We found 116692 price guide item(s) matching your search

JUNOT JEAN ANDOCHE: (1771-1813) Duke of Abrantes. French Hussard General who leaded troops in the Smolensk and Borodino battles. Mentally instable in his last years; Louis Dulong de Rosnay (1780-1828) French General and Jean François Dejean (1749-1824) French general and Minister of war. A very interesting multiple signed document, one page, folio, Paris, 10th August 1807, to the Minister of war. The document includes a nine lines A.N.S., `Junot´ by Junot in his capacity as Governor of Paris and Chief of the Gironde Observation army supporting General Dulong´s request. Also bearing two four lines A.Ns.S., `Dulong´ and `Dejean´, the last requesting his move to Junot´s regiment. Small area of paper loss to the left border, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise G £100-150

DUMOURIEZ CHARLES FRANÇOIS: (1739-1823) Charles François du Périer Dumouriez. French General, victorious at Valmy, who would later desert the Revolutionary army and join the Royalists. Dumouriez was accused of treason and went into exile. An excellent A.L.S., `Gen. Dumouriez´, one page, 8vo, n.p., [London], 4th April 1811, to Monsieur Peele, vice-secretary of State, war department, in French. A carefully written letter by Dumouriez, during his exile in England, where he died, addressed to future British Prime Minister Robert Peel. Dumouriez explains that he has tried to meet him, got an appointment and waited for long without success, and states in part `..I send to you my quittance and I wait for your response at the Parlour; if you find time to meet me I´ll be glad, if not send me as response your order to be paid my 150..´ With blank address leaf. With remnants of a former seal. VG £200-300 Robert Peel (1788- 1850) British Prime Minister 1834- 35 & 1841- 46.

BAILLY DE MONTHION FRANÇOIS: (1776-1850) French General of first Empire. A good A.L., two pages, 4to, Königsburg, 5th April 1813, in French. The letter being a report to Marshal Berthier, stating `Today, towards three in the afternoon, the enemy attacked our positions in Gommery, Möchern and Zedenick with several infantry battalionsand fifteen to twenty cavalry regiments. Our troops gave good response..´ further saying `Prince Eugene has given the order to retreat to the army, with the exception of the 11th corps which will defend the area and which will march with His Higness at the head.´ further again saying `General Grenier has received a bullet in his cheek, and we have been obliged to leave a cannon which was destroyed and with the horses killed..´ Bailly de Monthion also refers to the Duke of Bellune (Marshal Victor), and the Prince of Eckmühl (Marshal Davout) and comments the news received regarding General Morand´s capitulation. General Morand died the day the present letter was written. VG £100-150

BLUCHER GEBHARD VON: (1742-1819) Prince von Wahlstatt. Prussian field Marshal. Von Blucher leaded the Prussian army against Napoleon At the battles of Leipzig and Waterloo playing a decisive role in the allied victory. He is the highest-decrated Prussian soldier in history. Rare L.S., `G. Blucher´, one page, 4to, Berlin, 19th October 1814, in German. Blucher states in part `I have seen throughout the Prussian provinces so much misery and suffering as a result of the last war, that the most effective and greatest help is needed everywhere….Whole areas are devastated, everywhere widows and orphans of fallen soldiers are calling out for help…´ further saying `I write to you with the request that, when distributing the £100.000 allocated by the English Parliament for the German war victims, you particularly provide well for victims of all kinds in all areas of the Prussian State.´ A letter of very good content. The letter has been lightly affixed to the corners to a larger sheet. G £800-1200

NEY MICHEL: (1769-1815) Marshal of France, Duc d´Elchingen and Prince de la Moskowa. Executed. An interesting L.S., `Ney´, with flourish, one page, folio, Gleiberg, Germany, 14th September 1796, to General Grenier, in French. The document shows to the upper left corner the written heading "Army of Sambre and Muse, 4th Division, Avant-Garde", and Ney in his capacity as General of Brigade sends a military report referring to the locations he has occupied with his troops, stating in part `I have just occupied Launsbach with part of my light infantry.. I keep also under control the village of Wisemar.´ Ney further refers to several strategic positions he has occupied, explains that part of his troops have crossed the river Lahn, a tributary of the Rhine, and suggests to General Grenier to move towards Stauffenberg. Before concluding Ney states `I have made a cavalryman prisoner and several have been sabred.´ Very small overall minor age wear and staining, otherwise G to VG £300-400

[ALEXANDRIA - EGYPT EVACUATION]: An excellent A.L.S., `Augus[te] Guillaumier´, an attractive signature with flourish, one page, 4to, Alexandria, 3rd of September 1801, to his mother, in French. Guillaumier, secretary of the sanitary administration, reports about the French army evacuation of Egypt, stating in part `You must have been worried about me, watching the part of the Egypt army returning without any news from me..The position we were holding in Alexandria did not permit me to send through my letters to Rosette..´ further saying `..a General is taking back with him the capitulation.. we must evacuate before ten days these countries and return to France..´ The present letter was written only three days after the English and Turcs took control of Alexandria and the French evacuated Egypt. The sheet bears a watermark. Folded, with small overall age wear and edges very slightly trimmed, otherwise about VG £200-300 On 21st March 1801 the French were defeated by the British and surrendered at Fort Julien. Cairo fell in June and Alexandria was besieged from August 17th till September 2nd, when French General in Egypt Jacques François Menou capitulated to the British.

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. An excellent content L.S., `Napoleon´, a good and in full bold ink signature example, one page, 4to, 28th November 1806, to General Clarke, in French. Napoleon has left Berlin few days before and is about to reach Warsaw with his army. Napoleon states in part `Monsieur le General Clarke, give the order to publish in the Berlin newspapers that Hameln has surrendered, General Savary has made 9000 prisoners, including four Generals, and among them General Lecoq..´ further saying `Send an officer with the plenipotentiary…they will follow the route that Mr. Talleyrand will inform you.´ Further again ordering to publish `Order to publish on newspapers in four days that a suspension of weapons was signed… that the king of Prussia has declared that he cannot ratify it being dependent of the Russians..´ With blank integral leaf, bearing a J. Honig & Zoonen watermark. VG £1200-2000 Henri Jacques Clarke (1765-1818) Marshal of France in 1816, one of six created under King Louis XVIII from 1815-24. Duc de Feltre and Minister of War under Napoleon. The Siege of Hamelin took place between 7th and 22nd November 1806. The French forces captured the fortress of Hamelin, close to Hanover, from the Prussian troops. General Anne Jean Marie Savary (1774-1883) leaded the negotiations with Prussian Commander Karl Ludwig von Lecoq (1754-1829) who surrendered.Charles Maurice de Talleyrand (1754-1838) French Diplomat and Statesman. Prime Minister of France July-September 1815.

BESSIERES JEAN-BAPTISTE: (1768-1813) Marshal of France, Duc d´ Istria. Killed in the battle field in Rippach, the day before the battle of Lutzen. L.S., Bessieres, three pages, 4to, Valladolid, 11th February 1809, to a General [Thiebaut?]. Bessieres instructs very precisely his correspondent regarding the troops positions and number of men in several locations, stating in part `General, I read in your 9th February letter that you have a guard of 300 men in Burgos; it is far too much. During the greatest turmoil I have never had more than 60.. You can understand, General, that if we needed 300 garrison men in all towns of 8 to 10000 souls, it would be endless...´ Bessieres further says `..make all men belonging to the army corps stationed in that area leave for Madrid. What is the use of having a whole battalion in Sto Domingo de la Calzada?, this area has always been very quiet.´ Folded. G £200-300

PONIATOWSKI JOZEF: (1763-1813) Polish General, Minister of War and Army Chief. Marshal of the Empire. An excellent L.S., `Joseph Prince Poniatowski´, one page, folio, Warsaw, 5th January 1810, to the Minister of War Duke de Feltre, in French. Poniatowski, in his capacity as General of division and Chief Commander of the Polish army, thanks his correspondent for the letter received last month of December and states in part `Your Excellency honoured me informing me about the replacement of Major Wierzbinski, now Colonel, and of Quatermaster Wasitemski accused of embezzlement. Having no doubt that Your Excellency has designated an officer who fulfills required qualifications and who will accomplish his functions properly, I consider superfluous to recommend somebody else for that post….´ Small overall, minor age wear, with small stains at the base of the document, otherwise G £2500-3500Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke (1765-1818) Marshal of France in 1816, one of six created under King Louis XVIII from 1815-24. Duc de Feltre and Minister of War under Napoleon.

BADAJOZ POLICE COMMISSAR: A very interesting military A.L.S., two pages, 4to, Badajoz, 30th December 1811, to His Excellency Marshal Duc de Dalmatie in Seville, in Spanish. The Commissar reports in part `..the watch of all movements of the enemy troops.. Porto Alegre, Campo Mayor and Alburquerque have checked the movements of General Hill divisions. They departed from Porto Alegre on 26th, reaching Alburquerque on 28th.. they should rest at Montijo on the 30th..´ further saying `Nevertheless, it looks like other troops have marched on 26th or 7th..according to reports and opinions there are 12 to 15 thousand men .. who will join General Moriles.. I have sent tonight a report to Count of Erlon, informing him about all this so he can take the better decisions..´ Accompanied by a contemporary translation into French. With blank address leaf, bearing large remnants of a red wax seal. Small overall staining and tears to the address leaf, otherwise G £60-90Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult (1769-1851) Marshal of France, Duc de Dalmatie.Rowland Hill (1772-1842) 1st Viscount Hill. British Army officer. He served in the Napoleonic Wars as corps commander under the Duke of Wellington. He would become Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in 1828.Jean Baptiste Drouet D´Erlon (1765-1844) Count of Erlon. Commander of the 1st Corps of the Armée du Nord at the battle of Waterloo. Drouet D´Erlon was present in the Battle of Austerlitz, at the siege of Danzig. He arrived in the Peninsular War as Commander. Drouet D´Erlon defeated British General Hill in the Pyrenees.

DAVOUT LOUIS NICOLAS: (1770-1823) Marshal of France, Duc d´Auerstaedt and Prince of Eckmuhl. Known as the Iron Marshal, Davout was the only Napoleonic Marshal not to have been defeated in battle by 1815. L.S., `Amitié, Le Ministre de la Guerre, P[rince] d´Eckmul´, with a four lines annotation in his hand, one page, folio, Paris, 27th March 1815, to Lieutenant General Count Compans, in French. On the printed heading of the Minister of war, Davout in his capacity as Minister of war during the Hundred days, he has only been appointed a week earlier, states in part `My dear General, I have written to you telling you to join me in Paris, if you have not received my letters, depart when receiving this one to come to Paris where the Emperor will have the pleasure to see you.´ Davout adds a four lines annotation beneath his signature saying `Your wife is waiting for you quite impatient, she is keeping well as well as your children´ With blank integral leaf, bearing an attractive watermark. Very small overall, minor age wear and creasing mostly to the bottom right corner, not affecting the text or signature. Folded. G to VG £400-600 Davout was appointed Minister of war on 20th March 1815 immediately after Napoleon´s return from exile in the island of Elba. He reorganized the French army and he was so indispensable to the war department that Napoleon kept him in Paris during the Waterloo campaign. Napoleon was criticized for such decision regarding the best General he then possessed. Jean Dominique Compans (1769-1845) French General during French Revolution and First Empire. Compans was appointed by King Louis XVIII Knight of Saint-Louis and grand-cordon of the Legion d´Honneur on 14th February 1815, a month before the present letter date. During the Hundred Days Compans re-joined the Imperial army and was imprisoned at Waterloo.

BONAPARTE LOUIS: (1778-1846) King of Holland 1806-10. Younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. A.L.S., Louis Bonaparte, one page, 4to, Paris, 15th November 1801, to General Gouvion Saint-Cyr, in French. Bonaparte responds to his correspondent´s letter and states `The Regiment is still in Spain. The army has still not received the order to return…. It is what you thought would happen, because of your knowledge of this nasty country..' Folded. With very small, minor age wear. VG £150-200Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr (1764-1830) Marshal of France, Marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr.

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. An excellent L.S., Np, two pages, 4to, Ebersdorf, Austria, 20th May 1809, to General Clarke, in French. An interesting military letter, in the hand of Meneval, addressed by the Emperor to the Minister of war and written the day before the Battle of Aspern-Essling. Napoleon reports having received his correspondent´s letter and instructs him to adjust the number of men assigned to the half-brigades, explaining the military importance of such regiments, and further stating in part `You were wrong ordering the Reserve Dragons regiment of Versailles to move to Hanau, …better order them to head to Strasbourg were regiments are being formed… plus what is available at the Camp of Boulogne, in order to gather at Ghent the demi-brigades from Ghent, Maastricht,..´ Napoleon further refers to the half-brigades of Paris, the number of men required and instructing `..make sure they are ready for immediate response to send them to all coast positions we will indicate.´ Receipt of the letter annotated in another hand at the conclusion, dated 26th May. A letter of interesting content. VG £1200-1500 Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke (1765-1818) Marshal of France in 1816, one of six created under King Louis XVIII from 1815-24. Duc de Feltre and Minister of War under Napoleon.Claude François de Méneval (1778-1850) Baron of the Empire. Memoirist of the 19th century. Napoleon´s private secretary and his closest collaborator.At the Battle of Aspern-Essling (21st-22nd May 1809) Napoleon was for the first time personally defeated, although he could withdraw most of his troops. The demi-brigades, or half-brigades were military formations used by the French army since the French Revolutionary wars. The Demi-brigade amalgamated the infantry organizations into a single unit.

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. A very rare and exceptional L.S., Nap, nine pages with gilt edges, 4to, Fontainebleau, 27th January 1813, to Eugene de Beauharnais, in French. A letter of historical interest, dictated by Napoleon to Baron Edouard Mounier, written a month after returning from Russian campaign and only one day after receiving Murat at Fontainebleau and accusing him of having abandoned his army. Napoleon lengthly reports about his intentions to reorganize his armies, refers to many of his Marshals and reveals his intention to return to Russia, and begins his letter saying `My son, I do not have yet a precise idea in mind regarding the way the army has to be re-organized..´ and continues referring to regiments in Danzig, to troops under General Grenier, to General Lagrange `I asked you to replace General Lagrange, he cannot participate in such a war with an arm missing..´, to Marshal Ney `These three divisions will be commanded by the Duke of Elchingen and will keep the name of 11th Corps or take the name of Avant-Garde Corps of the Grande Armée… and this way you will have 6000 horses in the Avant-Garde Corps.´ Napoleon continues sending instructions regarding the reorganization of most of his Corps, Regiments and Battalions, establishing schedules and referring to many of his Generals, further saying `The Elbe Observation Corps (which will get a number), the Observation Corps of Italy, the 1st and 2nd Rhine Observation Corps.. the combined 2nd and 3rd Corps will have four divisions and forty-eight battalions each; the 4th Corps will have three divisions and thirty-six battalions. The total forces of the army beyond the Rhine by the end of June, the Danzig garrison excepted, will include thirty infantry divisions and three hundred and sixty-two battalions. Bringing up the number of men with weapons in each battalion to 650 and to a total amount of more than 200.000 infantry soldiers, and to over 300.000 French including cavalry, artillery and engineers. The Westphalian Corps will be raised… The Saxon, Württemberg and Bavarian Corps will have their ranks filled again. The army will thus be one third stronger than it was during the last campaign. Those various corps may be commanded as follows: 11th Corps, Duke of Elchingen; Elbe Observation Corps, Count Lauriston; Observation Corps of Italy, Count Bertrand; 1st Rhine Observation Corps, Duke of Ragusa or Count of Lobau; 2nd Rhine Observation Corps, Count of Lobau or Duke of Ragusa; 1st Corps, Prince of Eckmühl; combined 2nd and 3rd Corps, Duke of Reggio; 4th Corps, Duke of Taranto.´ Napoleon further confirms his plan, unknown till then, to return to Russia towards August 15th `Supposing Danzig is occupied.. the siege can only begin in April. I will thus have the entire month of June to march on Danzig. Once the siege of Danzig and the siege of Thorn are raised and my communications are restored… I will postpone moving any further until a future campaign or, if appropriate, cross the Niemen around August 15th. It is the best period since the harvest is over at that time, the fodder for horses is ripe and two and a half months are enough for me to march on Vitebsk and the Dnieper area.. corps will be raised to 60,000 men, which will allow at the same time to enter Volhynia… On top of this I will have 120,000 men in France and Italy to defend my coasts and borders.´ Further again referring with strong interest to Warsaw and Russia `I suppose you have summoned back all Cavalry regiments which were in Warsaw. Warsaw must be kept whatever it costs. Austria is rearming. And according to all available information Russia is in a terrible situation and can only send some small light cavalry towards Posen... It is thus necessary to remain in Posen to protect Warsaw and maintain communications.. Russia cannot leave less than 50,000 men in front of Danzig, 10,000 in front of Thorn, just as many in front of Modlin and less than 60,000 facing Galicia. Consequently, it is not possible that the Russian army starts marching towards you. The most important thing is to reorganize the cavalry corps of General La Tour-Maubourg in order to scout around and keep the enemy away from our communications.´ An unusual lengthy letter with extraordinary content. VG £8000-12000Eugene de Beauharnais (1781-1824) French Prince, son of Josephine de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy 1805-14 and Grand Duke of Frankfurt. Stepson and adopted child of Napoleon Bonaparte.Edouard Mounier (1783-1843) Baron of the Empire and cabinet secretary of Napoleon I. Became General Director of the French police in 1819.Paul Grenier (1768-1827) French General during revolution and under the Empire, an excellent tactician credited with many battle victories.Adelaide Blaise Le Lievre de la Grange (1766-1833) Marquis de la Grange et de Fourilles. French Cavalry General during the French Revolution and First Empire. De la Grange lost an arm in 1809 at the battle of Essling.Duke of Elchingen (1769-1815) Michel Ney, French Marshal. Prince of the Moskowa. Executed.Count Lauriston (1768-1828) Jacques Alexandre Law, Marquis of Lauriston. General in the French army and Diplomat of Scottish and Portuguese descent.Count Bertrand (1773-1844) Henri Gratien Bertrand, French General, and Grand Marshal of the Palace. Bertrand was aide-de-camp to Napoleon I and the closest officer to the Emperor who had full confidence in him. He served during the expedition to Egypt and the Battles of Austerlitz, Wagram, Leipzig and Waterloo and accompanied Napoleon I to Elba in 1814 and to St. Helena in 1815. Bertrand was condemned to death in 1816 but did not return to France until Napoleon´s death when King Louis XVIII granted his amnesty. In 1840 Bertrand went to St. Helena to bring Napoleon´s remains to France.Duke of Ragusa (1767-1847) Auguste Marmont, Nobleman and Marshal of France.Count of Lobau (1770-1838) Georges Mouton, Marshal of France. During the Russian Campaign, he acted as a senior aide-de-camp to Emperor Napoleon. At the Battle of Waterloo he distinguished himself against the Prussians.Prince of Eckmuhl (1770-1823) Louis Nicolas Davout, Duc d´Auerstaedt and Marshal of France. Known as the Iron Marshal. Davout was the only Napoleonic Marshal not to have been defeated in battle by 1815.Duke of Reggio (1767-1847) Nicolas Oudinot, Marshal of France.Duke of Taranto (1765-1840) Etienne Jacques Macdonald, Marshal of France.The Siege of Danzig lasted from January to December 1813, and ended with the French surrender, and not as Napoleon was expecting he would be marching in Danzing in June as he says in the present letter. During the War of the Sixth Coalition the Russian and Prussian forces besieged the permanent French garrison, which had been augmented by soldiers from the Grande Armée retreating from its Russian Campaign. It was a major supply depot for Napoleon's forces, with large quantities of food, munitions, forage, weapons, clothing and ammunition. Napoleon was trying to re-group an army in his rear in order to confront the Coalition, and so needed to guard the line of the Vistula by garrisoning Danzig, Thorn and Warsaw as he also explains in the present letter.. La Tour-Maubourg (1768-1850) Victor de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg. French Cavalry Commander. Minister of war 1819-21.A copy of this letter was sent to the National Archives by Her Imperial Highness the Duchess of Leuchtenberg during the Second Empire. Duchess of Leuchtenberg was the wife of the second son of Eugène de Beauharnais and Princess Augusta Amalia Ludovika Georgia of Bavaria.

LARREY DOMINIQUE JEAN: (1766-1842) French Surgeon of Napoleon´s Grande Armée. Larrey was the Emperor´s favourite surgeon, an innovator in the battlefield medicine and widely considered one of the first modern military surgeons. Rare and extremely interesting lengthy A.L.S., `D.J. Larrey´, four pages, 8vo, Dresden, 7th July 1813, to his wife, in French. Larrey first reports on his recent conversation with the Emperor stating in part `I was waiting for the right moment to talk to H[is] M[ajesty] about this friend and for this reason I was keeping all the time the paper in my pocket. That morning at dawn…the Emperor asked me few graceful questions regarding my wounded soldiers with mutilated fingers, and I responded to all of them. Then he told me “Seems like you have had a great success as I have been told that they were all recovering”, Yes Sir, we have only lost a very small number. “That is good, I am satisfied”. Because Your Majesty is satisfied with my behaviour, would you allow me to ask for a favour? “Yes, What do you want?”..´ Larrey reports the full sentences exchanged with the Emperor, who finally had to refuse to Larrey´s request, further saying `..everybody was astonished, and were commenting the great influence I was having on the Emperor, because he gave to me many details and explanations regarding my request and the reasons for denying it..´ Larrey refers to the difficulty in finding the right moment and having the opportunity to talk to the Emperor, also saying `..in case the Emperor doesn´t change his mind, your sister and family should be happy as they have fortune, while we do not have a sol. I will not complain. I will have so many good souvenirs of my medical career, that as long as you have enough to live when I will die, that my soul will leave satisfied.´ Further on Larrey says `..Everything makes me fear a new war… I hope I will be able to see you before the 19th of November, because if I had to do another winter campaign I would for sure die. I hardly can warm up now.´ Before concluding Larrey refers to the news received from his friend Pelletan who is still at Wilna. A letter of very interesting content. Provenance, Crawford collection. Very small overall, minor age wear. VG £2000-3000 Marie Elisabeth Laville-Leroux (1770-1842) French Painter and wife of Larrey. She was pupil of David, and used to sign her paintings “Larrey” when accompanying her husband during Napoleon´s campaigns. Larrey was right when he writes “Everything makes me fear a new war”. Only a month later, 11th August, Austria would put an end to the armistice, and few weeks later took place the last major victory of Napoleon at the battle of Dresden.Philippe Jean Pelletan (1747-1829) French Surgeon. One of Napoleon´s consultant-surgeon from 1804. Pelletan was present at the crime scene of Marat and signed the minutes on the death certificate and was also responsible of the controversial autopsy of the 10 years older Louis XVII, younger son of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, both executed. It has been reported that during the autopsy, Pelletan was shocked to see the countless scars which covered the body of Louis XVII as a result of the physical abuse the child suffered while imprisoned in the Temple. Napoleon would say about Larrey `If the army ever erects a monument to express its gratitude, it should do so in honour of Larrey.´At Waterloo in 1815 his bravery under fire was noticed by the Duke of Wellington who saluted his courage and ordered not to fire in his direction so as to "give the brave man time to gather up the wounded". When the battle was lost, Larrey was taken prisoner by the Prussians when he was trying to escape. They were about to execute him on the spot but was recognized by one of the German surgeons because he had saved the life of Blucher´s son when he was wounded and taken prisoner by the French. He was pardoned, invited as a guest to Blucher's dinner table and authorized to go back to France with money and proper clothes.

BATHURST HENRY - [NAPOLEON I]: (1762-1834) 3rd Earl Bathurst. Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1812-27, and President of the board of Trade. An extremely interesting historical letter with good association and excellent content. A.L.S., `Bathurst´, two pages, folio, Colonial Office, 18th September 1817, to General Sir Hudson Lowe H.C.B, at that time Governor of Saint Helena. Bathurst states `Having had under my review the instructions originally given to Sir Georg Cockburn with respect to the measures to be taken in the event of General Buonaparte´s death, it appears to me that it is no longer necessary to enforce an observance of that part of them which requires in the event of his death that the body of General Buonaparte should be sent to his Country for interment.´ and further sends the new instructions to the St. Helena Governor `You will therefore in case of such an event no longer consider this instruction as in force, but will take measures for burying General Buonaparte in St. Helena, with such military honours as would, under similar circumstances, be paid to a British General Officer.´ Bearing an attractive watermark. Accompanied by an A.L.S., by John R. Blakeney (1732-1832), two pages, 8vo, Longwood House, St. Helena, 7th February 1818, to Hudson Lowe. Blakeney refers to the day by day of the Emperor during that week, mentions the names of visitors, refers to general Bertrand, stating in part `Nothing extraordinary has occurred at Longwood.. on Sunday Gen.al Buonaparte dined with the family.. Gen.al Buonaparte was in the garden for about half an hour..´ Both letters with blank integral leaf and small professional repair to the inside centre fold. VG,2 £800-1200 Hudson Lowe (1769-1844) Anglo-Irish Officer and colonial Administrator. Best known for his time as Governor of St. Helena as gaoler of Napoleon Bonaparte. Lowe was appointed to the position of custodian of the Emperor of the French on 1st of August 1815. At the time of his appointment, Lord Bathurst, Secretary of State for War and Colonies wrote to Wellington "I do not believe we could have found a fitter person of his rank in the army willing to accept a situation of so much confinement, responsibility and exclusion from society.´George Cockburn (1772-1853) British Admiral of the Royal Navy Fleet. He directed the capture and burning of Washington in 1814. Cockburn was in charge of conveying Napoleon I in August 1815 to Saint Helena, on board of HMS Northumberland. Cockburn remained until 1816 as Governor of the island.

SIGISMOND PRINCE OF TRANSYLVANIA: (1573-1613) Sigismund Bathory. As a child he succeeded his father as Voivode or ruler of Transylvania. Sigismond abdicated in favour of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, and although he returned to his pillaged territories in 1601 with a Polish army, he could not strengthen his position and settled in Poland. In 1605, Holy Roman Emperor and Spanish King tried to persuade him to return and claim Transylvania, but he refused. He would later be accused of conspiracy and imprisoned by Rudolf II. Rare L.S., `Sigismond Principe´, a bold and attractive signature with large flourish, one page, folio, Libochovice, Bohemia, 31st November 1607, in Latin. The letter is addressed to a Religious authority and states in part `I have not been able to respond earlier to you…and although haven´t had much time lately, I should not forget all I appreciate… we should walk together towards trust..like in former times. And therefore not renounce to all the matters which remain hidden because of the today´s date situation. I better do not say more.. ´ With left edge slightly trimmed and a stain to the upper left corner not affecting the text or signature. G £300-400

STALIN JOSEPH: (1878-1953) Soviet Dictator. Leader of the Soviet Union as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party 1922-52. An important and very rare T.L.S., `I. Stalin´, adding the annotation `Mandate confirmed - Commission of the Defense Council of the Republic´ in his hand, in Cyrillic, one page, cream paper, 4to, [Vyatka?], 20th January 1919, to Mikhail Barandokhin, Battalion Commander, in Cyrillic. The document bears two stamped ink seals, three countersignatures and three signed autograph annotations by Stalin, by Felix Dzerzhinsky dating his countersignature `20th January 1919 - F. Dzerzhinsky´ beneath Stalin´s signature, and by Alexander Beloborodov, the Soviet who ordered the execution of Tsar Nicholas II, stating `This mandate is confirmed, Comrade Barandokhin is given the right to mobilize all Soviet forces to establish communication and organize the arrears. Chairman of Ural Regional Soviet A. Beloborodov.´ An important Russian Civil War mandate granting authority to secure the districts of Vyatka, every disposable military resource being necessary to overturn the advancing White Army. The purple ink typed document is faded, but nor the bold handwritten annotations and signatures. Repaired to the verso and fold. Overall age wear and creasing, with small tears to the edges. Folded. FR £6000-9000 Felix Dzerzhinsky (1877-1926) Director of the Cheka, the Secret Police. Alexander Beloborodov (1891-1938) Soviet revolutionary. Beloborodov signed the order of execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Head of the Executive Committee of the Ural Regional Soviet. His association with Leon Trotskty disgraced him. He will be imprisoned and executed during Stalin´s purges. Two months after the present letter was written, Beloborodov was elected at the Central Committee and became candidate of the Party Congress in 1920. The present document was authenticated by Y.S. Beliankin, head of the Documents Researchs Department of the National Library in Russia, stating in part `The examined mandate contains genuine signatures of I. Stalin, F. Dzerzhinsky, dated 20th January 1919…also signed by Ural Soviet Chairman Alexander Beloborodov..Documents of that period are particularly rare and were rarely kept.´ Including a third part Cerificate of Authenticity.

SLAVERY ABOLITION: Carlos Manuel Cespedes del Castillo (1819-1874) Cuban Revolutionary. Known as the “Father of the Motherland”, Cespedes is considered a Cuban hero who freed slaves and leaded the declaration of Cuban Independence in 1868. An excellent and very attractive multiple signed printed large document, one page, 14 x 16.5, Bayamo, 27th December 1868, in Spanish. The document being a decree is entitled “Slavery Conditioned Abolition - Carlos Manuel de Cespedes - Captain-General of the Liberator Army of Cuba and Leader of the Provisional Government”, and bears a very attractive and large vignette to the heading. The decree contains nine articles, and starts stating `The Cuban Revolution, proclaiming the independence of the Homeland and with it all freedoms, cannot accept the inconsistency of restricting it to only one part of the country´s population. A free Cuba is incompatible with a proslavery Cuba..´ further saying in its first article `All slaves are declared free..´. Boldly signed by Cespedes at the base of the document. With few additional countersignatures to the borders. Bearing a large black paper seal of the Liberator Cuban Army to the front and in excellent condition, and a blind embossed seal to the bottom right corner. Small overall age wear, with edges very slightly trimmed and a small fold repair to the verso, otherwise G £250-350

CESPEDES DEL CASTILLO CARLOS MANUEL: (1819-1874) Cuban Revolutionary. Known as the “Father of the Motherland”, Cespedes is considered a Cuban hero who freed slaves and leaded the declaration of Cuban Independence in 1868. An excellent A.L.S., `C.m.de Cespedes´, one page, 8vo, Bayamo, 27th December 1868, in Spanish. The document bears a very attractive revolutionary vignette to the heading and the printed title beneath “Liberator Army of Cuba and its Provisional Government”. Cespedes states `On this date, and in my capacity as representative of the Provisional Government, I have granted freedom to the negro named Nemesio, 16 years old…´ The document bears to the front a large blind embossed seal and to the lower left corner an ink stamp of the “free town council of Bayamo”. Overall age wear, with trimmed edges and multiple former tears repaired to the verso. F £100-150

SAN MARTIN JOSE DE: (1778-1850) Argentine General, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Chile 1817-19 and President of Peru 1821-22. L.S., Jose de San Martin, one page, folio, General Headquarters, Santiago, Chile, 19th November 1820, to the Secretary of State in the Department of War, in Spanish. San Martin writes to fulfil the request of Captain Estevan of the 4th Regiment and concludes by stating ´I expect that you inform this to the Supreme Director of that State for its resolution´. A few very small areas of paper loss to the right edge, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VG £400-600

METTERNICH PRINCE KLEMENS VON: (1773-1859) Politician and Statesman, one of the most important diplomats of his era. Austrian Empire's Foreign Minister and Chancellor 1821-48. Autograph addressed envelope, signed `Metternich´, oblong 4to, n.p., n.d., in German. Addressed to Prince Wittgenstein. Bearing a red wax seal to the verso in very fine condition. G £100-150 Peter Wittgenstein (1769-1843) Louis Adolph Peter, 1st Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg-Berleburg, known as Peter Wittgenstein. Field Marshal in the Imperial Russian Army during the Napoleonic wars.

METTERNICH PRINCE KLEMENS VON: (1773-1859) Politician and Statesman, one of the most important diplomats of his era. Austrian Empire's Foreign Minister and Chancellor 1821-48. A good A.L.S., `Metternich´, 4to, Paris, 12th August 1815, to the Duke of Decazes, Prefect of Police in Paris, in French. Metternich states `The bearer of the present letter is Mr. the General de Langenau, Headquarters Vice-Chief of the Austrian army, and in charge of anything related to their police.´ Further saying `You will notice that he is wishing and willing to collaborate and contribute to keep the good order and to try to alleviate the weight of the war..´ With blank integral leaf. Bearing an attractive watermark. VG £400-600 Elie-Louis Decazes (1780-1860) 1st Duke of Decazes and Glucksburg. Fourth Prime Minister of France 1819-20. Decazes was appointed Minister of Police, succeeding Fouché, only one month after the present letter date. Friedrich Karl von Langenau (1782-1840) Baron von Langenau. Austrian Field-Marshal. Quartermaster-General of the Grand Army of Bohemia.

NICHOLAS I OF RUSSIA: (1796-1855) Emperor of Russia 1825-55. A good A.L.S., `Nicolas´, three pages, 8vo, Tsarkoye Selo, 24th July 1831, to Countess Orlov, in French. The Emperor sends a warm and kind letter to Countess Orlov, referring to her husband and friend of him, stating in part `Please allow me Madame to apologize for being the cause of the quite often separations you and your husband suffer… Nevertheless, if it helps in any way to comfort you, I would say that all these difficult tasks entrusted to your husband make him prove his tireless zeal and his talents…on this precise occasion he is rending a service to me and to the Homeland, and he is doing so Madame in an admirable way. However we will still have to wait few more days before everything will be concluded. Please forgive me if I am always a permanent problem for you two...´ The emperor adds an interesting post-scriptum announcing `..I have just had the pleasure to watch my wife giving luckily birth to a son Nicolas.´ The document bears a blind embossed seal to the upper left corner. One small tear not affecting the signature, otherwise VG £800-1200Alexei Feodorovich Orlov (1787-1862) Russian Diplomat and Count. One of the most trusted agents of Nicholas I as Ambassador and plenipotentiary at the Adrianople and Paris Peace treaties. He would later be appointed by the Emperor head of the infamous Third Section, the Russian secret police.Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia (1831-1891) Grand Duke of Russia, third son of Nicholas I. Field Marshal and Head Commander of the Russian Army.

Vintage Silk Postcards Collection - A very fine collection of 38 WW1 embroidered silk postcards including Regimental types with East Yorks, Middlesex, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Salvation Army, Australian Commonwealth Military Forces etc. Also a 1914 French silk of Albert bombed church. Some cards have retail prices still marked of up to £65 each. Scarce cards, most good to fine.

Vintage Silk Postcards Collection - A very fine collection of 36 WW1 embroidered silk postcards including Regimental types with Rifle Corps, Royal Sussex, Royal Navy, Australian, Salvation Army etc. Some still show pencilled retail prices of up to £65 each. A fine collection of scarce cards.(36)

Four Dinky Toys including 784 Goods Train Set, 712 US Army T42A, 717 Boeing 737 Lufthansa and 732 Bell Police Helicopter, each in bubble packs (4)

Five Dinky diecast metal Military Action Kits including 1032 Army Land Rover, 1034 155mm Mobile Gun, 1035 Striker Anti-Tank Vehicle, 1037 Chieftain Tank and 1038 Scorpion Tank, each in carded bubble pack booklet packaging (5)

Dinky Toys 297 Silver Jubilee Bus boxed, 112 Purdey's TR7 boxed, two hollow cast loud speaker vans, 233 Cooper-Bristol Racing Car, Foden Army Truck, Plymouth Fury, 108 Sam's Car etc. 

Twenty Action Man and possibly other dolls including boxer, Astronaut, Army man etc

Seven Royal Mail GB mint stamp sheets including The Broons (2007), Oor Wullie (2007), British Army Uniforms, Battle of Britain, Glorius Northern Ireland, Cartoon Smilers and Postmarks, 120 1st class stamps in total

Medals and other items of Captain George Christopher Archibald CBE (Baron of Woodside Glasgow 1949) of the Royal Army Educational Corps including Commander of  the British Empire King and Queen type neck badge within fitted case, General Service Medal GSM with Palestine 1945-48 clasp, Elizabeth II coronation medal 1953, Magistrate of the City of Glasgow 1925-28, Labour Party enamelled badge and a velum warrant and seal granting the title of Baron Archibald of Woodside.Notes: Yeoman of the guard 1951- Captain Member of Glasgow City Council 1920-1928 Deparment Reg Commerce for Midlands 1941-42 Director Films Division Brittish Info Services NEw York 1942-44 Controller Ministry of Info 1944-45 Chairman Fed of British Film Makers from 1957 Born 21st July 1898

Military cap and collar badges including 17th/21st Lancers Death or Glory badge, Royal Tank Regiment Fear Naught badge, Royal Canadian Dragoons, 4th Canadain Light Horse, Prince of Wales Volunteers, 8th King's Royal Irish, Ayrshire Earl of Carrick's Own Yeomanry, Glengarry Fencibles, Cameron Highlanders of Canada, Army Education Corps, AAC, RWAFF, Australian Commonwealth Military Force etc., approximately 38 in total

Framed display of approximately 32 Army Service Corps ASC cap badges, collar badges, shoulder titles etc., including a helmet plate

British army dress uniform scarlet tunic with knot shoulder boards, Middlesex regiment Albuhera collar badges, similar brass buttons by Pitt and Co, having Guthrie & Valentine label to interior of pocket penned "H W M PAUL MID SEX REG FEB '14", and a pair of trousers

British army dress uniform black jacket with chain male shoulders, 3rd Carabiniers staybrite buttons, medal ribbons for MBE, WWII war medal with oak leaf, WWII defence medal, 1939-45 star, Burma star and GSMCondition Report:Approximately 44 inch chest 

British Army dress uniform Khaki green jacket with 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queens Bays) ensignia including shoulder titles, collar badges, brass buttons by Pitt and Co of London, having medal ribbons for MC, 1914 Star with rosette clasp, WWI War Medal, Victory Medal with oak leaf clasp and Croix De Guerre with oak leaf clasp

British Army dress uniform khaki green tunic with label for James A Stewart Ltd dated 1946, Battledress Blouses 1940 pattern size no11, with cloth Royal Engineers shoulder titles and medal ribbons for 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and WWII war medal

British Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with brass buttons some by Pitt and Co of London and medal ribbons for MC with rosette, 1914-1919 Star with rosette, WWI war Medal, Victory Medal, 1935 Jubilee Medal and 1937 Coronation Medal

Australian Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with Australia shoulder titles, Australian Commonwealth Military Forces collar badges, buttons, having medal ribbons for MGS Medal, WWI War Medal and Victory Medal with oak leaf clasp

British Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with Royal Engineers brass buttons by Gaunt and Son, Ubique collar badges and medal ribbons for MBE, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 1 clasp, Italy Star, WWII Defence Medal, War Medal, 1953 Coronation Medal, Long Service Medal and Meritorious Medal

British Army scarlet tunic with Bernard Weatherill Ltd label with Parachute regiment insignia including bullion lapel badges, shoulder badge etc., and two pairs of trousers with RE (Clothes) LTD labels dated 1955

British Army dress uniform black jacket with H Lotery and Co Ltd label dated 1956 with Parachute Regiment insignia including buttons by Gaunt of London, collar badges, bullion wings shoulder badge and triple chevron

Canada Army dress uniform khaki green tunic with Royal Canadian Signals cloth shoulder titles, Paratrooper wings breast badge and medal ribbons for Korea Medal and United Nations Korea Medal

British Army dress uniform blue tunic with J A Waldie label penned "A KINMONT 31" with Physiotherapy Service cloth shoulder titles , black CSP buttons and medal ribbons for 1939-45 Star, Italy Star and WWII War Medal

British Army dress uniform khaki green tunic with Albion Ltd of Belfast label to interior dated 1952 with RMP (Royal Military Police) cloth shoulder title, HD cloth badge etc.

British Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with Royal Scots Fusiliers collar badges, brass thistle buttons by Gaunt of London and medal ribbons for MC, 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Italy, France and Germany Star and Defence Medal

British Army dress uniform scarlet tunic with Rogers and Company of London label penned "G W Henand? Esq 4 4 22" with bullion lapel badges of 1st Royal Dragoons and miniature medal ribbons for MC, WWI War Medal and Victory Medal with oak leaf clasp

British Army dress uniform khaki green tunic with N Berg label dated 1943 with black Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) buttons, cloth St Andrews cross shoulder badges and medal ribbons for 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, WWII War Medal and Efficiency Medal

British Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with staybrite buttons by Gaunt of London, needlework and bullion Ubique wings breast badge, cloth parachute wings shoulder badge and medal ribbons for MBE, 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, WWII War Medal with oak leaf clasp

Army dress uniform khaki green tunic with "made in Australia" label dated 1943 with Parachute Regiment cloth shoulder title badge, Pegasus flashes, Parachute wings and having medal ribbon for 1939-45 Star

British Army dress uniform khaki green tunic with Northumberland Fusiliers shoulder badges, ACF cloth badges and medal ribbons for 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and WWII War Medal

British Army dress uniform jacket with Jones Chalk and Dawson Ltd label having Gaunt of London staybrite buttons, bullion shoulder rosettes, Parachute badge to lower sleeve and medal ribbons for MBE, MC, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and WWII War Medal with oak leaf clasp

Australia Army dress uniform jacket with Fletcher Jones label with Australian Army Ordnance Corps collar badges, The Australian Army buttons, Australia shoulder title, needlework shoulder badge and double chevron badges

British Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with Gaunt of London brass buttons, T11 cloth shoulder badges and medal ribbons for DSO, Queen's South Africa Medal and King's South Africa Medal

British Army dress uniform "Footguards Officers Greatcoat" long coat with bullion shoulder badges and buttons by Smith and Wright

Irish Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with J Compton Sons and Webb Ltd label with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers collar badges, black harp buttons. green star sleeve badge, dagger sleeve badge and double chevron badges having medal ribbons for GSM and Accumulated Campaign Service Medal

British Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with J Compton Sons and Webb Ltd label with Adjutant Generals Corps insignia including collar badges, buttons and shoulder strap badges, needlework crown in wreath lower sleeve badges and medal ribbons for MBE, GSM, United Nations Medal UNPROFOR and UNCRO and Golden Jubilee 2002 Medal

British Army dress uniform khaki green long overcoat with The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers insignia

British Army dress uniform khaki green jacket with red hand of Ulster bullion and needlework collar badges and brass thistle buttons by RJW of London