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Teniers II, David - nach -- nach. Œuvres de David Teniers. Ca. 148 Blatt verschiedener Stecher des 18. Jhs. auf 95 Seiten, teils montiert, teils auf die Albumseiten selbst gedruckt, in HLeder mit goldgeprägtem Rückschild "Œuvres de David Teniers" (minimal fleckig, die Ecken bestoßen, Rücken teils erneuert). Imp.-Folio. "A Paris, chez Basan" (o. J.). Wz. Doppelkopfadler mit Blume im Herzschild, Nebenmarke Schrift "T. Dupuy Fin / Auvergne [1749? undeutlich]".Repräsentatives Album des 18. Jahrhunderts, das die motivische Bandbreite von Teniers Œuvre eindrücklich vor Augen führt. Da keine weiteren Exemplare gefunden werden konnten, handelt es sich womöglich um einen für einen Sammler individuell zusammengestellten Band. Viele Stiche von der Hand von Jacques Philippe le Bas, aber auch von Jean Dullé, Pierre Etienne Moitte, Pierre-François Basan u.a. Als Titelblatt dient eine radierte Kartusche nach Gabriel Gillot, darin montiert der separat gedruckte Titel mit der Adresse Basans. Sämtliche Drucke in ganz ausgezeichneten bis prachtvollen, gegensatzreichen Abzügen, die montierten Blätter mit überwiegend schmalem Rändchen. Nur leichte Alters- und Gebrauchsspuren, einige doppelblattgroße Blätter gefalzt, vereinzelt minimal fleckig, die letzten Seiten minimal gebräunt, sonst in insgesamt schöner und originaler Erhaltung. Aus der Sammlung Jos. van Neck (Exlibris im Spiegel). - Wir bitten darum, Zustandsberichte zu den Losen zu erfragen, da der Erhaltungszustand nur in Ausnahmefällen im Katalog angegeben ist. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalogue.

‘It is a source of great satisfaction to me that I have fought my way here at the head of my forces and have borne my share in the conquest of our mutual enemies. It is with a sense of deep thankfulness to Almighty God that I stand today in my palace from which the Fascist forces have fled’ HAILE SELASSIE I: (1892-1975) Ethiopian Regent Plenipotentiary 1916-30 and Emperor 1930-74. An extremely rare and historically important printed folio copy of the speech made by Haile Selassie upon entering Addis Ababa on 5th May 1941, following the defeat of Italy and the liberation of Ethiopia, four pages printed in Amharic and with the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah at the head, the text stating, in part, 'My People: It was on this day five years ago that the Fascist forces entered my capital and at once Mussolini proclaimed the establishment of the “Roman Empire” in our country of Ethiopia…..In those dark days you, my people, never abandoned hope. Small bands of warriors with old rifles ranged the hills. For five long years the Italian enemy never dared to penetrate the mountainous regions where Ethiopian patriots maintained their freedom in hardship and privation….Immediately before Italy entered the war to snatch what she could from a defeated France, she poured into Ethiopia men, money and munitions……Confident that these mighty armaments could not be assailed the Fascist Government proceeded with its work…..But a mighty change was at hand. It was to be in Ethiopia, for the first time, that the power of the power of the spirit was to be manifested as the ruling power in modern war. It was in Ethiopia that the will of a whole people was first to co-operate with the expert military genius of a valiant and humane nation to form together an irresistible force which should succeed in destroying an army far superior in numbers and equipment. It was long before the British forces, fighting for the cause of humanity in other theatres of war, could come to the rescue of Ethiopia……when the forces of our great Ally were at last released for an effectual attack upon the enemy….I again entered my country and marched with my forces from the far-off frontier on the Sudan into the heart of the Gojjam…..My forces were outnumbered by 20 to 1 and we were without artillery or aircraft. My appearance amongst the patriots at once brought thousands to my side and the enemy's fear magnified these to as many more……I proceeded at once to collect my forces which were scattered in pursuit of the enemy, and to move towards my capital which I have today entered. It is a source of great satisfaction to me that I have fought my way here at the head of my forces and have borne my share in the conquest of our mutual enemies. It is with a sense of deep thankfulness to Almighty God that I stand today in my palace from which the Fascist forces have fled. It is my firm purpose to merit the blessings which I have received: firstly to show my gratitude to my allies the British by returning the benefit done me; by releasing their Imperial troops for warfare on other fronts and by my supplying them with armed forces wherever they may need them; and, secondly, by re-establishing in Ethiopia Christian ethics in Government, liberty of conscience and democratic institutions. Lastly to you, my people, I say with a full heart, today is a day of rejoicing, today is a day of triumph over our enemies. Let us therefore rejoice but in the spirit of Christ……Do not stain the name of Ethiopia by acts worthy of our enemies. I shall see to it that they are disarmed and are given a safe passage to the place from which they came. And while you treat your enemies with forbearance, you must treat our Allies with the kindness that you show to a brother and a saviour. St. George who slew the dragon, is the patron saint of both our countries. Let us unite in everlasting friendship and amity to oppose this new dragon of Godless brutality that has assailed mankind'. Signed by Haile Selassie in fountain pen ink to a clear area at the head of the first page and dated 1941 in his hand. Also featuring an inscription in Amharic to Captain Richardson. Accompanied by a contemporary printed English translation of the speech. An extremely rare signed copy of what is undoubtedly the most important speech made in the modern history of Ethiopia. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, about EX 

[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

RAEDER ERICH: (1876-1960) German Grand Admiral of World War II, Knight's Cross winner. D.S., Raeder, one page, folio, Berlin, 10th September 1939, in German. The partially printed document, completed in a calligraphic hand, appoints the senior government inspector Wilhelm Stern to be an administrative clerk, in the expectation that 'true to his oath of service, (he) will faithfully discharge his duties and justify the confidence bestowed upon him by this appointment' and continues 'At the same time, he can be sure of the special protection of the Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor'. Signed by Raeder at the foot in his capacity as Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine alongside a blind embossed circular seal featuring the Nazi swastika and eagle. With blank integral leaf. Some light age wear and a number of small tears to the right edge, otherwise about VG

At the Nuremberg Trials Hermann Goring declares that the Austrian people ‘welcomed [the] marching in of Germans into Austria with tremendous enthusiasm’ [NUREMBERG TRIALS]: GORING HERMANN (1893-1946) German Political and Military leader, Commander of the Luftwaffe during World War II. D.S., Hermann Goring, in bold pencil, one page, folio, n.p. (Nuremberg), 29th November 1945, 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 Goring requests that Ward Price, Chief Correspondent of the Daily Mail in London, be summoned to give evidence on his behalf, as 'The witness knows: a) That the Defendant Goering endeavoured always to promote German-English understanding before and after the outbreak of war. b) That the prepondering majority of Austrian people desired annexation of Austria to Germany and welcomed marching in of Germans into Austria with tremendous enthusiasm' and that such facts are relevant because 'They serve to support my contention that I did not wish a War of Aggression and that the annexation of Austria corresponded to the wish of the population'. Countersigned in bold pencil at the foot by Dr. Otto Stahmer, the Defence Counsel representing Goring. Accompanied by the official IMT English translation of Goring'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 George Ward Price (1886-1961) British journalist who worked as a foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail newspaper. In the 1930s Price carried out several interviews with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini and the journalist clearly held pro-fascist views. In his book I Know These Dictators (1937) Price portrayed himself as a close friend of Hitler, writing of the Fuhrer 'Behind the forceful character which Hitler displays in public, there is a pleasant personality known only to his intimates'. During the Anschluss, the German annexation of Austria, Price accompanied Hitler's party as they entered Vienna. After the war, Goring, who had been one of the most powerful figures of the Third Reich, was convicted at the Nuremberg Trials of conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to death by hanging in 1946, but committed suicide by ingesting cyanide hours before the sentence was to be carried out. 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. 

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

Jodl formally objects to the indictment handed to him at the Nuremberg Trials and begins the preparation of his defence [NUREMBERG TRIALS]: JODL ALFRED (1890-1946) German Generaloberst, Chief of the Operations Staff of the German Armed Forces High Command 1939-45. An historically significant A.L.S., Jodl, (and also signed Alfred Jodl at the head of the first page), two pages, folio, n.p. (Nuremberg), 22nd October 1945, to the 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. 

[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.

[NUREMBERG TRIALS]: RIBBENTROP JOACHIM VON (1893-1946) German politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany 1938-45. A rare A.L.S., J v Ribbenrop, one page, folio, n.p. (Nuremberg), n.d. (1945/46), to the Prison Authorities, in German. Ribbentrop, writing in bold pencil, provides the authorities detaining him with instructions regarding his personal property, in part, 'I wish to hand over my complete property as shown below to my defence counsel Dr Georg Froeschmann, Nuremberg, Urilandstrasse 36, for my wife Annalies von Ribbentrop. Money: 26,000 Mark less the amount which Colonel Andrus handed over to my wife….The amount was, I believe, 3,600 Mark. 1 gold wrist watch (Longines). The prison receipt for the gold watch is held by Dr Froeschmann or Herr Pintor. Various pictures and letters which are in my prison cell in the linen bag. 2 files of defence documents (blue)…..1 suit, 1 pair of grey trousers…..'My Memoirs;, pages 108-126, 1 memorandum on the Jewish policy, 2 gold dental bridges'. Some light age toning to the head of the page, only very slightly affecting the first line of text and with some light age wear and a few very small tears to the upper edge, about VG 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. 

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

The former King Edward VIII is summoned as Joachim von Ribbentrop’s defence witness at the Nuremberg Trials [NUREMBERG TRIALS]: RIBBENTROP JOACHIM VON (1893-1946) German politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany 1938-45. A 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.   

CHARLES V: (1500-1558) Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria 1519-56, King of Spain (Castile and Aragon) 1516-56, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy 1506-55. A fine D.S., Carol[us], one page (vellum), oblong folio, Genoa, 18th October 1536, in Latin. The attractively penned manuscript document confirms Girolamo Brebbia in his position as General Treasurer of the Duchy of Milan. Some very light, minor staining and age wear and with two neat slits where a seal would originally have been affixed, about VG In 1535 Francesco II Sforza, the Duke of Milan, had died without heirs and Charles V annexed the territory as a vacant imperial state with the help of Massimiliano Stampa, one of the most influential courtiers of the late Duke. Charles V successfully held on to all of its Italian territories, although they were invaded again on multiple occasions during the Italian wars. Genoa, where the present document was signed, was, at the time, effectively governed by the Genoese statesman and Admiral Andrea Doria who had been in the service of Charles V since 1528.

MATTHIAS: (1557-1619) Holy Roman Emperor 1612-19, Archduke of Austria 1608-19, King of Hungary and Croatia. His personal motto was “Concordia Lumine Major” (“Unity is stronger than light”). A good and unusual L.S., `Matthias´, a large and bold signature, one page, folio, 2nd of April 1611, in German. Untranslated letter. With address leaf. Small overall age wear and staining. G 

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

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

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

HENRY III: (1551-1589) King of France 1574-89 and King of Poland & Grand Duke of Lithuania 1573-75. Last French King of the House of Valois. Assassinated. L.S., Henry, one page, oblong folio, vellum, Paris, 19th April 1576, in old French. The manuscript letter states, in part, `Aujourd'hui XVe jour d'avril mil cinq cent soixante-seize, le Roi étant à Paris, ayant égard aux recommandables services que le sieur de La Roche, Chevalier de son ordre et gentilhomme ordinaire de sa chambre, a fait à cette couronne, et désirant pour lui donner moyen de l'y affectionner et continuer de bien en mieux avec meilleure volonté l'approcher près de sa personne, et l'honorer d'état digne à ses mérites. Pour cette cause sa Majesté l'a retenu et retient en l'état de conseiller en son conseil privé pour y avoir séance et voix délibératrice et jouir des mêmes honneurs et autorités que les autres conseillersi. En témoig de quoi, sa Majesté a voulu signer ce présent brevet de sa propre main, et fait contresigner par moi´ (“Translation: “This day, the fifteenth day of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-six, the King being in Paris, having regard to the commendable services which the Sieur de La Roche, Chevalier of his order and ordinary gentleman of his chamber, has rendered to this crown, and desiring to give him the means of affection and continuing better and better will to approach him close to his person, and to honour him with a state worthy of his merits. For this cause his Majesty has retained him and retains him in the capacity of Councillor in his Privy Council to have a seat and deliberative vote there and to enjoy the same honours and authorities as the other Councillors. In witness whereof, His Majesty has wished to sign this present patent with his own hand, and has been countersigned by me”) Countersigned by Brulart. Overall age wear and creasing with slightly uneven edges. About G The King refers to the Knight´s order of Saint Michel, founded in 1469 by Louis XI, called “Ordre et aimable Compagnie de Monsieur Saint Michel”.  

HENRY IV: (1553-1610) King of France 1589-1610 and King of Navarre 1572-1610. First French Monarch of the House of Bourbon. Assassinated. A good and clean L.S., `Henry', one page, folio, Fontainebleau, 6th April 1599, to Cardinal Visconti, in old French. The King congratulates his correspondent for his appointment by the Pope which he has supported to, stating `Mon cousin, entre ceux qu´il a plu à notre très saint père le Pape élever à la dignité de Cardinal, je me suis réjoui de votre promotion tant pour la reputation de votre vertu que pour l´opinion que j´ai conçue de votre affection au bien de cette couronne. De quoi f´ai bien commandé au Sieur de Sillery, conseiller de mon Conseil d´Etat et mon ambassadeur par de là, de faire avec vous en mon nom l´office ainsi qi´il est accoutumé…´ (Translation: “My cousin, among those whom it pleased our most Holy Father the Pope to raise to the dignity of Cardinal, I rejoiced at your promotion both for the reputation of your virtue and for the opinion I have formed of your affection for the good of this crown. For all this I have ordered the Sieur de Sillery, adviser to my Council of State and my ambassador, to do the office to you, in my name as he is accustomed...”) Countersigned. Addressed to the verso, also bearing a receipt annotation in Italian. Paper bearing a Nicola watermark with a crowned monogramme. Small overall minor age wear, mostly to borders, with a small professional repair to the left edge. G Cardinal Alfonso Visconti (1562-1608) he was appointed Cardinal by Pope Clement VIII the 3rd of March 1599, a month before the present letter was signed.  

LOUIS XIV: (1638-1715) King of France 1643-1715. A fine D.S., Louis, one page, large oblong folio (featuring an attractive watermark of the King’s Royal Standard), Pavia, 15th March 1665, in French. The manuscript document is addressed to Pope Alexander VII and requests that he resume the beatification proceedings for Bishop Juvenal, ‘herewith we continue in the example of King Henry the Great [Henry IV] of immortal memory, our Grandfather who during his life initiated procedures for the beatification of this virtuous person….’ Boldly signed by the Sun King at the foot and countersigned by Hugues de Lionne (1611-1671) French statesman who served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1663-71. With manuscript address panel to the verso. A document of interesting content and good association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Alexander VII (1599-1667) Pope of the Catholic Church 1655-67. John Juvenal Ancina (1545-1604) Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Saluzzo from 1602-04. An accomplished musician and man of letters, Ancina was a professed member from the Oratorians and friend of Francis de Sales. Ancina was poisoned to death on 30th August 1604 when a renegade monk gave him wine laced with poison, apparently in a reconciliatory action after Ancina had disciplined the monk for visiting a convent with sinful intent. Ancina’s cause for sainthood commenced soon after his death although complications arose due to a lack of concrete evidence suggesting that he was killed in hatred of the faith due to his being poisoned and the cause was suspended for a time until 1666 when Pope Alexander VII reopened it. Francis de Sales attested to Ancina’s saintliness at around the same time, however it would not be until February 1890 that Ancina was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

LOUIS XIV: (1638-1715) King of France 1643-1715. D.S., Louis, five pages, folio, Paris, 12th May 1703, in French. The manuscript document is the marriage contract by and between Charles Houel (1659-1736) French Field Marshal, Marquis of Houelbourg and Guadeloupe, Lord of La Rochebernard, son of Charles Houel, the Governor of Guadeloupe; and Anne Henriette de Cordouan (1667-1719) Maid of Honour to the Duchess of Guise (the document also signed and initialled by them at various points), signed by the King at the conclusion and countersigned by a number of other individuals including Princess Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate (1652-1722) Duchess of Orleans, the widow of King Louis XIV's brother, Philippe I, Duke of Orleans; Louis II Phelypeaux de Pontchartrain (1643-1727) French politician who served as Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi 1690-99 and as Chancellor of France 1699-1714; and his sone Jerome Phelypeaux (1674-1747) French politician who served with his father as Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi and as Secretary of State for the Navy 1699-1715; Leonard Elie de Pompadour (1659-1732) Governor of Perigord, as well as members of other French noble families including Marie de Maupeau (daughter of Pierre de Meaupeau), Francoise de Montault de Navailles (1653-1717) third wife of Charles III, Duke of Elbeuf; and their daughter Suzanne Henriette of Lorraine (1686-1710) Duchess of Mantua and Montferrat, etc. Tied with a faded red ribbon and contained in the original plain paper wrappers. Some light overall age wear and a small area of paper loss to the lower right corner of the final pages. About VG 

LOUIS XV: (1710-1774) King of France 1715-74. A good document signed by the King, with three words above also in his hand. D.S., `Bon les apostilles Louis´, twenty-seven pages, folio, n.p., May 1731, in French. The lengthy manuscript document, signed at the conclusion by the King, is the approval of the 1731 salaries and gratuities to be paid to officers and petty officers of the Regiment of French Guards, and lists a long number of names, with ranks and amounts to pay, ranging from 8000 francs for the Chief of the regiment, Colonel Duc de Gramont, to the 100 francs to most Sergeants. Tied with blue ribbon. G to VG The Regiment of the Guards was created in 1560 to grant the security of the King.Louis Antoine Armand de Gramont (1688-1741) Duc de Louvigny. Colonel of the French Guards from 1717. Appointed General in 1734.  

LOUIS XVI: (1754-1793) King of France and Navarre 1774-1791, King of the French 1791-92. The only King of France to have been executed. A very fine L.S., `Louis´, one page, folio, Versailles, 1st of June 1776, to his Treasurer Charles-Pierre Savalete de Magnanville, in French. The King orders the Royal Treasurer to pay `…Jean Tacel, Piqueur de ma Louveterie, la somme de deux cents livres pour une année échue cejourd´hui, de la Subsistance que le feu Roi mon très honoré Seigneur et Ayeul lui avait accordée..´ ("…Jean Tacel, whipper of my Royal wolf hunting service, the amount of two hundred pounds for a full year of service, expiring on today´s date, for his subsistence that the late King, my very honoured Lord and ancestor had granted him…")  Countersigned at the base by Jean Antoine Amelot. A small annotation to the left bottom corner indicates that the amount was only paid three years later. Paper with watermark. Small overall minor age wear and toning to the edges and one small stain to the lower left corner, not affecting the text or signatures. G to VG Jean-Antoine Amelot de Chaillou (1732-1795) Minister of the Royal House. He died at prison of Luxemburg. The present payment order relates to an officer serving in the wolf hunting Royal service. An institution which has its origins in the IX century.

LOUIS XVI: (1754-1793) King of France 1774-92, the last King to rule before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. D.S., Louis, one page, folio, Paris, 5th August 1792, in French. The manuscript document relates to the expenses of the treasurer and the National Treasury during the month of July 1792, in part, 'In execution of the Law of the 13th of November last, the Commissioners of the National Treasury will pay the sum of six millions four hundred twenty two thousand nine hundred and fifty nine livres three sous seven deniers for purchases….in cash made by the Treasurer of the National Treasury'. Countersigned at the foot by six commissioners of the National Treasury including Jean de Vaines (Public Revenue Office), Antoine Pierre Dutremblay (Marine Expenditures) and Daniel Etienne Rouille de l'Estang (War expenditures). With a non-contemporary blank integral leaf bearing the stamp of the collector Dr. Max Thorek of Chicago. Loosely contained within a handsome large folio Prussian blue morocco display folder with gilt decorative borders to the interior and exterior and accompanied by two different antique engravings of Louis XVI. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG The present document was signed by King Louis XVI just five days prior to the Insurrection of 10th August 1792, a defining event of the French Revolution when armed revolutionaries in Paris stormed the Tuileries Palace. The conflict led France to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. 

KARL AUGUST: (1757-1828) Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, noted for the intellectual brilliance of his court. A friend and patron of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Grand Duke made the German writer a member of his Privy Council from 1776-85. D.S., Karl August, with three additional lines of holograph text, one page, folio, Weimar, 21st December 1799, in German. The manuscript document is untranslated. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a few light creases at the head of the page, otherwise VG

LUDWIG II: (1845-1886) King of Bavaria 1864-86, known both as the Swan King and the Fairy Tale King. D.S., Ludwig, one page, folio, Hohenschwangau Castle, 10th December 1867, in German. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is untranslated although appears to relate to an individual named Lombardino and makes reference to the sum of one thousand four hundred guilders. Countersigned at the foot by Johann von Lutz (1826-1890) Bavarian politician who served as Justice Minister in 1867 and as Minister-President of Bavaria 1880-90, becoming a key figure in the overthrow of Ludwig II. With blank integral leaf. Some staining and minor age wear, G

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

CATHERINE II THE GREAT: (1762-1796) Empress of Russia 1762-96, Catherine the Great. An excellent and very attractive D.S., `Ekaterina´, in Cyrillic, a bold and good signature example, one large page, oblong 15 x 21 folio, Saint Petersburg, 8th August 1769, in Cyrillic. The document bears to the front a splendid and very large paper seal with coat of Imperial arms and is signed by the `Empress and Sovereign of All Russias..´, being a title given, appointing a representative to the Pope Clemens XIV, who will carry out his duties from the Russian consulate established in the port city of Ancona on the Adriatic Sea. Countersigned at the base by Prince Alexander Golitsyn. It is likely that this appointment was postponed or canceled, the name of the diplomat having never been completed. It was probably part of a political strategy of Catherine II who, after the occupation of Poland, had waited only a spark to launch a war of expansion against Turkey, under the false pretext of providing help to Christians against the unbelievers. It will be done in September 1768, and the port of Ancona, natural gate to Turkey, will serve as a base for the Russian fleet already installed in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1771, Russia will seize Crimea and the Turks will finally sign peace in 1774. Accompanied by an official contemporary translation into Latin, attached to main document signed by Catherine II. Very small overall minor age wear. VG    Prince Alexander Golitsyn (1718-1783) Russian Marshal and Diplomat. Governor of Saint Petersburg. One of the main Russian military leaders involved in the war against Turks. 

NICHOLAS I OF RUSSIA: (1796-1855) Emperor of Russia 1825-55. A fine L.S., Nicholas, in Cyrillic, two pages, folio, Saint Petersburg, 25th July 1840, to Baron Neumann, in Cyrillic. Bearing the bold printed heading of Emperor Nicholas I. The document being a decree by which Baron Neumann is awarded with the St. Stanislas Imperial and Royal Order of First Class. A bold ink signature by the Emperor, with flourish. Bearing beneath a Royal paper seal in fine condition. Countersigned at the base by Prince Alexander Golitsyn as Councelor of the Royal Oath Orders of the Empire. Accompanied by a contemporary translation into French. With tear to the right edge fold, not affecting the signature, otherwise G to VG Prince Alexander Nikolayevich Golitsyn (1773-1844) Russian Statesman of the Russian Empire. Chief Prosecutor, Minister of Education Privy Councelor. Confidant of Emperor Alexander I.

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

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 

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

ROYALTY: A pair of stiff card folio pages removed from an album featuring window mounted signed pieces and cards (13) and signed photographs (3) by various members of Royal families, many associated with Sweden and Norway, and a few other famous individuals, including Charles XV (1826-1872) King of Sweden and Norway 1859-72,Oscar II (1829-1907) King of Sweden 1872-1907 and King of Norway 1872-1905, Gustav VI Adolf (1882-1973) King of Sweden 1950-73, Louise Mountbatten (1889-1965) Queen of Sweden 1950-65, the second wife of Gustav VI Adolf, Sergei Alexandrovich (1857-1905) Russian Grand Duke, brother of Emperor Alexander III of Russia, George of Greece and Denmark (1869-1957) Greek Prince, son of George I of Greece and Olga Konstantinova of Russia, Andrew of Greece and Denmark (1882-1944) Greek Prince, father of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh  (a good signed 4 x 7 photograph of the Prince standing in a three-quarter length pose, boldly signed in dark fountain pen ink and dated 1906 in his hand), Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930) Norwegian Arctic explorer and polymath, Nobel Peace Prize winner 1922 etc. Some light age wear and minor staining, generally VG, 2 

WILLIAM III: (1650-1702) William of Orange. King of England, Scotland and Ireland 1689-1702 and Prince of Orange 1650-1702. A fine D.S., Prince d'Orange, one page, folio, Gravenhage, 6th January 1676, in Dutch. The untranslated manuscript document relates to Knight L'hendorff (Leendorff) and his request to be removed from the civil service of the United Netherlands, which is granted. Countersigned at the foot by Constantin Huygens Jr. (1628-1697) Dutch statesman and poet, a chronicler of his times (revealing the importance of gossip), who was appointed secretary to William III in 1672. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. With blank integral leaf. 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

GEORGE IV: (1762-1830) King of the United Kingdom 1820-30. D.S., George PR, as Prince Regent, on behalf of King George III, two pages, folio, Carlton House, 15th June 1818. The manuscript document is addressed to Lord Eldon and is a Warrant for affixing the Great Seal to the acceptance of the King of Wurttemberg's Accession to the General Treaty signed in Congress at Vienna on the 9th June 1815, and to the Acts thereunto annexed. Countersigned at the conclusion by Viscount Castlereagh (1769-1822) British Statesman, who served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affais (1812-22) and was central to the management of the coalition that defeated Napoleon Bonaparte. Sewn into the document with black silk ties is a four-page manuscript copy of the document in which the Prince Regent, on behalf of King George III, approved and accepted the Act of Accession, the text in English and French, stating, in part, 'Whereas an Act of Accession on the part of His Majesty The King of Wurttemberg, to the General Treaty signed in Congress at Vienna…..between His Britannic Majesty, His Majesty The Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, His Majesty The King of France and Navarre, His Royal Highness The Prince Regent of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Brazils, His Majesty The King of Prussia, His Majesty The Emperor of all the Russias, and His Majesty The King of Sweden and Norway - as well as to the Treaties, Conventions, Declarations, Regulations, and other Acts recited in the Hundred and Eighteenth Article of the said General Treaty, was concluded and signed at Stuttgart on the Fourteenth day of April last, by the Plenipotentiary of His said Majesty The King of Wurttemberg…….We having seen and considered the Act of Accession aforesaid, have, in the Name and on Behalf of His Majesty, approved and accepted the same…..' With blank integral leaf and blind embossed paper seal affixed. VG The present document relates to the settlements made at the Congress of Vienna, which met from the end of September 1814 to June 1815 in order to re-organise and settle the shape of post-Napoleonic Europe. 

VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. D.S., Victoria R, as Queen, at the head, four pages, folio, Court at Balmoral, 19th May 1842. The manuscript document, on black bordered mourning paper, is a warrant addressed to Ker Baillie-Hamilton, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the British Virgin Islands, and appoints Isaac Farrington, Robert Grimes Pedder and Ebenezer Bronstorph to be non-elective members of the Legislative Council of the Virgin Islands. Countersigned at the conclusion by Henry Pelham-Clinton (1811-1864) 5th Duke of Newcastle, British politician who served as Secretary of State for the Colonies 1859-64. With blind embossed paper seal affixed and integral address leaf, tied with a black ribbon. Some splitting at the folds, only very slightly affecting the text but not the signatures, GKer Baillie-Hamilton (1804-1889) British colonial administrator.

VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. D.S., Victoria R, as Queen, at the head, two pages, folio, Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, 23rd July 1857. The manuscript document is a warrant appointing Henry Lettsome Maclean to the executive council of the British Virgin Islands, in part, 'We being well satisfied of the loyalty, integrity and ability of Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Henry Lettsome Maclean….We do hereby signify Our Will and pleasure that forthwith upon the receipt of these presents you swear and admit him…..to be a Member of the Executive Council of Our Virgin Islands'. Countersigned at the conclusion by Henry Labouchere (1798-1869) 1st Baron Taunton, British politician who served as Secretary of State for the Colonies 1855-58. Together with a manuscript D.S. by Thomas Price (President of the British Virgin Islands 1857-58, 1859-61), two pages, folio, Government House, Tortola, 8th November 1858, nominating and appointing Henry Lettsome Maclean to be a registrar for district C. With a blind embossed paper seal affixed to each document. Some light damp staining, just affecting the text and signatures (all of which remain perfectly legible) and with some neat splits at the folds (some repaired with clear tape to the verso). About G, 2The present documents are accompanied by an envelope annotated in an unidentified hand, '……signatures of Queen Victoria on commissions. Picked up by me derelict in the bushes at Beef Island, British Virgin Is. where old Henry Lettsome Maclean lived, after the family had came to grief & abandoned the place'. 

HAILE SELASSIE I: (1892-1975) Ethiopian Regent Plenipotentiary 1916-30 and Emperor 1930-74. A good printed folio copy of the poem Ethiopia's Resurrection by Kebede Michael, printed in Amharic in two columns within a decorative border, the text commencing 'No matter how many times narrated or written/ The atrocities of the Fascists have no end/ Let alone the youth, even infants were slaughtered/ The churches and huts were burnt down alike/ Village dwellings disappeared, and sedge has replaced them/ The people lost their properties and were tossed/ Many fell down elsewhere, and their estates vanished/ Be it the merchants, peasants or the poor/ All were attacked by the troops of tyranny for five long years', and continuing to describe the atrocities of the Italians, thank God for 'the light has come back' and for restoring Haile Selassie to his throne and country ('Your prayer has been heard, and you have been given the charm/ Your enemy is defeated, run away and become disgraced/ He is wasted and slaughtered in the wilderness…….Then God has witnessed that you deserve justice/ To the generation of the Habeshas, and to the land of Ethiopia/ Now, God's mercy has fallen upon them/ God has made you considerate of your country/ The restorer of freedom, the unifier of your people'), also praising the role of Great Britain, 'The graceful Britain, the graceful England/ She helped us to cross the river of sorrow…..The Great Britain, the advocate of peace/ From now on, it will not allow despots in the world/ To stabilise the world, so that hope shall not be lost/ May Great Britain live forever!'. Signed by Haile Selassie in fountain pen ink to the upper border and dated 1941 in his hand, and with an inscription in Amharic to the Pretoria Museum. Rare in this form, and accompanied by an English translation. Some light creasing and age wear to the edges, only very slightly affecting the signature, and with a small area of scuffing to the upper border causing a very small hole. About VG Kebede Michael (1916-1998) Ethiopian-born writer, poet, playwright, historian, novelist and philosopher who is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and versatile intellectuals of modern Ethiopia. 

[ABDUL HAMID II]: (1842-1918) Sultan of the Ottoman Empire 1876-1909. Secretarial letter, one page, folio, n.p., n.d., comprising five lines of untranslated text in Ottoman Turkish, written in dark ink in a bold, calligraphic hand, with the large gold printed tughra of Sultan Abdul Hamid II at the head. Some light age wear, VG

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

MUSSOLINI BENITO: (1883-1945) Italian Fascist Dictator of World War II. D.S., Mussolini, two pages, folio, Rome, 26th April 1928, in Italian. The partially printed document, untranslated, relates to an individual named Luigi Carchini. Signed by Mussolini at the conclusion and countersigned by Victor Emmanuel III (1869-1947) King of Italy 1900-46. A few small stains and some light overall creasing, G

PONIATOWSKI STANISLAW: (1676-1762) Polish noble, military Commander, and Diplomat. He was the father of the last King of Poland Stanislaw August Poniatowski, and the grandfather of Polish General and Marshal of the first French Empire, under Napoleon I, Prince Jozef Antoni Poniatowski. Very fine L.S., `S. Poniatowski´, one page, folio, Warsaw, 1731, to Augustus Alexander Czartoryski and spouse, in Polish and Latin. The letter bears the heading `Stanislaw in Wolczynie and Radwanice, Ciolek Poniatowski, Grand Treasurer of Lithuania… and General of the Polish-Lithuanian Royal Regimen troops´, and states beneath in part `…with this personalized letter and privilege, allowing Maria Zofia Czartoryska, Russian voivode, to have during their lifetime granted the rights and privileges …, I urgently ask for a tax inventory, and another tax inventory for the treasury..´ Bearing at the base of the front page a "Ciolek" blind embossed seal. Overall age wear, with uneven edges and small staining, otherwise G

‘At the moment the whole use of Indian troops under my command….[is]….the subject of particularly strong criticism in India’ [INDIA] MOUNTBATTEN LOUIS: (1900-1979) British Admiral of World War II, later serving as the last Viceroy of India of British India (1947) and as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of India (1947-48). An interesting T.L.S., Louis Mountbatten, one page, folio, South East Asia Command Headquarters, 18th November 1945, to Lieutenant-General Sir Gordon Jolly. Mountbatten states that 'It is perfectly true that Edwina, with her usual persuasiveness, got me to agree to send a message for your Red Cross week; but the more I think about it the less I like it at the moment', and continues to candidly explain his reasons, 'At the moment the whole use of Indian troops under my command in the Netherlands East Indies and French Indo-China is, as you know, the subject of particularly strong criticism in India. It is no secret that the Viceroy and C-inC are strongly opposed to the use of Indian troops in a manner which might be regarded as discriminating against the local Independence movements', further remarking 'I am of course merely carrying out the exact policy of H. M. Government, but the fact does remain that the less we advertise the connection of Indian troops with the South East Asia Command, the easier I feel it will be politically in India. I do hope you will realise the motives in my going back on my original agreement….' A letter of fine content relating to India in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Together with Edwina Mountbatten (1901-1960) English heiress & socialite, the last Vicereine of India as wife of Viscount Mountbatten of Burma. T.L.S., Edwina Mountbatten, one page, 4to, Grosvenor Crescent, London, 29th August 1946, to General Sir Gordon Jolly, on the printed stationery of the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Mountbatten thanks her correspondent for their letter and informs him that she has made a good deal of progress regarding recommendations for honours and awards to Red Cross personnel 'and am glad to say that Miss Shepherd Cross's name has been submitted to the authorities for the award of the O.B.E. I have also been enquiring into Colonel Basu's case and I understand that he is being considered for a C.I.E. in the New Year's Honours. I will pursue these two names to make certain that nothing goes wrong…..' Some light age wear and minor creasing and a few tears and a small area of paper loss to the upper left corner of Edwina Mountbatten's letter. G to VG, 2 General Sir Gordon Jolly - Chief Commissioner of the Indian Red Cross and St. John War Organisation.

BREZHNEV LEONID: (1906-1982) General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union 1964-82. T.L.S., `L Brezhnev´, in purple ink, Cyrillic, two pages, folio, 15th May 1947, to tovarish Kaganovitch, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, in Cyrillic. Stating to the heading "Proletarians of all countries, unite!Communist Party of (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia Regional Committee". Also annotated in pencil in another hand and to the heading ` To tovarisch Varshavsky, I request to give your suggestions. L.K.´ Brezhnev, in his capacity as Secretary of the Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, states in part ` Due to unfavourable weather conditions during the autumn-winter period of 1946-1947 (strong snowstorms in December and February, sharp temperature fluctuations in early spring, and a cold snap in the middle of March -temperature drop to -14º -17ºC), in the Kuibyshev district, 19,086 hectares of winter crops out of a total area of 22,055 hectares were completely destroyed.The collective farms of the district, which had no seeds for replanting, and not knowing that they will be given seed loan for replanting, as well as in order to use fallow lands for spring grain crops and in order to preserve crop rotations that are being mastered, destroyed winter crops and found it suitable to cultivate spring grain crops in winter grain crops area, because of the crop failure .That is why the collective farms in the Kuibyshev district, which had lost all of their winter crops, replant them with spring grain crops in the first place´ Further giving detailed examples. Bearing several official ink stamps at the base of the front page. Few pinholes and small tears to the left and bottom border, not affecting the text or signatures. Small repair to the verso. Overall small creasing. VG

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

MARTI JOSE & ESTRADA PALMA TOMAS: José Martí (1853-1895) Cuban Poet, Writer and Revolutionary Philosopher. Martí is considered a national hero as well as a leading figure in Latin American literature. He became a symbol for Cuba's fight for independence in the 19th century, and is referred to as the ''Apostle of Cuban Independence''; & Tomas Estrada Palma (1835-1908) First President of Cuba 1902-1906, and previously during the Ten Year´s War. Remembered for allowing the Platt Amendment which ensured American dominance over Cuba. An exceptional and very attractive multiple D.S., `José Martí´, and `T. Estrada Palma´, two pages, large folio, New York, 20th January 1895, to Frederick W. Ramsden, in Spanish. The partially printed document bears the printed heading of the New York delegation of the Cuban Revolutionary party, being a title given to contributors in favour of the cause, a patriotic assistance fundraising to finance the war in favour of the Independence and for the Freedom of Cuba. The attractive document, printed in red ink, bears palms and a coat of arms to the front page. The document is signed by Marti and Estrada Palma in their capacity as delegates and is also signed by Gonzalo de Quesada as Secretary of the delegation. The lengthy handwritten text, is a manifesto in favour of Cuban Independence and freedom, against the Spanish occupancy and slavery, concluding with the motto ''Homeland and Freedom''. The document bears beneath the signatures a large black paper seal affixed of the Delegation of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. Small overall minor age wear, with small remnants of a former red wax seal to the lower edge. G to VG  The present document is signed by Jose Marti on 20th 1895, only one week before drawing up the Uprising order. A month later, on 24th February, the uprising took place, and three months later Marti was killed at the battle of Dos Rios only a month after having returned to Cuba.   Gonzalo de Quesada y Arostegui (1868-1915) was the key architect of Cuba´s Independence Movement with Jose Marti. Appointed Special Commissioner of Cuba to the United States in 1900. He later entered the diplomatic service, becoming minister to the United States. De Quesada authored ''A History of Free Cuba'' (1898) and ''Cuba'' (1905). He also edited Marti's literary works 1900-11.

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 

JAMES BOND: Selection of signed cards and pieces (2), signed 8 x 10 photographs and slightly smaller, some signed magazine photographs of various sizes etc., by various actors and actresses, all of whom have starred in various James Bond films, including Sean Connery (bold black ink signature to the verso of a colour picture postcard addressed to the Italian collector Roland Sensini), Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, Ursula Andress (signed folio edition of Cine Revue magazine of March 1976 featuring a colour image to the cover of Andress standing in a revealing three-quarter length pose), Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Barbara Bach, Karin Dor, Maud Adams, Carole Bouquet, Kim Basinger, Sophie Marceau, Claudine Auger, Denise Richards, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Monica Bellucci etc. Many of the images are colour and most are boldly signed, largely to clear areas, and only four are inscribed. Generally VG, 18 

TRUMBO DALTON: (1905-1976) American screenwriter of Roman Holiday (1953) and other Hollywood movies, Academy Award winner. Trumbo was one of the Hollywood Ten and refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947 during their investigation of alleged Communist influences in the motion picture industry. D.S., Peter Flint, a nom-de-plume used by Trumbo, three pages, folio, n.p., 1st May 1959. The typed document is a contract made between Flint [Trumbo] and Carlyle-Alpina S.A., stating that Flint is the sole author of the screenplay entitled The Other Side of the Coin, based upon a novel of the same name by Pierre Boule, and that he agrees to transfer all the rights to the purchaser for the sum of $60,000, to be paid in six equal instalments, the first being 'upon the date hereof or upon the delivery to the Purchaser of the complete screenplay suitable in all respects for production as a first-class motion picture based upon the aforesaid novel The Other Side of the Coin'. Signed at the conclusion and countersigned by a representative of Carlyle-Alpina S.A. Stapled within a blue paper folder and with two file holes to the head of the pages. Together with a second D.S., Dalton Trumbo, one page, 4to, n.p., 28th November 1958 (although presumably actually 1959). The document takes the form of a letter to Mr. I. H. Prinzmetal and states, in full, 'This is to confirm that Peter Flint is a nom de plume of mine and that I signed the agreement dated May 1, 1959 with Carlyle-Alpina, S.A., relating to the sale of a screenplay based upon the novel entitled “The Other Side of the Coin” by Pierre Boule'. Two file holes to the upper edge. Also including a T.L.S. by Pierre Boulle, one page, 4to, Paris, 2nd May 1960, to Wheel Productions Ltd. Boulle refers to the contract he made with his correspondents on 16th June 1958 in which he transferred the motion picture rights of his novel Les Voies du Salut ('The Other Side of the Coin') to them, and continues to agree to an amendment in one of the clauses, adding 'In consideration of my agreement, you hereby agree that I may license Professor Danilo Svara to do an opera based on the novel in Yugoslavia'. Countersigned at the foot by a representative of Wheel Productions Ltd. Two files to the upper edge. An interesting group of documents. Some light age wear and minor creasing, generally VG, 3 Pierre Boulle (1912-1994) French novelist who is remembered for two works, The Bridge over the River Kwai (1952) and Planet of the Apes (1963), both of which were made into award winning films. Trumbo, one of the members of the Hollywood Ten (the first systematic Hollywood blacklist instituted on 25th November 1947, the day after ten writers and directors were cited for contempt of Congress for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee), continued to work clandestinely on major films, writing under pseudonyms and with his work being uncredited. The Other Side of the Coin was due to have been made into a film under the direction of Otto Preminger, but the project was not completed, in part due to Trumbo's prior commitment to the writing of Spartacus (1960) for which (along with Exodus in the same year) he was given public screen credit, thereby marking the beginning of the end of the Hollywood blacklist for Trumbo and other affected screenwriters.

ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French philosopher, writer and composer who influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe. A fine, rare Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed (with his initials, 'E.59 JJR. cop'), twenty pages (including title page), oblong folio, n.p., 1st June 1777. The musical manuscript is entitled 'Che faro Senza Euridice, Aria del Sigr. Ferdinando Bertoni', each page comprising ten staves traced by hand in a pale ink, the musical notes for the aria attractively penned in a darker ink for two parts violin ('Violini'), two parts oboe ('Oboe'), two parts horn ('Corni'), two parts viola ('Viole') and the voice part ('Orfeo') with lyrics penned in Rousseau's hand, the indications of movement ('Andantino', 'Presto', 'Andno' etc.), as well as the indications of intensity and nuance, all penned in red ink. Each measure is divided in the middle by a very light vertical pencil line. With four blank pages of staves at the conclusion, the whole tied with a small pale blue ribbon. An elegant manuscript which still retains Rousseau's light pencil annotation ('19p. a 8S - 7L12') at the head of the title page, indicating the price charged for this copy. Some very light, minor staining and foxing throughout, a few small pinholes to the title page, and one page with a small area of paper loss to the lower right corner, only very minimally affecting the manuscript. G Ferdinando Bertoni (1725-1813) Italian composer and organist who composed 70 operas, all of which fell into oblivion with the exception of Orfeo which was first performed in Venice in 1776. The work was based on the same libretto for the work of Christoph Willibald Gluck entitled Orfeo ed Euridice. The aria Rousseau copied is the most famous of the opera; in the third act, Orfeo mourns the loss of Euridice: 'Che faro senza Euridice'.  In his autobiographical work Confessions (Volume VIII) Rousseau recounted how, in 1751, he ceased working for Dupin de Francueil and started working as a professional music copyist in order to provide a consistent and reliable source of income. In September 1770 he resumed his work as a music copyist and practiced it until 1777, charging ten sols per page. Rousseau's work as a music copyist has been described as remarkable for its beauty and reliability and in his Dictionary of Music Rousseau argued in favour of the superiority of copied music over engraving, observing 'It is of great importance that music should be correctly and neatly copied….the understanding of a difficult piece of music depends greatly on the manner of its being copied…...the most ingenious copier is he whose music is executed with the most ease…..I must primarily suppose that the copier is possessed of all the knowledge necessary to his profession…..As written music, particularly in partition, is made to be read by concertants at a distance, the chief thing to be observed by the copier, is to make use of the convenient materials for rendering his notes most neat and legible. For this reason he should choose strong fair paper….the ink ought to be very black, without either gloss or gum; the ruling neat, equal, and well fixed, but not so black as the notes; on the contrary, the lines should be rather pale, so that the crotchets, double crotchets, pauses, and other smaller signs may not be confounded with them, and that the note may be expressed the fuller. The paleness of the lines, far from preventing the music to be read at a fixed distance, on the contrary, assists it by its neatness, and tho' the line should now and then escape the sight for a moment, the position of the notes very often of itself denotes it. The ruling of the paper is but an useless labour. If the copier would gain himself credit, let him rule his paper himself…..There are several intermediaries between what the composer plans, and what the audience hear. 'Tis the duty of the copier to connect these two terms as near as possible, to mark with precision every thing which should be done, that the music when executed may render to the composer's ear, exactly what was plann'd within his head at the time of the composition'.  

ROSSINI GIOACHINO: (1792-1868) Italian Composer. Rare A.M.Q.S., Gioachino Rossini, one page, oblong folio manuscript paper, Florence, 3rd June 1853. In bold dark fountain pen ink, Rossini has neatly penned a quotation for piano forte comprising ten bars of music across two staves, with small annotations, which he identifies as A[ndanti]no. Signed and dated by the composer immediately beneath the quotation. The document bears a watermark. Some light creasing and minor overall age wear, VG 

HAYDN JOSEPH: (1732-1809) Austrian composer of the Classical period. A bound folio edition of Dr Haydn's VI Original Canzonettas, for the Voice with an Accompaniment for the Piano-Forte, Dedicated to Mrs. John Hunter, the title page further stating 'Printed for the Author, & Sold by him at No.1. Bury Street, St. James's, at Messrs Corri, Dussek & Co., Music Sellers to her Majesty, No. 67 Dean Street, Soho & Bridge Street, Edinburgh', n.d. (c. June 1794). The sheet music comprises The Mermaids Song, Recollection, A Pastoral Song, Despair, Pleasing Pains and Fidelity. Signed ('Haydn', with a paraph) by Haydn in dark ink at the base of the title page. Bound by Kelly of Gower Place in dark red cloth with gilt stamped title to the cover. Rare. Some light foxing and minor overall age wear, about VG Anne Hunter (1742-1821) British poet and salon hostess, wife of the surgeon and anatomist John Hunter. Anne Hunter is chiefly remembered as the author of texts to at least nine of Haydn's fourteen songs in English, including several represented in the present volume. Hunter and her husband entertained the leading Bluestockings at their house. 

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

KABALEVSKY DMITRY: (1904-1987) Soviet Composer. T.L.S., `D. Kabalevsky´, one page, folio, Moscow, 8th December 1964, to P. J. Eckstein of the Prague Union of Composers, in Cyrillic. Kabalevsky states `I apologize for the late reply. This has happened because I did not have the list of compositions. Looking for it, completing the last years and rewriting consumed a considerable time… Hoping to see you when you are in Moscow..´ The document bears an ink registry stamp to the heading, dated 15th December 1964. VG

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

INNOCENT IX: (1519-1591) Pope of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States fin 1591. His papacy lasted only two months, one of the shortest ever. Born Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti. Extremely rare L.S., only three documents signed by him have ever been recorded in private hands, signed `G.A. Car.l S.ti-Quattro´, ("G.[iovanni] A.[ntonio] Car.[dina]l S.[an]ti-Quattro"), Cardinal of the Roman Basilica Santi-Quattre-Coronati,one page, folio, Rome, 24th September 1588, addressed to the Vice-Legate of Bolonia, in Italian. The future Pope Innocent IX tries to appoint the uncle of one of his subordinates, member of the powerful Inquisition, into the "Compagnia de Salaroli", stating in part `Intendo che alli mesi passati Messer Evangelista Salicini, zio di Mons.r Salicini che fatica (sic-lavora assidumente) nel S.t Officio, renuntiò il luogo del numero de gli honorevoli huomini della Compagnia de' Salaroli a Ms Hercole, suo figliolo, il quale hora è passato da questa vita  et desiderando esso Ms Evangelista rihaver in persona sua il detto luogo, che per cento et più anni è stato in diverse persone della sua Casa, ritrova in ciò difficoltà per molte prattiche fatte in servitio d'un fumante, ch'è - siccome mi vien detto - incapace del luogo per i Statuti della Compagnia..´ ("I mean that Messer Evangelista Salicini, uncle of Mons.r Salicini who works assiduously in the S.t Officio, takes the place and number of the honoured man of the Compagnia de 'Salaroli, Mr Hercole, his son, who has now passed away from this life and since he wishes Ms Evangelist to have in his own person the said place…") The letter bears to the verso a paper seal affixed, and alongside a draft manuscript in the hand of Anselmo Dandini which was going to be his response to Innocent IX. According to this draft letter, Dandini was pleasing Innocent IX request. Small overall age wear, otherwise G The present letter is addressed to the Vice-Legat of Bolonia, Anselmo Dandini (1546-1608) Jurist and former Apostolic Nuncio in France. Dandini was replacing Alessandro Damasceni Peretti (1571-1623) a nephew of Pope Sixtus V, and future Cardinal at the early age of 14. Well remembered for his impressive bust done by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Giulio Cesare Salicini (1541-1606) Jurist and member of the Inquisition. Bishop of Rimini from 1591. The Company Salaroli was founded in 1376 and was the original producer, and still is at today´s date, of the worldwide famous Mortadella of Bolonia.

CLEMENT IX: (1600-1669) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1667-69. A rare L.S., `G. Card le Rospigliosi´, one page, folio, 18th August 1666, in Latin. A boldly penned dark ink untranslated letter. Very attractively matted in red cloth, beneath a colour 8 x 10 portrait of Pope Clement IX, framed in gilt wood and glazed to an overall of 15 x 29. Small folding, traces of a former seal to the verso, otherwise about VG  

ALEXANDER VIII: (1610-1691) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1689-91. Last Pope taking this Pontifical name. His Papacy only last 15 months. A good L.S., `Il Card.le Ottoboni´, with a full holograph line above in his hand `Aff.mo per Ser.la sempre di tutto cuore´, one page, folio, Brescia, 23rd March 1664, to Ottavio Labia, in Italian. Cardinal Ottoboni, in his capacity as bishop of Brescia, explains to his correspondent that he is about to travel to Rome, stating in part `Dovendo io fra pochi giorni incamminarmi alla… di Roma´ ("As I have to set out for Rome in a few days..´, and further expressing his esteem and thanking Labia for his favours, saying `… la stima che io porto dil suo merito…´ ("the esteem I have for your merits..") The letter contains to the third page the autograph draft response of Ottavio Labia to Alexander VIII three days later, on 26th March 1664, including multiple corrections. Very small overall creasing, mostly to the right edge, not affecting the signature. G

PAUL VI: (1897-1978) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1963-78. A very fine, attractive and unusual Letter Signed by Paul VI as Pope, `Paulus P P. VI´, two pages, large 10.5 x 15.5 folio, Rome, Saint Peter, 20th December 1965, to Americo Deus Rodrigues Thomaz, in Latin. The Pope congratulates his correspondent on the occasion of his re-election as President of Portugal, stating in part `On August 9th of this year, you were re-elected President of the Republic of Portugal, and you will continue until the year 1972. As we express our gratitude for this announcement, … we pray to the merciful God that the gift that has been conferred on you be of great honour, so that it happily redounds to the good of the Portuguese people. Now as it is written in your letter, it will be the responsibility of your conscience to ensure that public relations between the Portuguese Republic and the Apostolic See remain secure not only now, but also in the future´ Paper with a papal watermark. With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original large 11 x 8 envelope, bearing to the verso a large papal paper seal affixed in excellent condition, stating "Paulus VI - Pont-Max". EXAmerico Tomas (1894-1987) Portuguese Navy officer and Politician who served as President of Portugal for sixteen consecutive years, 1958-74.

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