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MARIA THERESA: (1638-1683) Queen of France as spouse of King Louis XIV. Maria Theresa of Spain was by birth Infanta as daughter of Philip IV of Spain, and Archduchess of Austria. Her marriage to her cousin Louis XIV was made with the purpose of ending the lengthy war between France and Spain. A good L.S., `Marie Terese´, one page, vellum, oblong folio, Versailles, 8th September 1676, to François Duran, Treasurer General of the Royal house, in old French. The document being the approval and receipt `for the sum of thirty six thousand Louis during the year one thousand six hundred and seventy five, used for our menus-plaisirs according to the King´s wish..´ Countersigned at the base by Guillaume de Brisacier. Folded. Overall age wear, with small area of paper loss to the left border and two pinholes, none affecting the text or signatures. G  £400-600     The Menus-Plaisirs were an important part of the King´s House organization of ceremonies, parties, court spectacles and King´s pleasures.Guillaume de Brisacier (?-1676) French secretary to the Queen of France.

LOUIS XV: (1710-1774) King of France 1715-74. Document bearing multiple annotations in the hand of the King, twenty in total, four pages, large folio, n.p., 7th July 1741, in French. The cleanly written document being a list of twenty officers, each one with lengthy explanations including their names, age, military services, rank, health, etc.. and the request submitted to the King. King Louis XV responds alongside each officer´s request to the left border, in bold black ink, annotating his decisions and orders, and stating in part `Bon 1500´, `Quand il se présentera´, `idem´, `Bon pour les invalides´, `Attendre´, `Attendre a l´année prochaine´, `Bon, et 80 de pension´, and few more similar, up to twenty annotations.The officers are divided in four groups, each of them requesting retreat, or the St. Louis award and pension, or a rank upgrade, or the Cross of St. Louis. Folded. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG  £1200-1800     

[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 good D.S., `Louis´, secretarial, one page, large oblong 24 x 19 folio, vellum, Versailles, December 1780, in French. The attractive document being the grant of French nationality to former Polish citizen Joseph Miaczynski. The document reports on the date of birth, place, family members, those living in France, etc… The grant is given as a reward for the good services given by Joseph Miaczynski and by his ancestors to the Kingdom of France. General Miaczynski was sentenced to death and guillotined. With countersignatures to the verso. Folded. With very small overall minor age wear. G £800-1200   Joseph de Miaczynski (1743-1793) Polish General and later French General of the French Revolution. Miaczynski was guillotined, after being implicated in Charles Dumouriez´s coup d´état. Dumouriez (1739-1823) was a French General who deserted the French Revolutionary army and became an intriguer during the reign of Napoleon. He will later advise the British government.

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. Rare D.S., `Louis´, in his hand, a bold good signature example, one page, folio, Paris, 7th February 1792, in French. The attractive partially printed document being a payment order given by the King to his General Treasurer of the Civil List, Sieur Jean-Baptiste Tourteau de Depteuil, related to war expenses, stating in part `Pay to S. Guy, war Commissioner, the sum of four hundred and eighty seven pounds and nine sols, in order to attend the payment of last six months expenses related to the Guard corps of the forest of St. Germain..´ Countersigned at the base by Laporte, who would be guillotined six months later. Folded. Very small overall minor age wear, mostly to edges, with few pinholes, otherwise VG  £1200-1800       Arnaud II de Laporte (1737-1792) French Statesman, Minister of the Marine and Intendant of the King´s Civil List or Royal Household. His father Arnaud I de Laporte served also as Intendant under Louis XV and Louis XVI. Laporte, who conferred on a daily basis with the King, proposed several times a plan to escape in an attempt to save his Sovereign´s life. When the Royal family attempted the Flight to Varennes, Laporte was left behind, entrusted by the King to read his letter to the Constituent Assembly. After the Storming of the Tuileries, Laporte was arrested convicted of treason and guillotined the 23rd of August 1792. His severed head was presented to the King, by then imprisoned in the Temple, as a macabre birthday gift. His services and ultimate sacrifice were recalled after the Restoration by the King's younger brother who had been crowned as Louis XVIII, and his son Arnaud III de La Porte was created a Baron in recognition of all this in 1822. The title remains in the family to this day.

ELISABETH OF BELGIUM: (1876-1965) Also known as Elisabeth of Bavaria. Queen consort of the Belgians 1909-34 as spouse of King Albert. A good and attractive signed music score book, paperback edition, folio, 35 pages, being the Haydn Sonates for violin. Signed to the first page, with her initial `E´, to the upper left corner, in bold red pencil. The musical score book bears to the front cover the guilt title and to the lower right corner the “E”, being one of the childhood private scores of the future Queen. EX  £100-150     

FERDINAND VII: (1784-1833) King of Spain 1808 & 1813-33. D.S., `Yo el Rey´, one page, folio, Palacio del Pardo, Madrid, 12th March 1829, in Spanish. The partially printed document is the appointment of Juan Bautista Luciano Chevret, engineer officer, as first class Knight of the Royal Order, awarding him with the silver cross. Countersigned at the base of the front page by Pedro Diaz. Bearing to the left bottom corner a paper seal affixed. With blank integral leaf. VG £80-120

ISABEL II OF SPAIN: (1830-1904) Queen of Spain 1833-68. L.S., `Yo la Reyna´, one page, oblong folio, Palace of Madrid, 10th January 1865, to Cardinal Teodolfo Mertel, in Spanish. The Queen of Spain responds to her correspondent´s greetings for the new year, wishing that God will concede him the prosperity he deserves and that they are praying for him. A very clean document boldly signed at the base. With blank integral leaf. Folded. VG  £80-100   

ALFONSO XIII OF SPAIN: (1886-1941) King of Spain 1886-1931. An excellent L.S., `Alfonso RH´, one page, folio, Palace of Madrid, 14th October 1912, to the President of the Peru Republic, in Spanish. Alfonso XIII, as King, announces to his correspondent at the same time the sad news of the death of his sister, and the happy birth of his niece Infanta Pilar of Borbon, stating in part `I comply my duty of informing you that my ill-starred sister, Her Royal Highness Infanta of Spain Maria Teresa… gave birth on 15th September..´ A very clean document with a good signature example. EX  £100-150    Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain (1882-1912) second child of Alfonso XII and Maria Christina of Austria, and sister of Alfonso XIII. Maria Teresa died at the very early age of 29, a week after having given birth to her fourth child, Infanta Pilar, as mentioned on the present letter.

JOSEPH II: (1741-1790) Holy Roman Emperor 1765-90, King of the Romans 1764-90 and King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia 1780-90. Joseph II was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor Francis I, and the brother of Marie Antoinette. D.S., Joseph, as Emperor, two pages, folio, Vienna, 31st July 1766, in German. The manuscript document is addressed to Heinrich von Bibra and announces the appointment of Count von Pergen as a minister plenipotentiary and also states 'In his stead, the highborn, faithful Royal Count Leopold von Neipperg who loves Our Graceful Emperor and Our Empire will take the position as Our minister plenipotentiary' and requests that von Bibra grants the new minister 'the same access and attention as his predecessor, if he has something to bring forward from time to time'. Countersigned at the conclusion by two individuals including Franz Georg von Leykam. With the original folio envelope wrappers bearing a large blind embossed paper seal. A few neat slits and a lengthy, neat split to the central vertical fold, none of which affect the text or signatures. About VG  £300-400     Heinrich von Bibra (1711-1788) Heinrich VIII of Fulda. Prince-Bishop of Fulda 1759-88. Johann Anton von Pergen (1725-1814) Austrian Diplomat and Statesman, one of the most influential individuals in the reformist administration of Joseph II.  Count Leopold von Neipperg - Austrian Diplomat who, in 1760, invented a letter copying machine sometimes regarded as the first working typewriter. Father of Adam Albert, Count von Neipperg (1775-1829) Austrian General and Statesman who married Napoleon's widow, Empress Marie-Louise, in 1821.

WILHELM II: (1859-1941) German Emperor & King of Prussia 1888-1918. D.S., Wilhelm R[ex], two pages, folio, Berlin, 18th April 1903, in German. The attractive partially printed document, in German, is a patent given by Wilhelm II in his capacity as King of Prussia, to infantry officer Oberstabsazt Dr. Butterstack. Boldly signed in black ink at the foot by the Kaiser, a very large and good example signature. Also bearing alongside the Emperor´s signature a large and very attractive Hohenzollern coat of arms blind embossed seal. Also bearing a small Royal blind embossed seal to the upper left front. With blank integral leaf. Folded, otherwise EX £150-200     

FRANZ JOSEPH I OF AUSTRIA: (1830-1916) Emperor of Austria & King of Hungary 1848-1916. A good L.S., Franciscus Josephus, one page, large folio, Ischl, 20th July 1906, to Tomas Cuban President Estrada Palma, in Latin. Franz Joseph acknowledges good receipt of his correspondent´s letter and congratulates him, further referring to the friendship between the Cuban Republic and the Austrian Empire which he wishes to reinforce stating `…quod relationes bonas inter Imperium Austro Hungaricum atque Rempublicam Cubanam non solum conservare verum etiam promovere poterit..´ Folded. Small overall minor age wear, staining to edges, with a hole at the base alongside the remnants of a former red wax seal, although repaired to the verso, not affecting the signature. About G  £200-300     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. Tomas Estrada was re-elected in 1905, although resigned in September 1906, two months after the present letter was signed.

LUDWIG II OF BAVARIA: (1845-1886) King of Bavaria 1864-86. Called the Fairy Tale King for his extravagant artistic and architectural projects, he is also remembered as the devoted patron of the composer Richard Wagner. Attractive D.S., Ludwig, a bold and large signature example, one page, folio, 9th November 1872, in German. The partially printed document shows a very attractive heading ''Ludwig II by Grace of God, King of Bavaria'', being a decree appointing councilor Heinrich Petzl. The document bears beneath the Emperor´s signature a large and attractive Imperial paper seal affixed, with embossed coat of arms and title ''Ludovicus II''. Countersigned by the Secretary General of His Majesty. With blank integral leaf. Folded. VG  £500-800      

AUGUSTUS OF SAXE-WEISSENFELS: (1614-1680) Lutheran Administrator of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg 1638-80. A fine ink signature on a good oblong 8vo portion removed from the conclusion of a document, dated 31st May 1652 and bearing a countersignature and two blind embossed paper seals at the foot. With several manuscript lines of text to the verso. Lightly mounted at the left edge to a folio sheet beneath a slightly smaller portion of manuscript text removed from the head of the document. Some very light, minor uniform discoloration, otherwise about VG  £100-150     

WLADYSLAW IV VASA: (1595-1648) King of Poland 1632-48. A renowned Patron of the Arts. Wladyslaw gained fame when he defeated the Ottoman Empire and was elected Tsar of Russia by the Seven Boyars in 1610, although he did not accept the Russian throne. An extremely rare L.S., `Vladislaus Rex´, one page, folio, Royal Palace, 2nd March 1635, to archbishop of Larissa, in Italian. The king of Poland states in part `..I will be pleased that Your Santity instructs the payment of ten thousand florins to Bartholomeo Morichoni, my servant, to attend the supplement of the expenses for the war against the Turks…´ The document bears to the front a large paper seal affixed. With blank address leaf. Overall age wear and staining. Professionally repaired. F to G  £600-900     Nuncio Honorato Visconti (?-1645) Archbishop of Larissa.

JOHN II CASIMIR VASA: (1609-1672) King of Poland 1648-68. Known as Jan Kazimierz. Third and last Monarch from the House of Vasa, he succeeded his brother Wladyslaw IV Vasa to the Polish throne and married his widow. His reign was one of the most disastrous in the history of Poland. In 1668 John II Casimir resigned and went to France, hospitably treated by King Louis XIV, where he resided until his death and without issue. A good L.S., `Bonus frater et aff.nis Joannes Casimirus Rex´, one page, folio, Warsaw, 25th August 1666, to Prince Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, in Latin. The King expresses his happiness having been informed about the increasing support Frederick William is getting for his election and declares his full support and affection for him, also referring to the birth his new son, Prince Louis. With blank address leaf. Remnants of former seal to the address leaf, and small overall age wear, otherwise G £2000-3000     

AUGUSTUS II OF POLAND: (1670-1733) King of Poland 1697-1706 & 1709-1733. Known as "The Strong", and in Saxony as Frederick Augustus I. Augustus amassed an impressive art collection and built lavish baroque palaces in Dresden and Warsaw. L.S., `bonus amicus - Augustus Rex´, three pages, folio, Warsaw, 26th June 1699, to the Republic of Genoa, in Latin. The King refers to the message received from Genoa and forwarded by Baron Bruno de Bruni, related to the good relationship between both governments, and expects that this confidence can still improve, expressing his belief and support to de Bruni and to the Ambassador appointed to the Republic. Bearing a large Royal paper seal affixed, in very fine condition. Folded, with small overall creasing and staining, otherwise G £1000-1500 

FREDERICK AUGUSTUS I: (1750-1827) Elector of Saxony 1763-1806 (as Frederick Augustus III), later King of Saxony 1806-27 and Duke of Warsaw 1807-13. D.S., Friedrich Augustus, as Elector of Saxony, one page, folio, Pillnitz, 2nd July 1791, in German. The manuscript document is addressed to Marshal von Herrengosserstaedt, Colonel of the Engineering Corps, and confirms the promotions of Christian Friedrich Angermann and Egidius Gotthilf Francke to Colonels, instructing Herrengosserstaedt to 'implement the promotions of the two Colonels and to communicate the promotions to the corps entrusted to his command'. Countersigned by von Schiebell and Georg Friedrich von Grossman. With blank integral leaf. A couple of very minor spots of foxing, otherwise about EX  £250-350     

FAROUK OF EGYPT: (1920-1965) King of Egypt and Sudan 1936-52. He succeeded his father Fuad I, and was the penultimate King of Egypt. Farouk´s sister, Princess Fawzia Fuad, was the first wife and consort of the Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlevi. Farouk was overthrown during the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 and forced to abdicate in favour of his son, Ahmed Fuad, who succeeded him as Fuad II, last king of Egypt, deposed only a year after. Farouk died in exile in Italy in 1965. A very attractive L.S., signed by the King in Arabic, one page, folio, Royal Palace of Abdine, Cairo, 25th January 1940, to King George II of Greece, in Arabic. Very attractively penned, with gilt letters, the fine paper bearing to the front two large and different blind embossed seals, and a large watermark being the former Egyptian flag with a moon and three stars and text in Arabic. Farouk announces to King George that his Plenipotentiary Minister and extraordinary envoy to Athens will be replaced and has to return to Egypt. Countersigned by Ali Mayer. With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original large envelope, with gilt letters to the front, bearing a paper seal in very fine condition affixed to the verso. Also accompanied by a full translation into French. VG  £150-200     George II (1890-1947) King of Greece 1922-24 & 1935-47.

CHARLES II: (1630-1685) King of England, Scotland (1649-51) and Ireland 1660-85. A good D.S., Charles R, (fine example) as King, at the head, one page, folio, Court at Whitehall, 13th June 1672. The manuscript document is addressed to the Attorney General and is a warrant for John Richards to be one of the Clerks of the Privy Seal 'next & immediately after the determination of Our Grants now in being to Hartgill Baron, Sr. Charles Bickerstaffe Knt., John Mathews & Thomas Watkins, Clerks of Our Privy Seale in possession , or any one of them, & ye same to execute by himself or his Sufficient Deputy, for & during his naturall life together with all offices, wages, Diets, profits & Priviledges to the said Offices or either of them, belonging or any wise appertaining, in as full & ample manner, to all intents & purposes, as the now Clerks of Our Privy Seale hold & enjoy…..' . Countersigned at the foot by Henry Bennet (1618-1685) 1st Earl of Arlington, English Statesman, Secretary of State for the Southern Department 1662-74. With blank integral leaf. Some very light age wear and minor dust staining at the folds, otherwise VG  £1000-1500     

GEORGE I: (1660-1727) King of Great Britain and Ireland 1714-27. L.S., Georgius R, with holograph subscription ('….the Good Brother, Cousin and Friend of Your Highness'), two pages, folio, Palace of St. James, 16th February 1721/22, to Prince Leopold, Duke of Lorraine, in Latin and French. The King sends his greetings to his correspondent and continues to announce the death of the dowager Duchess of Brunswick, in part, '….the very close friendship with flourishes between us and Your Highness has required this from us, since we have been accustomed to grieve or to rejoice for almost the same things; we have thought it fair to inform you of the death of the most Serene and most High Princess Eleanor, dowager Duchess of Brunswick and Luneburg, the widow of Our uncle of blessed memory, George William, Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg; she died at Celle on the fifth day of the present month. She has extended her life, which seemed overly long to her but all too short to her relatives, through the memory of her good works, and with her years not more full than all the accumulated praise of her piety and virtue, she has left to us a most grievous regret for her. Since for this sorrow which due to this sad event we justly bear no other comfort may be found save from its communication between our most friendly allies, we do not doubt but that you will excel in this office, you who have shared with us both our joy and our sorrow…..' Countersigned at the foot by John Carteret (1690-1763) 2nd Earl Granville. British Prime Minister for four days in February 1746 and at the time of the present letter Secretary of State for the Northern Department, 5th - 21st February 1721. With integral address leaf bearing the remnants of a blind embossed paper seal. Some light overall age wear and some minor ink bleeding to the King's signature and subscription, causing some light staining to the recto. About VG  £300-400      Leopold (1679-1729) Duke of Lorraine and Bar, the ancestor of all rulers of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty, including all Emperors of Austria. Eleonore Desmier d'Olbreuse (1639-1722) Duchess Consort of Saxe-Lauenburg, Princess Consort of Brunswick-Celle. Wife of George William, Duke of Lauenburg and Prince of Celle and mother of Sophia Dorothea of Celle, the wife of King George I.  Eleonore Desmier d'Olbreuse died on 5th February 1722, almost blind, at Celle Castle. Her will mentioned over 340 individuals.

GEORGE II: (1683-1760) King of Great Britain and Ireland 1727-60. L.S., George R, as King, with holograph subscription ('Your Cousin and Friend'), two pages, folio, dictated at Hampton Court Palace ('our Empire inside the other Empire'), 20th August 1728, to an unidentified Prince, in German. The King informs his correspondent that yesterday 'we received the sad letter which has informed us that our kind and beloved uncle the most serene and honourable Prince Ernst August, Duke of York and Albany, of Brunswick and Luneburg, Prince-Bishop of Osnabruck passed away after eight days of illness at his residence in Osnabruck on 14th August' and continues to remark 'This unexpected death takes us to the heart, and we are sure that you sympathise and mourn with us and our House. I would therefore like to express my sympathy to you'. With the upper half of the blank integral leaf featuring a black wax seal. An annotation at the head of the first page indicates that the letter was received at Marienburg on 14th September 1728. Some light age wear and a tear to the left margin, professionally repaired and only very slightly affecting a few words of text, but not the signature. About VG  £400-600      Ernest Augustus (1674-1728) Duke of York and Albany, the younger brother of King George I. The Duke served as a soldier with some distinction under Emperor Leopold I during the Nine Years' War and the War of Spanish Succession. He died at Osnabruck on 14th August 1728 where, a year earlier, his brother King George I had also died.

GEORGE III: (1738-1820) King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820. D.S., Bonus Frater Consanguineus et Amicus, Georgius R, as King, one page, folio, Saint James, 26th May 1781, to King Ferdinand of Sicily, in Latin. The King refers to the last letter `..received through the plenipotentiary and extraordinary Ambassador to Court, Count Michael Pignatelli´, acknowledging the change of Ambassador, the renew of relationships and mentioning the good and satisfactory work achieved. Countersigned at the foot by Hillsborough. With integral address leaf bearing a paper seal affixed. VG £500-800       Ferdinand I (1751-1825) King of the Two Sicilies 1816-25, after his restoration following victory in the Napoleonic Wars. Before that he had been, since 1759 Ferdinand III of the Kingdom of Sicily and Ferdinand IV of Naples. Wills Hill (1718-1793) 1st Marquess of Downshire, also known as Viscount and Earl of Hillsborough 1751-89. British Politician, Secretary of State for the Colonies 1768-72 

GEORGE III: (1738-1820) King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820. D.S., George R. (a 'mad' example), as King, at the head, three pages, folio, Court at Saint James's, 26th March 1808. The manuscript document is a License relating to John Tulloch and states, in part, 'To all commanders of Our Ships of War and Privateers…..Greeting, whereas John Tulloch of London on behalf of sundry Commanders of Vessels navigating under Kniphausen, Papenburg, Hamburg, Luber, Bremen and Oldenburg Flags, Prays Our Royal Licence for permitting six vessels navigating under the said Flags (or the Flags of any neutral Power which may retain its Sovereignty and which they may assume in case their own meets with Impediments or Restrictions in Ports they may lie in or be declared extinct by any of the Belligerent Powers in consequence of the Territory the ships belong to, being annexed to any of those States) to be employed for the space of six months in trading between the Ports of Our United Kingdom and Ports from which British vessels are excluded (with liberty to touch at a Swedish or Norwegian Port out and home) with such Goods as are allowed by Our order….We….are graciously pleased to direct the Commanders of all Our Ships of War and Privateers not to interrupt the said Vessels Trading….' Countersigned ('Hawkesbury') at the conclusion by Robert Jenkinson (1770-1828) 2nd Earl of Liverpool, British Prime Minister 1812-27, Home Secretary 1804-06, 1807-09. With two certificates at the conclusion, the first signed by John Tulloch in London on 7th April 1808 and stating, in part, 'This is to certify that the Kniphausen Vessel Anna Rebecca…..now lying at Lynn & bound on a Voyage to the Baltick is one of the Vessels not named in this Licence intended to take the benefit thereof' and the second signed by Joseph James on 21st May 1808, certifying that the vessel Anna Rebecca is under convoy of His Britannic Majesty's sloop Kite. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. Some light overall age wear and creasing and a few small holes and neat splits at the edges of the folds, only very slightly affecting a few words of text but not the signatures, G  £400-500     

GEORGE III: (1738-1820) King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820. A fine D.S., George R, (a large "mad time" bold ink signature) as King, at the head, two pages, folio, Court at St. James's, 18th February 1805, to Alexander Forbes. The letter bears an attractive blind embossed paper seal affixed to the front left border, a King´s seal in Latin, also including the text "Honi soit qui mal y pense". Bearing also to the front page a second Royal blind embossed seal. The manuscript document being the King´s appointment of Alexander Forbes stating `..appoint you to be Lieutenant Governor of the District of Gaspé, and Inspector of the Trade and Fisheries upon the Coast of Labrador in our Province of Lower Canada..´. Countersigned at the conclusion by Camden in his capacity as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. With blank integral leaf, with a registry annotation to the verso. Folded, with small overall creasing, otherwise G to VG  £250-350      John Jeffreys Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden (1759-1840) Known as The Earl Camden 1794-1812. British Politician who served as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1804-05.

GEORGE IV: (1762-1830) King of the United Kingdom 1820-30. A very fine D.S., George R, as King, at the head, two pages, folio, Court at Carlton House, 6th December 1823. The manuscript document is addressed to the Earl of Eldon and is a warrant for the affixing of the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to the Ratification of a Convention between King George IV and the Emperor of Austria 'for the definitive settlement of the Austrian Loan, concluded and signed at Vienna, on the Seventeenth day of November [1823]'. Countersigned at the conclusion by George Canning (1770-1827) British Prime Minister April - August 1827 and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1807-09, 1822-27. With a manuscript copy of the Convention annexed to the document, six pages, folio, in English and French, comprising five articles negotiated between Robert Gordon and Klemens von Metternich in which the Emperor of Austria agrees to repay the sum of 'Two Millions Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling in satisfaction of the whole of the British Claims'. Neatly tied with a blue ribbon and with a blind embossed paper seal affixed. VG  £250-350     

GEORGE V: (1865-1936) King of the United Kingdom 1910-1936. D.S., George R. I., as King, at the head, one page, oblong folio, Court at Saint James's, 21st August 1931. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is a military commission appointing Robert John Cunliffe Cave to be a Second Lieutenant in the Land Forces (The Royal Scots Fusiliers). Countersigned at the foot by Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd (1871-1947) British Field Marshal, Chief of the Imperial General Staff 1933-36 and Herbert Creedy (1878-1973) British Civil Servant, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War 1920-39. With a blind embossed pale blue paper seal affixed. Some heavy creasing at the folds and some light age wear, otherwise about VG  £100-150     

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  £2500-3500     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 II OF RUSSIA: (1868-1918) Emperor of Russia 1894-1917. Assassinated. A good D.S., Nicholas, in Cyrillic, two pages, folio, Tsarkoe Selo, 22nd November 1904, in Cyrillic. The partially printed document is a decree addressed to the Chapter of Russian Imperial and Royal Orders bestowing three imperial orders, including the Imperial Order of Saint Anna, second class, with swords, in favour of Lieutenant-Colonel, General of Staff and Pacific Ocean Fleet Commander-in-Chief Nikolai Aycard, for his dedicated service in Port Arthur. Two further Orders of Saint Anna and Saint Vladimir are granted to officers Voskresensky and Klado for their tactical plans achievements and war time efforts. Nicholas II orders the Chapter to issue in favour of the awarded officers the knights insignias and credentials. Countersigned by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich `Aleksei´, in Cyrillic, Commander-in-Chief and General Admiral of the Navy. Extremelly small areas of paper loss to the right edge, as a result of detaching, but not affecting the text or signatures. About VG  £1200-1800     Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia (1850-1908) son of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and Marie of Hesse. General-Admiral of the Russian Navy from 1883 until 1905. Well-remembered for his visit to U.S and for his buffalo hunts, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich was the favourite uncle of Nicholas II. He was relieved of his command in 1905, six months after signing the present decree, after the Russian defeat in the Battle of Tsushima. He retired and lived in Paris until his death three years later.

STADION JOHANN KASPAR VON: (1567-1641) Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights 1627-41 and President of the Privy Council of Emperor Ferdinand II. Ink signature ('Jo: Caspar') on a slim oblong 8vo piece evidently neatly removed from the conclusion of a document and with two lines of manuscript text, 4th July 1631. Lightly mounted at the left edge to a folio sheet beneath a similar piece neatly removed from the head of the document. About VG  £100-120     

LA FAYETTE GILBERT DU MOTIER: (1757-1834) Marquis de La Fayette. French Aristocrat and Military Officer. Close to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, La Fayette fought in the American Revolutionary War. He later became a key figure in the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830. Two documents signed by La Fayette. The first being a rare A.L.S., Lafayette, one page, 4to, Paris, 21st August 1830, to Monsieur Lascours, in French. Lafayette states in part `I have met your compatriots my dear Lascours, and I joined them… the necessity of finding weapons for our National Guard. We take care of the definitive organization and we wish to progress quick...´ The National Guard had been dissolve in 1827, but would be re-established in 1830 under La Fayette. With blank address leaf, bearing an ink stamp and a small area of paper loss as a result of the letter opening. Overall creasing. Together with a L.S., addressed to the Minister, Secretary of State for Finances, bearing three Autograph Annotations signed to the left border, including General Lascours and Gilbert du Mortier La Fayette, one page, folio, Paris, 24th November 1830, in French. La Fayette, on a two lines annotation states `I eagerly support my colleague.. La Fayette´ With blank integral leaf. Folded. VG, 2  £500-800      Fortuné Reynaud de Bologne de Lascours (1786-1850) French Politician and Officer.

TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD CHARLES MAURICE DE: (1754-1838) French Diplomat and Statesman. Prime Minister of France July-September 1815. An excellent and historic content L.S., `ch. Mau. Talleyrand´, two pages, folio, Paris, 27th July 1802, on the printed heading letter of the foreign affairs ministry, bearing an attractive vignette, to the French Plenipotentiary Minister of the French Republic to London, Otto, in French. Talleyrand states in part `Citizen, the extraordinary circumstances which have been reminded to us by the Helvetian Government, obliged the French Government to keep troops corps in Switzerland. The situation of the country allowing at today´s date to bring them back, the First Consul has immediately ordered the full evacuation of the French tropps from Helvetia which will take place during the present month.´ further saying `On the other hand, the troops which occupied Otrante and Bari, according to the Treaty of Florence, have also been evacuated and not a single French soldier remains in the Kingdom of Naples. Ancona has been returned under the Pope´s care.´ Talleyrand further explains Napoleon´s intentions and the Republic respect to independent states, saying `This willingness of the French Government calling back their troops abroad, due to war and treaties, prove the respect given to the states independence… The First Consul intention is that you forward such behaviour in your communications to the Minister of the country where you reside. And show to Europe the true opinion they should have about our government´s moderation, despite some declamations expressed by excited writers, ennemies of peace and who slander referring to the Republic´s government.´ With blank integral leaf. Folded. VG £2000-3000 The present letter was written only few months after the peace Treaty of Amiens, signed between France and the United Kingdom, ending the hostilities during the French Revolutionary wars. The peace lasted only one year and was the only period of peace in Europe between 1793 and 1814. Under the treaty, Britain recognised the French Republic.M. Otto wrote in late July 1802 to Lord Hawkesbury and following Talleyrand´s recommendations contained in the present letter, stated in part `My Lord, I transmited some time ago to Mr. Hammond a number of Peltier containing the most gross calumnies against the French Government and against the whole nation; and I observed that I should probably receive an order to demand the punishment of such an abuse of the press. That order is actually arrived, and I cannot conceal from you, my lord, that the reiterated insults of a small number of foreigners, assembled in London, to conspire against the French government, produce the most unfavourable effects on the good understanding between the two nations. Even though the first article of the treaty of Amiens had not provided for the maintenance of that respect which two independent nations owe to each other, the general maxims of the law of nations would formally condemn so revolting an abuse of the liberty of press..´ Lord Hawkesbury responded few days later, stating in part `Sir,I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter on the subject of the last number of Peltier. It is impossible that His Majesty´s government could peruse the article in question, without the greatest displeasure, and without an anxious desire that the person who published it should suffer the punishment he so justly deserves. The calumnies, however, to which his Majesty´s government, and many of the best subjects in this country are frequently exposed in public prints…´Louis-Guillaume Otto (1754-1817) Count of Mosloy. French Diplomat who occupied very important posts in London and Vienna during the Revolutionary wars.Lord Hawkesbury (1729-1808) Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool, British stateman and father of Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson.Jean-Gabriel Peltier (1760-1825) French anti-revolutionary Journalist.

RUTOWSKY FREDERICK AUGUSTUS: (1702-1764) Count Rutowsky. Polish-Saxon Field Marshal. Count Rutowsky was the illegitimate son of August II, King of Poland, by the Turk Fatima who was captured during the Battle of Buda, becoming the King´s mistress.  A good L.S., `Rutowski´, two pages, folio, 17th March 1750, in German. Rutowsky, in his capacity as recently appointed Field Marshal, sends a military recommendation. Countersigned at the base by Lieutenant General Furstenhoff. With blank integral leaf. Folded, with very small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG  £120-180      

CEAUSESCU NICOLAE: (1918-1989) President of Romania 1974-89. Executed. & ELENA CEAUSESCU (1919-1989) Wife of the President. L.S., `N. Ceausescu´ and `Elena Ceausescu´, one page, large folio, folded, n.p, 12th November 1987, in Romanian, untranslated. Boldly signed by Ceausescu and his spouse Elena in black ink. EX  

ALCALA-ZAMORA NICETO: (1877-1949) Spanish Lawyer & Politician. Leader of the Republican revolutionary committee who, after serving as Minister under King Alfonso XIII, pushed the King to leave Spain and go into exile in 1931. Alcala-Zamora served as the first Prime-Minister of the provisional government of the Second Spanish Republic, and its President 1931-36. A good L.S., Niceto Alcala Zamora, signed twice, two pages, folio, thick brown paper, Madrid, National Palace, 15th February 1935, to Cuban President Carlos Mendieta, in Spanish. The document bears at the heading “Niceto Alcala Zamora y Torres, President of the Spanish Republic”, and is the acknowledgement of the Spanish provisional Republican Government of the newly appointed Cuban Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Minister Carlos Manuel Céspedes y Quesada. Countersigned by Minister of State Juan Jose Rocha. With Binder holes to the left border. G  £80-120      Carlos Mendieta y Montefur (1873-1960) Cuban Provisional President of Cuba 1934-35. Appointed after a coup led by Fulgencio Batista.Carlos Manuel Cespedes y Quesada (1871-1939) President of Cuba 1933.Juan Jose Rocha Garcia (1877-1938) Spanish Lawyer and Politician. State Minister 1935-35.

FOOTBALL: An oblong 8vo sheet of stationery individually signed to the verso by nine footballers, all of whom played in the English football league, comprising Bobby Moore (Captain of England's World Cup winning team of 1966), Dave Mackay (a member of Tottenham Hotspur's Double-winning side of 1961), Pat Jennings (FA Cup winner with both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal), Alan Mullery (FA Cup winner with Tottenham Hotspur in 1967 and the first ever England player to be sent off in an international match), Cliff Jones (a member of Tottenham Hotspur's Double-winning side of 1961), Cyril Knowles (FA Cup winner with Tottenham Hotspur in 1967), Peter Bonetti (a member of England's World Cup winning squad of 1966), Trevor Brooking (FA Cup winner with West Ham United in 1975 & 1980, scoring the only goal in the latter final) and Terry Mancini. All have signed in blue inks and two further unidentified signatures appear in the upper left corner. The printed verso of the sheet gives partial details of a seating plan for a Dinner and Boxing evening organised by the World Sporting Club in London on 12th January 1976. Accompanied by a further unsigned slim folio printed sheet with further details of the seating plan for the same event, indicating that a number of the signatories were seated on the top table. A small staple hole to the upper edge, only very slightly affecting one of the unidentified signatures, otherwise VG  £100-150    

NEWCASTLE & NORTH: NEWCASTLE DUKE OF: (1693-1768) British Prime Minister 1754-56, 1757-62 & NORTH LORD: (1732-1792) British Prime Minister 1770-82. North led Great Britain through most of the American War of Independence. A good D.S. by both the Duke of Newcastle ('Holles Newcastle') and Lord North ('North') individually, one page, folio, Whitehall Treasury Chambers, 29th June 1759. The manuscript document is addressed to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs in Scotland and approves the application of John Taylor, a Landwaiter and Searcher at Port Glasgow, to be absent from his duty for three months, also directing 'that no deduction shall be made from the salary of the said John Taylor on account of his absence during that time provided you have no objection thereto'. Also countersigned at the foot by Robert Nugent (1709-1788) 1st Earl Nugent. Irish Politician & Poet, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury 1754-59. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a small tear at the centre, neatly repaired to the verso and not affecting any of the signatures. About VG  £250-350     

BRITISH PRIME MINISTERS: A very fine, rare D.S., R Walpole, by Robert Walpole (1676-1745, British Prime Minister 1721-42), one page, folio, Palace at Whitehall, 22nd July 1740. The manuscript document is addressed to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury and is a warrant ordering the payment of two thousand one hundred and ten pounds eleven shillings and six pence to be made to Thomas Lowther without account, 'that is to say, the sum of Two thousand pounds to reimburse the like sum by him Expended to answer a Bill of Exchange drawn from abroad for his Majesty's Service, and the remaining sum…..is to defray the Fees and Charges attending the Receipt thereof…..'. Countersigned at the foot by William Clayton (1671-1752, 1st Baron Sundon, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury) and Thomas Winnington (1696-1746, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury) and further countersigned at the head by eight Lord Justices comprising Spencer Compton (c.1673-1743, 1st Earl of Wilmington, British Prime Minister 1742-43), Thomas Pelham Holles (1693-1768, 1st Duke of Newcastle, British Prime Minister 1757-62), John Potter (c.1674-1747, Archbishop of Canterbury 1737-47), Philip Yorke (1690-1764, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, English Lawyer & Politician, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain 1737-56), Lionel Sackville (1688-1765, 1st Earl of Dorset, English Political Leader, Lord Steward 1725-30, 1737-44), Charles Lennox (1701-1750, 2nd Duke of Richmond, 2nd Duke of Lennox, 2nd Duke of Aubigny, British Nobleman, Peer & Politician, Master of the Horse 1735-50, remembered for his patronage of cricket), Charles Powlett (1685-1754, 3rd Duke of Bolton, British Politician & Lieutenant General) and John Montagu (1690-1749, 2nd Duke of Montagu, British Peer, Master of the Great Wardrobe 1709-49). With blank integral leaf. Documents from this period featuring the signatures of three British Prime Ministers are rare and desirable. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a few small, neat splits at the edges of some folds, otherwise VG  £800-1000     Sir Thomas Lowther (1699-1745) English Peer and Landowner.

RADEK KARL: (1885-1939) Marxist Activist and international Communist leader. In 1917 Radek was one of the passengers on the sealed train that carried Lenin and other Russian revolutionaries through Germany after the February Revolution in Russia. Appointed Vice-Commissar for Foreign Affairs, he took part in the Brest-Litovsk treaty, and planned the distribution of Bolshevik propaganda amongst German troops and prisoners of war. Radek was accused of treason during the 1930s purges and sentenced to 10 years. He was killed in the labor camp. Rare T.L.S., Radek, with holograph annotation referring to the address in his hand, one page, folio, n.p., 14th July, n.y., to Guilbeaux, in German. Radek states in part `Dear Comrade Guilbeaux, we will send you 300 francs, including 200 francs for you, for the Pravda articles and bulletin work…From now on we will underline the articles we want you to translate for the French edition..´ further saying `.. What is important is to have them in French. To be distributed among all socialist French press, without distinction…´ Before concluding Radek states `..and if the means we have assigned were insufficient, we still have more funds for this purpose..´ Folded. With one small stain not affecting the signature. G  £3000-4000      Henri Guilbeaux (1885-1938) French Politician. A prominent figure against World War I. He published the magazine Demain ("Tomorrow") that became a point of reference for all who were against the war, including articles by Lenin, Trotsky, etc... Because of his political credo he was judged by default in France and sentenced to death but could escape to Russia with the help of Lenin where he became an active communist member of the Comintern, supporter of Trotsky.

`..against any other person having participated in the publication under my name of the book “La Vie de Lenine”, which I have never written..´  TROTSKY LEON: (1879-1940) Lev Davidovich Bronstein. Russian Marxist Revolutionary, founder and first leader of the Red Army. Unusual T.L.S., `Leon Sedoff Trotsky´, signed twice, one page, folio, Istanbul, 15th November 1932, in French. The document being a power of attorney, given by Trotsky in Istanbul, in favour of Juan Andrade, a Spanish lawyer established in Madrid. The typed document bears to the upper right corner a small photograph of Trotsky in a head and shoulders pose, partially stamped with a Turkish notary office ink stamp. The power of attorney states in part `I, Leon Trotsky, fully authorize Mr. Juan Andrade…to proceed on my behalf with a legal claim in court against the company Dedalo, editors of Estampa, and against any other person having participated in the publication under my name of the book "La Vie de Lenine" ("Lenin´s life"), which I have never written, and which makes mine some thoughts and considerations which are diametrically opposite to mine..´ Signed twice in bold blue ink by Trotsky over few notarial Turkish post-stamps. Alongside and beneath his signatures, the Turkish Notary states `Leon Trotsky, residing at 9 Hamladji Prencipo street, Istanbul, Turkey. I, Mehmet Selahaddin bey, first Notary at Pera, … I certify the authenticity of the signature of Monsieur Léon Trotsky, known by us, signing in my presence..´ Signed at the base by the Turkish Notary, alongside several ink stamps and notarial post-stamps. To the verso the document bears several ink stamps, official post-tamps, and registration annotations, some corresponding to the Spanish consulate at Istanbul, signed by the consul, or to the Ministry of the Spanish Republic. G  £1200-1800      Trotsky was deported from the Soviet Union to his exile in Turkey in 1929. During his first few months he lived at the Soviet Union Consulate in Istanbul, and later moved to the island of Buyukada, aka Prinkipo, Yanaros mansion, where he and his wife lived until July 1933. During his exile in Turkey, Trotsky was under the surveillance of the Turkish police forces of Mustafa Kemal Pasha.

[STALIN MILITARY AWARD]: An attractive and colourful Russian military award, one page, folio, n.p., 2nd May 1945, to "Tovarish Red Army Soldier Pidkopalo Grigory Ivanovich", in Cyrillic. The partially printed award is entitled "Great Patriotic War" and bears an image of Stalin in a head and shoulders pose, wearing his uniform and medals, and stating `By order of the Supreme Commander-in-chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union tovarish Stalin, For excellent military actions during the defeat of the Berlin group of German troops and for taking the capital of Germany, the city of Berlin - the centre of German imperialism and the seat ground of German aggression, we award a recommendation… including you who took part in the battle.´ Signed at the base by Commander of the Guard Military Unit Lieutenant-General of Aviation Nestertsev. The title award shows a large printed drawing, being airplanes bombing the city of Berlin. VG  £200-300

CASTRO FIDEL: (1926-2016) Cuban Prime Minister 1959-76, later President 1976-2008. A good three times signed T.L.S., Fidel Castro at the conclusion,also signed with his initials `F. C´ to first and second page borders, three pages, to three sheets, folio, La Habana, 25th September 1959, in Spanish. The document bears to the heading a blind embossed monogram above the printed text “Republic of Cuba - Executive Power”, and is a decree, number 2064, being the approval of a pension in favour of Antonio Marcelino Cué Acosta. The document reports on his services and rights and the amount of his pension. Also signed in full at the conclusion and with their initials to first and second page by Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado (1919-1983) and by Cuban Minister of Communications. Bearing at the conclusion alongside their signatures three attractive blind embossed seals, one of Presidency, the second of the Prime Minister office and the communications Ministry one. With small staple to the upper left corner. VG  £500-800    Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado (1919-1983) Cuban Politician who served as the President of Cuba 1959-76

`Whereas, the Wife has claimed that the Waiver was and is invalid… by reason of her status as surviving spouse to share in the Father´s Estate…´  KENNEDY JACQUELINE & ONASSIS CHRISTINA: Jacqueline Kennedy (1929-1994) Wife of American President John F. Kennedy, First Lady 1961-63; & Christina Onassis (1950-1988) American-born Greek heiress to the Aristotle Onassis fortune as his only daughter with Tina Onassis Niarchos. Very rare and exceptionally interesting Typed Contract Signed, `read and approved Jacqueline Bouvier Onassis´ individually and as Guardian of her children, and  `Read and Approved Christina Onassis´ individually and as Personal Representative of her Father´s Estate, twenty-three pages, folio, London, 7th May 1975. The document being the original Agreement of Family Compromise and Settlement between Christina Onassis (herein called the "Daughter"), and Jacqueline Bouvier Onassis (herein called the "Wife"). The very interesting contract content, in its preliminary part, states in part `Whereas, the Daughter is the sole surviving issue of the late Aristotle S. Onassis…Whereas, the Wife is the surviving spouse of the Father, having been married to him on October 10th 1968 on the Island of Skorpios, Greece… Whereas, on November 25th 1972 in New York, the Father and the Wife each executed and delivered a Mutual Waiver and Release…(copy attached).. Whereas the Father died on March 15th 1975… Whereas, the Wife has claimed that the Waiver was and is invalid… by reason of her status as surviving spouse to share in the Father´s Estate…and the Daughter…has disputed all such claims made by the Wife.. Whereas the Wife and the Daughter each desires…a legally valid and binding compromise, settlement…and discharge for all time under the present and future laws of every jurisdiction throughout the world of any and all claim, right, title…past, present or future..´ Further listing the thirteen agreements clauses, stating in part `..2) Payment to Wife. .. by way of compromise and settlement and on a lump sum (forfaitaire) basis, the Daughter, individually and as the Personal Representative of the Father´s Estate to the Wife in London, England, the sum of $20,500,000 (U.S.) by banker´s draft, issued by a non-United States bank and payable in London…3) Obligations of Wife…4) Children of the Wife. During the marriage of the Wife and the Father, the Wife´s two children by her prior marriage, John Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy, resided with the wife. The Wife, as Guardian of said children, hereby acknowledges on behalf of her children that the Father at no time had any obligation for the support of her children, but that he nevertheless contributed to their support, maintenance and welfare during the marriage…´ Also signed by four witnesses at the conclusion, each party chosen two, and to the front page by the English Notary Public James Malcolm Waugh. Bearing to the front a red notarial seal affixed with bounded green ribbon. A historical document with extremely interesting legal content. EX  £12000-18000     Christina Onassis, diagnosed with clinical depression, died at the early age of 37. She was found in her bathtub in Buenos Aires. She had lost her entire immediate family in a three years period, her brother, Alexander, died in a plane crash in 1973 at the age of 24, her mother Tina died of a suspected drug overdose in 1974, and her father Aristotle died in March 1975.

ABDELKADER IBN MUHIEDDINE: (1808-1883) Algerian Religious and Military Leader "Sharif". Abdelkader led the struggle against the French colonial invasion. L.S., `Abd el kader bin Mohi eddine´, above his personal ink seal, one page, folio, Paris, 12th Rabii II of year 1282 of the Hegira, (4th September 1865), to Monsieur Lapaine, in Arabic and alongside the translation into French. Abdelkader sends his best wishes to his correspondent, blessing him, and stating in part `..we specially recommend you the bearer of the present friendly letter Kaddour bin Mohi ed din who we consider as our son and the dearest person.. Give him your support and influence according to your generosity.. God bless you and increase your dignity.´ With blank integral leaf. Folded, otherwise VG £600-900     

AL-ASSAD HAFEZ: (1930-2000) Prime Minister of Syria 1970-71 & President 1971-2000. Father of Bashar al-Assad, the current President of Syria. Rare A.L.S., Hafez al-Assad, in Arabic, one page, large folio, n.p, 28th April 1982. Al-Assad, in his capacity as President of the Arab Republic of Syria, states in part `..we can read the modern and glorious History of a friend country…progressing and with prosperity.´, in Arabic. Boldly signed in blue ink. A very attractive and cleanly written document EX  £300-400     

GADDAFI MUAMMAR: (1942-2011) Leader of the Libyan Arab Republic 1969-77 and ˜Brother Leader'' of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1977-2011. Assassinated. A good A.N.S., by Gaddafi, in Arabic, one page, folio, dated 6th September 1989 in his hand, untranslated. A bold green ink annotation, in large letters across the page. EX  £600-900    

SUN YAT-SEN: (1866-1925) Chinese Revolutionary & Political Leader, the founding father of Republican China. An extremely rare D.S., in Chinese characters, one page, large oblong folio (20 x 17), 15th October 1917, in Chinese. The attractive and colourful document being the appointment of Sun Guang Ming, as a member of the fund raising committee in Hong Kong. Signed by Sun Yat-sen in his capacity as Grand Admiral of the Navy armed forces. Also bearing to the recto the red ink seal of the Grand Admiral to the left border. Sun Wen seal alongside the Grand Admiral seal. Documents signed by Sun Yat-sen in Chinese are of extraordinary rarity and seldom appear at auction. Some minor age wear and staining, otherwise G £30000-£40000 American Book Prices Current only record five letters, and no documents, signed by Sun Yat-sen as having appeared at auction since 1976.  

BRISSOT JACQUES PIERRE: (1754-1793) Also known as ''De Warville'', French leading figure of the Girondins. Brissot was guillotined aged 39, after having conducted his own defence and responded point by point the absurdities of the charges against him. An excellent D.S., `J.P. Brissot´, two pages, folio, Paris, 24th September 1792, in French. The document bears the printed heading ''Decree of the National Convention - First year of the French Republic'', and states in part `.. the commissars appointed to the Pyrenean departments, in order to grant the defence and order are authorized to suspend General Staff Officers, or any other officer whether civil or military if they judge the replacement necessary… and to order the arrest of the persons they will consider suspicious..´ Also signed at the base by Camus and by Pétion alongside Brissot´s signature, and bearing a National Convention paper seal affixed. With blank integral leaf. Folded, with very small age wear, otherwise VG  £800-1200       Brissot and the Girondins supported the idea of keeping King Louis XVI under arrest instead of executing him, both as a hostage and as a bargaining chip. Brissot believed that once Louis XVI was executed all of France's foreign negotiating power would be lost. His early works on legislation, his pamphlets, speeches in the Legislative Assembly and the Convention, demonstrated dedication to the principles of the French Revolution. Brissot's own idea of a fair, democratic society, with universal suffrage, living in moral as well as political freedom, foreshadowed many modern liberationist ideologies. Armand-Gaston Camus (1740-1804) French Revolutionist. Camus obtained the abolition of titles of nobility in 1791. Member of the National Convention, he wrote in January 1793 that he voted ''Death without appeal''. Camus was captured and kept in captivity by the Austrians for 39 months, and was exchanged for Marie Therese of France in November 1795. Camus remained republican and refused to take part in the Napoleonic regime. Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve (1756- 18?) French Writer and Politician. Mayor of Paris 1791-92. On 4th August 1792, only a month before the present letter was signed, Pétion demanded the deposition of the King.

SAINT-JUST LOUIS ANTOINE DE: (1767-1794) Also known as the `Angel of Death´ during the Reign of Terror. French military and political major Leader during the French Revolution. The youngest of the deputies elected to the National Convention in 1792. He leaded the movement to execute King Louis XVI and later drafted the radical French Constitution in 1793. A close friend of Robespierre. Saint-Just was executed at the very early age of 26, together with Robespierre, and their death at the guillotine is widely considered as the end of the Reign of Terror. An excellent and attractive D.S., Saint-Just, one page, folio, Paris, 4th September 1792, in French. The partially printed document bears a printed heading laureate vignette of the "National Convention - French Republic - 1792", being a record minute of the National Convention stating in part `Mr. Guiraule, member of the Commune, informs the assembly that he has in extremis saved the life of Abbot Siccard, pupil of Abbot de l´Epée, defending him from the people….The National Assembly congratulates Mr. Guiraule for his loyalty and decreed the honorable mention…´ With two additional signatures at the base. The document bears to the left bottom corner a paper seal of the National Convention affixed. Overall light foxing stains and very small age wear. G  £1000-1500

WESTERMANN FRANÇOIS JOSEPH: (1751-1794) French General of the Revolutionary Wars, a distinguished and courageous officer in the Vendée war, and a leading figure of the French Revolution. As a friend and partisan of Georges Danton, he was proscribed and guillotined. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `Le General de Brigade Westermann´, one page, folio, Paris, 26th July 1793, to the Representatives of the Sureté Generale Committee, in French. Westermann states `It has been ordered that all horses will be confiscated in Paris. I came here with 3 horses. The Friends of Homeland Section has taken my 3 horses, and have declared that they will not return them unless the Convention Sureté Generale Committee orders so. I beg you, as representatives, to order…´ Featuring an A.N.S., `Alquier´, to the upper left front corner, forwarding the request to the Minister of war. Folded, with small professional repair to the verso and edge. Small overall minor age wear, otherwise G  £250-350     Charles-Jean-Marie Alquier (1752-1826) French Diplomat. He served as French Minister in several European capitals. President of the Criminal Tribunal of the Department of Seine et Oise, he was sent as their representative to the National Convention in 1792. In that Convention, he voted for the death of King Louis XVI.

LASALLE ANTOINE-CHARLES: (1775-1809) French cavalry General. Also known as “The Hussar General”. Lasalle gained fame as a daring adventurer and is credited with many exploits during the Egypt and Spanish campaigns. An excellent multiple signed D.S., `Lasalle M.al de Logis´, one page, oblong folio, Zwolle, 9th April 1795, in French. The carefully hand-written document bears the heading “North Army - Regiment of Chasseurs riders – Liberté - Egalité” and a very attractive red wax seal of the republican regiment to the left border, in fine condition. The document is given to Thomas René Souton, officer of the cavalry regiment, granting him this permanent leave due to his disabilities. Signed by the members of the administration board of the Regiment, and also signed to the left border by General Dominique-Joseph René Vandamme, (1770-1830) Count of Unseburg. A reputed French military officer and corps commander who publicly criticized Napoleon. Signed D. Vandamme, with a two lines holograph. With a large water mark. Folded. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG £1500-2000Lasalle married former wife of General Victor Berthier, and sister-in-law to Marshal Louis Alexandre Berthier. When Napoleon and Lasalle met at the Tuileries Palace, the Emperor asked, `When is the wedding?´ Lasalle replied, `Sire, when I have enough money to buy the wedding presents and furniture´. Napoleon said, `But I gave you 200,000 francs last week, what did you do with them?´. Lasalle replied, `I used half to pay my debts and have lost the rest gambling´. Such a confession would have broken the career of any other soldier but, coming from Lasalle, it made the Emperor smile and ordered to give Lasalle another 200,000 francs. When a prefect asked why Napoleon didn't discipline Lasalle for his conduct, Napoleon responded that `It only takes a stroke of a pen to create a prefect, but it takes twenty years to make a Lasalle´

CARRIER JEAN BAPTISTE: (1756-1794) French Revolutionary and member of the Convention. Well-remembered for his infamous Drownings at Nantes (`Noyades de Nantes´). He was guillotined on 16th December. Rare D.S., `Carrier´, underlined, a large and bold good signature example, one page, folio, Ille-et-Villaine, n.d., [c.1793], to citizen Colliot, in French. The partially printed document bears the heading "Les Représenants du Peule" ("The Representatives of the People") and is the appointment of citizen Colliot as member of the council, stating in part `We have no doubt that your patriotism will oblige you to accept a position occupied for too long by men unworthy of the name of Republicans. You owe the Republic the use of your talents; to refuse, would be a crime…´ Signed at the base by Carrier. With blank address leaf, bearing two halves of a red wax seal as a result of the opening. Overall age wear, mostly to the edges, otherwise G £1000-1500    

COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY : A good D.S., by seven members of the Committee of Public Safety, three pages, folio, 5th January 1795, in French. The document, bearing an attractive vignette to the heading, is a report issued by the Commission of Public works and submitted to the Committee of Public Safety, related to the fortifications of the Château de la Mothe aux bois, Morbecque. Boldly signed to the left border by seven members of the Committee of Public Safety, comprising LAZARE CARNOT (1753-1823) French Physicist and politician. Known as the Organizer of Victory in the French Revolutionary Wars. Carnot adds a seven lines annotation stating in part `We must first know what the land contains..and then we will be able to order its purchase, and after this we will make a project..´ ; JEAN JACQUES DE CAMBACERES (1753-1824) French Noble, Lawyer and Statesman during the French Revolution and French Empire. Co-Author of the Napoleonic code, which still is at the base of the French and many other countries civil law; PIERRE-LOUIS PRIEUR DE LA MARNE (1756-1827) French Lawyer and Politician. He voted for the death of King Louis XVI ; Jean Pierre Chazal (1766-1840); Jean Pelet (1759-1842); Pierre Marec (1759-1828) and André Dumont (1764-1838). VG  £200-300      The castle of la Mothe aux bois was built in 1065 by the Count of Flanders. Considered a national belonging in 1795 it was sold to Sieur Taffin de Douai.

BARRAS PAUL: (1755-1829) French Politician during French Revolution. Main executive leader of the Directory regime 1795-99. Large D.S., P. Barras, one page, large folio, Paris, 13th January 1797, to Jean-Baptiste Gault, in French. The partially printed document is the appointment of Jean-Baptiste Gault as infantry Captain, including his personal details, services rendered, war campaigns, wounds, etc.. Also signed by Claude Louis Petiet (1749-1806) in his capacity as Minister of war. The document bears to the bottom left corner an attractive paper seal affixed. Folded. About VG  £250-350      

CARNOT LAZARE: (1753-1823) French Physicist and politician. Known as the Organizer of Victory in the French Revolutionary Wars. Rare multiple signed document, one page, folio, n.p., n.d. [1797], in French. Signed by three leading members of the Executive Directory, comprising Etienne-François Le Tourneur (1751-1817) French Lawyer, Soldier and Politician, Louis Marie de la Révellière-Lépeaux (1753-1824) French Deputy to the National Convention during French revolution. A prominent figure of the French Directory, and Lazare Carnot. Individually signed by each of them at the base, `Le Tourneur´, `L.M. Revellierelépeaux´, and`Carnot´ respectively, and stating `Approved by the Executive Directory´. The hand written text is in the hand of Révellière-Lépeaux, and is entitled `List of nominations given by the Minister of Navy and Colonies to be submitted to the approval of the Executive Committee.´ The document lists three groups of citizens names, being appointments as Chief of Division, Vessel Captain and Frigate Captain, detailing alongside their names the date of their nominations. Bearing the name of Jacques Félix Hamelin as frigate Captain.The document bears a watermark of the Republic Ministry. Folded, with very small overall age wear, otherwise VG  £250-350      Baron Jacques Felix Emmanuel Hamelin (1768-1839) French Baron and Admiral of the French Navy. He commanded numerous naval battles with the British Navy, as well as exploratory voyages in the Indian Ocean and South Seas.

EBLÉ JEAN BAPTISTE: (1758-1812) French general in charge of bridge equipment in the Grande Armée. Credited with saving Napoleon´s Grande Armée from destruction in 1812. Eblé leaded the building of two of the three bridges built over the Berezina river in November 1812. He waited as long as he could before burning them, allowing the maximum number of troops crossing. Appointed General for his behaviour and achievements, he died of exhaustion thirteen days after. An excellent and attractive L.S., Eblé, one page, folio, Cassel, 8th January 1809, in French. The document bears to the heading a rare and attractive vignette of the Westphalia Kingdom, Ministry of war. Eblé, in his capacity as Minister of war of the Kingdom of Westphalia, under King Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, orders `Monsieur Gerard, aide de camp, must reach Amsterdam to deliver dispatches, one to H.E. the Minister of war of H.M. the King of Holland, the other one to H.E. Baron of Munchausen, Plenipotentiary Minister and Envoy Extraordinary of H.M. the Kink of Westphalia. Military and civil authorities will give assistance..´ At the base of the document, Baron of Munchausen has annotated three lengthy lines in his hand, acknowledging receipt and returning response. Bearing to the front two red wax seals in fine condition. Small overall minor age wear, mostly to upper edge, slightly trimmed. G  £200-300      Louis Bonaparte (1778-1846) King of Holland 1806-10. Younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte.

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) French Military and Political leader, Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. A very fine D.S., Bonaparte, as General in Chief of the Army, three pages, folio, Cairo, Egypt, 27 Fructidor, year 6 (13th September 1798), in French. The lengthy manuscript document is in the form of a report prepared for Napoleon, providing plans for the loading of a cargo to be made of products from Egypt and to be sold in Smyrna and Salonika, giving very detailed instructions for the transportation of the Egyptian produce, comprising rice, ammonium salt, incense and coffee, to markets in Greece and the Levant and for the subsequent use of the local monies generated in income, the report justifying the selection of produce 'Because the English, in case they come and visit, would be more easily persuaded that this shipment belongs to locals who never allocate all their funds to one good' and  'because the coffee would facilitate the outright sale of all the rice, in case it was abundant in Smyrna and in Salonika, where a lot of it is shipped and sold when there is a lack of rice from here. From then on, buyers who would like to buy coffee, since it is a much sought-after commodity, would have to buy a quantity of rice equal to the quantity of coffee they would ask for. This way, the deal would only be quicker, and infinitely more profitable', further stating 'Ammonium salt would find its place, for there is such a lack of it in the Levant, where they haven't received any of it from England for a long time……And although it is expensive here, it deserves our attention, especially if the quantity produced could be larger. Incense, because of its great consumption by the Greeks, in their homes and in their churches, would be an excellent good. We would need fine quality, and white. This constitutes, at all time, an easy trade', adding that 'The same applies to good quality hemp, since I have heard there won't be any of it shipped to Turkey, as well as seeds and other drugs in Constantinople, but as it is not a good time to put together a large shipment because of its scarcity, we can choose goods that are easier to obtain, while making sure to give preference to the ones that can facilitate the trade of rice, which should be the base of the load'. The author of the report also remarks 'This shipment's net proceeds would be spent right away on wet goods such as wine, spirits, fine linseed oil. I would buy the wine in Santorini, Naxos, or any other island in the archipelago where they produce it in great quality. I would prefer these islands to Tenedos, because although the wine there is as good in colour and in taste, they are less busy - I could make purchases and load the ship in much less time. Besides, the load would look like it is destined to be shipped to Russia, which they do in that area now and again. This pretext would hide the destination all the more since I have known the merchants of the said islands for several years; they know I was conducting business in the Black Sea when I was settled in Bucharest', continuing to inform Napoleon that 'I could also load dry fruits, such as figs and various types of raisins. I will arrive just as the shipments to Russia begin, and very certainly nobody will assume that what I bought was to be shipped to Egypt. It will, moreover, be up to me to take all the precautions, for a swift and fortunate return, the season we are about to enter being the most favourable for such venture' also adding various reasons why he is 'convinced that I would easily escape our enemies' vigilance' and recommending a sailing ship and Captain named Hadgi Ourea Dipsara based in Alexandria, whom he has known for a long time, adding 'It would be his decision to choose a suitable night to slip away without being seen' and concluding 'He would certainly succeed thanks to his vessel being in a superior running order, and well-found since he has 25 men, then would go to the harbour to find the 250 barrels, which is more than adequate for the goods referred to above. They will be loaded in appearance for various Greek and Turkish recipients, and branded as such. To add more credibility to the operation, each part will have an accompanying letter written in the oriental style.' At the conclusion of the report appears a statement in another hand, reading, in full, 'Desirous of favouring the said commercial undertaking, as much as to have news of what is happening on the archipelago as to procure wine for Egypt, Citizen Poussielque will draw up a report for me concerning the means at our disposal for procuring the above mentioned cargo'. The instruction is signed by Napoleon at the conclusion. A document of fascinating content. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and one very small, neat tear to the upper right corner of the final page, only very slightly running through two lines of text, VG  £2000-3000     In 1798 Bonaparte led a military expedition to Egypt which was to serve as a springboard to his goal of achieving political power (a coup was orchestrated by Bonaparte in November 1799 with the result of him becoming First Consul of the Republic). In August 1798, the month before the present document was signed, the British Fleet commanded by Horatio Nelson had captured or destroyed all but two French vessels in the Battle of the Nile which had severely damaged Napoleon's desire to strengthen the French position in the Mediterranean. His army had succeeded in a temporary increase of French power in Egypt, although it faced repeated uprisings. Citizen Poussielque served as the Chief Administrator of the French Army.

COCKBURN GEORGE: (1772-1853) British Admiral of the Fleet during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars who was present at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in February 1797 and also directed the capture and Burning of Washington in August 1814. D.S., G. Cockburn, one page (vellum), oblong folio, Office of the Admiralty, 20th October 1818. The partially printed document appoints William Mules to the rank of Commander in His Majesty's Fleet following the Prince Regent's Order in Council of the 30th January 1816 'to direct that the Establishment formed for the relief of the Lieutenants of His Majesty's Fleet who by age and Infirmities are incapable of further Service be extended so as to afford retirement to One Hundd. instead of Eighty Lieutenants at a Pension of Eight Shillings and Six pence a day each & that they be permitted to retire with the Rank of Commander'. Countersigned at the footby two other Lords of the Admiralty, John Osborn (1772-1848, English Politician, Lord of the Admiralty 1812-24) and Henry Hotham (1777-1833, British Vice Admiral who served during the French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars, and the War of 1812). With a blind embossed paper seal affixed to the upper left corner. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, otherwise VG  £100-150     

TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD CHARLES MAURICE DE: (1754-1838) French Diplomat and Statesman. Prime Minister of France July-September 1815. L.S., `Ch Mau Talleyrand´, two pages, folio, n.p., n.d., in French. Talleyrand signs at the base of a copy of a letter received by Talleyrand `..letter from Citizen Schimmelpenninck, Ambassador and extraordinary and plenipotentiary Minister of the Batavian Republic to the French foreign affairs Minister´. The document refers to the cargo of a ship which the Batavian government claims as his, the plenipotentiary Minister reminding Talleyrand `No need to remind you Citizen Minister how many times and with which interest I have talked to you, in the name of the Batavian Republic, about this affair and to whom belongs exclusively this cargo. You also know that I had the honour of mentioning this matter during my meeting with the First Consul who has always supported our cause… looking for truth and reality and judging the matter returning finally to our Republic, a friend and an ally of France, a property we have been too long deprived of.´ Paper with a very attractive Pro-Patria watermark. Extremely overall minor age wear. Folded. VG  £300-400     

BERTHIER LOUIS ALEXANDRE: (1753-1815) Marshal of France, Prince of Wagram and Neuchatel. Chief of Staff under Napoleon. A very interesting D.S., Alex Berthier, a large and good signature example, one page, folio, Milan, 9th December 1796, to General Dumas, in French. The partially printed document bears the heading of the General Chief of Staff, Milan Head-Quarters, and states in part `The General in Chief orders General Dumas to consider as null and void the order he was given to replace General Dallemagne, commander of one of the divisions of the siege of Mantua..´ With blank integral leaf. Three pinholes not affecting the text or signature. VG  £250-350      Thomas Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (1762-1806) French General during revolutionary wars. Father of Alexandre Dumas the Author. Dumas was one of the highest-ranking men of African descent ever to lead a European army, and the first person of color in the French military to become General.Claude Dallemagne (1754-1813) French General who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later in the French revolutionary wars, and took part in the 1796 Italian campaign under Napoleon Bonaparte.     The Siege of Mantua lasted from July 1796 to February 1797. French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte besieged and blockaded a large Austrian garrison at Mantua until it surrendered. This surrender, together with the heavy losses incurred, led the Austrians suing for peace in 1797.

SÉRURIER JEAN MATHIEU PHILIBERT: (1742-1819), Marshal of France. A fine A.L., three pages, folio, Cremona, 7th March 1798, to the future General d'Arbois, then aide-de-camp to General Kilmaine in the Levant division of the Italian Army, on the Major General Inspector General of Infantry stationary, in French. Serurier reassures his correspondent about the worries he might have about his letters from Corfu, and states in part "It seems to me, however, that a word from General Bonaparte should have been enough, since he must be fully convinced of the atrocity committed by your denouncers. I can only invite you to have patience..." Sérurier further refers to the Rome Expedition and to, in his opinion, unexpected appointment "of General Masséna to command the Army of Rome at the moment that Berthier was commanding it, and that he had been reduced to the command in chief of the part of the Italian Army that was without the territory of the Cisalpine Republic. It is true that the command in chief of everything is assigned to him in case the Austrians make some hostile movements against our expedition to Rome...". With address leaf bearing partial remnants of a red wax seal. A letter of interesting content. Folded, with a hole to the last page and fold as a result of the letter opening. G  £150-200      Joseph Louis d'Arbois de Jubainville (1764-1803) was a senior officer under the Revolution, in the Levant division of the Italian Army. Governor of Corfu, then appointed general in 1802 by Dugua during the expedition to St. Domingo. Prisoner of the English, mistreated, he died in British prisons in Jamaica at the age of 39.D'Arbois was dismissed as Royalist on November 12th 1797 following a complaint by Brigade Chief Roch Godart and the people of Corfu.