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

DIETRICH SEPP: (1892-1966) German SS-Oberst-Gruppenfuhrer of World War II who commanded the 6th Panzer Army at the Battle of the Bulge, bearing responsibility for the Malmedy massacre. Knight's Cross winner with Diamonds. Fountain pen ink signature ('Dietrich') on a slim oblong 12mo piece featuring two lines of typed text and an official circular purple ink stamp incorporating the Nazi eagle and swastika, evidently neatly clipped from the conclusion of a letter or document. Lightly mounted to the base of an A4 sheet of paper featuring a reproduction image of Dietrich in a head and shoulders pose wearing his uniform and Knight's Cross. One small file hole, not affecting the text or signature, VG

Jodl’s wife gives her husband some advice at the beginning of the Nuremberg Trials –‘I make a most fervent plea that you will not undervalue the importance of a good lawyer for your defence’ [NUREMBERG TRIALS]: JODL ALFRED (1890-1946) German Generaloberst, Chief of the Operations Staff of the German Armed Forces High Command 1939-45. An historically significant A.L.S., Jodl, (and also signed Alfred Jodl at the head of the first page), two pages, folio, n.p. (Nuremberg), 22nd October 1945, to the Major of the Royal British Army who is charged with the retaining of Defence Counsels [i.e. Airey Neave], in German. Jodl states that he would like to quote several extracts from letters which he has received from his wife regarding the appointments of a defence counsel, in part, '6.9. I make a most fervent plea that you will not undervalue the importance of a good lawyer for your defence. Dr. Sack, Berlin, and Prof. Grimm, Muenster, have been especially recommended to me. 25.9. I have been advised that a good criminal lawyer would perhaps be better than a civil lawyer…..26.9. I have been able to find out that if we want to retain privately a legal counsel that we shall have to pay him ourselves. From what? I suggest that we just let the Americans appoint the German counsel. If you want to retain one privately, perhaps I can find someone who will take the case without pay. I'll have to get at that right away, so that no time will be lost later'. Jodl concludes his letter by remarking 'In answer, I wrote my wife that I should like to have Prof. Mitteis, Rostock. I don't know whether my wife ever received this letter, and. If so, whether she will be able to get in touch with Prof. Mitteis. The Court should do that'. Neatly inlaid and with several file holes to the upper edge, only very slightly affecting a few words of text. Some very light, minor age toning, about VG Airey Neave (1916-1979) British Lieutenant Colonel, the first British prisoner-of-war to succeed in escaping from Oflag IV-C at Colditz Castle during World War II. After the war Neave served with the International Military Tribunal at the Nuremberg Trials. As a well-known war hero (as well as being a qualified lawyer who spoke fluent German) Neave was honoured with the role of reading the indictments to the Nazi leaders on trial. After the end of World War II, Jodl was indicted at the Nuremberg Trials on charges of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace, planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The principal charges against him related to his signing of the criminal Commando and Commissar Orders. Found guilty on all charges, he was sentenced to death and executed in Nuremberg in 1946. Provenance: The present document originated from the archives of Dr. Hans Werner who was responsible for directing the printing of the Record of the Trial of Major War Criminals in 42 volumes and in three different languages (English, French & German) immediately following the Nuremberg Trials. 

[NUREMBERG TRIALS]: RIBBENTROP JOACHIM VON (1893-1946) German politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany 1938-45. A rare Autograph Manuscript Signed, Joachim von Ribbentrop (twice, once at the head of the first page and again, with an inscription, at the conclusion), thirteen pages (separate leaves), folio, n.p. (Nuremberg), n.d. (1945/46). Marked 'Personal' and written in bold pencil, in English, Ribbentrop's manuscript is of a biographical nature, and was prepared for Major Douglas M. Kelley, a United States Army psychiatrist serving at Nuremberg, and states, 'My family comes from a farm called "Ribbentrop"….in Detmold, where my family can be tracid (sic) back to the twelfth century being "Freibanum" (free-peasants) on their own land. In later centuries the family produced mostly judges, officials and later also soldiers. An ancestor of mine Barthold Ribbentrop signed the Westphalian peace for the Count of Lippe. My grandfather (father of my father) was still a…..Major in the Brunswick artillerie (sic). My grandmother was also a born Ribbentrop from Brunswick. The father of my mother was likewise….on his farm….in the province of Saxony. The mother of my mother was…..also from the country in Saxony. My father was Lt. Colonel in the Prussian Army Artillerie (sic). His two brothers also…..My father was a real type of a soldier, but also highly interested in intellectual and political matters. He was well based in all litteratuer (sic) history and a very independent sort of a personality. He also took an interest in the social tendencies of our century giving the working class a better living. His independence of thought (critic of political, military matters and of the former Kaiser) brought him into difficulties with his superior officers, so that he resigned from the army in 1909. We then lived in Switzerland for some years. In the worlds war my father fought with distinction and then lived as retired officer…..He was interested in the national-socialistic movement, but did not join it till 1933, because he was against the anti-Jewish policy of the party. He died on the 1 of January 1941 in his 82nd year. My feelings towards my father were such that I liked and admired him more than anybody in this world except my wife and children. There has never been a change in our relations since my childhood. I always had a very free exchange of views with him on all subjects and his death was felt by myself more than I can express. Of my mother I only have the recollection of my childhood. I was about 11 years when she died….of tuberculosis of the lungs after she had already lost a kidney, also of tuberculosis. The disease has been in her family, as her mother also died of this illness. My remembrance of her is of being a very sweet, delicate or rather suffering woman. Very good looking but very fragile. We loved her very much; when we saw her - as she was often absent….. - she was mostly in bed. I believe she was very fond of us 3 children, but did not want to infect us with T.B. and therefore saw us seldom. I have been sorry all my life not having known her more, because she was - the few times I remember - very good and sweet to us, She was, I believe, also very intelligent and very musical like my father. I used to love to sit beside her, when she played the piano, which she did, I believe, wonderfully. She made me love music so that I took up the violin and wanted to become a violinist, when I had finished school. My one brother, Lothar Ribbentrop, which I had, has been during his short life my good comrade. We were very fond of each other & helped us whenever we could. Once he saved my life in pulling me out of a river, as I could not swim, something which I never forgot him. I also could help him sometimes. We were together in Canada, where he caught a tuberculosis shortly before the war. He never recovered. He came over after the outbreak of the first worlds war, the army would not take him, he went to Switzerland and died of consumption at Lugano at the age of 26 in December 1918. We always had much the same ideas and thoughts. It may be a queer coincidence, but I must mention it: I was in Odessa (Russia) in December 1918, ill in bed, when one night in a dream I saw my brother quite clearly dying, lifting himself once more up in his pillows and then fall back dead. When after months I came home to Germany, my father told me of my brother's death and I could see from my diary that he had died really the same night I had seen him die in my dream. Our family life always has been very intimate. My brother was a rather quiet & earnest type of a man, very straightforward & very reliable. My only sister, Ingeborg….is a very nice little woman. Everybody likes her and we have also always been very fond of each other. It was on account of her, that my father at the time went to Switzerland, her lungs as little girl being affected by tubercular bacillus. However she recovered and has been healthy since. She was married about 1922/23 to a friend of mine, Albert Jenke, with whom she lived mostly in Turkey, he being in the building industry, Later on my brother in law was commercial attaché & councillor at the German Embassy at Constantinople. My sister is a woman, who I think takes life in a way, a woman should. She is always sweet & nice to everybody, has very many friends, has the heart in the right spot and I love her very much. The story of my own family: I was married to Annelies Henkell, daughter of the German champagne manufacturer Henkell and his wife,…..in Wiesbaden on the 5th July 1920. This year we should have celebrated our Silver Wedding. The story of the life of my wife and myself together is a rare one. It is too precious and too wonderful to be described in words, a marriage which has made life worth while living for me. I love my wife more than anything in this world, more than my own life and her love for me, she could not show better than she did during the last days of this war, when she wanted to come to me to Berlin from the south and end her life with mine. The Fuhrer forbade her coming. Our common life has been a life full of work, events, sad and gay ones, but above all a life full of happiness and harmony, as is seldom given to two human beings. I shall ever be grateful for this wonder. My wife has given us 5 children. The oldest Rudolf-Lothar was born on the 11th of May 1921 in Wiesbaden. He is a fine boy, educated in Berlin, joined the Westminster school in London for about a year, went then the usual way for Hitler Youth, working service into the army............This has caused a lack of memory to a certain extent, that some times certain happenings are completely wiped out of my memory…..the sleeplessness hasn't improved. I regularly take powders, but only sleep a few hours….Headaches, ear drumming, schwindelanfalle have somewhat intensified'. Signed and inscribed at the conclusion, 'To Major D. E. Kelley, with greatest thanks for all his kindness, Joachim von Ribbentrop'. A remarkable autobiographical manuscript written by Ribbentrop whilst imprisoned at Nuremberg. Some light age toning to some pages and with a few small, minor tears to a few margins, generally VGJoachim von Ribbentrop was arrested in June 1945 and subsequently convicted and sentenced to death at the Nuremberg Trials for his role in starting World War II in Europe and enabling the Holocaust. On 16th October 1946 he became the first of the Nuremberg defendants to be executed by hanging.Provenance: Acquired by our vendor at a Charles Hamilton Galleries sale (Auction 145) on 15th April 1982 (lot number 108).OWING TO LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT CANNOT BE SHOWN - PLEASE CONTACT US DIRECTLY FOR THE FULL DESCRIPTION

[CATHERINE DE’ MEDICI]: (1519-1589) French and Italian noblewoman, Queen of France 1547-59 by her marriage to King Henry II. A good, historic A.L.S., Loise de bretaigne, by Louise de Bretagne (d.1602; Baroness of Castelnau and of Clermont-Lodeve, one of the ladies of honour who accompanied Elisabeth of Valois to Spain for the festivities following her marriage to King Philip II), three pages, folio, Toledo, Second Day of Lent [15th February?] 1561, to Catherine de’ Medici, in French. Louise de Bretagne sends news to the Queen on a variety of events including Elisabeth of Valois’s recovery from small-pox, the death of Francois II and Queen Mary’s return to Scotland, in part, ‘Madam, the health of the queen your daughter grows better and better since I wrote to you; because two days after I sent you the last despatch they made her take a little medicine to finish purging her, which has done her so much good that she has no ailment in the world since……It is now several days since she complained of anything; and the day before yesterday, which was Shrove Tuesday, she went to dine in the garden, by order of the doctors…..I fomented her with milk and saffron, and was obliged then and there to give her a clyster…..the doctors have bidden her to begin every meal with Prunes from Tours…..which makes me beg of you, Madam, to send us some of them by every courier. They have ordered her a bath today to make her menses come on, the date of passing we had noted, the ninth of this month…..Her face is quite free of crusts now, and we wash it every day with asses milk; and yesterday we began to anoint her nose with balm, where she has some pits. I hope the balm will make them disappear. The reason for these is that when she got the small-pox she had a cold and blew her nose so much that the pustules got broken. She is much freer of the migraine than she used to be, but I am in great need of marjoram seeds……the season for sowing them here has passed, and it is not possible to get any more. The King has not come to sleep with her yet, for which I am very glad for she is not quite well enough…..The Prince [Don Carlos] has his fever again rather badly, the cause being I think the great army which they say the Turks are preparing to bring this summer to Goletta [Tunis]……From the last couriers who came…..there is much comment here about the story that the funeral of the late King [Francis II] was conducted with one little candle, which is thought very strange. It is also said for about a fortnight, that Monsieur the Cardinal of Lorraine is going to Metz after Easter, and Queen Mary either to Joinville or to Scotland……Our Lenten services last five hours every morning, and they do not finish until between one and two, which makes fasting easier for us. The Queen your daughter is dispensed from it this Lent on account of her illness and eats meat. They make no difficulty about it. However, none of the Frenchwomen eat it except her and mademoiselle, who is very well. We are told here that she is soon to be married. They are very anxious to know the truth about it, for the King is resolved to make her a very handsome present…..You will be informed of everything. At present I know of nothing more except that all are very well at this court and very glad at the power you have, and greatly wish that it may last long…..’ With the address panel to the verso of the final page, ‘A La Raine, ma souveraine daime’. Loosely contained within a dark brown morocco presentation folder (slight wear and damage to the inside) with gilt decorations to the borders of the interior and exterior and with a gilt stamped title to the front Louise de Bretagne – Letter to Catherine de Medicis relative to the Queens of Spain & of Scotland 1561. Also included are a series of interesting typed research notes and a French transcript and English translation of the letter, apparently prepared for (or by) Frank Lester Pleadwell (1872-1957) American physician and autograph collector. A letter of fascinating content, including intimate details from within the Royal court. Neatly inlaid and with some minor slits and a small area of paper loss to the left edge as a result of the letter having originally been tied with ribbon. About VG A remarkable, intimate letter relating to Elisabeth of Valois, Queen of Spain, who was recovering from small-pox, the death of Francis II, and Queen Mary’s return to Scotland. Elisabeth, the daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de’ Medici, was born at Fontainebleau in 1545. Henry VIII was her Godfather and she was at first destined to be the wife of Edward VI, who had previously, by Treaty, been engaged to marry Mary, Queen of Scots. Edward’s death, in 1553, put an end to this project, and a marriage was then arranged between her and Don Carlos, the son of Philip II of Spain. Philip’s wife, Mary I, died in 1558, and in the year following he himself married Elisabeth, ignoring the engagement to his son, to whom Elisabeth appears to have been attached. The marriage was an unhappy one. The bride was not yet fifteen years of age and had been brought up with every care in a refined and luxurious Court. Philip, although only thirty-two years old, was morose and severe. The marriage took place (by proxy) in the Church of Notre Dame at Paris in June 1559, Philip being represented by Ferdinand de Toledo, Duke of Alba. Elisabeth first met her husband in the following year, on 2nd February 1560, at Guadalaxara, but the meeting was unfortunate. She died in October 1568, and the cause of her death was not without suspicion, especially as her former lover, Don Carlos, had died under very suspicious circumstances just a few months earlier.  Francis II, whose funeral is mentioned in the present letter, had died on 5th December 1560, and the occasion was perhaps the most important event in the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, when her power and prospects in France were shattered in one blow, and her life-long enemy Catherine de’ Medici again placed in a position of authority. Hence forward the struggles between Catherine and the Guises went more in her favour since she possessed absolute power over her young son, Charles IX, who succeeded to the throne, and usurped complete control of the Kingdom.  The forecast given in the present letter regarding Queen Mary’s future movements proved correct. Mary, who had lived in complete seclusion since her husband’s death, spent Easter at Rheims and then set out to Joinville to visit her grandmother, Antoinette de Bourbon, dowager Duchess of Guise. Thence she returned to Rheims and spent some weeks in seclusion in the Convent of St. Pierre with the Abbess, her aunt, Renee de Lorraine. Finally, she went to Paris where she stayed until July, when she set out for Scotland. At the time when the present letter was written, early in 1561, great endeavours were being made by Mary’s relatives to bring about a marriage between her and Don Carlos, a scheme very nearly concluded, in which case she would have become a step-daughter-in-law of Elisabeth, Queen of Spain, who was still supposed to be in love with her stepson herself. This scheme was strongly opposed by Catherine de’ Medici, who wanted Don Carlos to marry her younger daughter, Margaret, who is referred to in the present letter as ‘Madame your little daughter’ Louise de Bretagne was one of the maids-of-honour who accompanied Elisabeth to Spain. The ‘mademoiselle’ of the letter was another maid-of-honour, Anne de Bourbon Montpensier.

PETER II: (1715-1730) Emperor of Russia 1727-30. An extremely rare L.S., Peter, one page, small 4to, Moscow, 20th November 1729, to Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, in German. The Emperor writes on the occasion of having received news of the birth of his correspondent's daughter, Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. Autographs of Peter II are extremely rare in any form as a result of his untimely death from smallpox at the young age of 14 (just two months after signing the present letter). Some light creasing and a few minor stains, otherwise VG Ferdinand Albert II (1680-1735) Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, a Generalfeldmarschall in the army of the Holy Roman Empire.Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel (1729-1796) Queen of Denmark and Norway 1752-66, the second consort of King Frederick V of Denmark and Norway.

ALEXANDER III: (1845-1894) Emperor of Russia 1881-94. Attractive signed printed large folio copy of L´Illustration Journal Universel, French weekly edition, sixteen pages, 7th February 1885, signed by Alexander III, as Emperor, with his initial `A´ in red indelible pencil to the upper right corner of the front page. The Parisian journal includes multiple and very attractive large engravings, showing to the front page an engraving of Gordon Pacha and to the inside pages bearing several attractive engravings relating to the Panama canal and to man hunt in Siberia. The present copy was originally bound in a red leather folio volume for the Emperor, alongside other additions of the journal. Left edge very slightly trimmed, otherwise VG Charles George Gordon (1833-1885) British Army officer, known as Chinese Gordon or Gordon Pasha.   

[RUSSIA]: A small 8vo menu card featuring an attractive blue printed Russian coat of arms at the head, and with the manuscript menu, in French, below, 10th August 1913, individually signed in bold pencil by both Nicholas Nikolaevich (1856-1929) Russian Grand Duke, the grandson of Emperor Nicholas I and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Imperial Army during World War I, and Anastasia of Montenegro (1868-1935) Montenegrin Princess, Grand Duchess of Russia as the wife of Grand Duke Nicholas. Together with an oblong 12mo printed table place card for Colonel Dumezil, individually signed in bold pencil by Nicholas Nikolaevich, his wife Anastasia of Montenegro and Helen of Serbia (1884-1962) Serbian Princess, niece of Princess Anastasia, and Joseph Joffre (1852-1931) French General, Commander-in-Chief of the French forces on the Western Front 1914-16. Also including an unsigned printed oblong 8vo invitation card, in French, issued by their Imperial Highnesses Grand Duchess Anastasia and Grand Duke Michael and inviting the recipient to a lunch on 21st July (1913) at 12.15pm in the Grand Tent at the Krasnoe Selo camp. Accompanied by the original printed envelope addressed to Colonel Dumezil, Aide-de-Camp to Joffre. Some very light, minor staining and age wear, generally VG, 3In 1913 Joseph Joffre travelled to Saint Petersburg to meet with Tsar Nicholas II and the military elite of Russia as part of a diplomatic mission to strengthen the Triple Entente, the alliance formed between Russia, France and Britain as a military counterweight to the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria and Italy. On his arrival in Russia, Joffre was afforded the greatest of welcomes and receptions including being able to partake in military manoeuvres with the Russian Emperor himself. On 27th July 1913 the Tsar hosted a dinner at the Peterhof Palace in honour of the visiting French General and the French delegation.  

LA NOUE FRANÇOIS DE: (1531-1591) Also known as “Bras-de-fer” (“Iron Arm”). French Huguenot Captain. Best remembered for his exploits, such as the capture of Orléans at the head of only fifteen cavaliers in 1567, or the defeat he inflicted to Royalist troops before Rochefort. La Noue died as a result of a wound he received at the siege of Lamballe in Brittany. Very rare with historical content A.L.S., `La Noue´, one page, folio, Senlis, n.d. [May 1589], to the Duke of Longueville, in old French. Senlis is a small town in the north of France where Monarchs of the early French dynasties lived, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly forest. An excellent military letter, La Noue reporting to his correspondent and master about the last events occurred, and stating in part `…La ville de Crespy se fust rachetée du sac à six mille escuz…et maintenant, à ce qu´on me dit, la plume volle par les rues… Si nous eussions guère tardé, les ennemys nous eussent réveillez… Et le corps de l´armée ennemye… on croit que la dire armée vient prendre Mouy, Merlon, et de là à Clermont…´ (“`…The town of Crespy was redeemed itself with the bag of six thousand shields…If we had been little late, the enemies would have woken us up…And the body of the enemy army… it is believed that the said army is coming to take Mouy, Merlon, and from there to Clermont…”) La Noue further refers to Spanish troops which would be on the way to support the enemy, saying in part `…Si cela est, il faut que le Roy se soyt amuzé à ataquer Louviers…si l´ennemy a occupé la plaine en premier… il faut penser à choisir un autre lieu meilleur en ces villages ligueurs entre Crespy et Soissons…´ (“If it is so, the King must have had fun attacking Louviers... if the enemy has occupied the plain first...we must think about choosing another better place in the league villages area between Crespy and Soissons...”) A letter of excellent and historical content. With addressee to the verso. Small overall age wear with few water stains, although remaining perfectly legible. Professionally repaired to the verso to the edges. About G   The present letter was most probably written during the siege of Senlis, where the troops of the Duque of Longueville, Henri I d´Orleans, together with the troops commanded by François de la Noue defeated the Catholic League of France, supported at that time by the Pope Sixtus V, and by the King of Spain Philip II.Henri I d´Orleans (1568-1595) Duke of Longueville. Governor of Picardie, Soldier and Grand Chamberlain of France 1589-95 under Henry IV. He died at the very early age of 26. His funerary monument is at the Louvre Museum. Henri I of Orleans was the loose inspiration behind the character of Longueville in William Shakespeare´s Love´s Labour´s Lost. In 1570, at the siege of Fontenay, La Noue had his left arm shattered by a bullet and amputated. He ordered a mechanic of La Rochelle to make him an artificial iron arm with a hook allowing him to hold his reins.Charles IX (1550-1574) commissioned La Noue in 1572, after the Saint Bartholomew´s Day Massacre, to reconcile the inhabitants of La Rochelle to the King. The inhabitants of La Rochelle, the great stronghold of the Huguenots, were not in favour and La Noue decided to give up the Royal commission and acted as General of La Rochelle 1574-78.In 1579 La Noue was imprisoned for five years, and during his captivity he wrote his celebrated Discours Politiques et Militaires, published in 1587 in France, same year in English, and few years later published in German. His work had an immense influence on soldiers of all European nations. 

TITO JOSIP BROZ: (1892-1980) Yugoslav communist revolutionary who served as President of Yugoslavia 1953-80 and as Prime Minister 1944-63. T.L.S., J B Tito, one page, small 4to, Brioni, 5th January 1965, to Lieutenant General Miloje Milojevic, in Serbo-Croatian. Tito sends thanks to his correspondent for the congratulations and wishes they had sent him on the occasion of the New Year 1965 on behalf of the soldiers and elders of the First Army Region. With blank integral leaf. VG  

‘We cannot continue to allow horrible outrages to be perpetuated under our very noses’ CHURCHILL WINSTON S.: (1874-1965) British Prime Minister 1940-45, 1951-55. Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1953. An exceptional, lengthy early A.L.S., Winston S. Churchill, five pages, 4to, Bangalore, India, 25th October [1896], to Algernon West ('My dear Sir Algernon'). Churchill states that he has received a copy of the Nineteenth Century containing West's article and has 'passed a delightful morning reading it', remarking 'The alterations in the arrangement which you made since I had the opportunity of reading the typewritten proof have added improvements where I had thought none were possible. As it now stands the article is the most valuable tribute which his [Churchill's father, Lord Randolph Churchill, who had died prematurely in January 1895] memory has received - and I shall be grateful to you all my life for having been the author. To those who were his friends it must vividly recall old days and associations - while for those for whom the subject has no special interest cannot fail to find your article pleasant reading.' Churchill continues to complain of the delay in news he receives from England, observing 'The Indian papers are the most despicable and worthless productions that can be imagined…..gushing accounts of the Viceroy's tour are the only matter: when the mail does come in there is such a plethora of news that one is tempted to rush through a week's “Times” in a single morning - or at any rate to read the last one first' and further writes of events at home and in Europe, 'It appears to me however that you are having anything but monotonous times in Europe. What with Mr. Gladstone's speech and Lord Rosebery's resignation and the Czar's visit - the newspapers are full of interest…..Perhaps we may be at war with Turkey - or perchance the Armenian question will have been finally settled by the exhaustion of its principle factor - the Armenians. It is a bad thing to prophesy, however. Our course seems to be quite clear. We cannot continue to allow horrible outrages to be perpetuated under our very noses. We cannot interfere ourselves and therefore the only course open is to allow some one else to put a stop to an impossible state of things. And after all - what country has a better right to Constantinople than Russia. The possession of an unfrozen port is the legitimate aspiration of a great people. Few nations - indeed - are so moderate. Turkey has got to go - sooner or later and it is much better that we should avail ourselves of an excellent excuse for evacuating an untenable position - than wait to be ignominiously expelled there from'. The young Churchill turns his attention to other foreign matters, 'So the Egyptian Expedition has terminated successfully and the revenues of the fertile province of Dongola will soon put the reservoir scheme on its legs again. Your party's gloomy anticipations were after all incorrect. I daresay you have seen the way in which we are continually attacked in Truth. Mr. Labouchere now insinuates that it was my influence….that prevented the W.O. from acting. Could anything be so absurd. He has been wrong all through this business and were he conversant with the actual facts, no one would be more sorry than he, for the line he has taken. Of course we are not allowed to say a word, or he would have got plenty of information and evidence. However, it sells his papers. I myself am now a regular subscriber.' With blank integral leaf. A letter of wonderful content. One very small spindle hole to the upper left corner of each page and some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Sir Algernon West (1832-1921) English civil servant who acted as Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister William Gladstone. Churchill had joined the British Army in 1895 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, accompanying them to India in October 1896. Based at Bangalore, Churchill spent nineteen months in India during which time he joined expeditions to the North West Frontier and Hyderabad. It was whilst in India that Churchill also began a self-education project, reading a range of works from Plato to Darwin and also engrossing himself in the political almanac The Annual Register.  

TROTSKY LEON: (1879-1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary. Founder and first Leader of the Red Army. Assassinated. Very rare A.L.S., `Leon´, one page, small 8vo, Pachuca, Mexico, 8th July 1937, to Frida Kahlo, in French. Trotsky, deported from Norway, landed in Mexico only six months before the present letter was written, in January 1937, when he and his wife were hosted by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in their own home. Shortly after and seduced by Kahlo´s charms, they had an affair, as the present letter demonstrates, Trotsky annotating at the base `Je t´……….´, being the starting letters of `Je t´aime´ (`I love you´). Trotsky states `Je n´ai pas réussi à envoyer hier la carte postale ; je la met dans l´enveloppe parce que je suis obligé d´envoyer les lettres par l´intermédiaire de l´administration de M. Gomez( ?) et ma carte postale parrait être comprise comme une ``plainte´´. Mes saluts les plus chaleureux´ (`I did not manage to send the postcard yesterday; I put it in the envelope because I am obliged to send the letters through the administration of Mr. Gomez(?) and my postcard seems to be understood as a ``complaint''. My warmest greetings´) With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope, postmarked and stamped in Mexico. Small overall age wear with a vertical crease, otherwise G    Trotsky was exiled to Kazakhstan in January 1928, and was later expelled from the Soviet Union to Turkey in February 1929, accompanied by his wife Natalia Sedova and their eldest son, Lev. He made requests to enter Belgium, France, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom, but all refused access.In July 1933, Trotsky was offered asylum in France although he was forbidden to live in Paris and found himself under the surveillance of the French police. In February 1934 a decree was issued to deport Trotsky from France. Trotsky would then be admitted in Norway where he lived from 1935 to 1936. Almost all Trotskyists who were still within the Soviet Union's borders were executed in the Great Purges of 1936-1938. In December 1936, Trotsky and his wife were deported from Norway after spending the last four months under house arrest, at a farm distant from Oslo, harshly treated and forced to stay indoors for 22 hours per days and under the constant guard of thirteen policemen. Deported by the Norwegian authorities, Trotsky arrived to Mexico in January 1937.From January 1937 to April 1939, Trotsky and his wife lived in the Coyoacan area of Mexico City, at La Casa Azul (The Blue House), the home of the painter Diego Rivera and his wife and fellow painter, Frida Kahlo, with whom Trotsky had an affair. His final move was a few blocks away to a residence on Avenida Viena in April 1939, following a break with Rivera.Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) Magdalena Frida Kahlo y Calderón. Mexican surrealist Painter, known for her self-portraits and naive folk Mexican art. Kahlo married Mexican artist Diego Rivera, and is regarded as an icon for feminism movements.Diego Rivera (1886-1957) Mexican Painter, husband of Frida Kahlo. 

LIBERATION OF CUBA - CESPEDES DEL CASTILLO: (1819-1874) Carlos Manuel de Céspedes del Castillo 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 historical content D.S., `C.M. de Cespedes´, one page, large folio, Bayamo, 19th October 1868, in Spanish. The document is a decree, bearing to the heading an attractive vignette of a coat of arms of the Provisional Government, and at base a large black paper seal of the (“Ejercito Libertador de Cuba”, Army of Liberation of Cuba. The decree, signed by Cespedes in his capacity of General in chief of the Liberation army of Cuba, contains the appointment, posts, and names of the new members of the new Government. Also signed by Ignacio Martinez and by Fernando Fornaris y Cespedes. An excellent and attractive document. Overall age wear with trimmed edges and repair to the verso to the fold. G Cespedes was a landowner and lawyer in eastern Cuba, near Bayamo, who purchased an estate with a sugar plantation in 1844, after returning from Spain. On 10th October 1868, only 9 days before the present document was issued, he made the “Grito de Yara” (“Cry of Yara”), declaring Cuban independence. he Ten Years' War. That morning, after sounding the slave bell, which indicated to his slaves it was time for work, they stood before him waiting for orders, and Cespedes announced that they were all free men and were invited to join him in war against the Spanish government of Cuba. In April 1869, he was chosen as President of the Republic of Cuba in Arms 

MACEO Y GRAJALES JOSE ANTONIO: (1845-1896) Guerrilla iconic Leader and second-in-command of the Cuban army of independence. Cubans nicknamed Maceo ''The Bronze Titan'' because of his multiple wounds in battle, while Spanish nicknamed him ''The elder Lion''. Maceo was killed near Punta Brava by Spanish forces after being betrayed by the physician of his headquarters. Rare D.S., `Jose Maceo´, one page, folio, Head Quarters of El Perico, 14th March 1896, in Spanish. The present letter was signed by Maceo six months before being killed. The partially printed document bears a printed coat of arms to the upper left corner and is the appointment of vice-Lieutenant Miguel Fernandez as Lieutenant, and signed by Mateo y Grajales in his capacity as General Major of the Liberation Army of Cuba. Overall important age wear, creasing and staining, with few holes and small tears to edges. Large repairs to the verso. P 

MASO MARQUEZ BARTOLOME DE JESUS: (1830-1907) Cuban Politician and military Patriot. A main figure of Cuban independence. President of the Cuban ''Republic in Arms'' 1897-98. D.S., `Bart. Masó´, two pages, Cuba, 1st of August 1898, to officer Eligio Fariñas, in Spanish. The partially printed document, bearing the heading ''El Presidente de la Republica de Cuba'', is a military appointment in favour of Eligio Fariñas, appointing him as infantry Lieutenant. Signed at the base by the President of the Republic Bartolomé Masó. The present document is signed during the short period of 12 months that Masó was President. Bearing to the front three blind embossed seals, one of the Liberating Army. With several countersignatures to the verso by several members of the government, including Jose Clemente Vivanco (1873-1946), also bearing several ink stamps of various ministries of the Republic of Cuba. Overall age wear and creasing, mostly to edges. F to G                                            

‘I trust in the courage and patriotism of my soldiers, and I promise myself a certain victory’ BOLIVAR SIMON: (1783-1830) Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire. Bolivar served as the first President of Colombia 1819-30, the sixth President of Peru 1824-27 and the first President of Bolivia 1825. An interesting, rare A.L.S., Bolivar, three pages, 4to, Headquarters of Carupano, 27th June 1816, to Benoit Chasseriau, on Bolivar's printed stationery as Supreme Chief of the Republic, Captain General of the Armies of Venezuela etc., in Spanish. Bolivar forwards his correspondent a collection of bulletins which 'will instruct you of the operations we have executed, and of the advantages gained over the enemy wherever we have appeared', remarking 'If fortune, which has protected us hitherto in spite of the scarcity of means with which we have undertaken the first operations, continues to favour us in the future when we already have a very considerable body of troops, the campaign will be decided very soon in our favour'. Boliver further adds that he has been at Carupano for a month, busily raising and organising his army, and informs Chasseriau, 'At present, the only thing that stops me is General Marino, who should arrive at any moment with a large body that he brings me from Guiria. I expect it within two days to begin my marches immediately on Cumana. Although the enemy has concentrated there or in its vicinity, I trust in the courage and patriotism of my soldiers, and I promise myself a certain victory. The plains have been abandoned by the Spaniards who have brought to Cumana the troops with which they covered them, against the innumerable guerrillas who fight in that part for freedom. To take advantage of these circumstances, I have sent General Piar to Maturin with orders to put himself at the head of the army that must be formed from the meeting of our guerrillas. Their marches will be fast and they will go where it suits us best.' Bolivar concludes his letter by writing 'Friend, everything conspires to assure us the fruit of our efforts. The Spaniards are so disappointed that they cannot succeed and that their situation is desperate that although they appear to defend themselves, they only try to flee and save themselves. The generosity of the conduct that I have proposed towards them, I believe, goes to influence a lot to facilitate the freedom of my country'. A letter of excellent content and good association. Some light overall age wear and a few small tears and holes to the edges, G Benoit Chasseriau (1780-1844) French diplomat and spy, a comrade in arms of Simon Bolivar whom El Libertador appointed Minister of the Interior and the Police at Cartagena, Colombia. In 1816, the year of the present letter, Chasseriau helped finance Bolivar's expedition to los Cayos in the southwestern part of Haiti.  Manuel Piar (1774-1817) General-in-Chief of the Army fighting against Spain during the Venezuelan War of Independence. In 1817, following his military victories, Pilar, a mesitzos, came into conflict with Bolivar. In what is one of the independence struggle's darkest episodes, Bolivar gave orders for Piar to be arrested and tried for desertion, insubordination, and conspiring against the government. On 16th October 1817 Piar was executed by a firing squad.

SUCRE ANTONIO JOSE DE: (1795-1830) Venezuelan independence Leader and Hero. Statesman and General, also known as the ''Grand Marshal of Ayacucho''.  One of Simon Bolivar's closest friends. President of Bolivia 1825-28 and President of Peru 1823. Assassinated. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `A.J de Sucre´, one page, 4to, Headquartes at Cuzco, 12th January 1825, to a Prefect of a Peruvian department, in Spanish. The letter bears to the upper left corner the printed text ''United Liberator Army of Peru'', and Sucre referring to the reports received dated 7th, and two dated 8th, instructs urgent troops movements, stating in part `..you refer on a further report dated 7th to the troops arrival from Ica. It is also necessary that the… who will be unoccupied arrive very fast. The Hospital has reduced to half, or less than half the number of injured...´ Further again Sucre sends a very urgent order, requesting urgent arrival of troops, and saying `The troops are not in good physical condition, and therefore it is necessary that they come rushing, rushing all those not urgently needed there´ The document bears two circular paper seals affixed to the left front border, one of them showing the Crown coat of arms of King of Spain Ferdinand VII, which could mean that the present letter written and signed by Sucre could have been intercepted. Autograph documents of Sucre are rare in any form after his assassination at the age of 35. Small overall minor age wear, with large remnants of former affixing to the verso, but not affecting the front.G  The present letter is written only a month after Sucre secured the independence of Peru with his victory at Pampa La Quinua, where, in his capacity as Simon Bolivar´s Lieutenant, defeated the Spanish Royalist troops at the Battle of Ayacucho. Although Royalists signed the final capitulation, the military campaign of Sucre continued through 1825 in upper Peru and finally ended in 1826.

[INDIA]: A page removed from an autograph album individually signed by Louis Mountbatten (1900-1979) British Admiral of World War II, later serving as the last Viceroy of India of British India, 1947 and as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of India 1947-48 ('Mountbatten of Burma') and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900-1990) Indian diplomat and politician, the first woman to be appointed President of the United Nations General Assembly (1953-54). Sister of Jawaharlal Nehru and aunt of Indira Gandhi ('Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit', adding the date, 10th November 1966, in her hand). Together with William Slim (1891-1970) British Field Marshal of World War II who led the Fourteenth Army in the Burma campaign. Blue fountain pen ink signature ('W. J. Slim, General') on an oblong 12mo piece neatly laid down to a page removed from an autograph album. G to VG, 2

SPANISH EARTH THE: An original typescript of the narrative to the documentary film The Spanish Earth (1937), eight pages (including a title page with credits), 4to, n.p., n.d. (1936/37), with numerous holograph corrections and directions, most of which are likely to be in the hand of the film's director, Joris Ivens. The text states, in part, 'This Spanish earth is dry and hard and the faces of the men who work that earth are hard and dry from the sun. This worthless land with water would yield much for 50 years we have wanted to irrigate but they held us back. Now we will bring water to it to raise food for the defenders of Madrid. The village of Fuenteduena……is on the Tajo river and the main highroad that is the life-line between Valencia and Madrid. All food for Madrid comes on this road. To win the war, the rebel troops must cut this road…..This is the true face of men going into action. It is a little different from any other face that you will ever see…..When you are fighting to defend your country, war as it lasts becomes an almost normal life. You eat and drink, sleep and read the papers……When these men started for the lines three months ago many of them held a rifle for the first time. Some didn't even know how to reload. Now they are instructing the new recruits how to take down and to reassemble a rifle……The bearded man is Commander Martinez de Aragon. Before the war he was a lawyer. He was a brave and skillful (sic) commander and he died in the attack on the Casa del Campo on the day we filmed the battle there…….The clenched fists of Republican Spain. Enrique Lister, a stonemason from Galicia. In six months of fighting he rose from a simple soldier to the command of a division. He is one of the most brilliant young soldiers of the Republican Army……He talks of the army of the people, how they are fighting for Spanish democracy and for the government they themselves have chosen……It is a nation disciplined and brave. It is a new nation forged in the discipline of its soldiers and the enduring bravery of its women…..Living in the cellars of that ruined building are the enemies. They are Moors and civil guards…..they are professional soldiers fighting against the people in arms, trying to impose the will of the military on the will of the people, and the people hate them, for without their tenacity and the constant aid of Italy and Germany, the Spanish revolt would have ended six weeks after it began…..Death comes each morning to these people of the town……The smell of death is acrid high-explosive smoke and blasting granite. Why do they stay? They stay because this is their city. These are their homes. Here is their work. This is their fight. They fight to be allowed to live as human beings……Before, death came when you were old or sick, but now it comes to all this village. High in the sky and in shining silver it comes to all who have no place to run, no place to hide…..' . Together with six unsigned 10 x 8 photographs and slightly smaller, most with annotations etc. by Joris Ivens to the versos, all relating to The Spanish Earth and including images of Ivens and Hemingway in a trench, Ivens and Hemingway accompanied by Luise Rainer and Joan Crawford, ruined buildings and burnt-out cars captured during the filming of The Spanish Earth etc. Some overall age wear, creasing and small tears to the edges of the pages etc., generally G, 7 The anti-fascist documentary film The Spanish Earth (1937) was directed by Joris Ivens during the Spanish Civil War and made in support of the democratically elected Republicans. The film's narrative was written by Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos and originally narrated by Orson Welles and re-recorded by Hemingway (with Jean Renoir providing the narration for the French release of the film). President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt invited Ivens and Hemingway to show the film at the White House on 8th July 1937 ahead of its premiere

REINHARDT DJANGO: (1910-1953) Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer, one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe. An extremely rare vintage signed and inscribed 7 x 9.5 photograph of Reinhardt in a head and shoulders pose smoking a cigarette. Photograph by Teddy Piaz of Paris. Signed by Reinhardt in dark fountain pen ink to a clear area of the image, 'POUR BOB DJANGO Reinhardt', in his semi-literate hand. Autographs of Reinhardt are extremely rare in any form as both a result of his lack of formal education and his untimely death at the age of 43. Some very light, minor surface creasing and areas of silvering to the image, about VG Provenance: The present photograph is accompanied by a statement of provenance signed by Lorraine Klaiss Myers in which she states that the signed photograph was 'given to my father in Paris, France where he met Django at his club, La Roulotte, during WWII in 1943', further explaining 'My father, Bob Klaiss, was a professional bass player from Philadelphia. PA, playing in Army bands during the war. He has since passed, but told me what a memorable experience it was to meet and hear the famous jazz guitarist perform at his club in Paris'. The statement also makes reference to an original 2.5 x 3 snapshot photograph taken by Bob Klaiss (included in the present lot) which depicts the entrance to La Roulette and features Reinhardt's name above the door. The photograph is annotated to the verso 'Paris, France, 1943', and also signed by Klaiss.  

GREGORY XIV: (1535-1591) Pope of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States 1590-1591. During his brief pontificate which lasted only ten months, Gregory XIV excommunicated King Henry IV and levied an army for the invasion of France. Rare manuscript letter, with corrections and amendments in the Pope´s hand, one page, folio, n.p., 25th March January 1587, to Cardinal Monte-Alto, in Italian. Gregory XIV, in his capacity as Cardinal Nicolo Sfondrati, thanks his correspondent for reading his letter to his uncle Pope Sixtus V and states in part `Un Molto favore ben grande m´ha fatto V.[ostra] S.[signoria] Ill[ustrissi]ma, facendo leggere a N[ostro] S[igno]re quella lettera mia delli 8 di Gen[nai]o…et dando poi aviso a me di quanto S.[ua] B.[eatitudi] senti, et rispose in quell fatto…´ ("Y.[our] I.[llustrious] S.[signoria] did me a very big favour by making Our Eminence read that letter of mine dated on the 8th of January... and then giving me notice of what Y.[our] B.[eatitudi] feels, and replied to those facts...") Further again, and before concluding Gregory XIV states in part `..osservato poi il tempo, che il vic[ari]o mio stesse occupato in celebrar la messa, tornó con tutti I Sbirri a cercare con quell malmodo, che giá ho scritto..´ Accompanied by a full transcription of the letter. Small overall minor age wear, otherwise G   Alessandro Peretti di Montalto (1571-1623) Italian Catholic Cardinal Bishop.

MANSON CHARLES: (1934-2017) American Criminal who led the cult-based Manson Family, responsible for multiple deaths (including the murder of Sharon Tate) and the subject of Quentin Tarantino's film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. A.L.S., C Manson, four pages, 4to, n.p. (Vacaville, California), n.d. (August 1982), to Nuel Melton Emmons ('Dear Mel'). Manson writes, in part, 'I feel we are more than even - you may of gained a lot in our experences (sic) & I wish you will & luck on your way to what & where ever it takes you but good buddy I got to be off from what your doing. I thought that sooner or later we could meet in the truth - but I've gave up on that. The 50 - never got to Wes. The picture of the hut & the Japan guy with the army guy on his knees & the guy with the gun over him picture never got back as you said. So meaney (sic) things have came between us that I can't keep track - you pushed if off on the chick the last time we took pictures & you have cut me off of things & things have cut us off from each other - I got no bad for you & I don't want it to pile up to where eather (sic) one of us start shooting arows (sic) at each other - If you feel I got anything comeing (sic) from you give it your self. I don't need nothing & what ever I need or want I can git for my self. It would of been nice had we been able to git it right for the 2 of us but that's not working out. Not because of you or me & there is no blame to push, no negitive (sic) - its just not working - That's not my book & if your lieing (sic) about a chickenshit 50 or a hand full of pictures I can emagian (sic) what you got in that book - That's your book an how you see what ever is best for you……you still haven't got through the doors of my understandings of what I'm doing, what I'm doing is also controled (sic) by others….don't be mad at me or push off on me because I was nice & week & a chump & I won't be mad at you. I watched to show how much a fool you thought of yourself……I'll remember you as a friend…..I would like a picture of that Manson buggy that was in Life long ago. I don't want to visit anymore….' Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Manson and signed ('C Manson') by him in the return address. Some creasing, a few light stains and with file holes and small tears to some edges, caused by the pages having been torn from a notebook. About VG Nuel Melton Emmons (1927-2002) American photojournalist and biographer of Manson. Emmons first met Manson briefly when he was imprisoned for automobile theft in 1956, and again under similar circumstances in 1960. In 1979, he contacted Manson and began extensive interviews and his correspondence with Manson resulted in the book In His Own Words - The Shocking Confessions of the Most Dangerous Man Alive (1986).

VALERY PAUL: (1871-1945) French Poet and Philosopher. A very fine A.L.S., `Paul Valery´, three pages, 8vo, n.p. [Paris], Thursday 2nd March 1944, to Monsieur Bourguignon, in French. On his personal stationery, bearing his blind embossed Parisian address to the upper left corner, Valery explains to his correspondent the reason of his absence at the council session, stating `Mon état de santé, encore bien incertain, ne m´a pas permis d´assister à la séance d´hier du Conseil, et d´avoir le plaisir de vous y rencontrer. Je vous aurais vivement remercié de l´envoi que vous avez bien voulu me faire de ce bel album napoléonien´ (“My health, still very uncertain, did not allow me to attend yesterday´s Council meeting, and to have the pleasure of meeting you there. I would have sincerely thanked you for sending me this beautiful Napoleonic album”) Valery further refers to the Emperor, Napoleon, and to the Malmaison museum which his under the direction of his correspondent, saying `…ravivant mes souvenirs de la Malmaison et du Musée de l´armée. Il faut avouer qu´on ne peut pas se lasser de songer à l´Empereur. Tout ce qui contribue à nous faire imaginer plus précisément cet être extraordinaire nous est précieux…´ (“…rekindling my memories of Malmaison and the Army Museum. We must admit that one cannot get tired of thinking of the Emperor. Anything that helps us imagine this extraordinary human being more precisely is precious to us...”) Further again Valery comments that during his next visit he will relate to his correspondent few very interesting things related to Napoleon, stating in part `…je vous raconterai une ou deux choses qui vous intéresseront… et une troisième qui vous intéressera certainement, toutes les trois relatives à notre héros…´ (“… I will tell you one or two things that will be of interest to you… and a third that will certainly be of interest to you, all three relating to our hero…”) Paper with a Verge Muller watermark. Very light crease to the bottom right corner, otherwise VG Jean Bourguignon (1876-1953) French Historian. Curator of the Malmaison Museum 1917-46, a house which was offered by Napoleon Bonaparte to his spouse Josephine de Beauharnais. He was also curator of the Museum of the Armies, and a specialist in the French Revolution and Napoleonic era, publishing several works. Bourguignon was the author of the first biography of Arthur Rimbaud.  

LOUYS PIERRE: (1870-1925) French Poet and Novelist. A very good A.L.S., with his initials, two pages, small 4to, Villa Velleda, Arcachon, 13th August 1911, in French. Louys, in his usual clean writing in bold purple ink, refers to other French writers, stating in part `Et… Rostand qui vient d´écrire tout un poème sur ton discours du 14 juillet ou sur les mêmes idées, prétend qu´on vient de voir renaitre la Prouesse et l´Exploit…. Ne rêvons pas sur ce qui pourrait se passer dans 18 mois sur tel ou tel champ de bataille. Supposons une bataille demain. Demain 14 août, deux hommes, deux hommes seulement, peuvent en toute sécurité faire 500 kilomètres au dessus d´une armée ennemie et de ses plus lointains renforts, - et rentrer au camp: Beaumont. Védrines. (Beaumont surtout). Mais deux français. - pas un allemand!´ ("And… Rostand, who has just written a whole poem on your July 14th speech or on the same ideas, claims that we have just seen the Prowess and the Exploit reborn…. Let's not dream about what could happen in 18 months on this or that battlefield. Let´s suppose a battle tomorrow. Tomorrow August 14th, two men, two men only, can safely travel 500 kilometres above an enemy army and its most distant reinforcement troops, - and return to camp: Beaumont. Vedrines. (Beaumont especially). But two French. - not a German!") Further, Louys insists on his better and unique candidate, Beaumont, and states `Ai-je tort de croire qu´un homme comme celui-là est pour une armée modern ce qu´Achille ou Roland pouvaient être pour les armées de jadis? - l´homme impossible à remplacer, - l´homme don't on a besoin pour vaincre´ ("Am I wrong to believe that a man like that is for a modern army what Achilles or Roland could be for the armies of yesterday? - the man impossible to replace, - the man we need to win") Concluding to a postscriptum beneath his signature, Louys says `Ah! Je suis terriblement emphysémateux mais je m´enrolerais d´avance dans les bataillons de marche pour avoir le droit de voter la guerre. Jamais, depuis 1870, l´occasion n´a été meilleure pour nous. Qui sait si elle se retrouvera?´ ("Ah! I am terribly emphysematous but I would enroll in advance in the marching battalions to have the right to vote for war. Never since 1870 has the opportunity been better for us. Who knows if we will have another opportunity?") VG Edmond Rostand (1868-1918) French Poet. Best known for his play Cyrano de Bergerac.Jean Louis Conneau (1880-1937) better known under the pseudonym André Beaumont. French pioneer Aviator, Naval Lieutenant and Manufacturer.Jules Védrines (1881-1919) French Pioneer Aviator, the first to fly at more than 100 mph. Winner of the Gordon Bennett Trophy race, 1912.

‘But I hope well before the end of the year to have finished Colombe Blanchet and to have you read it’ ALAIN-FOURNIER HENRI: (1886-1914) French author and soldier. A rare A.L.S., H. Alain-Fournier, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. ('Mardi' c.1913-14), to a lady [Marie Scheikevitch], in French. Alain-Fournier writes a letter of gratitude, and also makes reference to what would have been his second novel, 'Vous m'avez fait grand plaisir en me donnant l'occasion et la possibilitie de voir M. Hebrard. Il m'a propose pour Le Temps ce qu'il etait le plus logique de me proposer: lui apporter mon prochain roman. Ce que j'ai promis bien volontiers. Ce second roman est, pour l'instant, un peu retarde par une nouvelle oeuvre qui s'est mise au travers de ma route et qui ne me laisse pas beaucoup de repit. Mais j'espere bien avant la fin de l'annee avoir termine Colombe Blanchet et vous la faire lire. Je souhaite qu'elle vous plaise et vous prie d'agreer, chere Madame, l'assurance de mes sentiments tres respecteux et reconnaissants' (Translation: 'You gave me great pleasure by giving me the opportunity and the possibility of seeing M. Hebrard. He offered me for Le Temps what it was most logical to offer me: bring him my next novel. What I gladly promised. This second novel is, for the moment, a little delayed by a new work which has gotten in my way and which does not leave me much respite. But I hope well before the end of the year to have finished Colombe Blanchet and to have you read it. I hope you like it and please accept, dear Madame, the assurance of my most respectful and grateful feelings'). With blank integral leaf (one light stain). Autograph letters of Alain-Fournier are rare as a result of his death at the young age of 27 when killed in action during World War I. VG Marie Scheikevitch (1882-1964) Artist and autobiographer who moved in artistic and literary circles and was a close friend of Marcel Proust. Like Alain-Fournier, her lover Adrien Hebrard (1833-1914) French journalist and politician, director of Le Temps, died during World War I. Alain-Fournier's second novel, Colombe Blanchet, was started in 1914 but remained unfinished when he joined the army as a lieutenant in August.  Provenance: The present letter was previously held within the Albin Schram Collection of Autograph Letters, sold by Christie's in July 2007.  

MALUS ETIENNE-LOUIS: (1775-1812) French Officer, Engineer, Physicist and Mathematician. Malus participated in Napoleon´s expedition to Egypt. He is best-remembered for Malus´s law. Member of the Academy of Sciences, awarded by the Royal Society of London, Malus important mathematical work mostly related to the study of light. He is credited with the discoveries of the polarization of light by reflection and for his theory of double refraction. Malus died at the early age of 36. Very rare D.S., `Malus´, and adds beneath `Chef de B.[ataill]on du génie´, ("Engineer´s Battalion Chief"), one page, oblong folio, Cairo, Egypt, 19th June 1800, in French. The partially printed document, being a receipt of payment from the National Treasury, with the heading of the Army of Egypt. Malus acknowledges receipt of three hundred and seventy five Pounds. Overall age wear and staining, mostly to borders, with edges slightly trimmed. About G

[ANGLO-ZULU WAR]: DURNFORD ANTHONY: (1830-1879) Irish Lieutenant-Colonel who served in the Anglo-Zulu war and is remembered for his defeat by the Zulus at the Battle of Isandhlwana, a disaster for the British Army. An extremely rare A.L.S., A. W. Durnford, one page, 8vo, P[ieter]M[aritz]Burg, 19th December 1878, to Captain Allison. Durnford writes, in full, 'Enclosed cheque (no longer present) for £900 on Ladysmith for the purchase of 150 cattle to march with the clan'. With blank integral leaf. Autographs of Durnford are extremely rare in any form as a result of his untimely death at the age of 48 when killed fighting at the Battle of Isandhlwana. Some traces of former mounting to the lower left corner, otherwise VG 

BIRON: (1747-1793) Armand Louis de Gontaut, Duc de Lauzun, Duc de Biron. French officer and Politician. Best known for his achievements in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary wars. A leading figure of freemasonry. He was guillotined in Paris on 31st December 1793. An excellent and lengthy A.L.S., `Biron´, eight pages, 4to, Nice, 21st February 1793, to a General, in French. Biron expresses his sadness regarding the situation of the army he is commanding, due to the lack of organization and appointed officers, and lists the new appointments granted by the Minister of War, and refers to General Dagobert, appointed by the National Convention. Further referring to Marshal Brune, stating in part `It was also conveyed to appoint General your Camp Marshal Brune who seemed to me a distinguished officer who has rendered the best services..´ A very clean and lengthy letter with detailed report referring to the army situation, behaviour of troops, needs, officers appointments, etc.. A letter of very interesting content. VG  Amelie de Boufflers (1751-1794) Spouse of Duc de Biron. Guillotined six months after her husband´s execution. Jean Jacques Rousseau met her when she was only ten, and would write about her ''C'était une charmante personne. Elle avait vraiment une figure, une douceur, une timidité virginale. Rien de plus aimable et de plus intéressant que sa figure, rien de plus tendre et de plus chaste que les sentiments qu'elle inspirait''. Luc Dagobert (1736-1794) French General of the French Revolution. Dagobert was sent to Spain few months later where he died a year after. Guillaume Marie Anne Brune (1763-1815) Marshal of France. 

HOCHE LAZARE: (1768-1797) French General of the Revolutionary army. Best known for his victory over Royalist forces in Brittany. Hoche joined the National Guard in September 1789, two months after the Storming of the Bastille, and was among the Guardsmen under the command of Lafayette who escorted Louis XVI and his family out of the Palace of Versailles. Minister of war in 1797. Lazare died of tuberculosis at the early age of 29. L.S., `L. Hoche´, one page, 4to, Head Quarters of Friedberg, 19th May 1797, to General Grenier, in French. The document is an authorization to move the 6th Regiment of Chasseurs to the 4th Division. The present letter is signed by Hoche in his capacity as General Commandant in chief of the Sambre and Meuse Army, and only four months before dying. Very small minor age toning and creasing mostly to edges. G

‘I am confident about the fate of this unfortunate country’ CADOUDAL GEORGES: (1771-1804) French General, leader of the Chouannerie during the French Revolution. Executed by guillotine and posthumously made a Marshal of France by King Louis XVIII. A good, rare A.L.S., Georges, one page, small 4to, n.p., 26th February 1800, to Guillaume Brune, in French. Cadoudal states that he has received his correspondent's letter and proclamation and will depart immediately for Nantes 'comptant sur vos promesses' (Translation: 'counting on your promises'), further remarking 'Je suis tranquille sur le sort de ce malheureux pays' (Translation: 'I am confident about the fate of this unfortunate country') and adding 'Je suis etonne que vous vous plaigniez des legions de Debar et de Rohu je suis certain qu'elles ont depose les armes et que ces deux officiers ont le plus grand desir de jouir de la paix et de la procurer a leurs infortunees legions' (Translation: 'I am surprised that you complain about the legions of Debar and Rohu, I am sure that they have laid down their arms and that these two officers have the greatest desire to enjoy peace and to procure it for their unfortunate legions'). Cadoudal makes a request of Brune, 'Je vous prie de faire passer au citoyen Mercier deux passes et deux garanties pour le citoyen Cecillon Aine et le citoyen Gauville de Lautore' (Translation: 'Please give Citizen Mercier two passes and two guarantees for Citizen Cecillon Aine and Citizen Gauville de Lautore') and concludes by stating 'Je desire que ce que vous m'annoncez se realise et que mon voyage de Paris puisse etre de quelque utilite pour mon malheureux pays' (Translation: 'I hope that what you announce to me will come true and that my trip to Paris may be of some use to my unfortunate country'). With integral address leaf (some dust staining and a small area of paper loss caused by the original breaking of the seal). A letter of good content and interesting association, written during a brief lull in the relations between the two enemies. VG Guillaume Brune (1764-1815) 1st Count Brune. French military commander and political figure who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. Marshal of the Empire. Jean Francois Edme Le Paige de Bar (1763-1813) French military officer who fought with the Chouannerie during the French Revolutionary Wars. Jean Rohu (1771-1849) French military officer who fought with the Chouannerie during the French Revolutionary Wars. Pierre-Mathurin Mercier la Vendee (1774-1801) French Field Marshal who fought with the Chouannerie during the French Revolutionary Wars. As announced in the present letter, Cadoudal was going to Paris to meet Napoleon, who admired his enemy's skill and obstinate energy. The meeting did not go well and Cadoudal declined the post of Brigadier General offered to him in the Republican Army and refused to come to any understanding with the government. From 1800 it was impossible for Cadoudal to continue to wage open war, so he centred his efforts on conspiracies, often whilst based in England. The General was indirectly involved in the Plot of the Rue Saint-Nicaise in December 1800 although managed to flee to England again. By 1803 Cadoudal and his conspirators wanted to undertake a new kidnap or assassination attempt on Napoleon whilst on the road to Malmaison. Cadoudal was eventually arrested and found guilty of his involvement in the assassination plot and sentenced to death. He refused to ask for pardon and, aged 33, was guillotined in Paris along with eleven of his companions.  

ROUGET DE LISLE CLAUDE: (1760-1836) French Officer of the French Revolutionary wars. Best known for being the creator of the words and music of the “Chant de Guerre pour l´armée du Rhin” (“War Song for the army of the Rhin”) in 1792, and which would become later the French National anthem La Marseillaise. A good A.L.S., `R. de Lisle´, one page, 8vo, n.p., [Paris], Wednesday 25th November 1823, to Monsieur de Montrol, in French. De Lisle kindly thanks his correspondent for his invitation, but rejects it, stating `Mille remerciements de votre obligeante invitation. Mais nous demeurons si loin l´un de l´autre! Les soirées commencent et se prolongent si tard....´ (“Many thanks for your kind invitation. But we live so far apart! The evenings start and continue so late....”), and further explains in detail the reasons, stating in part `... et puis, je ne me porte pas bien; j´ai du chagrin, et de plus d´une manière. En somme je ne suis plus qu´une vieille patraque qui se détraque pour parler en rimeur, et comme tel, très peu propre à figurer dans vos joyeuses réunions´ (“... and also, I'm not well; I grieve, and in more than one way. In short, I am nothing more than an old clumsy who breaks down to speak in rhyme, and as such, very little suited to appear in your happy meetings”) With address leaf bearing a postmark and a small area of paper loss due to the letter opening. G to VG  

LECLERC CHARLES: (1772-1802) French General who served under Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolution. Husband of Pauline Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon. A rare D.S., Leclerc, in the form of an endorsement at the foot of a manuscript document, one page, folio, n.p. ('Fait en conseil'), 25th December 1798, in French. The document, issued by the 56th Semi-Brigade of the Army of Italy, provides details of the military service of Jean-Claude Desmarais, giving his date of birth (20th May 1752) and listing his ranks from being a soldier in the Regiment of Dauphine in 1771 to attaining the rank of Captain in 1792, and also adding that he was active in the campaigns on Corsica in 1771 & 1772 and of those of the Revolution from 1792-98. Desmaris has also provided a signed statement in which he declares that he is not in a condition to continue active service and has been forced to remain in the auxiliary company 'due to being afflicted with chronic rheumatic pains stemming from the fatigues of war', which has been confirmed by the chief medical officer, and adding that he hopes that his request will be considered with kindness as he has served for twenty-eight years without interruption and that he will be able to be placed in a company of National Guard veterans. Signed at the foot by ten individuals of the administrative council of the 56th Semi-Brigade, including Jean-Mathieu-Philibert Serurier (1742-1819) 1st Count Serurier, Marshal of the Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte, certifying the service of Desmarais, alongside a red wax seal and the official oval stamp of the 56th Semi-Brigade of the Infantry. Endorsed by Leclerc at the foot ('Seen by me, war commissioner') and signed with a bold example of his signature. Autographs of Leclerc are rare in any form as a result of his untimely death at the age of 30 from yellow fever. Some light fraying and age wear to the edges, otherwise VG

BERNADOTTE JEAN BAPTISTE: (1763-1844) Marshal of France, Prince de Pontecorvo and King Charles XIV John of Sweden and Norway 1818-44. A rare and early L.S., `J. Bernadotte´, one page, folio, at the head Quarters of Giesen, in Saxony, Germany, 10th December 1798, to citizen Michelon, medical Chief of the Army of Mayence, in French. Bernadotte, in his capacity as General of Division, sends a personal enquiry to Michelon regarding an Austrian doctor, persecuted by the Austrian government, who Bernadotte wishes to appoint to a front line hospital, stating in part `Je réclame donc de vous, Citoyen, que vous me fassiez le plaisir de m´indiquer quell serait le genre d´emploi que vous croiriez propre au Citoyen Franzenberg, et si vous regardez comme possible qu´il puisse obtenir un hôpital de première ligne; celui d´Anvers par exemple…´ (“I therefore request of you, Citizen, that you do me the pleasure of indicating to me what kind of employment would be the one you would believe appropriate to Citizen Franzenberg, and if you consider it possible that he could obtain a front-line hospital; that of Antwerp for example…”) With address leaf bearing remnants of a former red wax seal. Overall age wear and toning, with repairs to the verso. G 

[NAPOLEONIC VIGNETTE]: An attractive D.S. by three members of the National Board of Military Hospitals individually, two pages, folio, Paris, 26th September 1799, featuring a fine engraved vignette by Francois Godefroy at the head, in French. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is a commission appointing Michel Jousselin to be a bursar 3rd class of the hospitals of the Army of the Danube. Bearing the signatures of La Fleury, Demar and Monestile at the foot of the first page and with a later manuscript statement signed by Meric to the second page, dated at Paris, 31st March 1811, attesting to the length of service provided by Jousselin. The engraved vignette at the head depicts Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, healing, rejuvenation, and physicians, with his serpent-entwined rod in one hand, taking the hand of a wounded soldier, who is aided by one of his military comrades, as an angel prepares to rest a laurel wreath upon his head. With blank integral leaf. Some light overall age wear and some creasing and a few tears to the edges, about VGFrancois Godefroy (1743-1819) French engraver.

HARDENBERG KARL AUGUST VON: (1750-1822) Prussian Statesman. Prime Minister of Prussia 1804-06, 1807 & 1810-22. Hardenberg is recognized as one of the most important statesman of his time, being credited with the improvement of the army system, the abolition of serfdom, and most of all the complete reform of the educational system. A very good L.S., `A. Hardenberg´, one page, folio, Berlin, 7th April 1805, to Marshal Berthier, in French. Hardenberg, on behalf of the King of Prussia, and in his capacity as Prussian prime minister, reports to Marshal Berthier about the decoration granted to him by his sovereign, stating in part `C´est avec une satisfaction bien vive que je remplis les volontés du Roi mon Maitre, en transmettant de Sa part à Votre Excellence les marques des grands Ordres de Prusse´ (“It is with great satisfaction that I fulfil the wishes of the King my Master, by transmitting on His behalf to Your Excellency the marks of the great Orders of Prussia”) Hardenberg further refers to Napoléon, saying `Sa Majesté S´est determine à Vous les conférer Monsieur le Maréchal par une suite et des sentiments distingués qu´elle vous porte et du plaisir qu´elle éprouve à répondre aux vues de Sa Majesté Impériale, Votre Auguste Souverain´ (“His Majesty has determined to confer them on you, Monsieur the Marshal, by following and the distinguished feelings that he has for you and the pleasure that he feels in responding to the views of His Imperial Majesty, Your August Sovereign”) A letter of good association. With blank integral leaf. Small overall age toning, mostly to edges, small staining and remnants of former affixing to the verso of the blank leaf, otherwise G Frederick William III (1770-1840) King of Prussia 1797-1840.

WELLINGTON DUKE OF: (1769-1852) Anglo-Irish Field Marshal, the victor of Waterloo. British Prime Minister 1828-30, 1834. A very fine A.L.S., Arthur Wellesley, two pages, 4to, Clifford Street, London, 24th May 1806, to Lieutenant Stephens of HMS Fame at Portsmouth. Wellington announces 'I was very uneasy when I read in the newspapers different accounts of your being under examination before the Privy Council, although I was convinced that you had never committed any act, which could subject you to any legal punishment…' and adds that he is concerned that Stephens should have suffered from being detained for the enquiry '& still more so that I cannot give you any hopes that you will be promoted'. He further explains 'I really have no influence with the present Govt. but if your ship should be sent to foreign station you may depend on it that I will use every exertion to procure for you letters of recommendation to the Admiral who will command upon it.' With integral address leaf in Wellington's hand and also signed ('Free, Arthur Wellesley') in the lower left corner. A circular portion of the integral leaf, evidently where the seal was originally affixed, has been cut away. One very small, extremely minor, neat split to a fold, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VG HMS Fame was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in October 1805. In November 1808 she joined a squadron lying off Rosas where Captain Lord Cochrane was assisting the Spanish in the defence of Castell de la Trinitat against the invading French army.

SUCHET LOUIS GABRIEL: (1770-1826) Marshal of France. Duc d´Albufera. One of the most brilliant of Napoleon´s Generals. An excellent A.L.S., with his initials, two pages, 4to, Pultusk, 28th December, n.y. [1806], to his brother Gabriel Suchet, in French. In this very interesting content letter, Suchet reports to his brother the extremely difficult situation lived during a terrible battle, with a large inferiority in number of soldiers, stating in part `Je t´écris mon bon ami, d´un champ de bataille… J´ai combattu pendant près de dix à douxe heures, avec une seule division contre quarante mille russes commandés par Benningsen…. Nous avons contraint l´ennemi à fuir malgré la supériorité et sommes maitres du passage de la rivière…´ (`I am writing to you my good friend, from a field of battle… I fought for nearly ten to twelve hours, with a single division against forty thousand Russians leaded by Benningsen…. We forced the enemy to flee despite the superiority and the passage of the river is now under our control...´ Suchet further refers to the loss of close officers saying `J´ai fait dans cette journée des pertes terribles et particulièrement celle d´un de mes aides de camp, jeune homme de la plus belle espérance…. Il est tombé à mes côtés pendant la nuit, tandis que mon chef d´Etat Major tombait blessé par son cheval… par un boulet, plusieurs adjoints avec leurs habits percés de balles…´ (`I suffered terrible losses during this day and particularly the of one of one of my aides-de-camp, a young man of the greatest hope…. He fell at my side during the night, while my Chief of Staff fell wounded by his horse... by a cannonball, several adjutants with their clothes pierced by bullets...´) Further again, Suchet curiously reports that he was lucky because he was injured by a hard blow in his penis, stating `…j´en ai été quitte pour une contusion extrêmement douloureuse à la verge, j´en souffre beaucoup mais j´espère que cela n´aura pas de suite. Nous avons fait quatre à cinq cents prisonniers…´ (`I got off with an extremely painful contusion on my penis, I suffer a lot from it but I hope it won't have a sequel. We took four to five hundred prisoners…´) A letter of extraordinary historical content, written from the battlefield. Paper with a C & I Honig watermark. With address leaf and remnants of a former red wax seal. G The Battle of Pułtusk, in Poland, took place on 26th December 1806, two days before the present letter was written by Suchet, during the War of the Fourth Coalition. Despite the strong numerical superiority and artillery of the Russians, they suffered the French attacks, and had to retire the next day having suffered greater losses than the French. Count Levin August von Bennigsen (1745-1826) German Officer who entered the Russian service under Catherine the Great. In 1812, he commanded at Borodino the centre of Kutuzov´s army. His actions at Leipzig in 1813 led to his being made a Count, a title which was awarded to him on the battlefield by Tsar Alexander I. 

DECRES DENIS: (1761-1820) Duke of Decrès. French Navy Officer. A very interesting content letter relating to the abolition of the slave trade. L.S. `Den de Crès´, three pages, folio, Paris, 16th April 1815, to “Messieurs les Commandants des bâtiments de guerre français” (“To the Commandants of the French warships”), addressed to the Governor and Intendent of the Guadeloupe, in French. Decrès, in his capacity as Minister of the Marine and Colonies, referring to the return of Napoleon after eleven months in exile on the island of Elba, states `Messieurs, avant que vous puissiez recevoir cette lettre, la renommée aura porté jusqu'à vous la nouvelle de l'heureux retour en France de l'Empereur Napoléon. Dans sa route triomphale, du Golfe Juan jusqu'aux Tuileries, pas une seule goutte de sang n'a été répandue, pas un seul acte de rigueur exercé : l'amour du peuple et l'enthousiasme de l'armée ont tout fait. Le vingtième jour de sa descente à Fréjus était marquée par l'entrée de l'Empereur dans sa capitale ; le quarantième l'a été par l'expulsion de tous ceux qui voulaient s'y opposer, et il n'est pas aujourd'hui un seul point sur la France où le pavillon tricolore ne flotte et où l'amour de la nation ne soit unanime pour le souverain qui lui est rendu avec tant d'éclat´ (Translation: `Gentlemen, before you receive this letter, your renown will have brought you the news of the happy return to France of the Emperor Napoleon. In his triumphal route, from the Golfe Juan to the Tuileries, not a single drop of blood was shed, not a single act of rigor exercised: the love of the people and the enthusiasm of the army did everything. The twentieth day of his descent to Fréjus was marked by the entry of the Emperor into his capital; the fortieth was by the expulsion of all those who wanted to oppose it, and there is not a single point today in France where the tricolor flag does not stand and where the love for the nation is not unanimous for the sovereign… ´) Decrès further refers to the decree of the abolition of the slave trade aproved few weeks earlier and with conviction explains the supposed peaceful intentions of Napoleon, stating `Je vous adresse des collections de journaux, où vous suivrez avec admiration la marche des événements. Vous vous instruirez des principaux actes du Gouvernement Impérial ; vous apprendrez quelles sont les intentions pacifiques et modérées de Sa Majesté; enfin vous remarquerez le Décret du 29 mars dernier qui abolit la traite des noirs. Je ne dissimule point l'impression que pourrait faire cette dernière mesure dans une Colonie où les habitants seraient servilement sous le joug de l'empire des habitudes: mais les colons français ne sont pas en arrière des lumières des temps où nous vivons. La très grande majorité d'entre eux est composée d'esprits sages et réfléchis qui reconnaîtront que l'Empereur n'a fait que proclamer ce que le génie du siècle inspirait et ce que la voix de l'humanité réclamait avec tant d'énergie….On ignore encore si les cabinets de l'Europe partageront les intentions pacifiques de l'Empereur; mais si, par une fatalité déplorable, la guerre avait lieu, je suis assuré qu'aux Iles du vent, comme en France, rien ne sera négligé pour soutenir l'honneur du nom français´ (Translation: `I am sending you a collection of newspapers, on which you will follow the course of events with admiration. You will learn yourself of the principal acts of the Imperial Government; you will learn what are the pacific and moderate intentions of His Majesty; finally you will read the Decree of last March 29th which abolishes the slave trade. I do not hide the impression that this last measure could make in a Colony where the inhabitants would be slavishly under the yoke of the empire of habits: but the French colonists are not behind the lights of the times in which we live. The vast majority of them are composed of wise and thoughtful minds who will recognize that the Emperor has only proclaimed what the genius of the century inspired and what the voice of humanity so forcefully called for. …. It is not yet known whether the governments of Europe will share the pacific intentions of the Emperor; but if, by some deplorable fatality, war should take place, I am sure that in the Windward Islands, as in France, nothing will be neglected to uphold the honour of the French name´) VG At the time of the present letter the Governor of the Guadeloupe appointed by King Louis XVIII was the Count de Linois, and the Intendent was Baron Guilhermy. The Governor refused to recognized the Imperial government and was kidnapped for this reason by General Boyer, supporter of Napoleon, until he accepted to recognize the new government. Only three days after the present letter was received in the Guadeloupe, the Battle of Waterloo took place.   

BONAPARTE JEROME: (1784-1860) King of Westphalia 1807-13. Younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. An excellent content and very fine A.L.S. `Jerome´, three pages, 8vo, mourning paper, Florence, 18th September 1846, to his daughter Princess Mathilde, in French. A lengthy letter by Jérôme Bonaparte explaining how the important affair related to her letters to the Emperor was sorted out, referring to Tsar Nicholas I, and stating in part ` C'est le prince Gregori Wolkonsky qui était présent chez Orloff avec Kozackowsky lorsque tout a été convenu… Personne à St-Petersburg n'a eu soupçon de tes lettres à l'Empereur et à Orloff, Sa Majesté ayant voulu par-là faire voir que ce n'était pas par l'autorité souveraine que D[emidoff] signait les arrangements dont je vais te parler : Orloff a pris le plus grand intérêt à toi, et Kozackowsky s'est conduit comme aurait pu le faire un de tes frères…´ (“It was Prince Gregori Wolkonsky who was present at Orloff's with Kozackowsky when everything was agreed… Nobody in St-Petersburg had any suspicion of your letters to the Emperor and Orloff, His Majesty having wanted this way to show that it was not by sovereign authority that D[emidoff] signed the arrangements I am going to tell you about: Orloff took the greatest interest in you, and Kozackowsky behaved as one of your brothers…”) Bonaparte further reports in detail on the terms of the friendly agreement approved by the Tsar, and stating that when Demidoff will pass away she will receive `…cinq millions à prendre sur sa fortune dont tu pouvais disposer à ton gré, ainsi que les propriétés qui sont à l'étranger & tes diamants… Orloff alors lui a demandé en cas de séparation quel serait le sort de la Princesse ? A cette question il a paru abassourdi et après bien des discussions il a été convenu qu'il t'assurait 250 mille francs de pension viagère et une partie ou la totalité des diamants…´ (“… five millions to be taken from his fortune which you could dispose of as you wish, as well as the properties which are abroad & your diamonds… Orloff then asked him in the event of divorce what would be the fate of the Princess? At this question he seemed stunned and after many discussions it was agreed that he would guarantee you 250 thousand francs of life pension and part or all of the diamonds...”) Jérôme continues with further explanations regarding the terms of the agreement and before concluding sends a serious and precise advice, stating `…il n'y aurait d'autre parti à prendre qu'une séparation à l'amiable, en lui donnant la couleur d'une incompatibilité de caractère et faire la chose sans scandale et sans haine… Tu comprendras d'après cela, ma bien aimée Mathilde, qu'il faut que pendant les premiers temps surtout, tu mettes dans ta conduite une excessive prudence, afin que la calomnie ne puisse pas t'atteindre…´ (“…there would be no other course to take than an amicable separation, presenting it as an incompatibility of characters and doing the whole without scandal and without hatred… You will understand from that, my beloved Mathilde, that during the first times especially, you must exercise excessive prudence in your conduct, so that calumny cannot affect you...”) VG Mathilde Bonaparte (1820-1904) Princess of San Donato. Daughter of Jérôme Bonaparte.Nicholas I (1796-1855) Emperor of Russia 1825-55.Anatoly Nikolaievich Demidov (1813-1870) Prince of San Donato. Russian Diplomat and Arts Patron. First husband of Princess Mathilde.Grigory Wolkinsky (1808-1882) Russian Prince. Married to Maria Alexandrovna von Benckendorff, daughter of Alexander Benckendorff, Minister of the Police and of the Secret Police under Nicholas I.Alexei Feodorovich Orlov (1787-1862) Russian Diplomat and military Officer. He took part in the capture of Paris in 1814.Stanislaw Kossakowski (1795-1872) General of French Army and aide-de-camp of Napoleon

‘It seems to me that what I want is not difficult to understand…otherwise it will only be a cacophony’ NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. A fine and lengthy L.S., `Np´, three pages, gilt edges, 4to, Saint Cloud, 8th April 1813, to the Duc de Feltre, in French. The present letter is dated only few months after the catastrophic retreat of the French Grande Armée from Russia, and refers to the organization of the French troops before facing the German campaign. Napoleon had to gather in a short period an army of 150 thousand men, with often inexperienced recruits. In the present letter the Emperor shows his exceptional skills organizing with energy his regiments, squadrons, appointing officers and complaining of the inefficiency of his subordinates, stating in part `Le Duc de Plaisance me mande en date du 3 avril qu´il n´a pas été possible de trouver assez de chefs d´escadron pour completer les cadres des 2 divisions de marche de cavalerie… Comment sur 16 n´en peuvent-ils pas fournir deux? Cette partie de l´organisation marche bien lentement. Si cela était, il faudrait sur le champ en nommer. Je ne puis pas approuver que vous nommiez…´ (“The Duke of Plaisance reports to me on April 3rd that it has not been possible to find enough squadron leaders to complete the 2 cavalry marching divisions… How can it be that out of 16 they cannot provide two? This part of the organization works very slowly. If so, we would have to appoint some right away. I cannot approve that you appoint...”) Napoleon lists many appointments of officers which he disagrees with and indicates clearly that they have to remain where they were, explaining which way this has to be handle, and quite annoyed repeats his orders once more saying `Je vous renvoie donc cette organisation pour que vous la refassiez. Il me semble que ce que je desire n´est pas difficile à comprendre. Je forme chaque régiment de marche de 6 régiments différents. Il faut que les colonels, chefs d´escadron, capitaine, lieutenant, etc.. de ces régiments de marche soient tirés des régiments qui les forment; sans quoi ce ne sera que cacophonie´ (“I therefore send this organization back to you so that you can redo it. It seems to me that what I want is not difficult to understand. I form each marching regiment of 6 different regiments. The colonels, squadron leaders, captain, lieutenant, etc.. of these marching regiments must be taken from the regiments which form them; otherwise it will only be a cacophony”) Before concluding Napoleon complaints once again for such lack of capacity of his subordinates, saying `Il ne s´agira plus que de réunir les escadrons par regiments primitifs et toute la cavalerie se trouvera alors réorganisée. Il faut qu´il y ait bien peu d´intélligence dans votre bureau de cavalerie si on ne comprend pas cela…´ (“It will then and only be a question of reuniting the squadrons by primitive regiments and all the cavalry will then be reorganized. There must be very little intelligence in your cavalry office if this is not understood...”) Accompanied by a small 12mo holograph pinned receipt to the bottom left corner. Very small age toning, otherwise VG Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke (1765-1818) Duc de Feltre and Minister of War under Napoleon. Later Marshal of France in 1816, one of six created under King Louis XVIII from 1815-24     

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. A fine military L.S., `Np´, two pages, gilt edges, 4to, Hartha, Saxony, near Leipzig, 23rd September 1813, to the Duc de Feltre, in French. The present letter is dated during the last few victorious campaigns of Napoleon, less than a month earlier obtaining an important victory at the Battle of Dresden, but also less than a month before the defeat at the crucial Battle of Leipzig. Napoleon refers to the organization of the French troops, mostly the ones located in Germany, and insists on the importance of the officers´ formation. Napoleon shows once more his military planning and organization skills and knowledge of each regiment, stating in part `J´ai ordonné que les quatre premiers escadrons de chaque regiment de gardes d´honneur fussent réunis à l´armée… Je desire que les 6 autres escadrons restent à Francfort et Hanau pour s´y former. J´espère donc avoir d´ici à la fin d´octobre 6000 hommes de cavalerie de garde d´honneur…´ (“I have ordered that the first four squadrons of each regiment of honour Guards be united with the army… I wish that the other 6 squadrons remain in Frankfurt and Hanau to form there. I therefore hope to have by the end of October 6,000 men of honour Guards cavalry…...”) Napoleon expresses in part his plans on future military campaigns, and orders to troops movements he expects, saying `Chargez le Duc de Valmy d´avoir un oeil là-dessus. Laissez ces regiments se bien former. Peut-être les y laisserai-je tout l´hiver ce qui alors me ferait une ressource très précieuse pour la campagne prochaine. Ces regiments ont besoin d´instructions: comme la Garde est trop loin pour les fournir, je desire que vous tiriez des régiments de cavalerie qui sont en Espagne…´ (“Ask the Duc of Valmy to keep an eye on this. Let these regiments form well. Perhaps I will leave them there all winter, this would then make me a very precious resource for the next campaign. These regiments need instructions: and because the Guard is too far away to provide them, I want you to take them from the cavalry regiments that are in Spain…”) Napoleon further continues explaining how the regiments should be formed. Accompanied by a small 12mo holograph pinned receipt to the bottom left corner. Very small overall minor creasing with one small stain, otherwise G to VG Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke (1765-1818) Duc de Feltre and Minister of War under Napoleon. Later Marshal of France in 1816, one of six created under King Louis XVIII from 1815-24François Christophe Kellerman (1735-1820) Marshal of France, Duc de Valmy 

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. An interesting content L.S., `Np, one page, 4to, gilt edges, Elba island, Portoferraio, 22nd August 1814, to general Bertrand, in French. The letter was written during Napoleon´s first exile in the Elba island, and bears alongside Napoleon´s signature a four holograph lines in the hand of General Bertrand, signed, related to the Emperor´s orders. Napoleon shows sufficient knowledge in architecture and bridge engineering to issue the present orders related to bridges in Corsica, stating in part `Monsieur le Comte Bertrand, tous les travaux d´art qu´a fait le Sr Lambardi sont mal faits; chargez l´officier de genie de les faire; le Sr. Lambardi ne fera que les mouvements de terre, il paye ses journées trop cher… Ordonnez à l´officier de genie d´achever le 4º pont, non en bois, mais en pierre et d´une seule arche de 18 pieds de large, ce qui est plus que suffisant pour l´écoulement des eaux´ (“Monsieur Count Bertrand, all the works made by Sr. Lambardi are badly done; instruct the engineer officer to do them; Sr. Lambardi will only make the works of removing the earth, he pays too much for his days… Order the engineer officer to complete the 4th bridge, not in wood, but in stone and with a single arch of 18 feet wide, which is more than enough for the flow of water”) Napoleon further comes back to the cost of the works done by Lambardi, stating in part `Faites l´état des travaux qu´il a fait et les fonds qui ont été mis à sa disposition; comparez-les avec les dépenses, qui me semblent les dépasser de bveaucoup´ (“Make a statement of the works he has done and the funds that have been made available to him; compare them with the expenses, which seem to me that they exceed by a lot the quotations”) Before concluding Napoleon explains that there is one more bridge to build on the road to Campo, on the south of Corsica, and this one has also to be done by the army engineers. Bertrand annotates and signs in his hand in bold black ink `Ecrire au command. de genie. Prévenir M. Lambardi que Mr. … doit diriger les travaux d´art. Lui demander le devis qu´il avait fait pour les travaux. Brt´ (“Write to command. of engineers. Notify Mr. Lambardi that Mr. … must direct the works. Ask him for the estimate he had made for the works. Brt”) In very fine condition. VG                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Henri Gatien Bertrand (1773-1844) French General. Count Bertrand 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 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 back to France.

[LOWE HUDSON - LORD WELLINGTON]: (1769-1844) Anglo-Irish Soldier and Colonial Administrator, Governor of St Helena where he was the 'gaoler' of Napoleon Bonaparte. Contemporary Manuscript copy of an autograph letter by Lowe, in an unidentified clerk's hand, two pages, 4to, London, 19th October 1822, to the Duke of Wellington. The letter states, in part, 'I hope your Grace will excuse the liberty I take of addressing you, upon the following subject, which I cannot better explain than by inclosing copy of a letter (no longer present) I had before written to Earl Bathurst and also of his Lordship's reply (no longer present) suggesting the reference to your Grace. The object, as it will appear, is to obtain for the sisters of the late Colonel Sir William De Lancey the pensions which had been granted, in the first instance to his mother and sisters & afterwards given to his widow who having since died leaves the pension disposeable……since receiving Lord Bathurst's reply to my first application in their behalf Lady Lowe who is also a sister of the late Sir William De Lancey has received a letter from the eldest sister which places the claim in a much stronger point of view than I was aware of……' With blank integral leaf. Together with a contemporary manuscript copy of Wellington's letter of reply, one page, 4to, Verona, 10th November 1822, to Hudson Lowe ('My dear Sir Hudson'), stating, in full, 'I have received your application in favour of the sisters of the late Sir W. De Lancey and I have applied to Lord Liverpool that the pension enjoyed by his widow may be given to them'. With blank integral leaf. Some very light, minor age wear, otherwise VG, 2William Howe De Lancey (1778-1815) English Colonel who served during the Napoleonic Wars and died of wounds he received at the Battle of Waterloo. De Lancey and the Duke of Wellington were close allies and on the return of Napoleon Bonaparte from Elba, De Lancey was appointed deputy quartermaster-general of the army in Belgium, replacing Sir Hudson Lowe, whom Wellington disliked. Wellington was engaged in conversation with De Lancey on the battlefield when the Colonel received the wounds which ultimately led to his death. The Duke of Wellington described the events to Samuel Rogers such -  'De Lancey was with me and speaking to me when he was struck. We were on a point of land that overlooked the plain. I had just been warned off by some soldiers (but as I saw well from it, and two divisions were engaging below, I said "Never mind"), when a ball came bounding along en ricochet, as it is called, and, striking him on the back, sent him many yards over the head of his horse. He fell on his face, and bounded upwards and fell again. All the staff dismounted and ran to him, and when I came up he said, "Pray tell them to leave me and let me die in peace." I had him conveyed to the rear, and two days after, on my return from Brussels, I saw him in a barn, and he spoke with such strength that I said (for I had reported him killed), "Why! De Lancey, you will have the advantage of Sir Condy in 'Castle Rackrent'--you will know what your friends said of you after you were dead." "I hope I shall," he replied. Poor fellow! We knew each other ever since we were boys. But I had no time to be sorry. I went on with the army, and never saw him again' (from The Recollections of Samuel Rogers, 1856) One of De Lancey's two sisters, Susan, married Sir Hudson Lowe in December 1815. 

‘British armour has come through the campaign in western Europe with flying colours, and has proved itself superior in battle to German armour’ MONTGOMERY B. L.: (1887-1976) British Field Marshal of World War II. An important Top Secret World War II date D.S., B. L. Montgomery, thirteen pages, folio, Holland, 21st February 1945. The mimeographed typed document is copy number 27 (M558) of Montgomery's 21 Army Group Memorandum on British Armour: No. 2, the introduction stating, in part, 'Since the issue of the first memorandum on 6 July 1944 (M506) we have gained much practical experience in the employment of armour in battle and in tank operations generally, both in the mobile battle and in close fighting with infantry. The battle of the FALAISE pocket, and the operations….up to the SEINE and on to Belgium and Holland, involved the employment of tanks in almost every variety of operation with infantry; the pursuit saw armoured formations advance 450 miles in nine days. When armoured formations and units arrived on the Dutch frontier, dykes, canals and artificial flooding tested the mechanical efficiency of the various types of tanks to the utmost…..Reviewing this experience as a whole it is true to say that the memorandum of July 1944 needs little amendment. A few modifications are necessary; some points need further emphasis; certain new points should be considered……British armour has come through the campaign in western Europe with flying colours, and has proved itself superior in battle to German armour. If Rundstedt had been equipped with British armour when he attacked in the Ardennes on 16 December, 1944, he would have reached the MEUSE in 36 hours: which would have placed the Allies in a very awkward situation. If 21 Army Group had been equipped with German armour it could not have crossed the Seine on 28 August 1944 and reached Brussels on 3 September and Antwerp on 4 September, thus cutting off the whole Pas de Calais area in eight days: a very remarkable achievement which had far reaching results. The credit for all this must go to the War Office; the British armies were in June 1944 splendidly equipped for the job that had to be done', the document continues to provide Montgomery's views on the general points regarding the use of tanks ('Tanks designed for special purposes should be avoided'), as well as specific comments regarding the Capital Tank ('Great speed is not required in the capital tank; reliability, and sustained moderate speed, are the essentials: say 100 miles in 6 or 7 hours'), the Gun ('….I consider that the 17 pr is not an entirely suitable gun for the primary weapon of the capital tank. When an enemy tank is engaged it must be hit hard at long ranges; the 17 pr is insufficiently accurate at the longer distances'), other Armament, the Armour ('There are two ways of avoiding destruction by gun fire; one, direct protection, i.e. armour; the other, concealment or evasion. The gun can always be made which will defeat any armour, but the gun has to be shot by man and human error comes in; not every cartridge hits a partridge'), Camouflage ('Some form of plaster like the German “ZIMMERIT” should be produced and incorporated in the manufacture of all future tanks'), Optical Instruments, Co-operation with other Arms ('While good British armour is essential for success, I cannot emphasise too strongly that victory in battle depends not on armoured action alone: but on the intimate co-operation of all arms, and on effective co-operation between armoured and air forces. The tank by itself can achieve little') and Specialised Forms of Armour. The document continues with two Appendices, the first regarding various different types of tanks including Mine Sweeping tanks ('Crabs….have proved the most adaptable and generally efficient form of mine sweeper: and their fire power has frequently proved invaluable'), Flame Throwing tanks ('Crocodiles have a demoralising as well as lethal effect on the enemy, and are being used with great success against enemy concealed in houses, edges of woods and slit trenches'), Amphibious tanks, Armoured Cross-country Infantry Carriers ('Kangaroo. This is a tank with turret removed, which accommodates a section of infantry. It has enabled infantry to reach the objective quickly, practically unscathed, close behind the tanks'), Amphibian Tracked Troop Carriers and Specialised Armoured Recovery Vehicles etc., and the second contains Some Notes on Centralization of Control of Special Equipments, stating, in part, 'Specialized troops must be trained uniformly; their technique evolved and improved in light of experience; their equipment properly maintained, supervised, modified and improved; their overhaul, supply of special spares and stores, servicing and kitting planned methodically. New ideas must be tested: and alterations in design, production, and supply and programme priorities have to be considered. Commanders must be certain of getting specialist advice in planning: and be sure that the special selection of equipments they need will be available and ready, where and when required, for any particular operation. These results can be achieved only by centralisation of control under one command'. Accompanied by the original mimeograph typed letter of transmittal, one page, small 4to, n.p., 23rd February 1945, stating, in part, 'Herewith copy No. 27 of C-inC's Memorandum on British Armour: No. 2. It is regretted that owing to the very limited number of spares available, only one copy can be provided' and further listing the twelve Brigadiers and Major-Generals to whom copies have been distributed. A document of fascinating content, and of particular relevance to the importance of tank warfare at the end of World War II. File holes to the left edge and upper corner of each page, and with some light age wear and minor toning to some pages, otherwise generally VG In February 1945, Montgomery's 21st Army Group advanced to the Rhine in Operation Veritable and Operation Grenade, crossing the Rhine on 24th March 1945 in Operation Plunder, two weeks after the U.S. First Army had crossed the Rhine after capturing the Ludendorff Bridge during the Battle of Remagen. By the war's end the remaining formations of 21st Army Group, First Canadian Army and British Second Army, had liberated the northern part of the Netherlands and captured much of north-west Germany, occupied Hamburg and Rostock and sealed off the Danish peninsula. On 4th May 1945, on Luneburg Heath, Montgomery accepted the surrender of German forces in north-west Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. 

       ‘It would be very awkward and embarrassing, if that were to happen to me!’MONTGOMERY B. L.: (1887-1976) British Field Marshal of World War II. An intriguing A.L.S., Montgomery of Alamein, two pages, 8vo, Westminster Gardens, Marsham Street, London, 19th June n.y., to Lady Anderson. Montgomery asks if his correspondent could possibly make her own way to Olympia that afternoon, continuing to explain 'There are definite rules about ladies travelling in Army cars; it is, strictly, not allowed; but is occasionally done. But last week a very senior officer was “run in” on the matter. It would be very awkward and embarrassing, if that were to happen to me!' About EX Ava Anderson, Viscountess Waverley (1895-1974) English political and social hostess at the centre of government during World War II. Second wife of John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley (1882-1958) British civil servant and politician who served in the Cabinet during World War II.

MONTGOMERY B. L.: (1887-1976) British Field Marshal of World War II. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned (although with the 'signature' Field Marshal Montgomery incorporated into the title), four pages (separate leaves), folio, n.p. (Gstaad?), n.d. (February 1947). The manuscript is entitled 'Address by Field-Marshal Montgomery to the Gstaad Ski Club 16 Feb 1947', and states, in part, 'It is a great pleasure for me to be here tonight to present the "Montgomery Cup" for ski-jumping, and also to give the prizes for the various ski contests that have been held in Gstaad this week-end. I first came to Switzerland in 1903…..the object of that first visit was to learn French, but I also had my first lessons in winter sports……Since that time I have paid many visits to Switzerland and have become very fond of it; yours is a magnificent country, and one which produces a virile people of great character. Swiss history tells us of your long struggle for freedom; your early history especially is a long story of wars against aggression from outside. I have been reading how the Swiss Army defeated the Austrians at Morgarten in 1315 and at Sempach in 1386; I have also read how in the war against Germany in 1499 your Army defeated the German Army under Maximilian I at Dornach, which victory gained you your definite independence of the German Reich. In these and other wars your Swiss soldiers gained a high reputation for military skill and valour. So great were the military qualities of your young men that, even when the independence of the country had been won, they used to enlist in the armies of foreign powers and brought your country great glory on many battlefields. However, the Swiss Government finally decided that the hiring of Swiss fighting men by foreign powers was likely to endanger the home country and must cease. Since then Switzerland has enjoyed peace, and has observed a strict neutrality in the case of wars between two or more of her neighbours…..In your early days you suffered greatly from foreign aggression, and there are probably few nations who understand better than you do the distress that has been brought about in many European countries as a result of the late war……As a British soldier, I thank you for the splendid way in which you looked after our officers and men who escaped to your country from prisoner-of-war camps in enemy countries…..Many nations that have been drawn into war have gained much benefit from the neutrality of Switzerland…..Our two nations would seem to have much in common. We British are an independent and an individual people; our long freedom from oppression has made us self-reliant and our one passionate belief is in the liberty of the individual to go his own way……All nations today are grappling with the problem of how to reconcile this liberty of the individual with the demands of collective good. In Switzerland you seem to have reached a satisfactory solution to that problem and one which suits the nation…..To Switzerland and its people, I wish prosperity and happiness in the years that lie ahead'. Two small file holes to the upper left corner of each page and with some light overall age wear, about VG

MONTGOMERY B. L.: (1887-1976) British Field Marshal of World War II. Small group of three A.Ls.S., Montgomery of Alamein, six pages (total), 8vo (2) and 4to (1), various places (Hampshire, Murren and London), November 1948 - April 1949, all to Paul Loosli, the president of the Gstaad Ski Club and director of tourism in Gstaad, on various printed stationery including that of the London Echelon, Headquarters of the Chairman, Western Europe Commanders-in- Chief. Montgomery writes largely concerning his travel and accommodation arrangements for Switzerland, in part, 'I will be travelling round the Western Union countries a great deal in the next weeks. In fact my new job involves a great deal of travelling and I will be glad of my holiday in Switzerland' (2nd November 1948), 'We will come to Gstaad on the morning of 14 February, arriving in time for lunch. The Swiss Army will be in charge of our journey and I will let you know later the exact time of arrival. Lucien Trueb will join us on the afternoon of 14 February' (29th January 1949), 'I have now settled my dates for my visit to Switzerland next winter. I will be in Murren from 28 January to 16 February, 1950. On 16 February I would like to come to Gstaad for the Montgomery Cup….' (21st April 1949). One of the letters is accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Montgomery. VG, 3Lucien Trueb (1934-   ) Swiss science writer who, as a twelve year old boy in 1946, met Montgomery in Switzerland and went on to maintain a close relationship with the Field Marshal. 

1896 QV Army Official SGO43a with ‘OFFICIAI’ variety. A VLMM example of this variety. Cat £240.

A GOOD SCARCE .700 CALIBRE PERCUSSION BRUNSWICK RIFLE, this Belgian Contract Russian example by P. J. Malherbe of Liege, serial no. 872 and with 30inch sighted browned damascus barrel fitted with bayonet bar and pivoting rear sight, border engraved signed back action lock, full stocked with regulation brass mounts, the wrist with escutcheon bearing the cypher of Nicholas I, the butt plate tang with Imperial eagle and serial no. 872, the inside of the patch box cover stamped 9748, one interior compartment with inked no.69, steel ramrod. See the National Army Museum accession no. NAM. 1962-06-28-1 for an identical example captured at Bomarsund during the Crimean War.

Royal Doulton stoneware 'Army Club' cigarettes advertising ashtray, with painted black marks, 14cm high, a Don Jones (1936-2019) for Winchcombe pottery stoneware bottle-shaped vase in cream glaze, impressed seal marks, a turquoise glazed studio pottery vase, a Regency cut glass boat-shaped salt on lemon squeezer base, two engraved wine glasses with faceted notched cut stems, a small tear-shaped glass vessel and a 19th century globe-shaped decanter engraved with ferns Condition ReportArmy club ashtray with surface marks, accretions, crazing throughout. Crack to rim of ashtray bowl.  General wear and tear.

Britains Territorial Army Yeomanry Service Dress, no. 159 and two loose soldiers (2 boxes) 

Britains Types of The World Armies Canadian Army Governor General's Horse and Foot Guards, no.1637 (boxed) 

Britains Types of The Colonial Army, New Zealand Infantry (Service Dress), no. 1542 (boxed) 

Corgi 'The Aviation Archive' Berlin airlift, another Airfix British Army Attack Force, boxed, Airfix WWII RAF bomber resupply set, other Airfix models, Supersports Sprint racing boat control, etc (1 box)  

Grana Army Trade Pattern military wristwatch, the dial with black numerals, subsidiary seconds dial, Swiss movement stamped K.F.320, the case stamped ↑ATP 52315, diameter 31mm, replaced cloth strap.

Army Trade Pattern military wristwatch, and others, the dial with black numerals and subsidiary seconds dial, the case stamped ↑ATP 237189 Q1468, diameter 30mm, two other military style wristwatches and other parts.

Top Of The Pops - an original camera script from Episode #355 (recorded 9th December 1970) and featuring artists; The Jackson Five, T Rex, Frankie Valli, Dave Edmunds, The Guess Who, Clive Dunn, Peter Noone & Herman's Hermits etc. Introduced by Tony Blackburn. 30pp on yellow paper, with original pin to corner. The Jackson Five number is danced to by Pan's People and Clive Dunn (of Dad's Army fame) sang his surprise hit 'Grandad'. 

1st century B.C.-1st century A.D. An imposing fresco fragment representing a young military commander dressed in high rank Roman uniform, standing with his face slightly turned to the right and leaning on his left leg, the right leg brought slightly forward; the right hand holding a long spear of which the butt is visible, a round flat shield of cavalry type (parma) on his left arm; gladius hanging from a baldric on the left side of the body; the warrior wearing a short sleeveless tunic of Greek type, off-white in colour with light red reflexes, decorated by two white segments in the lower skirt, and a military cloak of cerulean colour, arranged over a muscled bronze torso armour; the legs protected by bronze greaves and head by a bronze helmet restored as an Italic type Buggenum surmounted by a white cylinder from which a horsehair crest emerges, some restoration; mounted. The piece shows compositional similarities with the fresco of the House of the Vettii in Pompeii, representing the god Mars, cf. D’Amato, R., Sumner, G., Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier: From Marius to Commodus, 112 BC-AD 192, London, 2009, fig.86. 12.3 kg, 71 x 46 cm (28 x 18 in.). Acquired 1970s-1990. North American private collection. with Sotheby's, London, 9 July 1984, lot 224. Accompanied by an archaeological report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.10647-174367. Accompanied by a copy of the Sotheby's catalogue pages. The fresco has been previously interpreted as a representation of Alexander the Great, but a more careful analysis of the military equipment worn by the warrior allows us to consider it as a character from Roman history or mythology, like the god Mars or the hero Marcus Iunius Brutus, Magister Equitum of the first Roman Res Publica, who freed the city from Etruscan tyranny. The bronze greaves and muscled armour – from the 1st century B.C. usually reserved for military commanders – associated with the paludamentum suggests a high rank graduate of the Augustan or even of Caesar’s army, maybe a military tribune, as the model for the figure. However, his cerulean cloak could allow the identification with a Magister Equitum (cavalry commander) being the cerulean and blue associated with Neptune or Poseidon, protector of the horses. Also the combination of a cavalry shield, the parma, with the long cavalry spear and the Buggenum helmet (or the Boetian helmet restored as such) are visible on Volterra’s urns as fittings of 1st century BC Roman cavalrymen. If the man represented is a Magister Militum, and the original fresco referred to episodes of Roman history, the identification with Brutus can be plausible, although the fresco, before restoration, missed the upper part of the helmet. If the Geminae Pinnae (twin plumes) were originally visible on it, we cannot exclude the interpretation of the figure as the god Mars, a more consonant image with the celebration of the Julio-Claudian family and its divine origins. The type of represented uniform could suggest a dating to the late Consular period. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website.]

Early 2nd millennium B.C. A large portion of a ceramic tablet bearing the contents of a letter in multiple, tightly-grouped lines of cuneiform text to five of its six faces, tapering sub-rectangular cross-section; the beginning and the end of the message of the king of Dêr are only preserved, 31 lines are legible, the message begins with polite formulas underlining the good relations between the two kingdoms: 'May the Sun god and Ištaran keep you in good health always! Having purified my hands, in front of Ištaran your friend, in the same way that I pray for my life, I pray for yours', Wassara addresses at least two different topics in his letter, the first matter concerning messengers from Ešnunna who came up from the South and were blocked in Dêr; the answer to this problem is not preserved, the last subject treated (the text is fragmentary) is that of a war that is being waged between Dêr and an enemy, perhaps the 'troop of the Sea', Warassa asks Iluni for an army of 1000 men to come to his aid. 133 grams, 63 mm (2 1/2 in.). Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. This long letter is of great importance because besides all the information it contains, the mention of the name of the emperor of Elam appears which is rare and unique.

Early 2nd millennium B.C. A ceramic tablet bearing a cuneiform letter, with text to each of its six faces; the tablet is rectangular in shape with a lentoid cross-section; a letter from Isik-Malik to Kubburum (perhaps the minister of Iluni king of Ešnunna), the document has 49 lines, the author of this document is responsible for a district probably located at the eastern border of the kingdom of Ešnunna, it describes a raid by an Elamite army against the kingdom of Dêr, four localities were severely sacked and the raiders took away 300 oxen and 2,000 sheep, another city was then attacked, Isik-malik demands that reinforcements are sent: 'I keep writing to you to obtain a garrison troop (...), otherwise I will be unable to defend the city and the district, I will only have to make a great lamentation.' 140 grams, 94 mm (3 3/4 in.). Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.

OF TIPU SULTAN INTEREST: A FINE 18TH CENTURY GEM SET GILT FINISHED INDIAN TULWAR, 84.75cm sharply curved damascus blade, the fine gilt hilt with trefoil terminal langets, the crossguard with tapering domed terminals engraved with flower heads, the scrolling knuckle guard with peacock's head terminal, the eyes set with rubies, characteristic Tipu form snarling tiger's head pommel, the eyes set with rubies, the whole finely chiselled and finished in matt gilt with tiger's pelage, further decorated over all with polished gilt bubri or tiger stripes, contained in its red velvet wrapped wooden scabbard, the three mounts decorated with chiselled tiger's pelage and bubri or tiger stripes to match. A small section of scabbard edge parted and velvet frayed or lacking, patches of rusting to blade. The gold bubri or tiger stripe design is associated only with Tipu (Tipoo) Sultan himself, weapons for his own personal use and selected weapons in his armoury. Known as the the Tiger of Mysore, Tipu had once stated that it is better to live one day as a lion than one hundred years as a jackal. Feared and hated by the British, Tipu Sultan had been portrayed as a cruel and violent man and oppressor. However he was loved and revered by many in India as an ambitious, courageous and innovative leader. Unlike his father who had come from humble origins and was illiterate, Tipu was a highly educated man with a library of around 2000 works, many of which he had commissioned himself, and had a great love of firearms and the mechanical invention. He employed European weapon makers to come to India and work for him, particularly French gunmakers largely due to his good relations with the French. They not only made weapons for him, but also instructed his own craftsmen in the European tradition. His weapons were particularly advanced for the day, including flintlock repeating mechanisms based on the systems developed by Italian maker Lorenzoni. He fine-tuned the rockets designed by his father Haidar Ali, using the superior quality hammered iron in Mysore to create advanced and highly effective weapons that inflicted many significant losses on the British troops during the four Anglo-Mysore Wars. Sold by Sotheby's, 16th July 1993, Marine Pictures and Nautical Works of Art, lot 258, from the estate of Captain William Moffat of the East India Company. This auction included six swords from Moffat's estate, five of which were Presentation swords presented to him for various acts of valour. The sixth was this sword which it is quite probable that he received when he first reached India round about 1800/01. Following the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799, Tipu's palace and treasury were plundered and many weapons bearing his bubri or tiger stripe decoration were available at this time. Enclosed by the river Kaveri not far from Mysore in Southern India lies the island town of Seringapatam (Srirangapatna). Named after its main temple Sri Ranganathaswamy which was first consecrated in 984 AD and is dedicated to the Hindu god Ranganatha (a form of Vishnu), Seringapatam has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for Hindus for centuries. In the mid 18th Century a young and assertive Muslim commander called Haidar Ali (1720-1782) altered the balance in Seringapatam which would last for around four decades. Probably originating from the migrant Arab Quraish tribe, Ali had worked as a soldier and military leader for the ruling Hindu Wodeyar dynasty in the area. He was a successful leader and gained power to such an extent that eventually in 1752 he usurped Nanjaraj and Devraj and around 1761 declared himself ruler of Mysore and took Seringapatam as his capital city. Over the coming years Haidar Ali's initial wish to be allied to the British East India Company which held power in a significant area of Southern India, turned to a hatred of the British and their actions. This led to the four Anglo-Mysore wars, the first (1767-1769) which was won with relative ease by Ali. Ali died of cancer in the middle of the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-1784) and his son Tipu Sultan who was commanding part of his army at the time, returned to take leadership of Mysore. The Third Anglo-Mysore war (1790-1792) brought the first defeat for Mysore against Cornwallis, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Seringapatam and a curtailment of Mysore's borders. The Fourth Anglo-Mysore war (1798-1799) saw Tipu Sultan, encouraged by words of support from Napoleon, once again attempt to rid India of the British. In 1799 two British armies, one led by Colonel Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington), and an army from Bombay marched in to Mysore and besieged the capital Seringapatam. After losses on both sides, the attacking forces breached the defending walls. Tipu Sultan took to the battlements dressed in fine clothes, and with a small number of close servants and a variety of guns taken from his armoury. He fought bravely and defiantly, firing muskets loaded and handed to him by his servants, and incurring several wounds, the first being a musket ball in the right side near his chest, the second a further musket ball near the first, and then further various wounds. His horse was shot from under him. He initially resisted attempts from his followers to persuade him to step down from the fight, but eventually retreated. After the battle, with the British victorious, his body was found near the Water Gate of Seringapatam. He was buried on 5th May at the Gumbaz next to the bodies of his mother and father, and the core territory around Seringapatam and Mysore was restored to the Indian prince of the Wodeyar dynasty from whose forefathers Haidar Ali had originally taken the territory.