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Eadie, Revd John; The National Comprehensive Family Bible, The Holy Bible, and the abridgement of the Commentaries of Scott & Henry, Fawn & Co publishers, Twickenham, London, circa 1890, full leather binding with brass corners and clasps, folioFamily tree pages are intact and free from writing.

Davidson, John; Carte de Visite album, London, 1880, full blue morocco with gilt titled spine and medallion to front cover, the sparse contents mainly being London views with hand-written annotations, folio (1)

Armstrong, Walter; Gainsborough and his place in English Art, with 62 photogravures and ten lithographic facsimiles in colour, London, William Heinemann, New York, Charles Scribner's & Sons, 1898, later half calf over cloth boards, folio (1)

Edmondson, Joseph; A complete body of Heraldry, vol I, London, printed for the author by T. Spilsbury, Snow Hill, 1780, later bound in half calf over marbled boards, folio (1)

Stackhouse, Revd Thomas; A New History of the Holy Bible from the beginning of the World to the establishment of Christianity, second edition, vols I & II, London, printed for Stephen Austin at the Angel and Bible at St Paul's Churchyard, 1742, the second volume dated 1744, full leather bindings with gilt titled spines, folio (2)

Morant, Philip: The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, compiled from the best and most ancient Historians, Chelmsford Reprinted And Sold By Meggy And Chalk 1816, 2 vols, with coloured map, 1/2 calf over marbled boards, folio. (2)

Gould, Robert Freke: The History of Freemasonry its Antiquities, Symbols, Constitutions, Customs etc. vols I-III, Edinburgh: Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, circa 1887, 1/2 calf with gilt titles, folio. (3)

Doré, Gustave; The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments according to the authorised version, with illustrations, London and New York, Cassell Petter & Galpin, vols I & II, circa 1890, full leather with gilt titled spines, folio (2)

A folio folder of engraved plates, etc.

A German Stielers Hand Atlas, 1907 folio, one hundred coloured double folding plates

Turner (J. M. W.). The Turner Gallery. A Series of Sixty Line Engravings. From the Works of the Late J. M. W. Turner, R.A. The Descriptive Text by W. Cosmo Monkhouse, London: J. S. Virtue and Company, Limited, 1890. Large folio (455 x 330 mm), original red half morocco, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, 60 steel-engraved plates on india paper, mounted, each with title-leaf, leaf of descriptive text, and tissue-guard, extremities rubbed, front joint cracked at head, together with 2 others (not collated: The Turner Gallery: A Series of One Hundred and Twenty Engravings, c.1880, 3 volumes, bindings shaken and contents working loose, and Joseph Halfpenny, Gothic Ornaments in the Cathedral Church of York, 1831, plates only, plate 13 absent, spine defective, front board detached), and a carton of art reference, 20th century.

Wensleydale Interest. Books belonging to the Maughan and Creed Families, comprising: A large Holy Bible, 1806, with manuscript notes on the Maughan Family of Jervaulx pasted to front endpapers, worn calf gilt (upper board detached); A leather bound notebook belonging to Hugh Maughan (commenced 1909) with Wensleydale related notes, press cuttings, letters, Scrope dance card, Ure Salmon records, etc.; A large folio Book of Common Prayer, Bill and Newcomb, 1711, with manuscript notes relating to the Creed family, worn blindstamped calf binding with brass clasps and corners. (3)

Dark Journey, 1937, Italian film poster, starring Vivien Leigh, Robert Newton, and Conrad Veidt, approx 98x136cm, glazed (top half of an Italian 2-sheet (two folio) poster), max dimensions 106x145cm Large fold lines with tears and holes at foldsPinholes to cornersImage has slipped in frameHeavy wear to folds mainly at Vivien Leigh's face, and right-hand side

A WW2 POLISH/BRITISH MEDAL GROUP AND ARCHIVE OF PERSONAL EFFECTS BELONGING TO THE LATE CAPTAIN JOZEF KALEBA OF THE 3rd CARPATHIAN RIFLE DIVISION The medal group comprising War Medal, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star and Italy Star; alongside Polish Army Medal 1939-1945, Monte Cassino Cross, Silver Cross of Merit with Swords and Cross of Valour, with corresponding ribbon bars, the Polish medals all having miniatures; also, a selection of later-issued medals including a Tobruk Siege 1941 medal with name engraved verso and associated neck tie.  In addition: a Captain's service dress tunic, with bullion-embroidered epaulette rank insignia, Doctor's velvet collar pennants and ribbon bars for medals above listed; corresponding brown leather Sam Browne belt and document case; a tropical tunic in khaki cotton twill; a field surgery kit, housed in a black painted tin; a folio of period documents, tobacco pipe hand-engraved "Egipt, Tobruk, El Gazala, Derna, Cyrena"; dog tags; and a copy of Kaleba's autobiography in the original Polish, together with a typed English translation, a photograph of Kaleba in military uniform, an oak-cased Busch microscope belonging to him and a series of original cartoon postcards, dated 1939-1940, by Kaleba's friend Maciek Piotrowski, who in later years worked as an graphic artist in the movie industryCondition Report:"Monte Cassino Cross is numbered 48930.Please note the inclusion of the breast eagle and Carpathian badge with the lot, alongside the related prayer book and scarab bead (a souvenir of Kaleba's time in Egypt). All are shown in photographs."

SCOTLAND & IRELANDBLAEU (WILLEM & JAN) [Le Grand Atlas] Geographie Blaviane, contenant les livres xii. & xiii. de l'Europe, 2 parts in 1 vol., printed title with wood-engraved device and 54 engraved maps, comprising 48 double-page maps of Scotland (of 49) and 6 maps of Ireland (5 double-page), wanting engraved title and the map of Aberdeen & Banff, some browning and damp-staining at edges (occasionally just touching map edge), a few creases, contemporary boards, worn, rebacked in pigskin, folio (538 x 345mm.), Amsterdam, Jan Blaeu, 1667Footnotes:NotesWide-margined copy of the French edition of Blaeu's atlas of Scotland and Ireland, issued as volume 6 of the Atlas major.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: •• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

PENNANT (THOMAS)A Tour in Scotland; MDCCLXXIX, fourth edition, engraved pictorial title, folding map, 40 plates, 1776; A Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides, MDCCLXXII, 2 vol., second edition, 89 engraved plates (without 2 called for facing p.18), 1776, Benjamin White--Culloden Papers: Comprising an Extensive and Interesting Correspondence from the Year 1625 to 1748, introduction by Duncan Forbes, additional engraved title, frontispiece and 2 plates, T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1815--[CORDINER (CHARLES)] Remarkable Ruins, and Romantic Prospects, of North Britainengraved frontispiece, title-page and plates, Peter Mazell, 1788, contemporary calf gilt, the last mentioned rebacked--[MACGEORGE (ANDREW)] The Bairds of Gartsherrie. Some Notices... Private, 35 plates (some printed in colours), red crushed morocco gilt by Mclehose of Glasgow, g.e., Glasgow, University Press, 1875--CARR (JOHN) Caledonian Sketches, or a Tour through Scotland in 1807, 12 engraved plates (one folding), contemporary half calf, rebacked preserving original spine, Matthews and Leigh, 1809--Annals of Aberdeen, 2 vol., engraved pictorial titles, one folding plate, later maroon calf, rubbed, A. Brown, 1818--CRUIKSHANK (JOHN) The Armorial Ensigns of the Royal Burgh of Aberdeen, LIMITED TO 200 COPIES, frontispiece, Aberdeen, Edmond and Spark, 1888--GROSE (FRANCIS) The Antiquities of Scotland, 2 vol., engraved frontispieces, pictorial titles and plates, Hooper and Wigstead, 1798--THOM (WALTER) The History of Aberdeen, 2 vol., folding engraved map, blank piece cut away from head of each title, 8vo, Aberdeen, A. Stevenson, 1811, unless otherwise mentioned 4to--SMALL (JOHN W.) Scottish Market Crosses, ONE OF 500 COPIES, this the smaller format, illustrations, publisher's yellow cloth, Stirling, Mackay, 1900--SLEZER (JOHN) Theatrum Scotiae... with Life of the Author, LIMITED TO 250 COPIES, 69 plates (one double-page), colour-printed armorials in the text, modern half calf, Edinburgh, William Patterson, 1874--ROBSON (GEORGE FENNELL) Scenery of the Grampian Mountains, 41 uncoloured outline engraved plates, lacks frontispiece map, later half morocco, folio, for the Author, 1814 (16)This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: •• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

STUART (JOHN SOBIESKI STOLBERG) and CHARLES EDWARD STUARTThe Costume of the Clans, NUMBER 20 OF 500 COPIES, additional chromolithographed title, hand-coloured frontispiece and 35 engraved or lithographed plates, contemporary half morocco gilt, title in gilt to upper board, g.e., rubbed, folio, Edinburgh, John Grant, 1892This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: •• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

DRUMMOND (JAMES)Ancient Scottish Weapons, NUMBER 114 OF 500 COPIES, 54 chromolithographed plates, publisher's quarter morocco, t.e.g., rubbed, spine with loss, binding loose, folio, Edinburgh, George Waterston, 1881This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: •• Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

Folio Society - Marcel Proust - In Search of Lost Time, six volumes in two slipcases, published 2000 (2)

Folio Society - various titles, literature, art history, poetry, etc, including Wordsworth; Coleridge; Kenneth Clarke, The Nude; Plato, Symposium; Jacob Burckhardt, The Civilisation of the Renaissance in Italy; Brillatt Savarin, The Physiology of Taste; Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago, etc (15)

Folio Society - Anthony Trollope - The Duke's Children, The Complete Edition - limited edition 273/1980, with commentary volume, published 2015, clamshell presentation box; Anthony Trollope, 10 volumes, various titles, mixed dates, slipcases en suite (11)

Photography - Travel - an interesting 19th century photograph album, folio, HMS Prince Consort Mediterranean, containing black and white photograph prints; other albums, with images from across Europe (7)

Folio Society - various titles, fiction and non-fiction, including Grimm's Fairy Tales; Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio; The Arabian Nights; Han's Anderson's Fairy Tales; Charles Dickens, David Copperfield; Charles Dickens, Christmas Books; John Masefield, The Midnight Folk; George Orwell, Animal Farm; Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, etc (22)

The Folio Society - various titles, fiction and non-fiction, including James Joyce, Ulysses; Wilkie Collins, The Woman In White; Virginia Woolf, Orlando; The Folio Book of Short Stories; Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude; The Plums of P. G. Woodhouse; etc (24)

A folio of early 20th century German sepia engravings

Folio Society - various titles, George Hart, The Pharaohs; The Greek Myths; John Ruskin The Stones of Venice; Jacques Barzun, From Dawn To Decadence; Wifred Thesiger, Thesiger in Arabia; Jerome Carcopino, Daily Life in Ancient Rome; etc, all in slipcases (15)

Houghton (Rev. W. M.A, F L S) British Fresh-Water Fishes, one vol folio 1879 complete with A F Lydon coloured plates, half calf spine, tooled boards, William Mackenzie, 69 Ludgate Hill, E,C, Edinburgh & Dublin; another conforming smaller, second edition 1895 (2)

A folio of Old Master and later pictures and prints, including Johann Ignaz Zimbal (1722-1795), St. John the Evangelist Writing the Apocalypse on Patmos, signed within the plate, s.l., n.d. [c. 1760-70], etching, 29.6 x 20.4cm; Nicolas Mignard (1606-1668), after Annibale Carracci (1560-1609), Anapias and Amphinomus saving their family from an Etna eruption, from Homer's Odyssey, [Avignon]: Pierre Mariette II, 1637, etching and engraving, chipped in places, et al., 26 x 43.5cm; Joseph Vernet (1714-1789), Retour de la Pêche, first state, signed within the plate, s.l., n.d. [18th century], etching, 32.7 x 25.3cm; thirteen early 19th century British portrait stipple engravings, including the artists James Northcote, Joseph Nollekens with his bust of Charles Fox, Benjamin West ,George Romney, James Barry, Joseph Farington, Thomas Stothard, David Wilkie, and other Royal Academicians; William Young Ottley (1771-1836), after Pieter/Peeter Boel (1622-1674), The Wild Boar Hunt, [London, 1828], etching, 19.1 x 32.9cm; India and the British Raj, a commemorative printed silk, to General Lord Wolseley of Cairo on his being awarded the Gold Casket of the Corporation of the City of London, dated April 1883, further British Army portraits; untraced lithograph, Battle of the Locks and Keys, s.l., s.n., n.d. [c. 1830], 30.5 x 40.5cm; 19th century hand-coloured etching of a butterfly, monogrammed RN; pen and ink study of a fisherman and harbour scene; a mid-19th century named-view etching of Cardigan Bay, [Wales], dated 1869; 19th century British and French portrait and landscape etchings, including Corot; proof lithographs printed on India paper, then rolled onto sheets; etc., early 19th century morocco-backed folio, rubbed and tired, (approx. 50)

Folio Society - William Shakespeare - Sonnets and Poems - letterpress limited edition 1061/1980, companion volume edited by Colin Burrow, published 2002, fitted clamshell presentation box; Tales From Shakespeare - Charles and Mary Lamb, 2003, in slipcase; Shakespeare - The Complete Plays, eight volumes in two slipcases, 1997; Shakespeare's Life and World, 2004, in slipcase (5)

Folio Society - Doomsday Book, three volumes in slipcase, published 2003; Queen Victoria, Leaves From The Journal Of Our Life In The Highlands, published 2002, clamshell presentation box; other British history and travel titles, including The Black Death, Medieval People, A Shropshire Lad, etc, all in slipcases (13)

A folio of maps, West Country & London to include: Admiralty Charts: Cape Elizabeth to Portsmouth Harbour (Maine) 1962, Die Jade (Wilhelmshavn) 1974 (attached to cover of folio), Gran Canaria to Hiero 1972, Plymouth/River Tamar 1973 & Poole Harbour 1972; OS six inch to one mile series 1907/1919, thirteen: Antony, Bere Ferrers, Botus Fleming, Calstock, Devonport, Gunnislake, Landulph, Pillaton, Polbathic[k], Rame, St. German’s, St. Stephen’s & Saltash also seven OS flat sheet 1:25,000 (1959/72 series): Bere Ferrers, Burgh Island, Callington, Plymstock & Plymton, Stoke Climsland, St. German’s & Tavistock; also reproductions of famous London maps: a colour printed copy of Frans Hogenberg’s map of London (1572) on cartridge paper GLC 34 x 38cm; four A3 sheets copied from William Morgan’s map of London 1682, black & white (London Topographical Society); nine sheets reproduced from Rocque’s map of London 1746 (each 57 x 43cm): Bethnal Green, Cornhill/London Bridge, Mile End, Moorfields, Royal Row, Shadwell, Shoreditch, Spitalfields & Whitechapel; Jacob de Feuille’s map of London (after Hollar, c. 1690, GLC) 64x 54cm; six sheets reproduced from William Faden’s map of London 1819 each 54 x 58cm (PRO Harben Bequest): Bank & London Wall, Bethnal Green, Commercial Road, Old Street/Bunhill Fields, Shoreditch, Whitechapel Road, also a colour print of early C19th panorama painting 37.5 x 27cm of ships in a harbour, mounted (qty)

Bottle Collecting - Breweriana - Advertising - an interesting folio of drawings and images relating to Derby bottles, glasses and vessels, various products, breweries and manufacturers, Offilers; T Ordish, Chemist, Pear Tree Road, Derby; R Parson; James Ragg; Summers Fruitbreads; Strettons Ltd; etc, ring-bound album

Folio Society - Robert Thornton - The Temple Of Flora - elephant folio with fine binding, companion volume commentary by Stephen Harris, published 2008, fitted clamshell presentation box

Folio Society - Charlotte Emily and Anne Bronte, The Complete Works - seven volumes in slipcase, 2004; The Brontes, A Life in Letters, Juliet Barker, 2006, slipcase; Jane Austen's Letters, edited by Dierdre le Faye, 2003, slipcase; Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives and Daughters, 2002, slipcase; another, North and South, 2003, slipcase; The Lifted Veil, Women's 19th Century Stories, 2005, slipcase (6)

Folio society. A selection of Folio society books to include The Rare Adventures and Painful Peregrinations of William Lithgow, The History of The Kings of Britain, The Seige of Quebec, Praise of Foley, London 1851, Witches of Salem and others. (1 shelf)

BEATON DAVID: (c.1494-1546) Scottish Cardinal who served as Archbishop of St. Andrews 1539-46. Beaton was the last Scottish Cardinal prior to the Reformation. An extremely rare L.S., d[avid] Card[ina]lis S[anc]ti Andree, one page, folio, Paris, 17th July 1542, to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, in Latin. Beaton writes to Farnese in relation to Alfonso Salmeron and Paschase Broet, the Apostolic nuncios to Ireland and the disturbances they have witnessed there, commenting that there is 'still so much cruelty from the English and the barbarian people themselves, and fierceness, from whom I have saved [them] and they have escaped unscathed. [It is] astounding all that I have been able to see' and adding that he will continue to write with reports to Farnese. With integral address leaf. Some very light, minor water staining to the right edge, only very slightly affecting a few words of text, which remain perfectly legible. About VG Alessandro Farnese (1520-1589) Italian Cardinal and Diplomat. Grandson of Pope Paul III and appointed as his principal secretary in 1538, managing most of the papal business until 1549. Alfonso Salmeron (1515-1585) Spanish Biblical Scholar, a Catholic Priest, and one of the first Jesuits. Paschase Broet (1500?-1562) French Catholic Priest, one of the first Jesuits. In late 1538 King Henry VIII of England was excommunicated by Pope Paul III and the constitutional position of the lordship of Ireland remained uncertain.  In the autumn of 1541 Pope Paul III sent Salmeron and Broet as Apostolic nuncios to Ireland. Before leaving they met with Cardinal Beaton at Lyon who discouraged them from going to Ireland with stories of the dire state of the Church there. After leaving France they reached Edinburgh on 3rd December 1541. Although warmly received by King James V, he, and everyone else they met agreed with Beaton and also discouraged them from going to Ireland. Nevertheless, Salmeron and Broet made the short crossing on 23rd February 1542. The title of King of Ireland had been re-created in 1542 by King Henry VIII and the English began establishing control over the island. The situation in Ireland proved to be worse than previously thought and Broet wrote 'in a short while we found matters just as we had been told, if not worse'. Bishops who remained faithful were turned out of their dioceses and went on the run. Monasteries and friaries were all in ruins. Pope Paul III's original instructions had stated that if their lives were in danger then they were return and therefore in the summer of 1542 they travelled back to Scotland where the people there were surprised to see them return alive. 

JOHN III SOBIESKI: (1629-1696) King of Poland & Grand Duke of Lithuania 1674-96. A popular King among his subjects and a respected military leader whose 22-year reign marked a period of stabilization. Very rare L.S., `Jan Krol´, signed by the King of Poland, one page, oblong folio, 25th October 1686, to Jan Benedykt Sapieha, in Polish. The letter states to the heading, "John Sobieski Third, King of Poland by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Mazovia, …" The letter states in part `…With the present letter we inform that ... according to the privilege of Sigismund Augustus II in 1569, at the General Assembly of Lublin of the Grand Duke of Lithuania,… in which such a law related to fiefs, farms ... lands, forests, ... lakes, ponds, meadows and other all goods ... We can rule these subjects/natives ... we can add to our treasury the duty of the service, both with the fief of Samogitia duchy..´ Bearing at the base of the front page a large blind embossed seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. With registration annotations to the verso. Overall  age wear, with two small tears to the lower edge, and two small holes, not affecting the signature or seal. G Jan Benedykt Sapieha, Polish-Lithuanian nobleman and politician. He was appointed Treasurer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Sapieha was a member of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Parliament and took part in the expedition to Khotyn in 1673. He contributed to and supported the victory of Jan III Sobieski as King.

PEIERLS RUDOLF: (1907-1995) German-born British Physicist. Peierls played a major role in the Manhattan Project. His co-authored 1940 memorandum with Otto Frisch set out the first step to the atomic bomb construction.Interesting autograph signed thoughts by Peierls about himself and his works, one page, folio, stating in part `I have never done any one great piece of work, but mainly small (but I hope useful) contributions to several branches of quantum theory.´ To the heading bearing the collector´s annotations with questions Peierls responds to, also indicating the date this statement was obtained, 23rd April 1950. VG 

ELISABETH OF VALOIS: (1545-1568) Also known as Elisabeth of France. Queen of Spain 1559-68 as third spouse of King Philip II of Spain. She was the eldest daughter of King Henry II of France and Catherine de´Medici. Elisabeth died at the very early age of 23. A very rare Autograph letter signed by the Queen, to her mother. A.L.S., `Elisabeth´, one page, folio, n.p., n.d., to the Queen of France and her mother Catherine de´Medici, in old French. Elisabeth asks for an important favour, stating in part `Madame, j'ai su le bien et faveur qu'il vous a plu faire…de certain arrêt duquel il se soit peiné bien fort, moyennant laquelle révision et fasse lui de justifier son innocence qui est cause que de nouveau je redoive vous supplier faire…il a souffert de dommage en sa personne et biens par la malice de ses ennemis. J'ai prié dieu madame qu'il vous tienne en santé très heureuse et longue vie. Votre très humble et très obéissante fille´ (Translation: "Madame, I have learned the good favour you have been kind to do... of certain judgment which he has suffered himself very much, in return for which revision and make him justify his innocence which is the cause that again I must beg you to do… he suffered damage to his person and properties by the malice of his enemies. I prayed to God madam that he keep you very healthy and long life. Your very humble and very obedient daughter") With address leaf stating `A la Reyne, Madame et mère´ (Translation: "To the Queen, Madame and mother") A very rare latter of good association. Overall age wear, with foxing and creases, mostly to edges. About G King Philip II of Spain was very attached to Elisabeth of France, staying close by her side even when she was ill with smallpox. Both were very close to their two daughters, buying them dolls and toys and both rejoiced at the birth of Isabella as if it had been the birth of a son. Elisabeth had another miscarriage on 3 October 1568, and died the same day, along with her new-born infant daughter. After the death of Elisabeth, Catherine de´Medici offered her younger daughter Margaret as a bride for Philip II, but the King declined the offer 

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.

SIBELIUS JEAN: (1865-1957) Finnish Composer. Widely considered Finland´s greatest composer, and often credited with having developed a national identity through his music at the time of independence from Russia. A rare and lengthy A.L.S., Jean Sibelius, two pages, folio, Järvenpää, 5th May 1905, to Robert Lienau, in German. Sibelius sends a very interesting letter to his editor about his works, explaining that he is sending him the orchestral musical score of Pelléas & Mélisande and a small Romance for string orchestra, commenting that the Pelléas' piano arrangements will be available very soon. Sibelius asks his correspondent if he will also want the `Lied von Mélisande´ ("aria of Mélisande") because since his score was in Swedish, he crossed out the song. He further confirms that he will send, arranged for piano, the song in French, German and Swedish, and this way Lienau will be able to print it in the way he wishes. Further again Sibelius states `The founder of the National Theatre has left his post due to his advanced age, and a big festival has been organized in his honour. I have been chosen as first composer for the festival. I have composed a Cortège…´ which he says will soon send to Lienau, together with his Violin Concerto, and adds that he will also send `…two choirs, one in Finnish and the other in Swedish; the one in Finnish is taken from the national epic of Kalevala´ Before concluding Sibelius states that all these works are already old and that he will do something new and good for Lienau before the fall. Beneath his signature and as a postscriptum, Sibelius suggests naming Pelléas's music "Entr'acte Musik". Paper with a Handgjord Post Lessebo watermark with crowned monogram. With two binder holes to the left edge, not affecting the text or signature. G to VG

CHARLES VIII: (1470-1498) King of France 1483-98. A rare D.S., Charles, one page (vellum), oblong folio, Lyon, 1st March 1496, in Middle French. The manuscript document is addressed to Jehan Lalemant, receiver general of finances in the Duchy of Normandy, and is a warrant to pay Charles Depontoy the sum of one hundred gold crowns, granted above and besides the pledges, pensions and benefits he already receives, in order for him to acquire a house in Paris. Signed by the King at the foot and countersigned by Hobineau. Autographs of King Charles VIII are rare in any form as a result of an accident which left him in a coma, dying nine hours later at the young age of 27. A small area of loss to the upper left edge and a second area of loss to the lower right edge of the document have been neatly replaced, and with some minor staining (slightly affecting the King's signature) and light overall age wear. Some slight, minor traces of former mounting to the upper edge of the verso, G

[SLAVERY]: A very interesting document, one page, large 17 x 12 folio, given at Matanzas, Cuba, n.d., in Spanish. The partially printed document, bearing the printed heading "Registro General de Patronato de la Provincia de Matanzas" ("General Registry of the Council of the Province of Matanzas"), is a detailed list of twenty-two slaves, fourteen men and eight women, five being children, including the full names of their "Patrono" ("Patron"), the names given to the slaves `Tomasa - Atanasio - Polonia - Estanislao…´, an identification number given to each of them, their sex,their origin `Creole - Africa…´, and their age, being 5 years old the younger and 33 the older. Five slave names are crossed, showing the reason to the right border of the official document, to the last column, stating that these five slaves were freed, indicating `Libre´ ("Free") and the dates they were freed, between 1882 and 1886.Overall age wear and toning, with edges trimmed. Repaired to the verso to the fold. About G

[EGYPTOLOGY]: Collection of A.Ls.S. and T.Ls.S., memoranda etc. by various Egyptologists and other individuals, most addressed to the Director General Service des Antiquités in Cairo, eighteen pages (total), various sizes (8vo, folio etc.), various places (mainly Pyramides), 1919-30, most in French, and many with signed annotations and minutes to the margins, referring to antiquities and other objects, a visit by Belgian monarchs, and most relating to the provision of electric lights to illuminate the interior of the grand pyramid, the costs involved etc., the notes in the margins variously signed by Pierre Lacau (1873-1963) French Egyptologist and philologist who served as Egypt's director of antiquities 1914-36 and oversaw the 1922 discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, Henri Gauthier (1877-1950) French Egyptologist and geographer, and Cecil Mallaby Firth (1878-1931) British Egyptologist, etc. All with file holes and most with some age wear, small tears to the edges etc. G to about VG, 18

FRISCH OTTO ROBERT: (1904-1979) Austrian Physicist. Designer of the first mechanism for the detonation of an atomic bomb. A key figure in the first nuclear fission theoretical explanation. An excellent A.L.S., `O.R. Frisch´, one page, folio, stating in part `I think my paper with Prof. L. Meitner in which fission was first explained in some detail, and my subsequent paper in which the liberation of very large energies was first demonstrated..´ Frisch concludes with a sentence in French `Auquun(sic) de mes ouvrage je considere comme un chef-d´oeuvre!´ ("I do not consider any of my works a master work!´). To the heading showing the collector´s annotations with questions Frisch responds to, also indicating at the base of the document the date this statement was obtained, 8th November 1947. VG  

FOUCHE JOSEPH: (1759-1820) French statesman and revolutionary, a subordinate of Napoleon who served as Minister of Police 1799-1810, March-June & July-September 1815. L.S., Fouche, one page, folio, Paris, 26th July 1808, to 'M. Le Resident de France' at Warsaw, in French. Fouche states that he has taken note of his correspondent's observations in relation to the issuing of a visa or passport and continues to offer his guidance in the matter, explaining that the passport of a Frenchman, of which favourable information has been received, can be temporarily endorsed for travel abroad, otherwise communication would have to be made with the respective diplomatic agent. Fouche further acknowledges that the correspondence is undoubtedly onerous, but is a necessary measure put in place by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. With blank integral leaf. A few small worm holes in the left margin and a few small tears and light creasing to the edges, otherwise about VG 

MUSSOLINI BENITO: (1883-1945) Italian Fascist Dictator of World War II & VITTORIO EMANUELE III (1869-1947) King of Italy 1900-46. D.S., `Mussolini´, and `Vittorio Emanuele´, two pages, folio, Rome, 12th July 1923, in Italian. The partially printed document is a decree, bearing the printed heading ''Vittorio Emanuele III, by the grace of god and by the will of the Nation - King of Italy'', according to which the King of Italy accepts the resignation of the Grand officer and engineer Alberto Torri as President of the 2nd bureau of the Superior Council. Signed in bold black inks by the King and immediately beneath by Mussolini in his capacity as Minister of war, to the second page. With few official contemporary ink stamps and one countersignature. With blank integral leaf. With extremely small pinholes to the left border as a result of its detachment. Overall age wear, mostly to edges, otherwise G 

DOS PASSOS JOHN: (1896-1970) American novelist. D.S., John Dos Passos, two pages, folio, New York, 5th August 1967. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is a memorandum of agreement between Dos Passos, represented by Franz J. Horch Associates Inc., and the publishing house of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore in Milan, in which Dos Passos agrees to an Italian publication of his work The 42nd Parallel, stating that the author will receive a payment of 175,000 lire and royalties of 7.5% and that the agreement is valid for five years. Signed by Dos Passos at the conclusion and countersigned by a witness. Some very light, minimal age wear, VG The 42nd Parallel was originally published in 1930 and was the first novel in Dos Passos's most notable work, the U.S.A. trilogy.  

BARAGUEY D´HILLIERS LOUIS: (1764-1813) French General during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. L.S., `L.B. d'Hilliers´, one page, folio, Weissembourg, 22nd May 1793, to General Alexandre de Beauharnais, in French. The partially printed document of the Army of the Rhin reports about General Vieusseux who is assigned to Beauharnais division orders, stating in part `..the People representants wish that Baraguey is assigned to Porrentruy or neighbourhood countries, because of his relationships with Bienne where he is married and they fear his influence..´ The document bears a large watermark. Folded. VG    Alexandre Beauharnais (1760-1794) French General. Beauharnais was the first husband of Josephine de la Pagerie, who later married Napoleon Bonaparte and became Empress of the First Empire. Alexandre was arrested in March 1794 and, following his sentence of death during the Reign of Terror, was executed by guillotine in Paris.    Jean-Louis Vieusseux (1754-1817) French General. Baraguey D´Hilliers served in the Russian campaign of 1812 where his troops were assigned to guard Smolensk after the city was captured by the French. During the retreat from Moscow, Napoleon ordered Baraguey d'Hilliers to march east to meet him. However, instead of joining Napoleon, his division marched into the jaws of the advancing Russian army. The Russians surrounded his brigades and forced him to surrender. For this incident, he fell into disgrace with the Emperor. 

[INNOCENT VIII]: (1432-1492) Pope of the Catholic Church 1484-92. Document issued in the name of Innocent VIII, being a Papal Bull, one page (vellum), large oblong folio, Rome, 9th November 1488, in Latin. The neatly penned secretarial text is untranslated although apparently relates to the disturbances which had occurred in the city of Perugia and the powers granted to the legate. With a decorative initial 'I' and several other elongated letters and flourishes to the first line. Signed beneath the plica by the scribe Girolamo Balbano. Brief contemporary docket to the verso. Lacking the seal and with four small holes where it would originally have been attached with cords, a few further small holes and light staining and with some traces of former mounting to the verso, and heavier remnants of the same to the plica, G

PERON JUAN: (1895-1974) President of Argentina 1946-55 & 1973-74. T.L.S., `Peron´, in his capacity as Minister of war, one page, folio, Buenos Aires, 19th August 1944, to Vicente Fernandez, in Spanish. The typed document bears to the upper left corner the printed heading "Republic of Argentina - Ministry of war" beneath the blind embossed seal of the Argentinean emblem. The document reports on the return to service of soldier Fernandez after an accident and recovery. With ink stamp of the Argentinean army, and countersigned to the verso by Guillermo Beghe. Two binder holes to the left border not affecting text or signature. Small age wear with edges very slightly trimmed. G

ANNE: (1665-1714) Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland 1702-07. A fine L.S., Anna R, with a holograph subscription, three pages, folio, Palace at Windsor, 3rd July 1709, to Franz Ludwig, Count Palatine, Bishop of Worms, and Johann Wilhelm, Count Palatine on the Rhine, Elector of Bavaria, in Latin. The Queen writes, in part, 'Most illustrious and excellent Prince, dearest cousin and friend, as well as most serene Prince, dearest brother, cousin, and friend, the new peace negotiation by the French, which is too little sincere, has no doubt already been made known [and] it would be superfluous to explain to Your Excellency and Your Electoral Excellency with how much unworthiness the most Christian King not only refused to have several preliminary articles concluded in The Hague confirmed, & after their having been approved by his plenipotentiaries, but also in contempt of all his allies, he has abused [them] through insinuations he has thought up to enrage the spirits of his subjects. We hope indeed that the long since renowned skills will remove the anger from all hearts and that the allies will all be of the same mind as We that there will in no way at all be a just, honest, stable, comprehensive peace until the arrogant common enemy, who has out of weakness so violently brought on war from all sides, withdraws, that he must by necessity or unwillingly desist. These things may already speak for themselves. We nonetheless, from Our concern for the public weal, deemed it to be not unseemly to appeal with Our exhortation to Your Excellency and Your Electoral Excellency to urge and cause everyone of authority in the region of the Upper Rhine by most grave admonishments to support it, as well as to provide a share of fighting forces, of soldiers and funds, and also at this moment, by which the moments of the greatest causes turn to Our example and that of the order of the general domains of the Belgian Federation, to send men and funds & thus expand the German combat army on the Upper Rhine and fortify it by means of the things needed for war, so that not only the boundaries of the Empire are protected, but also the provinces broken off at the time can be reintegrated. This sole hope of a war to be completed with glory and a peace to be maintained with security. To this be added the hope for divine grace, which will not be rejected as unseemly, health, liberty, and event the indignation at such an enemy. We thus humbly appeal to Your Excellency and Your Electoral Excellency to take active part in the cause, for haste is necessary so that this best occasion not slip from our hands…..' Countersigned at the foot by Henry Boyle (1669-1725) 1st Baron Carleton, Anglo-Irish politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer 1701-08, Northern Secretary 1708-10 and Lord President of the Council 1721-25. With integral address panel bearing a blind embossed paper seal (neatly split). Annotated in ink at the head of the first page to record that the letter was received at Erfurt on 29th July 1709. A letter of interesting content and association written during the Spanish War of Succession (1701-14), the European great power conflict which arose from the death of the childless King Charles II of Spain in November 1700 and led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Philip of Anjou and Charles of Austria, and their respective supporters, among them Spain, Austria, France, the Dutch Republic, Savoy and Great Britain. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Franz Ludwig of Palatinate-Neuburg (1664-1732) Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Prince-Bishop of Worms 1694-1732. Johann Wilhem II (1658-1716) Elector Palatine 1690-1716, brother of Franz Ludwig.

CATHERINE DE´MEDICI: (1519-1589) Queen consort of France 1547-59, as spouse of King Henry II. Catherine de Medici saw during her life time three of her sons becoming Kings of France, Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. Very rare L.S., `Catherine´, one page, folio, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, 23rd June 1566, to Monsieur de Jarnac, in old French. Catherine sends the present letter on behalf of her son, King Charles IX who would be 16 years old three days later. Catherine de´ Medici is concerned regarding the goods arrived to the port of La Rochelle and which have been put under hold, stating in part `Monsieur de Jarnac, la lettre que le Roi monsieur mon fils vous écrit présentement satisfera pour la réponse que je vous pourrais faire à la dépêche que nous avons reçue de vous du XVIIIe de ce mois touchant les navires de La Rochelle qui y sont arrivés chargés de marchandises que l'on prétend être déprédées…´ (Translation: "Monsieur de Jarnac, the letter that the King, Monsieur my son, is writing to you at this time will satisfy the answer that I could give you to the dispatch that we received from you on the 18th of the present month  concerning the ships from La Rochelle which arrived there loaded with goods they pretend to hold…" Further again, Catherine sends precise orders, saying `…vous prier bien fort de tenir la main envers les dits juges, à ce qu'ils procèdent en cela avec la meilleure, plus juste et prompte expédition que faire se pourra, cessant tous ports, faveurs, exception de personnes longuement commencées et dissimulations quelconques, sans oublier ce que le dit seigneur Roi mon fils vous mande touchant d'un nommé Guillaume Mesmyn…´ (Translation: "…pray you very much to look over the said judges, so that they proceed in this with the best, most just and prompt dispatch that can be done, ceasing all ports charges, favours…  without forgetting what the said Lord King my son tells you about a man named Guillaume Mesmyn…") Countersigned at the base. With address leaf, stating `Monsieur de Jarnac chevalier de l'ordre du Roi, monsieur mon fils, capitaine de cinquante hommes de ses ordonnances et son lieutenant général au gouvernement de La Rochelle et pays d'Aunis en l'absence de mon fils le prince de Navarre´ (Translation: "Monsieur de Jarnac Knight of the Order of the King, Monsieur my son, Captain of fifty men of his ordinances and his Lieutenant General in the government of La Rochelle and the country of Aunis in the absence of my son the Prince of Navarre") Also annotated to the verso `De la Reyne Catherine de Medicis mère du Roy Charles 9, 1566´ (Translation: "By the Queen Catherine de Medicis, mother of the King Charles 9, 1566") Overall age wear, with edges slightly trimmed and repair to the left border, not affecting the text or signature. G Monsieur de Jarnac (1514-1584) Guy 1er de Chabot, Baron de Jarnac. The Abbey of Saint-Maur became very famous in the Middle Ages, and was one of the most famous pilgrimage centers of medieval France. The abbey was secularised in 1531 and a Château was built in 1541 for the Bishop of Paris Jean du Bellay. In 1563 Catherine de Medicis acquired the Château du Bellay and largely rebuilt it. On 23rd September 1568, Catherine de Medicis´ teenage son, King Charles IX, issued the well-remembered Edict of Saint-Maur, which prohibited all religions but Catholicism. Charles IX (1550-1574) King of France 1560-74. He ascended the throne at the very early age of ten years upon the death of his brother Francis II. From 1560 to 1563 his mother Catherine de´ Medici held the regency of France.Guillaume Mesmyn was a Corsair of La Rochelle, acting between 1556 and 1569. 

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

MAZARIN JULES: (1602-1661) Italian Cardinal, Diplomat and Politician, served as Chief Minister of the French Monarch 1642-61. L.S., J Card. Mazarin, two pages, folio, St. Quentin, 3rd July 1649, to de Chaunes, a Councillor of King Louis XIV, in French. Mazarin writes an informative letter to his correspondent, discussing the need to increase the number of horses in order to transport the munitions of war, and remarking that forty have been approved, explaining that he has given instructions to make a payment of one hundred francs to a spy, and that he has also given orders to provide flour for forty thousand rations of bread for the cavalry of the German army, further declaring 'I believe appropriate and even very necessary that M. le Compte d'Harcourt, being in the Limemy (?) country, should have published in quantity handbills signed by him stating that in whatever place he passes where he finds mills ruined by inhabitants, he will have those same places burned down and will not pardon any peasant. By this means we would generate fear and we would make it easy to have the wheat ground for the subsistence of the army....pursue your efforts with the same diligence, so that with each acting on your own initiative we may have some good success in this campaign which will oblige the Limemis to make peace....' With integral address leaf bearing two small red wax seals, one with the small original red ribbon affixed. Some light age wear to the edges and a small wormhole just affecting a few letters of text, but not the signature. About VG  

DE FUNES LOUIS: (1914-1983) French actor and comedian. An unusual set of eight folio pages (two bifolium) neatly removed from a scrapbook dedicated to De Funes and featuring numerous magazine and newspaper portraits of the actor, many in costume or scenes from his films, signed and inscribed by De Funes to the centre of the first page, in French, sending his good wishes for 1960, further annotated in French by De Funes to two other pages, in one stating that he did not appear in a certain film and in another remarking that his film debut was in La Tentation de Barbizon and that he opened a door. Also featuring various annotations in the hand of the compiler. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG 

BECQUEREL HENRI: (1852-1908) French physicist, the first person to discover evidence of radioactivity. Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1903. An interesting Autograph Manuscript Signed ('Henri Becquerel'; in the title), two pages, folio, n.p., n.d. (c.1903), in French. The manuscript, featuring numerous corrections and deletions, is entitled 'Sur le rayonnement penetrant du Polonium, Note de M. Henri Becquerel' (Translation: 'On the penetrating radiation of Polonium, Note by Mr. Henri Becquerel') and makes references to his experiments of 1899 and 1901, focusing on Polonium, whose radiation (which he names 'beta radiation') differs from his first observations, stating, in part, 'J'ai reconnu recemment.....dans le rayonnement du Polonium, a cote de la radiation observable caracteristique de ce corps, l'existence d'un rayonnement penettrant produisant des effets secondaires sur les metaux qu'il rencontre et qu'il traverse. J'ai montre egalement que la radiation caracteristique observable est identique aux rayons alpha du radium, qu'elle est caracterisee par des radiations possedant la meme deviabilite....laquelle est inverse de celles des rayons cathodiques, et enfin - qu'elle s'affaibilt  avec le temps comme le rayonnement des corps actives.....En particulier les produits ayant servi a mes premieres experiences et qui avaient ete presentes par Marie Curie en 1899, ont perdu presque totalement la faculte d'emettre des rayons alpha. Ces produits etant deja.....affaiblis en 1901....servi a mettre en evidence l'existence d'effets secondaires, effets dus a la radiation persistante. En repetant les memes experiences avec les produits......plus actifs, quoique affaiblis certains.....Je me demandais alors si les particules persistantes....la radiation alpha.....elles ne subsisteraient pas independamment de celles-ci; j'ai alors recommence les experiences de 1901 avec les amas produits que je cumule car inertes de par la diffusion des rayons alpha, et j'ai obtenu des champs semblables a celles de 1901. J'ai alors recommence les experiences de 1901 avec les anciens produit que je.....cette observation.....faits important 1. l'independance entre le rayonnement penetrant et les rayons alpha, et 2. la permanence, de....penetrants, et ce fait permet de ranger definitivement le Polonium dans la classe des corps radioactifs, au lieu de le considerer comme corps acheve dont l'intensite disparait avec le temps. Ainsi dans le meme corps il peut exister deux types de conditions independantes….Il convient de supposer que.....du Polonium, les rayons beta.....il semble donc que les 3 types de radiations que.....et des rayons......a admettre une dependance entre les rayons alpha, beta et y du rayonnement actifs et l'independance qui vient d'etre etablie est de nature a considerer que produisent certains.....sur la cause de la radioactivite' (Translation: 'I have recently recognised…..in the radiation from the Polonium, alongside the observable radiation characteristic of this body, the existence of a penetrating radiation producing secondary effects on the metals which it encounters and which it crosses. I have also shown that the observable characteristic radiation is identical to the alpha rays of radium, that is characterised by radiations possessing the same variability….which is the opposite of those of the cathode rays, and finally - that it is weakened with time like the radiation of active bodies….In particular the products having been used for my first experiments and which had been presented by Marie Curie in 1899, have almost completely lost the ability to emit alpha rays. These products already being….weakened in 1901…..served to highlight the existence of secondary effects, effects due to the persistent radiation. By repeating the same experiments with the products…..more active, although some weakened…..I wondered then if the persistent particles…..the alpha radiation….would not remain independently of these; I then repeated the experiments of 1901 with the product clusters that I accumulated because they are inert due to the diffusion of alpha rays, and I obtained fields similar to those of 1901; I then started again the experiments of 1901 with the old products….important facts 1. The independence between the penetrating radiation and the alpha rays, and 2. The permanence of penetrants, and this fact makes it possible to classify polonium definitively in the class of radioactive bodies, instead of considering it as a finished body whose intensity disappears with time. Thus, in the same body there can exist two types of independent conditions….It should be assumed that….of Polonium, beta rays….so it seems that the 3 types of radiation that….and rays…..to admit a dependence between the alpha, beta and y rays of the radiation assets and the independence which has just been established is of a nature to consider that some produce…..on the cause of the radioactivity'). A working manuscript of excellent content for its discussion of polonium and radioactivity, which was presented to the Academy of Sciences. Some light age wear and three tears to the upper edge, only very slightly affecting one word of text, otherwise VG

BERNADOTTE JEAN-BAPTISTE: (1763-1844) French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, one of the original eighteen Marshals of the Empire created by Napoleon I. Bernadotte later became King Charles XIV John of Sweden and Norway 1818-44. D.S., J: Bernadotte, two pages, large folio, Rennes, 27th October 1801, in French. The manuscript document, issued by the 82 Demi-Brigade, is a memorandum of proposal for the retirement pay in favour of Lieutenant Francois Moniot 'hors d'etat de continuer son service par suite d'une blessure recue a la jambe droite a l'affaire de Savene' (Translation: 'unable to continue his service following an injury to the right leg received in the Savene affair') and provides details of his military service and campaigns from the age of 18 years in 1776, as well as details of his health following a medical examination. Signed by Bernadotte at the conclusion, adding one line of text in his hand, 'Vu et approuve par le General en Chef de l'armee de s'ouest' (Translation: 'Seen and approved by the General-in-Chief of the Western Army'). Also bearing the countersignatures of various members of the administrative council of the 82 Demi-Brigade. Some light overall age wear and a few small, neat tears and splits to the edges, about VGThe Battle of Savenay took place on 23rd December 1793 and marked the end of the Viree de Galerne operational phase of the first war in the Vendee after the French Revolution. The Republicans suffered thirty fatalities at the Battle and two hundred officers were wounded.

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 

LAWRENCE T. E.: (1888-1935) British army officer, archaeologist, diplomat and writer, renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916-18) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915-18) against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. An excellent A.L.S., T E Shaw, one page, folio, Karachi, India, 5th January 1927, to an unidentified correspondent (although evidently a writer whom Lawrence held in some esteem). Lawrence announces, 'I have sworn a great oath never to use or countenance the use of the name "Lawrence", as referring to me, again, in public or private', continuing 'So that would settle the question of my introducing your book, I'm afraid' and explaining 'Of course I write, or rather I try to write, occasionally: unsigned articles, or articles signed by virgin names. They are worth two guineas a thousand words, which I am told is a better rate than usual. They cost me more than that, in trouble, even at my R.A.F. rate of 3/6 a day! And no publisher would be moved to publish your work, because it had an unknown man's introduction before it.' Shaw, however, offers his advice and a further clarification of his decision to his correspondent, 'But why should you think an introduction necessary?......Probably the right man will take what you have written on its merits, and that should be much more gratifying than to be helped. I did twice, in the old days, help people by introducing their books: but one, Richard Garnett, was dead, and that pardoned the offence. The other, Doughty, was a special case: I had been trying to persuade all London to reprint him, and at last one beginning-publisher said "I will, if you'll preface it" :- and what could I do? Doughty was very nice about it: but it felt like scratching one's name on Westminster Abbey. Introductions to publishers I will (and do) willingly give. Several people with good stuff have been helped by me into print. It's a matter of knowing the proper tradesmen. Have you tried Cape? He is enterprising, and the best producer of commercial books in London (for format). If you will send me a sample of your stuff I'll see that it reaches his reader (Edward Garnett, a critic of genius) with my opinion. I have no doubt that it's the right stuff: and it should be exactly right for the particular public. If Cape says "NO", I'd suggest Faber and Gwyer for second string: but Cape an easy first. Secker is too difficult: and the big men too staid'. A rare letter of fine content in which Lawrence affirms his desire for anonymity and proves himself to be a good guide in the intricacies behind the scenes of publishing. Some very light creasing and a few minor tape stains to the lower central area of the letter, only very minimally affecting a few words of text and part of the signature, otherwise about VGFollowing his legendary exploits in Arabia, Lawrence had become a household name by the early 1920s and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in August 1922 as an aircraftman under the name John Hume Ross. However, less than a year later, his identity was exposed, and he was forced out of the RAF in February 1923. Changing his name once again, to T. E. Shaw, he repeatedly petitioned to re-join the RAF and was finally readmitted in August 1925. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom was published in December 1926 and the renewed publicity it brought resulted in his assignment to bases as Karachi, from where the present letter was written, and Miramshah in British India, where he remained until the end of 1928. Herbert Jonathan Cape (1879-1960) British publisher who founded the London publishing house of Jonathan Cape in 1921, remaining at the head of the firm until 1960. Cape established a reputation for high quality design and production and published a range of English-language authors including Robert Frost, Ian Fleming, James Joyce and T. E. Lawrence.Edward Garnett (1868-1937) English writer, critic and literary editor who was instrumental in the publication of D. H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers. Edward Garnett was the son of Richard Garnett (1895-1906) English scholar, librarian, biographer and poet, who is also referenced in the present letter.