches for the return of the books by the humanities student Friedrich Theodor Claus of…..Brandenburg, to the library of the Royal Joachimstahl Grammar School by Michaelmas 1847'. Some very light overall creasing and a few small, neat tears to the edges, about VG 

[DOWDING HUGH]: (1882-1970) British Air Chief Marshal, Commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. An original autograph manuscript prepared by historian Robert Wright (1906-1992) while writing and researching his book Dowding and the Battle of Britain (1969). The lengthy manuscript, entitled First Draft Outline consists of 4to pages, divided into ten sections, with various neatly arranged holograph notes and observations by Wright regarding the structure of his book, the introductory notes stating 'This book is not a history of the Battle of Britain,. It is the story of some of the experiences of one of those who participated in it. Just as some pretty fantastic things happened to those who did the flying and the fighting, so some pretty fantastic things also happened to the man who led them' and with further notes relating to Winston Churchill ('I had heard that Churchill had a liking for graphs, and I knew that some people can be told something through their eyes when they can't be convinced through their ears' Dowding has said'), Keith Park, William Sholto Douglas, Trafford Leigh-Mallory, John Slessor, Tom Gleave as well as Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft etc. VG 

WILLIAM V: (1748-1806) Prince of Orange 1751-1806 and the last stadtholder of the Dutch Republic. D.S., W. Pr. V. Orange, one page, folio, Breda, 17th September 1792, in Dutch. The manuscript document is untranslated although would appear to be a military commission and makes reference to a Captain Kulp and a Major Reusch. Countersigned at the foot by Thomas Isaac de Larrey (1703-1795) Secretary to the Prince of Orange. With blind embossed paper seal affixed and blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

[JOYCE JAMES]: (1882-1941) Irish novelist and poet. An unusual partially printed document, completed and signed on behalf of Joyce in the hand of an administrative agent, four pages, 4to, Paris, 21st April 1939, in French. The official Reseau Telephonique de Paris (Paris Telephone Network) document is Joyce's contract to have a telephone line installed at 34 rue des Vignes in Paris for an annual fee of six hundred and sixty francs, the head of the first page stamped Transfert ('Transfer') and a further stamp with manuscript insertions to the third page confirming that the document replaces an earlier commitment to have a telephone line at 7 rue Edmond Valentin and that the minimum duration of the subscription is still in place. The foot of the third page is signed on behalf of Joyce with the observation 'Lu et accepté' (Translation: 'Read and accepted'). A moving document relating to Joyce's last private residence in Paris. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGJames Joyce first came to Paris in July 1920 and would reside in the French capital for almost two decades, although the writer never bought a home of his own. Joyce's health problems afflicted him throughout his Paris years and despite over a dozen eye operations his vision severely declined and by the 1930s he was practically blind, making the telephone an important method of communication and explaining why he was unable to sign the present document.Joyce lived in an elegant apartment at 7 rue Edmond Valentin, close to the River Seine and Eiffel Tower, for five years from February 1935 until April 1939 before moving into a smaller apartment (although blessed with a lot of natural light) at 34 rue des Vignes on 15th April 1939. Finnegans Wake was published whilst Joyce was living in the apartment, which he would leave after six months in mid-October 1939. Following the fall of France in 1940 Joyce and his family travelled to Zurich to flee the Nazi occupation. On 11th January 1941 Joyce underwent surgery and fell into a coma the next day, awaking briefly at 2 am on 13th January before dying fifteen minutes later.

[LES MISERABLES] HUGO VICTOR: (1802-1885) French novelist, poet and dramatist. A significant original page of manuscript in the hand of Hugo, unsigned, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (late 1840s?), in French. The manuscript represents the novelist’s working draft of one of the most important parts of the historical novel Les Misérables (1862), considered one of the greatest works of literature of the 19th century, and varies in parts to the final published text. Hugo heads the page with the word Forteresse (‘Fortress’) and continues to write, in part, ‘C’etait l’acropole des va-nu-pieds.....Il arrive quelques fois que......meme contre l'egalite et la fraternite, meme contre les principes……Ce sont la, des journees lugubres car il y a toujours une certaine quantite de droits meme dans cette demence, il y a du suicide dans ce duel; et ces mots qui veulent etre des injures, gueux, canaille…..’ (Translation: ‘It was the acropolis of the tramps…..Sometimes it happens that…..even against equality and fraternity, even against principles…..These are gloomy days for there are always a certain amount of rights even in this madness, there is suicide in this duel and these words that want to be insults, beggar, scoundrel…..’). An exceptional page of manuscript in which the embryo of one of the most famous pieces of French prose is set down on paper by Hugo for the first time. Some light overall age wear and minor creasing and a few small tears and insignificant areas of paper loss to the edges, GIn 1848 a new wave of revolution swept across Europe, triggered by the political unrest of bourgeois liberals and nationalists, crop failures several years in a row, and economic troubles. In France, Louis Philippe was driven from his throne. After a bloody struggle between the working-class and the middle-class provisional government in Paris, the Second Republic was established, with a mainly middle-class national assembly and Louis Napoleon, who was related to Napoleon I, as president.Hugo was sympathetic to the 1848 revolution, became a representative in the assembly, and initially supported Louis Napoleon. However, in 1851 the president assumed control of France in a military coup d’etat, and in 1852 the population voted to disband the republic and re-establish the empire. Hugo was disillusioned with both the French people who were willing to exchange freedom for stability and with Napoleon III, who had traded in his republican opinions to become a dictator. Criticizing the government and Louis Napoleon publicly, he was forced to leave France, first for Belgium and then for the Channel Islands. Les Misérables, which Hugo composed from the late 1840s to 1862 during his exile, integrated his feelings about the political situation, his memories of the barricades of 1848, and his republican ideals. The novel denounces the degradation of the urban working-class and society’s mistreatment and neglect of the poor, especially women and children. (From: Les Misérables – A Historical Perspective).

LEPAUTE JEAN-ANDRE: (1720-1789) French clockmaker who held the brevet horlogers du Roi. A rare manuscript D.S., Lepaute, one page, oblong 8vo, Paris, 14th April 1765, in French. The document is a receipt issued by Lepaute to Monseigneur le Duc Dancequne (?) for the sum of one thousand livre in full payment for a clock. With a further note in Lepaute's hand at the base confirming that he will resend the Duke the invoice for the same sum. Also bearing a short note, signed with initials, in an unidentified hand. With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

FEKETE MICHAEL: (1886-1957) Hungarian-Israeli mathematician. Manuscript D.S., M. Fekete, one page, 4to, n.p. (Jerusalem, Israel), 19th November 1954. Fekete responds to Henri Corbiere and provides answers to his Whole World Inquiry in four numbered paragraphs, in part, '1. My scientific “debut” was quite “normal”, I enjoyed the good atmosphere of the Hungarian School of mathematicians, being a disciple of one of its most outstanding representatives, Professor L. Fejer. 2. No means of living of any other profession or private income aided me to make myself known in my field of science; I relyed (sic) solely upon my earnings as a……University Assistant, Lecturer and Professor (at Budapest and in Jerusalem). 3. I have done intensive research work in various fields of Pure Mathematics and stimulated many investigations into the problems attacked by me concerning Infinite Series…..Conformal Mapping and Theory of Measure. 4. I consider as my master piece the discovery of the Transfinite Diameter of Point-sets which I introduced in 1923 and which became a starting-point for extensive research by mathematicians throughout the world, all of whom recognised its importance in numerous branches of Mathematics (pure and applied)', adding his signature at the foot. VG

MELIES GEORGES: (1861-1938) French Film Director, a Pioneer of cinema and innovator in the use of special effects. Rare D.S., G. Melies, one page, 4to, Paris, 12th November 1912, the partially printed document being a receipt issued on Melies' attractive printed stationery. The manuscript receipt, in French, is for the sum of 370 Francs, being the payment of royalties due from the sales, in New York, of some of Melies' films. Also bearing to the front a red ink stamp of the Melies cinema manufacture over a tax stamp. Three binding holes to the left border, not affecting the text or signature. VG

ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French Writer and Philosopher. A curious and very interesting autograph manuscript, two pages, 4to, n.p., [Paris], n.d. (c.1745), in French. The two full pages manuscript, in Rousseau's hand, is from his unpublished work relating to the history of women and laws which he prepared between 1745 and 1751 for his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin. Rousseau writes his text in the right column of the page, the left reserved for additional notes. Rousseau refers to the causes of repudiation of women in history, and writes six causes of few lines each, being taken from what he identifies as `Novell. Constit. 108 art. 384´, stating in part `1º Si elle a su quelque conspiration contre l´Empereur et qu´elle n´en ait pas averti son mari - 2º Si la femme est trouvée coupable d´adultère; alors le mari s´approprie non seulement de la dot… 4º Si elle a demeuré hors de la maison, excepté chez son père et sa mère, contre la volonté du mari - 5º Si elle a été au Cirque ou autre spectacle contre la défense ou même sans la permission du mari - 6º Si contre la defensse de son mari elle a mangé avec des étrangers, ou qu´elle ait été au bain avec des hommes´ ("1º If she knew of any conspiracy against the Emperor and did not inform her husband of it - 2º If the wife is found guilty of adultery; then the husband keeps not only the dowry… 4º If she has stayed out of the house, except with her father and mother, against the will of the husband - 5º If she has been to the Circus or another show against the refusal or even without the permission of the husband - 6º If against the refusal of her husband she ate with strangers, or bathed with men") To the last paragraph Rousseau adds a reason according to which the husband will not be able to repudiate his wife, saying `Que si le mari la chasse de sa maison sans aucune des causes ci-dessus spécifiées, de sorte que n´ayant ni Père ni Mère elle ait été contrainte de passer la nuit dehors. Il est ordonné que le mari n´aura point pour cela droit de la répudier´ ("That if the husband drives her out of his house without any of the causes specified above, so that having neither Father nor Mother she was forced to spend the night outside. It is ordained that the husband shall not therefore have the right to repudiate her") Small overall minor age tone, mostly to edges, with right and bottom edges slightly trimmed. G At the time Rousseau wrote these pages, between 1745 and 1751, he was working as secretary to his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin.

HERZBERG GERHARD: (1904-1999) German-Canadian physicist and physical chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1971. T.L.S., Gerhard Herzberg, one page, 4to, Ottawa, 24th April 1987, to Wolfgang Windhausen, on the printed stationery of the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics at the National Research Council of Canada. Herzberg thanks his correspondent for their letter and for the clippings from the Gottingen Tageblatt and continues 'I do not normally send handwritten manuscripts since most of them are written in pencil and not suitable for any collection but also because there are so many requests of this sort. However, your letter was written in such generous terms that I am making an exception and I am sending you a handwritten set of lecture notes for a lecture at Johns Hopkins University, a lecture that was recently published and I am sending you a reprint of the published version also'. Together with the autograph manuscript referred to, three pages, 4to, n.p., 14th June 1984. The manuscript notes are headed Rowland Gratings, Molecular Hydrogen, and Space Astronomy, and include Herzberg's introduction, notes on Molecular Oxygen, Molecular Hydrogen and Applications in Astronomy. With Herzberg's pencil annotations in the left margin relating to the slide presentations, and also signed by Herzberg to the upper corner of the first page, incorrectly dated April 1887 in his hand. Also including an unsigned printed copy of the final lecture, with diagrams and illustrations, as originally published in Vistas in Astronomy (Vol. 29, 1986). The manuscript lecture notes are stapled together in the upper left corner. VG, 3

WILHELM I: (1797-1888) King of Prussia 1861-88 and the first German Emperor 1871-88. D.S., Wilhelm, three pages, folio, Berlin, 14th March 1885, in German. The manuscript document relates to a Patent dated 5th October 1883 for Colonel Ernst v. Twardowski, Commander of the 1st Bodyguard Grenadier Regiment of Baden. Lightly tipped at the left edge to a card. Some light age wear, VG 

ZAMET SEBASTIEN: (1549-1614) Italian-born French financier who entered the service of the court of France as a valet to King Henry III. Zamet later maintained a close friendship with King Henry IV who would regularly visit the financier's mansion in Paris, where many people were received, particularly gentlemen looking for amorous and discreet appointments. A rare D.S., Sebastien Zamet, with five additional words in his hand, one page (vellum), small oblong folio, n.p. (Paris?), 31st December 1600. The manuscript document is a receipt for the sum of 400 'ecus soleil' for one year of his salary as superintendent of buildings at the Chateau de Fontainebleau. Some very light, minor age wear and a few creases, otherwise VG  

FREDERICK PRINCE: (1763-1827) Duke of York and Albany, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces 1795-1809. Small series of three Ds.S., Frederick F.M., four pages (total), folio, n.p., 1794-99. In each of the manuscript documents the Prince approves leave of absence of between two and three months for various officers including Captain Thomas Burrowes of the 38th Regiment ('for the recovery of his health'), Ensign Craig of the 4th West India Regiment, Captain Pierson of the 6th West India Regiment (also for the recovery of their health), Lieutenant Donahoe of the 87th Regiment ('on his private affairs') etc. Each with blank integral leaves. Some dust staining and various small tears to the edges of folds etc. G, 3

HENRY III: (1551-1589) King of France 1574-89. D.S., Accorde, Henry, one page, slim oblong 4to, Paris, 3rd February 1588 (?), in Middle French. The manuscript document is addressed to the King and seeks his approval to 'don aux srs de Mondreville et de lamothe de la somme de Treize cens escus sol A departir entre eulx par moictie qui est pour chacun six cens Cinquante escus' (Translation: 'donate to the Sieurs de Mondreville and de La Mothe the sum of thirteen hundred ecus sol, to be apportioned between them in half, which is for each six hundred and fifty ecus') further explaining that the revenue will be taken from the funds created by the sales of fresh and salted sea fish in the town of Abbeville and other places. Signed by the King at the foot, approving the document. Some light overall foxing and a few minor ink blots, only very slightly affecting the text and signature, and with some light, minor creasing and age wear to the edges, about VG 

[COGNAC]: An important autograph manuscript by Henri Guilbault entitled Memoire sur un nouvel appareil de distillation continue au moyen de la vapeur ('Memoir on a new apparatus for continuous distillation by means of steam'), eighty-eight pages, folio, n.p., n.d. (early 1850s), in French. The neatly penned manuscript, containing various corrections and additions, as well as numerous variations (in particular significant unpublished sections) to the final published version, concerns the distillation of eaux-de-vie, and particularly cognac, from Saintonge, the region of France famous for its grapes. In Chapter III of the manuscript, comprising almost half of the original unpublished text, is entitled Observation sur le but general que j'ai du me proposer en ce qui concerne les produits de la Saintonge (Translation: 'Observation on the general goal that I had to set myself with regard to the products of Saintonge') and was edited to Observation sur le but general que je me suis propose (Translation: 'Observation on the general goal that I have proposed') in the printed version, Guilbault specifies the object of the research he is undertaking on distillation stating, in part, [unpublished] 'S'il est vrai que le commerce et la consommation en general regrettent generalement l'abandon que l'on a fait pendant quelque temps de l'ancien appareil de distillation, a cause de la qualite des produits qu'il donnait, il a fallu tendre dans un nouvel appareil, a produire le meme effet que l'ancien, a la condition cependant qu'il pourrait toujours etre employe dans tous les pays a distillation, quelque soit d'ailleurs la nature et l'origine des produits alcoolique…….[published] Les eaux-de-vie de Saintonge, si justement renommees, auxquelles on a donne a tort le nom d'eau-de-vie de Cognac, sont tellement superieures en qualite, a cause de leur gout et de leur arome special, que personne ne pense a convertir les vin blancs du pays en ce qu'on appelle des trois-six ou alcools d'un degre tres eleves.......Le but que j'ai du me proposer, pour le moment du moins, n'a pas pu etre de faire un appareil a produire des trois-six, mais bien de trouver le moyen de faire de bonnes eaux-de-vie, plus rapidement et a meilleur marche, quant a la fabrication, qu'aucun systeme employe dans ce pays et partout ailleurs. Ce n'est pas cependant qu'avec mon appareil, on ne puisse tres facilement faire des trois-six, si on le desire, puisqu'en rectifiant plusieurs fois un produit, on doit parvenir a en separer les parties aqueuses de celles alcooliques au moyen de la distillation, en continuant a employer la vapeur qui fait la base fondamentale de mon systeme' (Translation: [unpublished] 'If it is true that trade and consumption in general generally regret the abandonment that was made for some time of the old distillation apparatus, because of the quality of the products it gave, it was necessary to strain in a new device, to produce the same effect as the old one, on the condition however that it could always be used in all countries with distillation, whatever the nature and origin of the alcoholic products'…..[published] 'The Saintonge eaux-de-vie, so justly renamed, to which the name of Cognac brandy has been wrongly given, are so superior in quality, because of their special taste and aroma, that no one does not think of converting the white wines of the country into what are called three-sixes or alcohols of a very high degree……..The goal I must have set myself, for the moment at least, could not have been to make a device to produce three-sixes, but rather to find the means of making good spirits, much quicker and cheaper, as regards the manufacture, than any system employed in this country and everywhere else. It is not, however, that with my apparatus, one cannot very easily make three-sixes, if one wishes, since by rectifying a product several times, one must succeed in separating the aqueous parts from the alcoholic parts at the means of distillation, continuing to use the system which is the fundamental basis of my system'). The manuscript is bound together with Guilbault's own final printed copy of his work published by La Librairie Bourbaud, Saintes, in 1854, and includes patent diagrams of the distillation apparatus as well as numerous pencil annotations in his hand to the margins. Also included within the volume is the autograph manuscript of Guilbault's memoir entitled De l'education, des Moeurs, des Institutions politiques chez les anciens & de leurs resultats (Translation: 'On Education, Customs, Political Institutions among the Ancients & their results'), comprising over one hundred folio pages, with extensive corrections, and several other printed works authored by Guilbault. All are contained within their original paper wrappers and the ensemble neatly bound within a folio volume with a gilt stamped title to the spine and bearing the ex-libris of Martineau of Saintonge. Some light age wear, generally VGIt would appear that the process for distilling Saintonge's cognac eaux-de-vie, developed by Guilbault, the main purpose of which was to avoid direct contact between the fire and the boiler, contact which produces irregularities of taste in the alcohol, was not adopted as in 1870 coal was still used for the direct heating of boilers in the region of Saintonge.  

SOUBLETTE CARLOS: (1789-1870) President of Venezuela 1837-39, 1843-47, a hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence. D.S., Carlos Soublette, one page, large oblong folio, Caracas, 24th June 1844, in Spanish. The manuscript document recognises the desire to promote trade between the Republic of Venezuela and the domains of His Majesty the King of Belgium through consular establishments, 'and not doubting the good disposition of His Majesty King Leopold I to cultivate with Venezuela the friendship and good relations that the interests of both countries demand', thereby announcing the appointment of Jose A. Hauman to be the Consul General for Venezuela in Brussels, and asking the corresponding authorities to recognise and approve the appointment. Countersigned at the foot by Juan Manuel Manrique (1798-1856) Venezuelan politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs 1844-47. With blind embossed seal. Some light age wear and a few minor splits at the edges of folds, about VG

MÉLIÈS GEORGES: (1861-1938) French Film Director, a pioneer of cinema and innovator in the use of special effects. Rare D.S., G. Melies, two pages, 4to, 16 Passage de l´Opéra, Paris, 9th October 1912, being a receipt issued on Melies' attractive printed stationery "Manufacture de Films pour Cinématographes - G. Melies". The manuscript receipt, in French, is for the sum of 390 Francs, being the payment of royalties due from the sales, in New York, of some of Melies' films. To the second typed page, the document states "On New York sales - Forgive Us Our Trespasses…" Bearing to the front page a payment red ink stamp cancelling the debt with tax cancellation stamp. Three file holes to the left edge of the document, not affecting the text or signature. VG

GEORGE V: (1865-1936) King of the United Kingdom 1910-36. A good D.S., George R. I., as King, at the head, one page, large oblong folio, Court at Saint James, 1st July 1926. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, states that it has been thought 'necessary for the encouragement of Our Subjects trading to the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes to appoint a Consul for the Departments of Sarajevska, Mostarska, Iravnicka, Urbaska, Inglanska, Bihacka and Uzicka, to reside at Sarajevo, to take care of the affairs of Our said Subjects and to aid and assist them in all their lawful and mercantile concerns', thereby appointing Charles Alexis Grieg to be His Majesty's Consul at Sarajevo. Countersigned at the foot by Austen Chamberlain (1863-1937) British statesman who served as Foreign Secretary 1924-29, Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1925. With blind embossed seal. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Charles Alexis Greig (1880-1958) British diplomat who served in the Balkans and Middle East.

SCHLEIERMACHER FRIEDRICH: (1768-1834) German Reformed theologian, philosopher and biblical scholar known for his attempt to reconcile the criticisms of the Enlightenment with traditional Protestant Christianity. D.S., Schleiermacher, one page, folio, Berlin, 15th January 1818, in German. The manuscript document is a certificate of diligence for the student of theology Friedrich Schirmer of Berlin and confirms that he attended various lectures 'of Prof. Dr. Neander about the second part of the church history, of Prof. Dr. de Wette about the Gospel of John and the Hebrew antiquities, of Mr. Wolf about Christian grammar, and of Mr. Lucke about the historical critic of the New Testament', and having done so with diligence is granted a scholarship. With a blind embossed paper seal affixed. A single light red line runs vertically through the text, not affecting the signature. A few very small, minor holes to the left edge, VG 

HENRY IV: (1553-1610) King of France 1589-1610. A fine L.S., Henry, one page, folio, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 14th August 1603, to Cardinal Visconti ('Mon Cousin'), in Middle French. The King announces the baptism of his eldest son, the future Louis XIII, and states that his letter will be delivered by Cardinal de Joyeuse who 'rendra aussi tesmoignage de laffeon que Je Vous porte et du desir  que Jay de vous voir continuer en la bonne volonté que vous me portez' (Translation: 'will also testify to the affection I have for you and the desire I have to see you continue in the good will you have for me') and further adding 'Il vous dira lesperance que Jay de fe baptiser lannee prochaine mon filz et de vous voir aussy par mesme moyen dont Je me resiouis' (Translation: 'He will tell you of the hope I have of having my son baptised next year and of seeing you also by the same means, which I rejoice over'). Countersigned at the foot by Deneuthille (?) and with a manuscript address panel and contemporary docket to the verso. One light, minor stain, just affecting a few words of text, and with some light age wear to the edges, otherwise VG Alfonso Visconti (1552-1608) Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and diplomat, Bishop of Spoleto 1601-08. Louis XIII (1601-1643) King of France 1610-43. The eldest son of King Henry IV and his second wife Marie de' Medici, Louis XIII became King of France shortly before his ninth birthday, following the assassination of his father. The Fils de France was baptised on 14th September 1606.   

PALLOY PIERRE-FRANCOIS: (1755-1835) French entrepreneurial building contractor, remembered for the demolition of the Bastille following the storming of the political prison on 14th July 1789. Manuscript D.S., Palloy, one page, slim oblong 8vo, Paris, 16th August 1797, in French. The financial document, issued by Palloy in his capacity as an architect, is a promissory note to pay citizen Roblots the sum of 400 livres. With two circular revenue stamps and a contemporary annotation in another hand at the base. Some light overall foxing and very minor age wear, about VG

CAPELL ARTHUR: (1631-1683) 1st Earl of Essex. English statesman who served as Chief Minister of Great Britain, First Lord of the Treasury 1679-84. Essex died as a prisoner awaiting execution for treason in the Tower of London, controversially discovered in his chamber with his throat cut, having been convicted of participation in the Rye House Plot against King Charles II and his brother, James, Duke of York. A scarce D.S., Essex, one page, folio, n.p., 1st July 1669. The manuscript document acknowledges a payment of 'the full summe of Twelve hundred and fifty pounds of lawfull money of England' from John Morris and Peter Clayton of London for the purchase of some land. Boldly signed by the Earl of Essex at the foot alongside a small blind embossed paper seal and countersigned by Francis Vaughan, John Morris and Peter Clayton (brother of Robert). Attractively matted in light beige with black borders alongside a colour reproduction image of the Earl of Essex and framed and glazed in a modern frame to an overall size of 20 x 17. VGSir Robert Clayton (1629-1707) British merchant banker and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London 1679-80. In partnership with John Morris, Clayton established the bank Clayton & Morris Co. and the two became successful businessmen.  

MARIA THERESA: (1717-1780) Holy Roman Empress 1745-80 and Queen of Bohemia 1743-80, the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands, and Parma. A fine, attractive D.S., Maria Theresa, six pages (vellum), folio, Vienna, 30th July 1758, in Latin. The untranslated manuscript document relates to Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico and is possibly associated with his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church. Tied with a coloured string to which is affixed the original red wax seal featuring the Greater coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, contained within the original metal case. Some light foxing and minor age wear, about VG Carlo Rezzonico (1724-1799) Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, nephew of Pope Clement XIII. Rezzonico served as Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church from 1758-63.

LADENBURG RUDOLF: (1882-1952) German atomic physicist. Manuscript D.S., R. Ladenburg, one page, 4to, Palmer Physical Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey, 4th July 1950. Ladenburg responds to a researcher's questionnaire, with their manuscript questions at the head of the page, '1. Were your scientific “debut” easy or difficult? 2. Did means of living…..enable you to make yourself known in science? Or did you live solely through your work of laboratory? 3. What work (or what discovery) made yourself more famous? Which do you consider as your masterpiece?'. Ladenburg provides his brief answers alongside each question, replying 'Easy', 'No', 'not solely' and 'The Quantum-Theoretical interpretation of dispersion'. Signed at the foot, adding the place and date in his hand beneath his signature. Some very light, minor creasing to the upper edge, VG

GEORGE IV: (1762-1830) King of the United Kingdom 1820-30. D.S., George R, as King of Hanover, at the foot, one page, folio, Carlton House, 2nd July 1822, in German. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is untranslated although appears to be a military commission relating to Second Lieutenant Carl Friedrich Stutzer. Countersigned by Ernst zu Munster (1766-1839) German statesman and politician who served as Head of the German Chancery in London from 1805-31. With a blind embossed paper seal affixed and blank integral leaf. Some light age wear to the edges, otherwise VG

TURGENEV IVAN: (1818-1883) Russian novelist. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., in Cyrillic. The manuscript, penned in a bold hand, is entitled Names of the characters of The Island, beneath which Turgenev has listed seven names, each with a brief description alongside, comprising Geleziy ('old philosopher'), Varnak ('protagonist'), Maeli ('young girl'), Irna ('her friend'), Arkas ('exiled old man'), Simar ('chief') and Angami ('the rich chief's daughter'). A further five names have been crossed through by Turgenev. The characters listed by Turgenev do not appear to have featured in any of his works. Some light staining and minor age wear and two small areas to the upper left corner and lower right corners professionally restored to a high standard. About VG

SEABORG GLENN T.: (1912-1999) American chemist. Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1951. Autograph statement signed, Glenn T. Seaborg, one page, 4to, Berkeley, California, 25th April 1952. Seaborg's statement is made in response to a researcher's question, entitled World Scientific Inquiry, their manuscript question at the head of the page stating, in part, 'In a brilliant article entitled “An Epoch in Science”, which appeared in the magazine “Science et Vie”, Jules Romains writes: The exploration of the physical universe has no assignable limits; but it seems likely, however, that discoveries of the first order of magnitude…..will be limited in number. The future will rather have to content itself with prodigious achievements of secondary importance…..Pure science has already unlocked the most important secrets of the universe…..Is Jules Romains right? What is your opinion, from a chemical point of view?'. Seaborg's statement appears beneath and states, in full, 'I do not agree with Mr. Romains. I believe that discoveries of the first magnitude in chemistry lie ahead of us', adding his signature, place and date below. A couple of light, minor stains to the right edge, close to, but not affecting the signature, and with some light age wear, otherwise VG 

NOBEL ALFRED: (1833-1896) Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman and philanthropist who bequeathed his fortune to establish the Nobel Prize. The scientist's most famous invention was that of dynamite, which was patented in 1867. An outstanding archive relating to the establishment of a dynamite factory in Italy, comprising - (i) A.L.S., A Nobel, three pages, 4to, Paris, 6th September 1872, to [Paul] Barbe, in French. Nobel provides his detailed requirements for establishing a factory to produce dynamite at Avigliana, near Turin, under the guidance of his agent Casimir Robaudi ('Voici le petit devis pour la Fabrique Italienne et le projet de contrat avec Robaudi') setting out his requirements in a detailed table, with their immediate and defrayable costs, including specifications for brick buildings, power of the traction engines, nitrite grinders, and other machinery, a building to house nitric acid, an ice room, various other wooden buildings for the production and washing of glycerine and dynamite, and for packing the dynamite, cartridge making, water heaters, and enclosures, and remarking that he envisages the quick production and sale of the dynamite, financed by three months' credit. Nobel then proceeds to define the terms of the contract under which the business should operate, giving the outlines for a five-year contract with Robaudi in nine numbered paragraphs, explaining that Robaudi will be named as agent for the Italian business and will be responsible for the costs of selling the dynamite sent to him, for which he can set a price above market rates, provided that the company can cancel the contract if Robaudi's consumption and marketing contravenes their policies, or if the company does not receive payment for the dynamite. Nobel advises Barbe to revise the contract as he sees fit before sending it to Carstens, the merchant in Hamburg. (ii) A fine, large original pen and ink plan of the proposed site of the dynamite factory in the Commune di Avigliana, prepared and signed by the surveyor Giuseppe Ferando, one page, large oblong folio, Turin, 27th July 1872, entitled Planimetria di parte della regione Valoja presso il trucco di San Martino, coloured in two shades of blue (one defining the waterways) and also featuring light pencil drawings of buildings to the left margin. (iii) A pencil sketch of several buildings at Avigliana entitled Croquis de fabrique de nitroglycerine a Avigliana, one page, oblong 4to, n.p., n.d., including the facilities labelled for 'Preparation, separation et lavage a l'eau'. (iv) A finely executed and detailed pen and ink plan of various constructions and buildings, one page, oblong folio, n.p., n.d., captioned in French, including cartoucheries, magasin, filtrage & dynamiterie, lavages, pompe pour l'appareil, glacier & magasin a glycerine, hanger a bomb acide nitrique. Maison de garde, chien de garde etc. (v) A scale drawing from a patent application on transparency paper (some tears and a few large areas of paper loss to the edges) bearing the official oval stamp of Jannot ('Constructeur - Mecanicien') and two other pen and ink and pencil sketches and drawings of machinery and apparatus. (vi) An autograph manuscript entitled Regolamento dei transporti delle Materie infiammabili ed esplodenti ('Regulations for the transportation of flammable and explosive materials') approved by the administrators Bolmira and Guglianetti, twelve pages, 4to, n.p. (Italy), 9th April 1872, commencing 'Flammable materials, such as phosphorus, phosphor matches, gun powder, turpentine, alcohol, and derivatives, objects for fireworks and any other material…..that easily starts or transmits fire, are excluded from transport if the sender has not subjected himself to the cautionary measures established by the administration' and continuing to outline the regulations concerning packaging, supervision, means of transport and other precautions which it is necessary to adhere to. (vii) Small collection of ten manuscript technical and legal documents, in Italian and French, over twenty pages in total, largely 4to, various places, 1870s, some regarding Nobel's patent and one on the printed stationery of the Dinamite Nobel factory at Avigliana. (viii) Autograph manuscript of the Atto di Costituzione della Societa per la Fabbricazione della Dinamite and Statuto della Scoieta Anonima per la Fabbricazione della Dinamite, in all over sixty pages, folio, Turin, 5th June 1873, in Italian, identifying the main shareholders, and accompanied by an eleven-page summary including a manuscript list of the shares allocated to each shareholder. A comprehensive archive relating to the Swedish chemist's important invention of dynamite and featuring an extremely rare autograph letter signed by Nobel himself, particularly desirable owing to its content. Some light overall age wear and minor faults and Nobel's letter with some light, minor staining and a few small tears to the edges. Generally G to about VG, Sml Qty. At the end of December 1871, Alfred Nobel obtained a six-year patent for the exploitation of dynamite from the Italian government, to be financed by both French and German investors. In April 1872, Nobel reached an agreement with five Parisian financiers (and engineers) to found a public limited company. Among the shareholders mentioned in the present archive were Paul Barbe, Amedeo Hoffer (director of the factory), Casimir Robaudi (agent for the Nobel company in Hamburg), Antonio Campagna (formerly mayor of Avigliana), the Hamburg merchants Carl Ferdinand Carstens and Edouard Bandmann, and the Parisian banker Gunzbourg. They acquired land near Avigliana, some thirty kilometres west of Turin, and set up a factory through a commissionaire, Robaudi, obtaining a patent for the manufacture of dynamite. The company established by Nobel continued production until being destroyed during the World War II.  

CONTI BILL: (1942-     ) American composer and conductor of film scores, Academy Award winner. Small series of A.M.Qs.S., Bill Conti, one page (manuscript paper), oblong 12mo, n.p., n.d. Conti has penned several bars of music which he identifies as being the opening measures from three of his most famous compositions, the theme tunes to Rocky (1976), Dynasty (1981-89) and The Right Stuff (1983), the latter of which earned him an Oscar for Best Original Score. Signed immediately beneath the quotations. VG  

DUSE ELEONORA: (1858-1924) Italian stage actress. D.S., E Duse, two pages, slim 4to, n.p. (Marseille?), n.d. (c. December 1903), in French. The manuscript document is a contract between Duse and Monsieur Simon of the Theatre des Varietes in Marseille in which the actress agrees to appear in two Italian performances with her company, on Tuesday 5th January and Thursday 7th January 1904, outlining that Duse will receive 70% of the revenue generated by ticket receipts and that Simon will receive 30% from which he shall pay various expenses, including the cost of stagehands, an orchestra featuring a string quartet and one or two pianos if necessary, advertising posters (from two weeks before the performances) etc., but not to include the cost of travel and hotel accommodation for Duse and her company, and also stipulating that the same seats within the theatre (including balcony seats) that were reserved for her previous performance on 28th March 1898 will again be reserved for Duse's guests. With two circular French revenue stamps (one blind embossed) in the left margin. VG

MONTAGU JOHN: (1718-1792) 4th Earl of Sandwich. British statesman who served as First Lord of the Admiralty 1748-51, 1763, 1771-82 during which time he was a great supporter of Captain James Cook, who named the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) after the Earl. Sandwich is also known for the claim that he was the eponymous inventor of the sandwich. D.S., Sandwich, one page (vellum), folio, Office of Admiralty, 13th March 1772. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is a naval commission appointing Alexander Maxton to be a First Lieutenant of HMS Carysfort and requiring him to strictly charge and command 'all the Officers & Company….subordinate to you to behave themselves jointly and severally in their respective employments with all due Respect and Obedience unto you their said Lieutenant…..nor you nor any of you may fail as you will answer the Contrary at your Peril'. Signed by the Earl of Sandwich at the foot and countersigned by three other Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty comprising John Buller (1721-1786) British politician, Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount Palmerston (1739-1802) British politician, and Wilmot Vaughan, 1st Earl of Lisburne (1728-1800) Welsh politician. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. Some light foxing and age wear and a tear to the left edge, not affecting the text or signatures. GHMS Carysfort was a sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. In April 1772, the month after the present commission was issued, she sailed to Jamaica. 

TALLEYRAND-PERIGORD CHARLES MAURICE DE: (1754-1838) Prince of Talleyrand. French clergyman, politician and diplomat, Prime Minister of France, 1815. D.S., Ch. Mau. Talleyrand, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, one page, folio, Paris, 17th May 1798, in French. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, states that in virtue of a law passed on 12th December 1797 a fund of 3,501,688 francs has been made available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its expenses, and by virtue of a decade-long decision made by the executive board the sum of 300,000 francs has been placed at Talleyrand's disposal for the year 1798, further instructing the commissioners of the National Treasury to make a payment of 50,000 francs for the extraordinary expenses of the ambassador and his establishment in Berlin. Talleyrand approves the payment and declares that the transaction, duly receipted, will be allocated in the accounts of the National Treasury. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG 

FERDINAND I OF NAPLES: (1424-1494) King of Naples 1458-94, one of the most influential and feared monarchs in Europe at the time and an important figure of the Italian Renaissance. A good D.S., Rex Ferd, one page (vellum), large folio, [Italy], 23rd August 1484, in Latin. The attractively penned manuscript document, in an elegant humanistic script and with display capital commencing 'Ferdinandus dei gratia rex Sicilie Hierusalem etc', is untranslated although is believed to concern a disputed marriage settlement. Some light staining and minor age wear and with a few small holes (four appearing where the original seal would have been affixed). VG 

CHAMFORT NICOLAS: (1741-1794) French Writer. Chamfort is best known for his epigrams and aphorisms. He served as secretary to Louis XVI´s sister and of the Jacobin club. Rare autograph statement, two pages, small 12mo, in French. The autograph manuscript being a spiritual moral anecdote, states `Mylord Halifax jouait et tenait la banque, a un prix énorme. On propose un pari de deux millions. Il ne veut pas tenir. Un des assertants lui dit Mylord tenu je suis de moitié. Mylord joue et perd. Il se tourne vers son associé qui lui dit Mylord je suis un miserable et se tournant du coté de l´assemblée, vous conviendrez, Messieurs, que si Mylord eut gagné, ma fortune était faite. Il est juste que je sois puni et n´étant qu´un polisson je presente mon derriere… ce qu´il y eut de plaisant c´est que personne ne lui dit un mot…´ (Translation: `Mylord Halifax gambled and held the bank, at a huge cost. We offer a bet of two million. He doesn't want to hold it. One of the assertors told him My lord I hold half of it. Mylord plays and loses. He turns to his partner who tells him Mylord I am a wretch and facing the assembly, you will agree Gentlemen, that if Mylord had won, my fortune was made. It is right that I am punished and being only a scamp I present my ass... what was pleasant is that no one said a word to him…´) Uneven left and bottom edge, otherwise G In September 1793, Chamfort found himself unable to tolerate the prospect of being imprisoned once more, and ecided to lock himself into his office and shot himself in the face. The pistol malfunctioned and he did not die even though he shot off his nose and his right eye. He then repeatedly stabbed his neck with a razor, but failed to cut an artery. He finally used the razor to stab himself in the chest and to cut his own hocks. He dictated to those who came to arrest him the well-known declaration “Moi, Sebastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort, déclare avoir voulu mourir en homme libre plutot que d'étre reconduit en esclave dans une maison d'arrét” (Translation "I, Sebastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort, hereby declare my wish to die as a free man rather than to be brought (again) as a slave in a prison") His butler found him unconscious in a pool of blood. From then until his death in Paris the following year, he suffered intensely.

JOHN PAUL II: (1920-2005) Pope of the Catholic Church 1978-2005, later canonised as Pope Saint John Paul II in 2014. D.S., + Karol Card. Wojtyla, as Cardinal and Archbishop of Krakow, one page, folio, Lublin, 19th September 1976, in Polish. The attractive partially printed purple, blue and gold coloured document, completed in manuscript, is a diploma of participation awarded to Henryka Pajaka for their participation in the final of the Sacrosong music festival. Signed by the future Pope in his capacity as President and Chairman of the festival and also countersigned by three other members of the jury including Father Jan Palusinski (1934-2013) organiser of the inaugural festival in 1969. Some light age wear and with a horizontal fold to the centre, otherwise VG

BETHUNE MAXIMILIEN DE: (1560-1641) 1st Duke of Sully, Marquis of Rosny and Nogent. French nobleman, soldier, statesman and trusted counsellor of King Henry IV of France who served as Chief Minister of France 1589-1611. D.S., Maximilian De Bethune, four pages, 4to, Paris, 28th November 1594, in Middle French. The manuscript document, un-transcribed, apparently refers to certain rents and is also countersigned by Rachel de Cochefilet (1566-1659) the second wife of De Bethune whom he married in 1592, and Anne Hennequin, wife of Jehan de Reffuge. An amendment to the document in the margin of the third page is signed by De Bethune in his capacity as Marquis of Rosny. Some very light, minor age wear, VG 

Dolomieu’s manuscript notes on the essence of geological research –‘Errors experienced prevent the mind from dealing with new research: we think we know and this is the greatest obstacle to really knowing’  DOLOMIEU DEODAT GRATET DE: (1750-1801) French geologist after whom the mineral and the rock dolomite were named. A supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolution, Dolomieu was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Italy from 1799. Following Napoleon's successful invasion of Italy, one of the terms dictated by him in the peace treaty of Florence in March 1801 was the immediate release of Dolomieu. An extremely rare autograph manuscript signed, with his initials G D D, two pages, 12mo (6.5 x 9.5 cm), n.p., n.d., in French. Dolomieu's manuscript notes, comprising thirty-seven lines written in a small, although perfectly legible, hand is entitled 'Les Erreurs reconnues sont des verites acquises' (Translation: 'The errors recognised are the truths acquired') and states, in part, 'et leur decouverte est d'autant plus utile qu'elles ont été de nature à séduire beaucoup de gens. Les erreurs vécues empechent l'esprit de s'occuper de nouvelles recherches: on croit savoir et c'est le plus grand obstacle a savoir reellement…….La verite recherchee par les hommes est comme le feu qu'ils produisent avec des matieres combustibles; plus elle s'etend, plus elle a de tendance a s'etendre de nouveau. On fait un pas vers la decouverte de la cause d'un phenomene quelconque lorsque l'on trouve que les causes auxquelles on l´attribuait n'ont aucun rapport avec lui. Comme il n'y a point d'effets sans causes, lorsqu'on decouvre un plus grand nombre de faits qui, quoique contemporain d'un phenomene, n'ont point de rapports avec lui, on se rapproche de la connaissance de la cause qui pourra l'expliquer. Cette methode d'approche de la verite, qu'on peut dire negative et d'exclusion peut reussir finalement quoiqu'elle puisse etre longue. Mais elle est essentielle a employer surtout dans les recherches geologiques' (Translation: 'and their discovery is all the more useful in that they have been of a nature to seduce many people. Errors experienced prevent the mind from dealing with new research: we think we know and this is the greatest obstacle to really knowing…….The truth sought by men is like the fire they produce with combustible materials; the more it expands, the more it tends to expand again. One takes a step toward discovering the cause of any phenomenon when one finds that the causes to which it was attributed have no connection with it. As there are no effects without causes, when we discover a greater number of facts which, although contemporaneous with a phenomenon, have no connection with it, we come closer to knowing the cause that can explain it. This method of approaching the truth, which can be said to be negative and of exclusion, can ultimately succeed, although it may take a long time. But it is essential to use especially in geological research'). An interesting and important text. Some very light, minor foxing and age wear, otherwise VGThe text of Dolomieu’s manuscript originates from a scientific work published in 1778-79 by Jean-Andre Deluc (1727-1817) Swiss geologist, natural philosopher and meteorologist who devised measuring instruments. Deluc’s father was a supporter of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Jean-Andre also wrote of conversations he had experienced with Voltaire and Rousseau in an essay on the General Principle of Mortality which he had published in 1798.   

ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French Writer and Philosopher. An interesting autograph manuscript, two pages, 4to, n.p., [Paris], n.d. (c.1745), in French. The page of manuscript, in Rousseau's hand, is from his unpublished work relating to the history of women and laws which he prepared between 1745-51 for his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin. Rousseau writes his text in the right column of the page, the left reserved for additional notes. Rousseau refers to the causes of repudiation of a husband, which he annotates is taken from `Novel. Constit. 108 Art.385´, and lists six causes and a final conclusion, stating in part `1º- S´il a conspire contre l´Empereur, ou que sachant que d´autres le faisaient, il n´en ai pas averti l´Empereur. 2º- S´il a attenté a la vie de sa femme de quelque maniere que ce soit, ou que sachant que d´autres le faisaient, il ne l´en ait pas avertie et ne l´ait pas vengée selon les lois. 3º- S´il a Tendu des embuches a la chasteté de sa femme ou qu´il en ai induit d´autres en adultere…´ (Translation: `1º- If he conspired against the Emperor, or knowing that others were doing so, he did not inform the Emperor. 2º- If he attempted the life of his wife in any way whatsoever, or knowing that others were doing so, he did not warn her and did not avenge her according to the laws. 3º- If he set pitfalls to the chastity of his wife or that he induced others in adultery…´) After listing the sis causes, Rousseau concludes `Dans tous ces cas la femme peut dissoudre les noces, prendre sa dote, le don propter nuptias, et meme le tiers du bien de son mari don't elle a la propriété s´il n´y a point d´enfants…´ (Translation: `In all these cases the wife can dissolve the marriage, take her dowry, the propter nuptias, and even the third of her husband's property which she owns if there are no children...´) Overall very small age tone with right and bottom edges slightly trimmed. G At the time Rousseau wrote these pages, between 1745 and 1751, he was working as secretary to his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin. 

GAUSS CARL FRIEDRICH: (1777-1855) German mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to many fields in mathematics and science. A.N.S., Gauss, one page, folio, n.p., (Gottingen), n.d. (August 1829), in German. Gauss's four-line note appears at the foot of a manuscript letter signed by an unidentified individual, dated at Gottingen, 18th August 1829, submitting a patent prepared by the student Menze for review. Gauss observes 'I remark that to my knowledge there is no Schlusselburg in the Hannoverian [territories]. Schlusselburg at the [river] Weser is Prussian'. A further, shorter note signed by an unidentified individual appears beneath and states that Schlusselburg is located in Westphalia. With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG  

TALMA JULIE: (1756-1805) French dancer and courtesan. Manuscript D.S., Julie Talma, one page, small oblong 8vo, Paris, 22nd December 1800, in French. The document is a receipt in which Talma acknowledges having been paid 'la somme de trois cents livres' (Translation: 'the sum of three hundred pounds') from citizen Gerdry. With two contemporary ink annotations in an unidentified hand. Together with Francois-Joseph Talma (1763-1826) French actor, husband of Julie Talma from 1791-1801. Manuscript D.S., Franc. Talma, one page, 4to, Paris, 29th March 1801, in French. Talma acknowledges a debt, stating 'Je reconnois devoir citoyen Picot la somme de onze cents livres qu'il m'a fourni pour marchandises qu'il m'a fournies jus qu'a ce jour' (Translation: 'I recognise that I owe citizen Picot the sum of eleven hundred pounds that he has provided me for goods that he has provided me up to this day'). With an official hexagonal stamp to the upper left corner. Some light age wear, about VG, 2 

The Duke of Montmorency authorises a payment to an archer ‘ ill from two stab wounds that he had in his body’ sustained at the Battle of Dreux  MONTMORENCY ANNE DE: (1493-1567) Duke of Montmorency. French soldier, statesman and diplomat who became a Marshal of France and Constable of France, serving five kings. A good D.S., Montmor[en]cy, one page (vellum), slim oblong folio, Moulins, 28th January 1566, in Middle French. The manuscript document is issued by the Duke of Montmorency in his capacity as a peer and Constable of France, adviser to the King and Ordinary Treasurer of his Wars and orders 'en vertu de nre pouvoir……Vous paiez baillez et delivrez comptant a Jehan distidon archer de la cpaignie de monsr de cursol son estat et solde de quartier de Janvier fevrier et mars mil Vc Lxii Nonobstant ql ayt este mis absent a la monstre dernierement faicte dont attendu quil nous a este bien et deuement certiffié que lors q. lad. Monstre a estee faicte por lesd. quartiers ql estoit mallade de deux coups de coustellas quil a eu en son corps estant por le service du roy a la bataille de dreux Et quil nen a este pourveu aulcun en sa place, Nous lavons Relleve et Rellevons par ces pntes Rapportant lesquelles controllees et veriffiees par le controlr gnal des guerres avec quictance dudict distidon sur ce suffisante La somme q. por cest effect luy aura estee paye sera passee et allouee en la despence de vos comptes et rabatue de vre recepte par messrs les gens des comptes du roy….' (Translation: 'by virtue of our power……you pay, bail and deliver cash to Jehan Distidon, archer of the company of Monsieur de Cursol, his state and quarter pay for January, February and March 1562, notwithstanding that he was absent from the watch recently made, of which expected that it has been well and duly certified to us that when the said watch was made for the said quarters that he was ill from two stab wounds that he had in his body being in the service of the King at the battle of Dreux, and that none have been provided in his place. We have noted it and hereby note, reporting which controlled and verified by the general controller of wars with receipt of the said Distidon on this sufficient the sum which for this purpose will have been paid to him will be passed and allocated in the expense of your accounts and reduced from your receipt by the gentlemen of the King's accounts'). Countersigned by Martin (?) and with the remnants of the blind embossed paper seal loosely in place. With a contemporary docket to the verso signed by Leconte, secretary and comptroller general, confirming that the payment has been registered, Moulins, 8th February 1566. Some light overall age wear and a few stains and creases, G The Battle of Dreux took place on 19th December 1562 and was fought between the Catholics, led by Anne de Montmorency, and the Huguenots, led by Louis I, Prince of Conde, and constituted the first major engagement in the French Wars of Religion. During the battle Montmorency had his horse shot from under him and he was taken prisoner, and one of the Duke's sons also met his death. However, Montmorency's soldiers eventually won the battle, one of the bloodiest of the 16th century 

KVAPIL CHARLES: (1884-1957) Belgian painter of the Ecole de Paris who exhibited at the Salon des Independants in 1920. Manuscript D.S., Kvapil, one page, 4to, n.p., 14th December 1943, in French. Kvapil responds to a researcher's questionnaire, with their questions at the head of the page, '1. Vos debuts artistiques furent-ils heureux ou difficiles? 2. Des moyens d'existence (un second metier ou une fortune personnelle) vous permirent ils de vous faire un nom dans la peinture, ou ne vecutes-vous que de votre art? 3. Quel tableau vous fit-il le plus connaitre? Le quel considerez vous comme votre chef d'oeuvre?' (Translation: '1. Were your artistic beginnings happy or difficult? 2. Did a means of existence (a second job or personal fortune) allow you to make a name for yourself in painting, or do you only live from your art? 3. Which painting made you most well-known? Which do you consider your masterpiece?') Kvapil provides his answers beneath, in full, 'Debuts tres difficile! Portraits peints et dessines. Restervation des Tableaux anciens. Succes aux Independants avec un portrait. Pas de chef d'oeuvre pour le moment' (Translation: 'Very difficult beginnings! Painted and drawn portraits. Restoration of old paintings. Success at the Independants with a portrait. No masterpiece at the moment'. A few light creases and one small tear to the right edge, otherwise VG

NADASDY TAMAS: (1498-1562) Hungarian nobleman and statesman, an influential (and secret) counsellor to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I. D.S., Tho: Nadasdy, Manu ppa, one page, oblong folio, Sarvar, 21st November 1560, in Latin. The manuscript document is untranslated although appears to relate to an individual named Ambrosius von Gregorianec. Signed by Nadasdy at the foot and also bearing a countersignature. Lacking the original seal and with a light circular stain from where it would have originally been affixed. Some very light age wear and a few small, minor tears at the edges, about VG

LEOPOLD I: (1790-1865) King of the Belgians 1831-65. D.S., Leopold R, one page, folio, Palace of Laeken, 6th September 1844, in French. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, acknowledges the appointment of Jose A. Hauman as the Consul of the Republic of Venezuela at Brussels and grants him 'tous les privileges, franchises, preeminences attaches a son emploi' (Translation: 'all the privileges, rights, pre-eminences attached to his employment'), further stating 'Enjoignons a toutes les autorites administratives et judiciaires de le reconnaitre en qualite de Consul de Venezuela a Bruxelles afin qu'il puisse exercer librement les fonctions qui lui sont confiees, a la charge neanmoins, s'il fait quelque commerce, de rester expose aux poursuites eventuelles sans avoir le droit d'opposer aucune exception du chef de sa qualite de Consul' (Translation: 'We require all the administrative and judicial authorities to recognise him as Consul of Venezuela in Brussels so that he can freely exercise the functions entrusted to him, subject nevertheless, if he conducts some business, to remain exposed to prosecution without having the right to oppose any exception on the grounds of his capacity as Consul'). Signed by the King at the foot and countersigned by Albert Joseph, Count Goblet d'Alviella (1790-1873) Belgian politician who served as Prime Minister of Belgium 1832-34. With blind embossed paper seal affixed (some light staining) and blank integral leaf. Some light age wear and a few very minor, small tears to the upper edge, otherwise VG