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

MASARYK & BENES: MASARYK TOMAS (1850-1937) Czechoslovakian statesman who served as President of Czechoslovakia 1918-35 & BENES EDVARD: (1884-1948) Czechoslovakian statesman who served as President of Czechoslovakia 1935-38, 1945-48, and also led the Czechoslovak government-in-exile 1939-45 during World War II. A good D.S. T. G. Masaryk and Dr. E Benes by both Masaryk and Benes individually, two pages, folio, Prague, 24th May 1934, in French. The document takes the form of an official diplomatic letter and is addressed to the King of Iraq, stating, in part, 'J'ai l'honneur de porter a la connaissance de Votre Majeste que la Chambre des Députés et le Sénat reunis en Assemblee Nationale, le 24 Mai dernier, M'ayant reelu President de la Republique Tchecoslovaque; J'ai pris aujourd'hui possession des pouvoirs que Me confere la constitution. En le notifiant a Votre Majeste Je tiens a l'assurer que je continuerai a concentrer mon effort pour maintenir et resserrer les excellentes relations qui existent entre la Tchecoslovaquie et l'Irak' (Translation: 'I have the  honour to inform Your Majesty that the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate meeting in National Assembly, on May 24th last, having re-elected me President of the Czechoslovak Republic; I have today taken possession of the powers granted to Me by the constitution. In notifying Your Majesty, I would like to assure you that I will continue to concentrate my efforts to maintain and strengthen the excellent relations which exist between Czechoslovakia and Iraq'). Signed by both Masaryk and Benes at the conclusion, the latter in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs. With blank integral leaf. Two file holes to the left edge and a lengthy, neat split to the lower half of the vertical central fold, about VGGhazi I (1912-1939) King of Iraq 1933-39.  

[BESSIERES JEAN-BAPTISTE]: (1768-1813) Marshal of France, Duc d´ Istria. Killed in the battle field in Rippach, the day before the battle of Lutzen. An extremely interesting content letter, sent to Marshal Bessieres by Baron Jean-François Dudon (1778-1857), reporting in full detail about the loss of the city of Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain, close to the Portuguese border. A cleanly written letter with important historical content.  A.L.S., `Dudon´, two pages, folio, gilt edges, n.p. [Spain], 29th January 1812, to Marshal Bessieres, in French. The present letter being a copy of Dudon´s letter which was forwarded to Marshal Bessieres. The French officer Dudon, states in part `Votre excellence apprendra par les journaux nos success, mais personne ne parlera de nos revers, de nos malheurs et peut-être l´Empereur lui-même les ignore t-il. Nous avons perdu Ciudad Rodrigo le 19 de ce mois après trois jours de siege. Les ennemis ont suivi le plan d´attaque de l´Armée Française lorsqu´elle s´est emparée de cette ville avant d´entrer en Portugal; la breche avait été tres mal réparée, elle a été bientot rendue practicable. La garnison s´est vaillament défendue, quoiqu´elle eut été considérablement diminuée par la désertion, surtout de la part du 113º composé en grande partie d´Italiens. Le General Barrie, Gouverneur, le commandant de la place, le Commandant d´artillerie, ont été tués, on s´est battu de rue en rue´ (Translation: "Your Excellency will learn from the newspapers of our successes, but no one will speak of our setbacks, our misfortunes and perhaps the Emperor himself is unaware of them. We lost Ciudad Rodrigo on the 19th of this month after three days of siege. The enemies followed the plan of attack of the French Army when we seized this city before entering Portugal; the breach had been very badly repaired, it was soon made passable. The garrison defended itself valiantly, although we were considerably diminished by desertion, especially on the part of the 113º, which was largely composed of Italians. General Barrie, Governor, the Commander of the place, the Commander of artillery, were killed, we fought street by street") Further wondering why the French Army has not reacted in time and indirectly accusing the officers leading the troops, saying `Les préparatifs des Anglais, la reunion de leur grosse artillerie a Almeida, leur marche et la prise de Ciudad Rodrigo, tout cela s´est fait avant que nous n´eussions fait avancer un bataillon. D´où vient cette apathie, est-ce insoussiance pour le service de l´Empereur? Personne dans l´armée n´en peut être accuse. Est-ce ignorance des mouvements de l´ennemi?... Nous étions a Burgos, je fus d´avis de revenir immédiatement a Valladolid… Votre Excellence connait toutes les lenteurs et les difficultés d´un ravitaillement pour Ciudad Rodrigo; mon conseil fut mal accueilli, on décida que nous continuerions notre voyage pour Pamplune, et quelques jours apres un aide de camp fut envoyé a Paris demander mon rappel; le Prince de Neuchatel, sans m´entendre, me fit donner l´ordre de passer a l´armée du Portugal´ (Translation: "The preparations of the English, the assembly of their heavy artillery at Almeida, their march and the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, all this was done before we had brought forward a battalion. Where does this apathy come from, is it carelessness in the service of the Emperor? No one in the army can be accused of this. Is it ignorance of the enemy's movements?... We were in Burgos, I decided to return immediately to Valladolid... Your Excellency knows all the delays and difficulties of a supply for Ciudad Rodrigo; my advice was badly received, it was decided that we would continue our way to Pamplona, and a few days later an aide-de-camp was sent to Paris to ask for my recall; the Prince of Neuchatel, without listening to me, made me give the order to go to the army of Portugal") Further again, saying `Les habitants du pays ne conçoivent pas comment une armée française a pu laisser prendre une place, sous ses yeux sans faire un movement.Les projets des anglaise n´étaient pas caches, et les journaux du 8 Decembre de la Galice en donnaient les details. A peine arrive a Valladolid et informé de l´état des choses, M. le Duc de Raguse a voulu y porter remede, il n´était plus temps…´ (Translation: "The inhabitants of the country do not conceive how a French army could let take such place, under its eyes and without making a movement. The projects of English were not hidden, and the newspapers of December 8th from Galicia gave the details of them. As soon as he arrived in Valladolid and was informed of the state of things, the Duke of Ragusa wanted to remedy it, it was too late…") Further again and before concluding, Dudon reports on the `disgraces´ and `disasters´ experienced in different cities of Spain, stating in part `…Soria a été assiégé par les insurgés sous le commandement du Comte de Montijo, mais ils y ont perdu assez de monde, et ils viennent de se replier sur Aranda, la Division Roguet marche au secours de cette ville. En Navarre, Mina a battu completement le Général Abbé. Il nous a pris 700 hommes & 2 pieces de canon… Si votre Excellence pouvait me faire rappeler de ce maudit pays…´ (Translation: "the city of Soria has been besieged by the insurgents under the command of the Count of Montijo, but they have lost many people there, and they have just returned back to Aranda, the Roguet Division is marching to bring aid to our troops at this city. In Navarre, Mina completely defeated General Abbé. He took 700 men & 2 cannons from us… If Your Excellency could bring me out of this damned country…") A letter of excellent content. With blank integral leaf, bearing a large and attractive circular waterwark showing a bust of Napoleon, with the text "Napoleon le Grand Empereur et Roi" ("Napoleon the Great Emperor and King"). Small professional repair to the spine, otherwise VG Provenance: the present letter originates from the Bessieres family archive. Jean-François Pierre Dudon (1778-1857), appointed baron of the Empire in 1808. He served in the military campaigns of Holland and the Rhine before being sent to the Spanish front. Prince of Neuchatel, Louis-Alexandre Berthier (1753-1815) Marshal of France Duc de Raguse, Auguste Marmont (1767-1847) Marshal of France. 

NICHOLAS II: (1868-1918) Emperor of Russia 1894-1917. Assassinated. An excellent and very unusually extensive D.S., `Nicolas´, in Cyrillic, a clean and bold example of the Tsar´s signature, eighty-seven pages, folio, Tsarskoye Selo, 1st of January 1914, in Cyrillic. The clean document, being a decree to the Chapter of Russian Imperial and Royal Orders, which according to the submitted certification done by the Minister of National Enlightenment regarding successful an faultless services, states in part `We bestow the Imperial and Royal Order of the White Eagle on Privy Councillors… Order of the Holy Great Prince Vladimir, Equal-of the-Apostles… 2nd class on the member of the Council of the Minister of National Enlightenment… 3rd class on the Active State Councillors, rectors and full professors of the Imperial Universities… 4th class on the Active State Councillors, rectors and professors..´ The Tsar orders `We command the Chapter to issue insignias and credentials to the Knights of the Orders. Insignias for non-Christians should be issued for..´ Bearing to the front page an ink stamp dated 8th February 1914. A long number of persons are bestowed, reporting their full names, ranks and merits, including. G to VG

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

LARREY DOMINIQUE JEAN: (1766-1842) French Surgeon of Napoleon´s Grande Armée. Larrey was the Emperor´s favourite surgeon, an innovator in the battlefield medicine and widely considered one of the first modern military surgeons. A very interesting and lengthy L.S., `D.J. Larrey´, four pages, folio, Paris, 15th June 1841, to the Director of the Administration Materials, in French. The present letter was written only a month before Larrey passed away. Larrey, in his capacity as Surgeon Inspector, responds on behalf of the Health Council to a previous letter dated three days earlier, which was relating to mortality in the barracks of Béfort. Larrey reports on the investigation he has commissioned, stating in part `…dans aucune des casernes de Béfort les proportions entre la contenance des chambres et le nombre d´hommes qui les habitant n´ont été maintenues dans les limites réglementaires et que dans plusieurs meme le volume d´air respirable était pour chaque homme bien au-dessous de celui qui es ten general reconnu necessaire…´ (Translation: “…in none of the Béfort barracks were the proportions between the capacity of the rooms and the number of men living in them kept within the regulatory limits, and in several of them even the volume of breathable air for each man was well below that which is generally recognized as necessary...”) Larrey further expresses his conclusions on the causes of the high proportion of mortality, saying `C´est à cette facheuse circonstance, il n´est guère permis d´en douter, qu´on doit imputer le nombre et la gravité des maladies qui se sont manifestées à deux époques peu éloignées l´une de l´autre parmi les troupes stationnées dans cette place, quelle que fut d´ailleurs la caserne qu´elles occupassent…´ (Translation: “It is to this unfortunate circumstance, there is no reason to doubt it, that we must attribute the number and the gravity of the illnesses which appeared at two periods not far from each other among the troops. stationed in this place, regardless of the barracks they occupied…”) Before concluding Larrey sends specific orders regarding the hygiene in the barracks, stating in part `En consequence, Le Conseil de Santé approuve…. 2º- De faire dans les casernes voûtées les changements nécessaires pour y faciliter suffisamment le renouvellement de l´air et l´entrée de la lumière….  Ne conviendrait pas de couvrir intérieurement les murs d´une boiserie placée à un pouce d´écartement… car ce revêtement deviendrait le receptacle d´insectes parasites, s´altérerait par l´humidité et exposerait aux incendies…´ (Translation “Accordingly, the Health Council approves…. 2º- To make the necessary changes in the vaulted barracks to sufficiently facilitate the renewal of air and the entry of light…. It would not be appropriate to cover the walls internally with woodwork placed one inch apart… because this covering would become a receptacle for parasitic insects, would be altered by humidity and expose to fires…”) A letter of very good content. VG 

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

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

THOMSON GEORGE: (1757-1851) Scottish music publisher and a noted collector of the music of Scotland. A folio bound volume of A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice, edited by George Thomson, Volume V only, published by Preston, London, 1818, featuring 'Introductory & Concluding Symphonies & Accompaniments for the Piano Forte, Violin & Violoncello by Haydn & Beethoven, with Select Verses adapted to the Arts, including upwards of One hundred new Songs by Burns, together with his celebrated Poem of The Jolly Beggars set to Music by Henry R. Bishop', pages 201-230 and 1-30 ('The Jolly Beggars') and also including a preface, index to the poetry, glossary of the Scottish words and engraved frontispiece entitled The Gaberlunzie Man. Signed ('G Thomson') by Thomson in dark ink to the foot of the title page. Lacking the back cover and bound within modern plain white card. Some extensive overall age wear, light foxing throughout and the front board worn at the edges. FR

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

[DILLINGER JOHN]: (1903-1934) American bank robber. An original printed folio Wanted poster issued by J. Edgar Hoover and the United States Department of Justice, Washington D.C., 23rd June 1934. The poster features a portrait of Dillinger and offers a reward of $10,000 for his capture or $5,000 for information leading to his arrest. A description of the criminal is provided including details of his scars. Some overall staining, creasing and age wear, G

BRITISH POLITICS: A good selection of fine original black pen and ink drawings of various British Liberal politicians of the early 20th century, all executed by the accomplished German-Swiss artist Robert Kastor on folio (9.5 x 12) sheets of art paper, each of the images depicting the subjects in head and shoulders poses and all signed by the politicians, the majority with brief additional quotations or statements in their hands, comprising Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914) Secretary of State for the Colonies 1895-1903; Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel (1870-1963) Home Secretary 1916, 1931-32, Leader of the Liberal Party 1931-35, and also the first High Commissioner for Palestine 1920-25; Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading (1860-1935) Viceroy and Governor-General of India 1921-26, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1931; Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon (1862-1933) Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1905-16, British Ambassador to the United States 1919-20; Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe (1858-1945) Secretary of State for War 1931; John Morley (1838-1923) Secretary of State for India 1905-10, 1911; John Burns (1858-1943) President of the Board of Trade 1914; Edward Carson (1854-1935) First Lord of the Admiralty 1916-17, Solicitor General for England and Wales 1900-05, also remembered for his cross examination of Oscar Wilde in 1895; Herbert Gladstone, 1st Viscount Gladstone (1854-1930) Home Secretary 1905-10, the first Governor-General of South Africa 1910-14; John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley (1826-1902) Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1894-95; Henry Labouchere (1831-1912) remembered for the Labouchere Amendment which for the first time criminalised all male homosexual activity in the United Kingdom; John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer (1835-1910) Lord President of the Council 1880-83, 1886; Walter Runciman (1870-1949) President of the Board of Education 1908-11; Eric Drummond (1876-1951) Secretary-General of the League of Nations 1920-33; and Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner (1854-1925) Secretary of State for War 1918-19, Secretary of State for the Colonies 1919-21. All of the drawings also bear the small signature of the artist Kastor. Some very light, extremely minor age wear to the edges, and a few small tears, VG, 15  

ARMSTRONG LOUIS: (1901-1971) American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. A printed folio edition of the French publication America, Number 5, being a special edition entitled Jazz 47, with essays by Jean-Paul Sartre, Jean Cocteau, Charles Delaunay and others, and illustrations by Fernand Leger, Jean Dubuffet, Rene Magritte etc., signed by Armstrong in bold blue fountain pen ink with his name alone to a full-photo page, the image depicting the young Satchmo in a head and shoulders pose, also signed to the title page by various members of Armstrong's 'All Stars' including Arvell Shaw (1923-2002) American jazz double-bassist, Velma Middleton (1917-1961) American jazz vocalist, Trummy Young (1912-1984) American trombonist, Bob McCracken (1904-1972) American jazz clarinettist, Marty Napoleon (1921-2015) American jazz pianist, and one other. Binding loose and with a few detached pages, overall age wear, light staining, creasing and some pages with small tears to the edges. G 

ELISABETH CHARLOTTE D'ORLEANS: (1676-1744) Duchess consort of Lorraine 1698-1729 and Princess of Commercy 1737-44. Mother of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. L.S., Elisabeth Charlotte, two pages, folio, Commercy, 14th March 1738, to le Comte de Spada, in French. The Princess writes concerning the vacant position of Abbess of Remiremont which her son, the Grand Duke of Tuscany (the future Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor), has agreed by Royal attestation to grant to his sister, Princess Anne Charlotte of Lorraine, although explaining that as she is not yet thirty years of age de Spada should 'aussitot la presente recue et sans perte de temps, vous vous donnerez tous les mouvements necessaires pour obtenir de notre St. Pere le Pape, un bref de dispense d'age d'eligibilite a la susditte dignite d'abbesse de l'abbaye de Remiremont, que vous demanderes et solliciter au nom de mon fils, Grand Duc de Toscane, cette elant sa volonte que je vous intime' (Translation: 'as soon as this is received and without loss of time, you will take all necessary steps to obtain from our Holy Father the Pope, a writ of dispensation from the age of eligibility for the above-mentioned dignity of Abbess of the abbey of Remiremont, that you request and solicit in the name of my son, Grand Duke of Tuscany, this being his will that I intimate to you') and further urging that the matter be handled with the most prompt exactitude as the election for the new Abbess will take place on the 9th May and concluding by explaining that if a copy of the Princess's baptism certificate is required then it will be sent immediately. With blank integral leaf. Some light age wear, otherwise about VGPrincess Anne Charlotte of Lorraine (1714-1773) Abbess of Remiremont and Mons 1738-73. With all proposals of marriage being either ignored or declined, the Princess was made the Abbess of the prestigious Remiremont Abbey on 10th May 1738. Remiremont had previously been the 'property' of her elder sister Elisabeth Charlotte (who died from smallpox at the age of ten, before Anne Charlotte was born) who was the titular Abbess of Remiremont. Anne Charlotte's new title caused irritation between certain sovereign princes because the abbey, composed solely of ladies of high nobility and of which the temporal domain included a large number of towns, answered only to the authority of the pope.Clement XII (1652-1740) Pope of the Catholic Church 1730-40. 

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 

KELLERMANN FRANÇOIS CHRISTOPHE: (1735-1820) Marshal of France, Duc de Valmy. L.S., `Kellermann Duc de Valmy´, one page, folio, Paris, 19th October 1814, in French. The letter issued from the Minister of war, is an approved copy of a document related to the behaviour of the Colonel of the 3rd Swiss Regiment during the siege of Landau `…des discussions se sont élevées entre Mr. le Colonel Demay du troisieme Régiment Suissse et des officiers de son corps, et qu´on inculpe le premier dans la conduite qu´il a tenue pendant le blocus de Landau...´ (“..discussions have arisen between Mr. Colonel Demay of the Third Swiss Regiment and officers of his corps, and that the former is inculpated because of the conduct he held during the blockade of Landau..”) Small overall minor age wear, with very slightly irregular left edge, otherwise G 

GROBELNY WLADYSLAW: (1919-2013) Polish fighter pilot of World War II who served with No. 316 & 317 Polish Fighter Squadrons. D.S., Grobelny W/O, one page, oblong folio, RAF Friston (East Sussex), 30th July 1944. The typescript document is a Consolidated Diver Combat Report relating to action taken by Grobelny whilst flying a Mustang Mk.III, the narrative stating 'Seen mid-channel. Chased and opened fire from range 300yds astern. Strikes seen all over & pieces of diver flew off. After a second similar attack diver was flying very slowly and starboard wing heavy. Diver lost in haze'. Some light age wear, one file hole to the upper right corner and a small tear to the lower edge, otherwise VG  

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

AHMAD II: (1862-1942) Bey of Tunis 1929-42. D.S., as Ahmad Bey, in Arabic, one page, folio, Royal Palace, Tunis, 19th January 1935, in Arabic. The attractive partially printed document features the coat of arms of Tunis at the head within a decorative archway and borders, and awards the President of the French-Tunis Friendship Club with the Order of Iftikhar, 4th Class. Some light overall creasing and minor age wear, G

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, 14th 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 four engravings of Elme Marie Caro (1826-1887) French Philosopher; Olivier Pain (1845-1884) French Journalist known for his travelling to Sudan and dying there at the age of 39; Henri Dupuy de Lôme (1816-1885) French naval Architect and Edmond du Sommerard (1817-1885) French museum Conservator. To the inside pages bearing several attractive engravings relating to the Sudan English expedition and to the Exhibition of new machinery at the Palais de l´Industrie. 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 

BERTRAND HENRI-GATIEN: (1773-1844) French General who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, the third and last Grand marshal of the palace, head of the Military Household of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, whom he accompanied in both the exiles to Elba and Saint Helena. An interesting A.L.S., Le Cte. Bertrand, one page, folio, Paris, 31st March 1823, to Messieurs les arbitres, in French. Bertrand writes to provide a report relating to the funds that Napoleon had entrusted to the banker Giovanni Torlonia, stating that almost the entire sum (29,018.48 francs) was withdrawn by Cardinal Fesch between 1819-20 and 'Conformement aux intentions de l'Empereur que j'ai transmis de Ste. Helena a Son Eminence' (Translation: 'in accordance with the Emperor's intentions, which I transmitted from St. Helena to His Emminence') and further explaining that Gentilini's loans (15,000 francs) to Saint Helena were repaid, along with interest of 875 francs, as well as the salaries of Father Bonavita, Dr. Antonmarchi and Dr. Stokoe. Countersigned at the foot by Louis-Joseph-Narcisse Marchand (1791-1876) French memoirist who served as valet to Napoleon Bonaparte and accompanied him to Saint Helena, and Charles Tristan, Marquis de Montholon (1783-1853) French General during the Napoleonic Wars who accompanied Bonaparte in his exile at Saint Helena. With blank integral leaf. A fine letter signed by three individuals of importance to Napoleon during his exile. A few very minor spots of foxing to the left margin, VG 

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

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

[NUREMBERG TRIALS]: RIBBENTROP JOACHIM VON (1893-1946) German politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany 1938-45. A remarkable D.S., J v Ribbentrop, in bold pencil, one page, folio, n.p. (Nuremberg), 25th January 1946, in German. The partially printed (mimeographed) document, completed in typescript, is addressed to the General Secretary of the International Military Tribunal and is a Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness in which Ribbentrop requests that the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, be summoned to give evidence on his behalf, as 'When presenting his credentials in 1936, von Ribbentrop expressed to the then King Edward VIII the desire of the Reich Chancellor for the closest cooperation between Germany and England. In the course of this audience, King Edward VIII declared that he, too, deemed such a cooperation necessary' and further explaining that such facts are relevant 'To disprove counts I and II of the General Indictment and the respective counts of the special indictments filed up to now'. Countersigned in bold pencil at the foot by Dr. Martin Horn, the Defence Counsel representing Ribbentrop. Accompanied by the official IMT English translation of Ribbentrop's document. Some file holes to the upper edge of each document, light overall age wear and minor traces of professional restoration, otherwise VG, 2 King Edward VIII's beliefs regarding Adolf Hitler and the Nazis have long been the subject of speculation. Many historians have suggested that Hitler was prepared to reinstate the Duke of Windsor as King in the hope of establishing a fascist puppet government in Great Britain after Operation Sea Lord. It is widely believed that the Duke and Duchess (whom the FBI were informed had slept with the German Ambassador in London, Joachim von Ribbentrop, in 1936) sympathised with fascism before and during World War II and were moved to the Bahamas to minimise their opportunities to act on their feelings. Joachim 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: 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. 

SOMOZA ANASTASIO: (1896-1956) Nicaraguan dictator who served as President of Nicaragua 1937-47, 1950-56. Assassinated. An official diplomatic L.S., A Somoza, one page, folio, Managua, 26th June 1951, to Manuel A. Odria, President of the Republic of Peru, in Spanish. Somoza informs Odria that he has decided to conclude the mission of Dr. Jesus Aguilar Cortes as the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Nicaragua to Peru, and further takes the opportunity to express his thanks for the courtesies extended to the diplomat, and sends his fervent good wishes for the well-being of Peru and Odria himself. Countersigned by Oscar Sevilla Sacasa, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1949-56. With two blind embossed seals. With blank integral leaf. VGManuel A. Odria (1896-1974) President of Peru 1947-48, 1948-50, 1950-56.  

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

‘The Emperor has won a very big battle against the Russians…. I have just received the news’ CLARKE HENRI-JACQUES-GUILLAUME: (1765-1818) 1st Duc de Feltre. Franco-Irish General in the French Revolutionary Wars, also a politician who served as Minister of War 1807-14, 1815 & 1815-17. Marshal of France. An excellent L.S., Duc de Feltre, three pages, folio, Paris, 21st September 1812, to Marie-Francois Auguste de Caffarelli du Falga, on the printed stationery of the Minister of War, in French. Clarke states that he has received his correspondent's letter, and regrets the situation he has learnt of at Bilbao, continuing 'L'intention de l'Empereur n'est pas de sacrifier inutilement des troupes pour l'occuper, malgre toutes l'importance de ce point....mais ce point est trop essentiel pour ne pas le tenir compte avec les forces necessaires pour le defendre et votre position ne serait plus tenable si les ennemis, que je vois deja avec tant de peine a Castro, s'etablissaient a Bilbao. L'etat de choses changera apres que les renforts auront joint l'armee du Portugal. Les Anglais ne paraissent pas s'occuper de cette armee qu'ils croient avoir mis pour longtemps dans l'impossibilite d'agir et j'ai lieu de presumer que Lord Wellington tourne ses vue d'un autre cote. Des que l'armee de Portugal pourra reprendre l'offensive la chance doit tourner en notre faveur….. La situation des affaires n'a point extremement souffert par le mouvement que le Roi [Joseph Bonaparte] s'est vu sur le cas de faire sur Valence; la reunion de l'armee du centre a celle du marechal duc d'Albufera [Suchet] a eu lieu au moment meme ou les Anglais, ayant fait un debarquement a Alicante, des renforts etaient a desirer pour l'armee de Valence. Rien ne pouvait donc venir plus a propos, dans ces circonstances, que l'arrivee d'un corps aussi considerable de bonnes troupes, a l'armee du duc d'Albufera, il lui assure une superiorite decidee sur l'ennemi qu'il a en-tete et doit faire echouer tous les projets des Anglais dans cette partie. De votre cote, quand vous ne serez plus inquiete par mer vous vous trouverez dans une position bien plus avantageuses pour assurer vos communications et travailler' (Translation: 'The Emperor's intention is not to sacrifice troops unnecessarily to occupy it, despite all the importance of this point….but this point is too essential not to be taken into account with the forces necessary to defend it and your position would no longer be tenable if the enemies, whom I already see with so much difficulty in Castro, were to establish themselves in Bilbao. The state of things will change after the reinforcements have joined the army of Portugal. The English do not seem to care about this army which they believe they have for a long time made it impossible to act and I have reason to presume that Lord Wellington is turning his sights in another direction. As soon as the army of Portugal can resume the offensive, luck must turn in our favour….The situation of affairs has not been greatly affected by the movement that the King [Joseph Bonaparte] has seen fit to make on Valencia; the meeting of the central army with that of the Marshal Duke of Albufera [Suchet] took place at the very moment when the English, having made a landing at Alicante, reinforcements were to be desired for the army of Valencia. Nothing, therefore, could have come more apropos, in these circumstances, than the arrival of such a considerable body of good troops, to the army of the Duke of Albufera, it assures him of a decided superiority over the enemy he has in mind and must defeat all the projects of the English in this part. On your side, when you are no longer worried by sea you will find yourself in a much more advantageous position to ensure your communications and work'). In a holograph postscript, signed ('Le D de F') by Feltre with his initials, he announces 'L'Empereur a gagné une tres grande bataille sur les Russes a Mojaisk le 7 Septembre, J'en recois a l'instant la nouvelle' (Translation: 'The Emperor has won a very big battle against the Russians at Mozhaysk on 7th September. I have just received the news'). A letter of good association and fine military content, written as Napoleon was marching towards Moscow. One small spindle hole to the lower left margin, not affecting the text or signature, VGMarie-Francois Auguste de Caffarelli du Falga (1766-1849) French General of Italian descent who served as an aide-de-camp to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800. Caffarelli was later employed in Spain where he defeated an attempted English landing at Laredo, seized Bilbao, and was named governor of Biscay in 1811, completely routing Mina's band of guerrillas and contributing to the raising of the siege of Burgos.In the present letter the Duc de Feltre commits a small error in the news he excitedly provides in his postscript. There was, strictly speaking, no battle that took place at Mozhaysk; it is the famous battle Battle of Moscow (also known as the Battle of Borodino) which took place on 7th September 1812. Mozhaysk is located 110 km to the west of Moscow and the town, situated on the historic road leading to Smolensk, and then Poland, played a role in defending the Western approaches to Moscow in the 19th and 20th centuries, and in 1812 the Battle of Borodino took place 12 km away. Napoleon arrived at Mozhaysk on the 9th September where, suffering from a sever cold, he stayed for three days. It is possible that the letter Clarke received with the news was dated from Mozhaysk which may have given rise to his confusion, given the remoteness of the location coupled with the imperfection of the maps.  

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

[REIGN OF TERROR]: COMMITTEE OF GENERAL SECURITY: A good D.S. by nine members of the final Committee of General Security individually, comprising Joseph Pemartin (1754-1842), Francois Bergoeing (1750-1829), Edme-Louis-Barthelemy Bailly (1760-1819), Augustin Bernard Francois Legoazre de Kervelegan (1748-1825), Jacques-Charles Bailleul (1762-1843), Pierre-Marie Delaunay (1755-1814), Claude-Alexandre Ysabeau (1754-1831), Joseph-Nicholas Pierret (1758-1825) and Jean-Marie Cales (1757-1834), one page, folio, Paris, 23rd August 1795, in French. The partially printed document states that the Committee have examined the documents relating to citizen Champion from which it results that he is denounced for several serious facts, but the opinion of the Civil Committee is that he was not able to obtain all of the information he would have desired, and that he learned by some indirect means that he had served la Tyrannie (Robespierre), further adding that they have also considered his sad situation and that the Committee have decided to release him to allow his freedom ('Vu les pieces relatives au Cen. Champion, section du Bonnet de la Liberte, desquelles il resulte qu'il se trouve denonce pour plusieurs faits graves; vu l'avis du Comite civil qui declare qu'il n'a pu se procurer tous les renseignemens qu'il aurait desires, mais qu'il a appris par quelques voies indirectes qu'il avait servi la Tyrannie, sans cependant, rien de positif a cet egard, ayant aussi egard a sa triste situation, et aux attestations de civisme qu'il a produites. Le Comite arrete que le dit Champion jouira proviscirement de sa liberte….') With a blind embossed paper seal affixed to the lower left corner. Some light age wear, minor traces of former mounting to the right edge of the verso and a couple of neat splits to the folds. About VGProvenance: from the collection of the British bibliophile James Lindsay (1847-1913) 26th Earl of Crawford and bearing his small oval stamp to the lower right corner.

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

BULLFIGHTING: Curro Romero (1933-  ) Spanish Bullfighter. Signed colour 8 x 10 photograph by Romero, one of the most famous leading matadors of the 60´s. The image depicts Romero standing in half length pose in the bullring. Together with Santiago Martín El Viti (1938-  ) Spanish Bullfighter. Signed 10 x 8 photograph by ´El Viti´, the image showing the bullfighter in full length action pose. Also incuding Jose Miguel Arroyo Joselito, and a large folio poster advertising a bullfight at Plaza de Toros de Torremolinos, 28th September 1997, individually signed by Juan Jose Trujillo, Cristina Sanchez and Francisco Barroso. Each have signed in bold black inks with their names alone to their colour portraits. (Rolled). VG, 4

[HITLER ADOLF]: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1933-45 & [MEISSNER OTTO] (1880-1953) German civil servant, head of the Office of the President of Germany 1920-45. D.S. in facsimile by both Hitler and Meissner, one page, folio, Berlin, 22nd May 1939, in German. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, awards the Order of Merit of the German Eagle Third Class with Swords to Juan A. Ponte Chinchilla. The blue printed facsimile signatures of Hitler and Meissner appear at the foot of the document alongside a circular blind embossed seal featuring the Nazi eagle and swastika. Contained in the original presentation folder and accompanied by the original envelope. VG

CHURCHILL WINSTON S.: (1874-1965) British Prime Minister 1940-45, 1951-55. Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1953. Book signed and inscribed, being a folio softcover edition of Winston Churchill - The Greatest Figure of Our Time, edited by Bruce Ingram, First edition published by The Illustrated London News, London, 1954. Issued as an Eightieth Year tribute to Churchill, the volume is profusely illustrated and includes twelve colour plates and four gravure plates and with sections of text devoted to Churchill in Parliament, and in War, Churchill the man, and his place in history. Signed by Churchill in fountain pen ink to the plain recto of the frontispiece illustration, 'To P. G. Oates from Winston S. Churchill', and dated 1954 in his hand. An unusual volume to find signed. Some very light, minor age wear, VG Peter Geoffrey Oates (1919-2007) British civil servant who worked in the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street from 1951, firstly as private secretary to Attlee, and later to Winston S. Churchill.

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

[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 Secretary General of the International Military Tribunal, in German. Jodl writes to formally object to the indictment handed to him at the Nuremberg Trials and states, 'On 19. 10. the indictment was handed to me, but without being accompanied by any of the evidence upon which it was based. The representatives of the prosecution are in possession of all of the files. At their will they can use that evidence which would work against me and discard that which would be in my favour. As the defendant I possess nothing but my memory, which during five and a half years of war and six months of imprisonment has not noticeably improved. That might suffice for a burglar or a highwayman, but not for a case with such a complexity of questions as the one against me. Under such circumstances, the preparation of an adequate defence is impossible, and I wish to enter formal objection against it'. Jodl proceeds to request that various pieces of evidence, either in carbon or photostatic copy, be presented to him as soon as possible, listing the evidence as, in part, 'The most important pieces of evidence upon which the prosecution is based in accordance with…..the Constitution of the Court….My notebook and my official notations (diary)…..these volumes contain evidence of the utmost importance in my defence….My notes for a lecture delivered by me in Munich 7.11.1943…..A copy of the Geneva Convention Rules and of the Hague Treaty….One copy each of the collections of the German Foreign Office concerning breaches of neutrality in Norway, Holland, and Belgium….and of the common-law crimes committed by Poland, France, England, Greece (Crete), all of which were presented at Geneva…..A collection of all of the infringements and crimes against common law committed by the former enemies of Germany….' Accompanied by an official English translation prepared by the IMT. Neatly inlaid and with several file holes to the upper edge, only very slightly affecting a few words of text. About VG 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.

[ABDULMEJID I]: (1823-1861) Sultan of the Ottoman Empire 1839-61. Document issued in the name of Abdulmejid I, with the large gold printed tughra of the Sultan at the head, one page, large folio, Constantinople, 2nd August 1855, in Ottoman Turkish. The document is accompanied by a contemporary partially printed French translation explaining that the document awards M. Artignes, a Physician Major with the French Army of the Crimea, the Imperial Order of the Medjidie, Fourth Class, in recognition of having demonstrated merit and zeal, as well as righteousness and skill, in the actions for which he was responsible. The translation bears the official circular stamp of the French Ambassador to Constantinople at the foot. Some light overall foxing and minor age wear to both documents, G, 2

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 

FOUCHÉ JOSEPH: (1759-1820) Convention Deputy and Minister of Police. A good D.S., Fouché, one page, folio, Paris, 2nd November 1804, to Hubert Rohault, on the Ministry of the general Police printed stationery, in French. The partially printed document, being a pass or passport, bears a large and attractive French Revolution vignette to the heading with the printed heading `Au Nom de l´Empereur des Français´ (`In the Name of the Emperor of the French´). The document orders anyone to let Hubert Rohault, student of the architecture academy, pass and return freely to France. The document further lists a full detail and description of Rohault, including his age, height, beard, eyes colour, description of nose, mouth and chin, etc… Countersigned by a general secretary of the Ministry. The pass bears to the front a red ink stamp of the General Police of the French Empire. Bearing also to the verso an annotation signed by a commissair of Turin, the city from where Rohault departed on his way back to Paris, with a second red ink stamp of the General Police of the French Empire. Overall age wear with few small tears to edges and few large water stains, mostly to borders, not affecting the text or signature. G

SABATIER PAUL: (1854-1941) French chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1912. Purple ink signature ('Paul Sabatier') on the upper half of a folio sheet of notepaper bearing ink annotations in the hand of a collector and with the heading 'Autographes de Messieurs les Membres de l'Institut de France'. The collector obviously originally intended to acquire other signatures on the page, with the names of Charles Deperet, Charles Flahault and Wilfrid Kilian appearing in the left margin. Some overall foxing and light staining, only very slightly affecting the signature and with a neat split to the right edge of the central fold. G 

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

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

MASSENET JULES: (1842-1912) French composer of the Romantic era. A.M.Q.S., J. Massenet, one page (manuscript paper), folio, Paris, 1892. Massenet has penned an extensive quotation, of five ensemble staves over thirteen measures, with musical directions for piano, which he identifies as being from Scene III of his ballet Le carillon, signed by Massenet at the foot and inscribed in his hand 'Page extraite du ballet “Le carillon” de M. M. de Borday & Van Dyck'. With a few heavy stains, affecting the quotation (which remains perfectly legible), but not the signature, and with some light overall creasing, small tears and areas of paper loss to the right edge and the central vertical fold professionally reinforced to the verso. About G

QUEEN MARGOT - MARGARET OF VALOIS: (1553-1615) Popularly known as "La Reine Margot". French Princess of the Valois dynasty. Queen of Navarre 1572-1599 as spouse of King Henry III of Navarre, and later Queen of France 1589-99 at her husband´s accession to the French throne as Henry IV. Margaret was the daughter of King Henry II of France and Catherine de´ Medici, and the sister of Kings Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. Extremely rare A.L.S., `Marguerite´, two pages, folio, n.p., n.d., to Henry, in old French. Margaret of Valois writes in her hand twelve lines of text at the base of a letter, stating `Faites que Mr Rigaut me [fasse] [trouver]… et faites que ie vous trouve plus veritable en Celle que ne l´avez été au bois de lezoux et… s´en donner ce que j´en… et vous assure que je suis touiours… Vre bonne… Marguerite´ (Translation: "Make sure that Mr. Rigaut find for me… and let me find you more true on the one the you have not been in the Bois de Lezoux… give him what I do… and assure you that I am always… Your good… Marguerite") The letter written text states in part `Henry, le bon commencement que je crois de mes affaires me promet que dieu fera enfin le reste aussi heureusement. J'ai beaucoup d'obligation à monsieur d'Here de la Bonnerusher, rien ne lui manque en son voyage et qu'il reste content de vous et écrivez moi souvent tout ce [qui] s'y fera. Vous m'écrivez qu'avec mes… de notre affaire dieu veuille… ainsi vous ne me mandez rien de votre mariage et crois que mes affaires vous font oublier les vôtres. Je serais bien aise qu'il [vous] réussisse. Monsieur Richaud m'écrit qu'il ne pourra pas… de l'argent des bois de Lezoux. Ce n'est pas ce que vous m'avez dit, prenez garde que vous soyez plus véritable aux autres espérances que vous m'avez données. Je me réjouis infiniment de la bonne intelligence qui est entre monsieur Richaud et monsieur Savaron, maintenez-la toujours afin que mes affaires en aillent mieux. J'écris à monsieur de Savaron. Rendez-lui mes lettres. Je le remercie de la bonne volonté qu'il m'a témoignée et lui représente combien je reçois de contentement de la bonne intelligence qu'il a voulu avoir pour mes affaires avec monsieur Richaud et le prie de faire entendre à ceux de Clermont combien il me ferait paraître de bonne volonté à ne permettre plus que les gens de mon neveu demeurent à Clermont qui n'ont plus prétexte d'y demeurer à cette heure que j'en ai pris possession…´ (Translation: "Henry, the good start I believe in my affairs promises me that God will finally do the rest as happily. I have a lot of obligations to Monsieur d'Here de la Bonnerusher, he has everything he needs for his trip and that he remains happy with you and write to me often about everything that will happen there. You write to me only with my… of our business, that I hope God grant… so you don't tell me anything about your marriage and I think that my business makes you forget yours. I would be glad if he succeeds. Monsieur Richaud writes to me that he will not be able to… money from the woods of Lezoux. That's not what you told me, take care that you are truer to the other hopes you gave me. I am infinitely delighted with the good understanding that exists between Mr. Richaud and Mr. Savaron, always maintain it so that my business will go better. I am writing to Monsieur de Savaron. Give him my letters. I thank him for the goodwill he has shown to me and tell him how pleased I am with the good understanding he wanted to have for my business with Monsieur Richaud and ask him to make those of Clermont understand how much he would make me appear willing to no longer allow my nephew's people to live in Clermont, who no longer have a pretext to live there at this time that I have taken possession of it…") To the verso, a hand written short paragraph refers to Charmont and to the deliberations of the Council of State, also referring to a cause of a problem, to wisdom and behaviour. The Queen's text is scattered with small holes as a result of the iron gall ink having reacted with the paper over time, although most words remain legible and the signature is only very slightly affected. Some light overall foxing and a few minor, small tears to the edges, GMargaret of Valois refers to Monsieur Savaron, most probably Jean Savaron (1566-1622) French Historian and Magistrate of the city of Clermont. The letter refers to the city of Clermont and to the one of Lezoux.Margaret of Valois was a woman of letters, an enlightened mind and a generous patron. She was one of the most fashionable women of her time and influenced many other European Royal courts. During her imprisonment she wrote her memoirs, the first woman to have done so.Margaret´s union with the King of Navarre which had been intended to contribute to the reconciliation of Roman Catholics and the Huguenots in France, was tarnished six days after the marriage ceremony by the St. Bartholomew´s Day massacre.Margaret´s infertility and the political tensions led to the end of her marriage. She consented a Royal divorce in 1599 and lived in exile.Alexandre Dumas père wrote his well-known historical novel La Reine Margot in 1845. Although the novel is based on real characters and events, certain aspects of La Reine Margot may be inconsistent with the historical record; historians have attributed that to artistic licence and to the fact that Dumas might have been influenced by propaganda against certain historical figures.

‘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’  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. 

BERQUE JEAN: (1896-1954) French painter and illustrator. A good pair of original watercolour illustrations executed and signed by Berque, each one page, folio (28 x 37.5 cm), n.p., 1931. The images, which are practically identical and evidently inspired by Duccio's Madonna and Child, depict a young woman seated in a three-quarter length pose, with her breasts exposed, and holding her young child in her arms. The images differentiate only in the colour of the lady's dress (aqua and blue) and the hair colour of the subjects (blonde and brunette). Both are signed and dated by Berque with his artist's signature at the base, and further also annotated in pencil 'La Paix (variante) J. B.'. VG, 2 

NAUDIN BERNARD: (1876-1946) French painter, designer, caricaturist and engraver. A small group of three original pen and ink illustrations drawn and signed ('Bernard Naudin', and one with his initials) by Naudin, each one page, folio, n.p., n.d. (c.1930). The drawings feature a blacksmith's anvil and sledgehammer, with several other tools strapped to the tree trunk upon which the anvil is placed; a bright sunrise over country fields with several trees in the foreground and edges; and two haystacks in a field with a river running to one side. Each of the illustrations were published in the Pax Mundi book. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG, 3 The Pax Mundi book, an anthology of sentiments on peace, was published in Switzerland by the World League for Peace. Between 1925 and 1932 many notable persons from around the world were asked to comment on the prospects of world peace and the volume included contributions from Marie Curie, Guglielmo Marconi, Albert Einstein, Rabindranath Tagore and many others.

GEORGE III: (1738-1820) King of Great Britain and Ireland 1760-1820. D.S., George R, as King, at the head, one page (vellum), oblong folio, Court at Saint James's, 13th December 1799. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is a military commission appointing J. B. Hart to be an Ensign in the 52nd (or Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot. Countersigned at the foot by the Duke of Portland (1738-1809) British Prime Minister 1783, 1807-09 and Home Secretary 1794-1801. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. Some very light, minor staining, otherwise VG 

AHMAD II: (1862-1942) Bey of Tunis 1929-42. D.S., as Ahmad Bey, in Arabic, one page, folio, Royal Palace, Tunis, 2nd May 1930, in Arabic. The attractive partially printed document features the coat of arms of Tunis at the head within a decorative archway and borders, and awards Leonard Louvel, Director of the Civil Cabinet of the of the Minister of War in Paris with the Order of Nichan-Iftikhar (Grand Officer, First Class). Accompanied by an official partially printed French translation of the document authorised and signed by two officials (one the Minister Plenipotentiary) of the Residence Generale de France in Tunis. Some light staining and creasing to the borders of Ahmad Bey's document and with a lengthy split to the left half of the central horizontal fold, the translation with some age wear and a large tear to the right edge (repaired with sellotape to the verso), just affecting the text. FR to G, 2

[HITLER ADOLF]: (1889 - 1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1933-45. A remarkable series of three A.L.s.S. to Adolf Hitler, from a female admirer, Emma Borary. The letters are each signed with her first name only, five pages (total), 4to & folio, Spandau, 7th December 1942 and 25th & 26th February 1943, addressed in various styles to the Fuhrer ('My beloved Adolf' etc.) and each bearing red receipt stamps from the Kanzlei des Fuhrers der NSDAP. The letters demonstrate that Borary had a passionate attraction towards Hitler, in part 'take my heart forever totally into your hands, for your strong love alone is able to hold it and only at your side will it find quiet and peace. I was with you tonight, embraced and kissed you, but you weren't completely satisfied with one and asked me if I wanted to enter into a modern marriage....I want to love you with all my devotion...for in this world you are everything to me. You will know how much I love you once I am at your side, totally and forever......' (7th December 1942); in the further two letters Borary also makes reference to a dispute in which she was involved with the labour office in Berlin and her words turn a little hostile towards Hitler in the third letter, although she still demands that he calls her to his side, 'Then you'll have peace in your heart. If you have that, you have everything, my great beloved military leader and victor...'. Together with a small original 2 x 3 photograph of Borary, signed and inscribed to the verso 'To my beloved Fuhrer, Emma'. An unusual group of letters. Some light creasing and a few small tears to the edges, G to VG, 4

FERDINAND VII: (1784-1833) King of Spain 1808 & 1813-33. D.S., `Yo el Rey´, with small flourish, one page, folio, Madrid, 22nd August 1816, in Spanish. The printed heading states "Don Fernando, by the grace of God, King f Castile, Leon, Aragon, the Two Sicilies, Jerusalem, Granada, Toledo, Valence, Galicie, Majorque, Algarve, Gibraltar, Canaries Islands, Oriental Indias, Archduke of Austria, Duque of Borgogne, Brabant, and Milan, Flanders, Tyrol and Barcelona…". The partially printed document is the appointment of Colonel Ignacio Ramirez Estenor, Commandant of the first Battalion of the Bourbon infantry regiment, who is additionally appointed as Commandant of the first Battalion of the infantry regiment of Navarre. Countersigned at the base of the front page by Francisco Bernardo. Bearing to the left bottom corner a paper seal affixed, partially damaged. Countersignatures to the verso, dated in Cadiz the 6th September 1816. With blank integral leaf. Overall age wear, mostly to edges, with a very small water stain at the base of the document, not affecting the text or signature. About G

[NUREMBERG TRIALS]: KEITEL WILHELM (1882-1946) German Field Marshal of World War II who served as Chief of the Armed Forces High Command 1938-45. D.S., W Keitel, in pencil, one page, folio, n.p. (Nuremberg), 17th January 1946, in German. The partially printed (mimeographed) document, completed in typescript, is addressed to the General Secretary of the International Military Tribunal and is a Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness in which Keitel requests that Oberregierungsrat Dr. Erbe of Berlin, a former employee of the Ministry of Interior, be summoned to give evidence on his behalf, further adding that the witness also served under Wilhelm Frick up until the middle of 1944 and that Erbe has knowledge 'That the Consulting Committee (Referentenausschuss) of the Defense of the Country (Landesverteidigung), subsequently the Reich Defense Committee (Reichsverteidigungsausschuss), advised only on questions regarding the defense of the country but never on strategic or operational questions; that it also did not concern itself with the planning of aggressive wars' and that such facts are relevant because 'the prosecution asserts that the above mentioned committee has planned aggressive wars. I was a member of this committee'. Countersigned in pencil at the foot by Dr. Otto Nelte, the Defence Counsel representing Keitel. Accompanied by the official IMT English translation of Keitel's document. Some light overall age wear and minor traces of professional restoration, otherwise VG, 2 Following the end of World War II Keitel was indicted by the International Military Tribunal at the Nuremberg Trials as one of the 'major war criminals' and was found guilty on all counts: crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, criminal conspiracy and war crimes. He was sentenced to death and executed by hanging 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. 

FLAUBERT GUSTAVE: (1821-1880) French novelist. A significant autograph manuscript, unsigned, three pages, folio, n.p., n.d. (c.1857), in French. Flaubert's extensive manuscript notes are entitled Un repas de noces - Lettre d'Hyppolochus a Lincée('A wedding meal - Letter from Hyppolochus to Lincée') and were prepared by the novelist as research notes for chapter one ('The Feast') of his historical novel Salammbo. The text states, in part, (translated) 'Caranus making a nuptial feast in Macedonia invited twenty parasites there. As soon as they were seated at table each of them was given a bottle of silver. They had each received before entering the room a gold band estimated at five gold Ecus….. For us happy for the rest of our days, with what we took from the feast of Caranus, we seek goods, country houses, slaves to buy, with the presents with which he has showered us'. Rare in this form. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG   Hippolochus was a Macedonian writer and student of Theophrastus, who addressed in a letter to his fellow student Lynceus of Samos a description of a wedding feast in Macedon in the early 3rd century BC. The bridegroom was a certain Caranus, most likely a relative of the Caranus who had been a companion of Alexander the Great.  Flaubert's Salammbo is a historical novel which was published in 1862. Enormously popular in its day, the novel opens with a feast to celebrate the victory of the battle of Eryx, won against Rome, and was praised for its style and story. Provenance: It is believed that the present manuscript was originally included with a series of other research notes made by Flaubert, totaling some 26 pages, and entitled Letters of Alciphron. As well as including extracts relating to a wedding feast, the manuscript also featured observations relating to courtesans and the manners of the people of Greece (see Les Amis de Flaubert, bulletin 12, 1958).

LANZA DEL VASTO: (1901-1981) Italian Philosopher, Poet and nonviolent activist. A western disciple of Mohandas Gandhi. A very fine and attractiveA.L.S., with an artistic signature, four pages, folio, in purple ink, n.p., June 1955, in French. Lanza del Vasto with his usual large writing makes a resume of his life path, referring to his youth, his experiences, his travels and philosophical thoughts, stating in part `J´ai toujours écrit, depuis l´enfance, et j´ai toujours trouvé quelqu´un pour me lire… Puis je quittai la maison et vécu au hazard de mille petits métiers, cultivant la pauvreté, expérience pour moi nouvelle et pleine d´enseignement. Puis vinrent mes années de vagabondage qui me conduisirent en Orient… J´avais dépassé la maturité quand je fis paraitre en France les premieres poésies, qui dataient quelques fois de vingt ans, c´était pendant la guerre… Quand éclata le succés inopiné du Pélerinage, les millions se mirent à pleuvoir sur le pélerin, mais j´avais fait voeu de pauvreté et de travail des mains et cette pluie pasa sur moi sans me mouiller…´ (Translation: `I have always written, since childhood, and I have always found someone to read me… Then I left home and lived at random in a thousand small jobs, cultivating poverty, a new and instructive experience for me… Then came my years of wandering which led me to the East… I had exceeded maturity when I published in France the first poems, which sometimes dated back twenty years, it was during the war… When the unexpected success of Pilgrimage broke out , the millions began to rain on the pilgrim, but I had taken a vow of poverty and hand work and this rain passed over me without getting wet…´) Before concluding Lanza del Vasto writes two maxims of life, saying `Notre vie est l´oeuvre qu´il nous faut mener à bonne fin. Le reste est vanité. Les principes et préceptes du retour à l´évidence sont peut-être mon écrit le plus étroitement lié à ma vie et à mon salut´ (Translation: `Our life is the work that we must carry out. The rest is vanity. The principles and precepts of the return to evidence are perhaps my writing most closely related to my life and my salvation´) and above his signature `Maxime: Celui qui ne meurt pas pour quelque chose, meurt pour rien, c´est pourquoi je tiens qu´il est plus sage d´oser´ (Translation: `Maxim: the person who doesn't die for something, dies for nothing, that's why I think it's wiser to dare´) VG 

MACDONALD J. RAMSAY: (1866-1937) British Prime Minister 1924, 1929-35. A fine original black pen and ink drawing of MacDonald by the accomplished German-Swiss artist Robert Kastor, executed on a folio (9.5 x 12) sheet of art paper, the image depicting the Prime Minister in a head and shoulders pose. Signed by MacDonald beneath the image, adding a sentiment in his hand, 'Freedom! What crimes have been committed in thy name - and what glorious lives devoted to thy service'. Also bearing the small signature of the artist Kastor. Two small tears to the left edge and some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

GEORGE II: (1683-1760) King of Great Britain and Ireland 1727-60. D.S., George R, as King, at the head, one page, folio, Court at St. James's, 17th December 1731. The manuscript document is a warrant for establishing a board of General Officers as 'the time limited by Our Warrant for Constituting a Board of General Officers expires the 24th of this instant December….we have thought fit to Order and Direct that the Board of General Officers for the future shall consist of those whose Names are respectively mentioned in the list annexed (no longer present) seven of whom at any time are to constitute a Board, of which said seven General Officers Five shall be a Quorum and the Eldest at any time present to be President, and to sit as often as Our Service shall require……And to meet at the Great Room at the Horse Guards…..in order to have the Inspection of the Cloathing of Our Forces, and to consider and Report their Opinion upon all Matters, that shall be referr'd to them either by Us, or Our Secretary at Warr. And Our said General Officers are hereby required to Act and Govern themselves accordingly'. Countersigned at the foot by William Strickland (c.1686-1735) English politician who served as Secretary at War 1730-35. With blank integral leaf. Some light foxing and age wear and a few stains and minor splits at the edges of the folds (some professionally repaired). About VG

GUS: (1911-1997) Gustave Erlich. French comic Cartoonist. Well remembered for his publications in French newspapers Le Figaro, Le Canard Enchainé, and many others. An excellent signed original watercolour, `Gus´, one page, oblong folio, drawing paper, n.p., dated 11th June 1985 in his hand, in French. Gus has drawn a funny sketch showing two East-Germany military guards, marching on the East side of the Berlin wall, with a large sign stating "Libre Circulation Obligatoire" ("Free circulation Obligatory"). To the lower white border Gus has added in bold black ink `Fabius - Fin de la visite a Berlin-Est´ ("Fabius - End of the visit to East-Berlin") referring to Laurent Fabius (1946- ) French Prime Minister 1984-86, and to his visit to Berlin in June 1985. VG 

PHILIP II: (1527-1598) King of Spain 1556-98. During his marriage to Queen Mary I of England, he was King of England and Ireland 1554-58. Rare L.S., `Yo El Rey´, as King, one page, oblong folio, Madrid, 1st of August 1563, to infantry Captain Gil Hernandez, in old Castilian-Spanish. The document being a grant given by the King to Gil Hernandez, granting new salaries and rights because of his services to the Kingdom defending its territories, stating in part `…a nuestros Contadores Mayores, sabed que acatando lo que Gil Hernandez nos ha servido…en la defensa de Mazalquivir, teniendola cercada el Rey de Argelia por mar y tierra…´ (Translation: `..to our Senior Treasurerss, be informed that abiding what Gil Hernandez has served us... in the defense of Mazalquivir, being besieged by land and sea by the King of Algeria…´) Countersigned at the base, with additional annotation and countersignatures to the verso. Large water stain to the base and right border, not affecting the signature. Edges trimmed, mostly the right and lower edges, with small area of paper loss to the right bottom corner. Overall age wear with few small ink holes. About G

BARAGUEY D'HILLIERS LOUIS: (1764-1813) French General who fought in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. L.S., L. B. D'Hilliers, one page, folio, Headquarters at Weissembourg, 4th May 1793, to Alexandre de Beauharnais, in French. Baraguey d'Hilliers asks Beauharnais 'de me faire passer un etat exact et detaille de la force et de l'emplacement des postes, cantonnement, camps, garnisons, et dépots qui se trouvent dans l´arrondissement de votre commandement' (Translation: 'to convey to me an exact and detailed statement of the strength and location of the posts, quarters, camps, garrisons and depots which are within your command's armoury') and remarks that he is in great need of the information and that it should be prepared and dispatched so that it reaches him before the 15th of the month. A few very minor, light creases, otherwise VGAlexandre de Beauharnais (1760-1794) French General and political figure during the French Revolution, the first husband of Josephine Tascher de la Pagerie, who later married Napoleon Bonaparte and became Empress of the First French Empire. Beauharnais was executed by guillotine during the Reign of Terror.  

HORROCKS BRIAN: (1895-1985) British Lieutenant-General of World War II, commander of the XXX Corps in Operation Market Garden. An original typed manuscript, unsigned, with extensive holograph additions and corrections by Horrocks, nine pages, folio, n.p., n.d. (late 1960s?), entitled Churchill and the Second World War - An Appreciation by Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks, stating, in part, 'Winston Churchill was the greatest statesman-cum-soldier of this century. At the age of sixty-five, he was summoned by the British people as a whole to be their Prime Minister and to lead them through some of the darkest hours this country has ever known. Three days after taking office, when he made his famous 'blood, toil, tears and sweat' speech to the House of Commons, he went on to say, “You ask, 'what is our policy?' It is to wage war by sea, land, and air, with all our might, and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny. You ask, 'what is our aim?' I can answer in one word - Victory; Victory at all costs, Victory in spite of all terror, Victory, however long and hard the road may be.”…..His moral courage in those early days has never been equalled before or since……Looking back on that period, it is almost unbelievable that any one man could have stood up to such a strain as the nation's war leader, yet Churchill never flinched. It was during this dark period I first met him…..I can see him now, a sturdily built figure, wearing an odd sort of uniform which he had designed for himself. There was a gleam in his eye, a cigar in his mouth, and a stick in his hand…..His mere presence was magic….In 1942 I was flown out from Britain to take over 13 Corps, with General Montgomery commanding the Eighth Army….After approximately a week I was visited by Winston Churchill….It was obvious from the start that the old warrior statesman did not think much of the new commander of 13 Corps…..I heard afterwards that, on the way back to Cairo, he turned to General Montgomery and said, “He's no good. Get rid of him.” Monty replied. “Look here, Sir, you stick to your sphere, and I'll stick to mine.” That visit did an enormous amount of good to everyone except me……There developed a curious love-hate relationship between Churchill and Montgomery. The former could not afford any more defeats, and the latter refused to be stampeded into any attacks before he was ready…..From now onwards, for the remainder of the war, Churchill had to act as a member of a team, consisting of President Roosevelt, whom he now regarded as a personal friend, and Stalin, who was always difficult and menacing…..But my final memory is of a happy Churchill. It was in March 1944, during the Battle of the Reichswald……He was visibly moved as he stood, for the first time, with his feet firmly planted on the territory of the enemy he had been fighting for so long…..' Accompanied by a final, corrected typescript copy of the manuscript, attached to the draft by staples to the upper left corner. Some light age wear and minor creasing, about VG 

MUSSOLINI BENITO: (1883-1945) Italian Fascist Dictator of World War II. An excellent A.L.S., `Mussolini´, signed twice, one page, folio, Milano, 5th December 1917, to Paolo Orano, in Italian. The autograph text is written as a post-scriptum at the base of a T.L.S., `Mussolini´, on the attractive printed stationery of the journal "Il Popolo d´Italia", bearing the heading and beneath the journal´s name the printed text "Quotidiano Socialista - Fondatore: Benito Mussolini" (Translation: "Socialist Journal - Founder: Benito Mussolini"). The blue typed letter states `Caro Orano, Ho dato la notizia fingendo che il provvedimento sia gia stato e l´ho fatto seguire da una postilla. Se la censura non interviene uscira domani nell´edizione di Milano e dopo nell´edidizione di Roma. La tolleranza del governo e semplicemente mostruosa. Che vogliono ripetere il 66? L´opinione publica, qui e assai inquieta. Via mando questo volantino. Si va all´azione diretta, come gia nel maggio 1915 quando ben I32 ditte tedesche furono demolite´ "(Translation: "I have published the new making people believe that the measure had already been taken and I followed it up with a footnote. If the censorship does not intervene, it will be released tomorrow in the Milan edition and later in the Rome edition. Government tolerance is simply monstrous. Who want to repeat 66? Public opinion here is very restless. I'm sending you this flyer. We go to direct action, as it already happened in May 1915 when no less than I32 German companies were demolished") To the base of the page and beneath his signature, Mussolini adds in his hand `P.S. Riapro la lettera. La censura ha lasciato passare. Vi faccio mandare 10 copie del Popolo. La noticia andra anche sull´Edizione romana, che quella che giunge a Firenze..´ ("Translation: "P.S. I reopen the letter. The censorship has let it pass. I'll send you 10 copies for the Popolo. The notice will also go to the Roman Edition, which is the one that arrives in Florence…") Mussolini signs a second time alongside his autograph post-scriptum `Saluti cordialissimi - Mussolini´. Light ink stains to some words, with a very small repair to the left edge, otherwise G Paolo Orano (1875-1945) Italian Psychologist, Politician and Writer. A leading figure within the National Fascist Party, in part through his legitimization of anti-Semitism. Orano was captured in 1944 and was imprisoned with Italian fascist officials at Padula prison camp. He would die the year after following an ulcer haemorrhage.