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A Continental gold pen and pencil with a slide action dip pen and propelling pencil set with an agate, stone seal top - unclear Continental hallmarks - tests as 14 ct gold or higher - Weight 9.4 grams - Length closed 10 cm extended 12 cm Condition report: Working order engraved monogram surface marks, no damage or noticeable dents
An assortment of items - To include a dog brooch - Stamped 14K - A bean pendant - Stamped 9ct - An identity bracelet - Stamped 9ct - Length 15cms - An elephant brooch - Tests as 14ct or above - Total weight of gold approx 15.0gms - Together with a gold plated hinged bangle and a rolled gold pencil Condition Report: Good to fair - With surface dents and scratches
RATHBONE BASIL: (1892-1967) British Actor, famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in a number of films. Dark fountain pen ink signature ('Basil Rathbone') on a 12mo piece. The signature is a little light in a few places, although perfectly legible. Dated 13th August 1964 in light pencil in the hand of a collector to the lower edge. About VG
CHAPLIN CHARLES: (1889-1977) English Film Comedian, Academy Award winner. An original pencil drawing of Chaplin by an amateur artist on a 4to sheet of paper, the image showing Chaplin in a head and shoulders pose, signed and dated in pencil by the artist, Anthony Wray, 1972, at the base and also signed by Chaplin in black ink to a clear area, 'Very good, Charles Chaplin'. Some extremely light, very minor staining to the edges, caused by previous mounting to the verso, not affecting the image or signature. About VG
ALI MUHAMMAD: (1942- ) American Boxer, World Heavyweight Champion. Bold pencil signature ('Muhammad Ali') on a portion of a page removed from an autograph album. A light pink stain caused by previous writing to the verso only very slightly affects one letter of the signature. Some very minor, light age wear, about VG
CINEMA: Selection of vintage signed postcard photographs and slightly larger etc., by various film stars including Conrad Veidt, John Mills, Anton Walbrook, Anna Neagle, Raymond Massey, Griffith Jones, Mary Ellis (an original photograph by Angus McBean, also signed in pencil by the photographer to the lower border and bearing his credit stamp to the verso) etc., also including seven vintage postcard photographs and slightly larger, each unsigned or with facsimile and secretarial signatures, subjects include Leslie Howard, Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer etc. The majority are accompanied by the original envelopes post marked in the 1930s. VG, 18
AUTOGRAPH ALBUMS: Four autograph albums containing over 100 signatures by various entertainers including Ben Lyon & Bebe Daniels, Sid Field, Roy Fox, Duggie Wakefield, Arthur Tracy, Claude Dampier, Ivor Novello, Elsie & Doris Waters, Arthur Prince, Elizabeth Allan, Arthur Lucan, Carl Brisson, Jessie Matthews, Charlie Kunz, Diana Dors, Sally Ann Howes, Jane of the Daily Mirror, Margot Fonteyn etc. A little duplication. Some pages are multiple signed and many signatures are in pencil. Some light age wear and minor water staining to one album, only very slightly affecting the signatures, generally G to about VG, 4
AUTOGRAPH ALBUMS: Four autograph albums containing over signatures by various stage and television actors and actresses, entertainers etc., including Belinda Carlisle, Linda Robson, Sue Nicholls, Nikki Sanderson, Bradley Walsh, Samantha Janus, Johnny Briggs, Suranne Jones, Betty Driver, Stephanie Beacham, Gaby Roslin, Louise Jameson, Martin Kemp, Julian Glover, Penelope Keith, Honor Blackman, Warren Clarke, Roy Hudd, Warren Mitchell, Larry Lamb, Les Dennis, Lenny Henry, Joanna Lumley, Pauline Collins, David Essex, Joan Rivers, David Suchet, Tara Fitzgerald, Michelle Collins, Nigel Havers, Patsy Palmer, Liza Goddard, Bernard Bresslaw, Rod Hull, Martine Beswick, Caroline Munro, Conrad Phillips, Diana Dors, Alma Cogan, Vera Lynn, Michael Holliday etc. Many of the signatures in the principle album appear on single pages and are neatly annotated in pencil by the collector to the verso indicating when and where the signatures were obtained. FR to generally VG, 4
AUTOGRAPH ALBUMS: Selection of autograph albums containing many signatures by various actors, actresses, entertainers and a few other famous individuals, including Vivian Vance, John Forsythe, Ozzie Nelson, Robert Cummings, Jim Backus, Edie Adams, Gary Merrill, Arnold Stang, Michael Landon, Ben Gazzara, Eve Arden, Jan Sterling, Joe Loss, Kenny Baker, Jack Buchanan, Frankie Howerd, Richard Hearne, Ben Lyon & Bebe Daniels, Eddie Gray, Dante, Tom Mix (pencil), Evelyn Laye, Ivor Novello, Zena Dare, Reginald Dixon, G. H. Elliott, Gertie Gitana, Allan Jones & Irene Hervey, Anton Diffring, Petula Clark, Richard Greene, Chester Morris, Beniamino Gigli, Humphrey Lyttelton & Wally Fawkes (with an original ink sketch of Trog), Lauritz Melchior, Michael Foot, Budge Patty etc. Some pages are multiple signed and some signatures are on clipped pieces laid down to pages. Some age wear, FR to generally G, 8
AUTOGRAPH ALBUMS: Two autograph albums containing over 250 signatures by various stage and television actors and actresses, entertainers etc., including Kiki Dee, Colin Baker, Jean Fergusson, Dilys Laye, Letitia Dean, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Susan Hampshire, George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Stephen Gately, William Roache, Barbara Dickson, Jane Lapotaire, Kym Marsh, Bill Tarmey, Elizabeth Dawn, Tim Healey, Nigel Planer, Ralf Little, Julia McKenzie, Alison Steadman, Sylvia Syms, Neil Morrissey, Angela Thorne, Brigit Forsyth, Simon Gregson, Jodie Marsh, Britt Ekland, Grace Kennedy, Lesley Joseph, Helen Worth, Alexandra Bastedo, Simon Ward, Leslie Grantham, Jean Boht, Shirley Anne Field, Kate O'Mara, Christopher Cazenove, Honor Blackman, Ruth Madoc, Claire Sweeney, John Challis, Patsy Kensit, Sue Holderness, Wayne Sleep, Ron Moody, Frances Barber, Cheryl Baker, Anita Dobson, Woody Harrelson, Timothy West, Alison Moyet, Robert Glenister, Charles Dance, Roger Lloyd Pack, Lysette Anthony, Simon Callow, Ken Morley, Frank Carson, Gorden Kaye, Sylvester McCoy, Al Martino, Joan Baez and many others. All of the signatures appear on single pages and all are neatly annotated in pencil by the collector to the verso indicating when and where the signatures were obtained. VG, 2
HEPBURN KATHARINE: (1907-2003) American Actress, Academy Award winner. Vintage dark fountain pen ink signature ('Katharine Hepburn') on a page removed from an autograph album. Together with Spence Tracy (1900-1967) American Actor, Academy Award winner. Vintage bold pencil signature ('Spencer Tracy') on a page removed from an autograph album. A small oval authentication sticker is neatly affixed to one corner. VG, 2
ACTORS: Selection of signed clipped pieces, cards, album pages etc., by various film actors including Sessue Hayakawa, George Raft, Danny Kaye, Charles Boyer, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. (signed magazine photo, in pencil, neatly laid down to album page), Johnny Weissmuller, Ward Bond, Rod Steiger (signed cheque with his full signature 'Rodney Steven Steiger'), Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Tom Mix, Otto Kruger, Robert Mitchum, Robert Taylor, Noah Beery, Wallace Beery, William Bendix, Jackie Coogan, Zachary Scott, Conrad Veidt, Bing Crosby etc. G to generally VG, 30
BRITISH ACTORS: Selection of signed pieces, cards and album pages by various British stage and screen actors including Charles Laughton (good example also signed by Elsa Lanchster), Michael Rennie, Michael Redgrave, Richard Todd, Michael Wilding, Kenneth More, Albert Finney, Anthony Quayle, James Mason, Bob Hoskins, Jack Hawkins, Leslie Howard, Stanley Baker, C. Aubrey Smith etc. A few signatures are in pencil and a few album pages have attached magazine photographs. G to generally VG, 19
PUCCINI GIACOMO: (1858-1924) Italian Composer. A good vintage signed postcard photograph of the composer in a head and shoulders pose. Signed ('Giacomo Puccini') in bold dark fountain pen ink with his name alone to a clear area of the background. Dated Berlin, 30th March 1913, in another hand in pencil to the verso. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
PADEREWSKI I. J.: (1860-1941) Polish Pianist & Composer, Prime Minister of Poland, 1919. Vintage signed 11 x 17 photograph of Paderewski in a head and shoulders pose. Photograph by (John) Furley Lewis. Signed by Paderewski with his name alone in fountain pen ink to the lower photographer's mount. Also signed in pencil by Furley Lewis to the lower mount and with an additional inscription in his hand, 'To my dear friend, Alfred Henry, in grateful appreciation of his own music, this portrait of the maestro', and dated 1914 in his hand. Some light wrinkling and scuffing to the image and some creasing and minor staining to the photographer's mount. G
AUTOGRAPH ALBUM: An 8vo autograph album containing over 50 signatures by various ballet dancers, classical musicians and singers etc., including Anna Pavlova, Kirkby Lunn, A. C. Mackenzie (A.M.Q.S.), Frederick Corder (A.M.Q.S.), Agnes Nicholls Harty, Harry Plunket Greene, Clara Butt, R. Kennerley Rumford, Julian Clifford (A.M.Q.S.) etc., also including a number of signatures of lesser known musicians etc., who evidently performed alongside the collector, Miss Lillian Hawkins, with several of the inscriptions relating to her participation in a tour with Pavlova at various English towns during 1912. Some pages multiple signed and a few signatures in pencil. Some light overall age wear, about VG Lilian Hawkins performed as a Solo Harpist with Pavlova in 1912.
BALLET: Small selection of printed small 4to programmes for various performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 1965-67, individually signed by various ballet dancers including Rudolf Nureyev (in Cyrillic) and Margot Fonteyn, Anthony Dowell, David Blair, Michael Somes, Stanley Holden, Annette Page etc. Most are multiple signed and some signatures are in pencil. Generally VG, 4
WELLS H. G.: (1866-1946) English Writer of Science Fiction novels. T.L.S., H. G. Wells, one page, 4to, Easton Glebe, Dunmow, 21st December 1918, to [George Horace Lorimer] the Editor of The Saturday Evening Post. Wells writes, in full, 'In an article I contributed to The Saturday Evening Post upon the League of Nations some weeks ago, I contrasted what I called the “weak” League with the “strong” League project, and cited the well-known Marburg scheme as the type of the former. I said that; “Germany undefeated and unregenerate will for instance be admitted to such a league on the expression of a few pious sentiments”. In saying this I gather I exaggerated the weakness of the weak league proposal, and Doctor Marburg writes to me and makes it abundantly clear that from the outset of the war, he and the American League to Enforce Peace have been firm in their insistence upon the regeneration of Germany as a preliminary to any world league. May I make amends to him therefore by this acknowledgement in your columns?' With a brief pencil annotation at the head of the page and a couple of minor corner creases, otherwise VG George Horace Lorimer (1867-1937) American Journalist and Author, Editor of The Saturday Evening Post 1899-1937.
BARRIE J. M.: (1860-1937) Scottish Novelist, created Peter Pan. A.L.S., with his initials J. M. B., one page, 8vo, Strand, London, 19th July 1925, to 'Dear E.V.' (Lucas?). Barrie announces 'I went to pieces that night after Evan's dinner where I had been very well, and it will be some days yet before I am fit for anything' and continues to remind his correspondent to keep the 28th free for lunch 'when I expect to be all right'. He concludes 'I was very glad to see you again'. With a pencil annotation in another hand beneath the signature. VG Barrie's correspondent is most likely to have been E. V. Lucas (1868-1938) English Humourist, Playwright, Biographer, Poet & Novelist. Lucas was a member of Barrie's cricket team, the Allahakbarries, whose XI also included Arthur Conan Doyle.
To Marlene Dietrich - '…As you landed on the stage drunk and naked I would advance from the rear…' HEMINGWAY ERNEST: (1899-1961) American Novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1954. A remarkable T.L.S., Papa, in bold pencil, two pages, 4to, Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, Cuba, 28th August 1955, to Marlene Dietrich ('Dearest Kraut'). Hemingway thanks the actress for her long letter 'with the gen on what you found wrong' and remarks 'I don't know anything about the theater but I don't think it would occur to me, even, to have you introduced even to me with strains of La Vie En Rose. Poor peoples.', further providing his own advice for Dietrich's cabaret show, 'If I were staging it would probably have something novel like having you shot onto the stage, drunk, from a self propelled mineworker which would advance in from the street rolling over the customers. We would be playing "Land of Hope and Glory". As you landed on the stage drunk and naked I would advance from the rear, or your rear wearing evening clothes and would hurriedly strip off my evening clothes to cover you revealing the physique of Burt Lancaster Strongfort and announce that we were sorry that we did not know the lady was loaded. All this time the Thirty ton S/P/ Mortar would be bulldozing the customers as we break into the Abortion Scene from "Lakme". This is a scene which is really Spine Tingling and I have just the spine for it. I play it with a Giant Rubber Whale called Captain Ahab and all the time we are working on you with pulmotors and raversed vacuum cleaners which blow my evening clothes of you. You are foaming at the mouth of course to show that we are really acting and we bottle the foam and sell it to any surviving customers. You are referred to in the contract as The Artist and I am just Captain Ahab. Fortunately I am crazed and I keep shouting "Fire One. Fire Two. Fire Three." And don't think we don't fire them. It is then that the Germ of the Mutiny is born in your dishevelled brain. But why should a great Artist-Captain like me invent so many for so few for only air-mail love on Sunday morning when I should be in Church. Only for fun, I guess. Gentlemen, crank up your hearses'. Hemingway reflects 'Marlene, darling, I write stories but I have no grace for fucking them up for other mediums. It was hard enough for me to learn to write to be read by the human eye. I do not know how, nor do I care to know how to write to be read by parrots, monkeys, apes, baboons, nor actors' and continues his letter, 'I love you very much and I never wanted to get mixed in any business with you as I wrote you when this thing first was brought up. Neither of us has enough whore blood for that….Not only that but I myself was circumcised at a very early age', also wishing her luck in California and Las Vegas and warning her to be careful with the finances of her shows, 'Some people would as soon have the publicity of making you look bad as of your expected and legitimate success. But that is the way everything is everywhere and no criticism of Nevada or anyone there. Cut this paragraph out of this letter and burn it if you want to keep the rest of the letter in case you thought any of it funny. I rely on you as a Kraut officer and gentleman to do this.' Hemingway then turns to his own work, commenting 'I love you very much and wish you luck. Wish me some too. Book is on page 592. This week Thursday we start photography on fishing. Am in charge of fishing etc. and it is going to be difficult enough. With a bad back a little worse. The Artist is not here naturally. I only wrote the book but must do the work as well and have no stand-in. Up at 0450 knock off at 1930. This goes on for 15 days.' and concludes 'I think you could say you and I have earned whatever dough the people let us keep. So what. So Merdre. I love you as always'. Hemingway adds a holograph postscript of eight lines to the verso of the second page, providing an update, 'Started OK on fishing - one 472 lbs and one 422 lbs. Very good close shots of harpooning at the end but fish too small even in cinemascope for what we need - Must have bigger fish - system of photography and the way the local boats work and how close we can ride herd on them very good. Steer 7 to 10 hrs. on flying bridge and it is hard work.' A letter of exceptional association between the writer and actress, and also a letter of wonderful, at times surreal, content. Some very light, extremely minor creasing, VG Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) German-born American Actress & Singer. At the time of the present letter, as the content suggests, Dietrich was preparing for a series of successful cabaret shows which included a run of performances at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas in November 1955. As the present letter shows, Ernest Hemingway was initially involved in the production of the film version of his novel The Old Man and the Sea (1952), and took an active role in marlin-fishing to try and find a fish worthy enough for the film. The film's budget is reported to have grown from $2 million to $5 million as a result of searching for "suitable fish footage". As it happened, the producers ended up using a rubber marlin and stock footage of marlin fishing for the film, which was released in 1958 and starred Spencer Tracy, who received an Oscar nomination for his performance. The Old Man and the Sea, one of Hemingway's most famous works, was the last major work of fiction to be produced and published in his lifetime. The novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and was cited by the Nobel Committee as contributing towards Hemingway's Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. Hemingway and Dietrich first met on a French ocean liner in 1934 and maintained a regular correspondence for almost 30 years. The writer and the actress are both recognised as having led complicated and tangled love lives, although their own personal relationship was never consummated. Despite a lengthy correspondence, letters from Hemingway to Dietrich very rarely appear on the market, the majority of their correspondence being housed in the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum following a donation by Dietrich's daughter, Maria Riva, in 2003. American Book Prices Current record only two other letters written by Hemingway to Dietrich as having been sold at auction, one with relatively routine content in 2011 ($19,000) and a more interesting letter in 2014 ($30,000).
SARDOU VICTORIEN: (1831-1908) French Dramatist, known for his play La Tosca, which became the basis for Giacomo Puccini’s opera of the same name. A.L.S., V Sardou, one page, small 8vo, n.p., n.d. (annotated 1896 in pencil to the upper left corner), to Monsieur Chaval, in French. Sardou discusses his travel arrangements with his correspondent, referring to train journeys between Paris, Marly, Saint-Germain and Versailles. About VG
[MEISSONIER JEAN-LOUIS-ERNEST]: (1815-1891) French Painter and Sculptor. Vintage unsigned carte-de-visite photograph, the engaging sepia albumen print by Bingham of Paris, showing Meissonier seated in a full length pose holding a top hat and cane and with a dog lying at his feet. Photographer's imprint to the lower mount and verso and with a very light contemporary pencil annotation to the lower mount. About EX
[DICKENS CHARLES]: (1812-1870) English Novelist. An excellent vintage unsigned carte-de-visite photograph, the sepia albumen print by Mason & Co. of London and Norwich depicting the novelist seated in a three quarter length pose. Photographer's imprint to the lower mount and verso and with a feint contemporary pencil annotation to the lower mount. EX
[TOLSTOY LEO]: (1828-1910) Russian Novelist. Vintage unsigned carte-de-visite photograph, the sepia albumen print by Wesenberg of St. Petersburg showing Tolstoy seated in a head and shoulders pose. Photographer's imprint to the lower mount and verso, also dated 1876 in pencil. Some light spotting and age wear to the image, about VG
[TOLSTOY LEO]: (1828-1910) Russian Novelist. Vintage unsigned carte-de-visite photograph, the sepia albumen print by Meyer of Moscow, depicting Tolstoy seated in a half length pose with his arms folded. Photographer's imprint to the lower mount and pencil date of 1885 to the plain verso. The image slightly irregularly trimmed (at the time of issue). VG
[WAGNER RICHARD]: (1813-1883) German Composer. Vintage unsigned carte-de-visite photograph, the sepia albumen print by Fritz Luckhardt of Vienna showing Wagner in a profile half length pose. Photographer's imprint to the lower mount and verso. With a contemporary pencil annotation to the lower mount. Some light spotting to the image, otherwise VG
[TWAIN MARK]: (1835-1910) American Writer. Vintage unsigned cabinet photograph by Falk of New York, the fine sepia image showing Twain in a profile head and shoulders pose wearing a plain white shirt. Photographer's imprint to the lower mount and with a plain verso bearing a couple of pencil annotations. Small area of paper loss to the upper left and lower right corners of the mount, otherwise VG
[CARLYLE THOMAS]: (1795-1881) Scottish Philosopher, Historian & Writer. Vintage unsigned sepia 4 x 5.5 photograph, the albumen print by an unidentified photographer depicting Carlyle in a head and shoulders pose. Mounted to an 8vo page removed from an album and with a contemporary pencil annotation beneath the image. Some minor wrinkling to the edges of the image. Together with John Gilbert (1817-1897) English Artist. Vintage unsigned 8 x 11 photograph, the sepia oval Woodburytype image by Samuel Lock and George Whitfield showing Gilbert in a profile head and shoulders pose. Published as part of the Men of Mark series (1876-83) and accompanied by the original printed biography. G to VG, 2
[TWAIN MARK]: (1835-1910) American Writer. An excellent unsigned vintage 10 x 13 sepia photograph by A. F. Bradley of New York, the wonderful sepia image depicting Twain seated in a three quarter length pose, wearing a white flannel suit, 1907. Signed by Bradley in pencil to the lower border and also bearing his circular blindstamp in the lower left corner. Some slight surface creasing to the lower edge, not affecting the image or Bradley's signature, otherwise EX The present image was one of a series captured by Bradley in New York. The photographer erected a revolving stand in order to allow Twain, who had taken a certain dislike to photographer's studios in his later life, the most comfort while posing before the camera. It is stated that Twain regarded four of the images taken by Bradley to have been the finest taken during his life.
NIGHTINGALE FLORENCE: (1820-1910) British Pioneer of Nursing. Book signed and inscribed, a hardback edition of The Victoria Regia - A Volume of Original Contributions in Poetry and Prose, edited by Adelaide A. Procter, printed and published by Emily Faithfull & Co. and the Victoria Press (for the employment of women), London, 1861. Signed and inscribed by Nightingale in ink to the head of the title page, 'Mrs. Webb Watson, with the kind & grateful regards of Florence Nightingale' and dated October 1865 in her hand. With two ownership signatures and inscriptions (one in ink and one in pencil) to the front free endpaper. Bound in the original green cloth with ornate gilt decoration and title to the boards and spine. Some light overall age wear and minor foxing, about VG
MARCONI GUGLIELMO: (1874-1937) Italian Inventor, developed a radio telegraph system. Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1909. Vintage signed 5.5 x 7.5 photograph of Marconi in a half length pose. Photograph by Lafayette of London and bearing their imprint to the lower mount. Signed ('G Marconi') in bold black fountain pen ink with his name alone to the lower photographer's mount. With a pencil annotation in an unidentified hand to the lower edge and with some light age wear, about VG
DALTON JOHN: (1766-1844) English Chemist, Physicist & Meteorologist, known for his pioneering work in the development of modern atomic theory and his research into colour blindness. Ink signature ('John Dalton') and seven additional words in his hand on a piece neatly clipped from the conclusion of a letter. Dated Manchester, 25th December 1839, in pencil in an unidentified hand to the lower left corner. VG
BERNARD CLAUDE: (1813-1878) French Physiologist. A.L.S., Claude Bernard, one page, small 8vo, n.p., n.d. ('Jeudi soir'), to a young lady [Miss F. Oppenheim], in French. Bernard sends his correspondent two tickets (no longer present) for which she had asked. A pencil annotation identifies the recipient and also states that the tickets were intended 'pour une seance a l'Institut'. Some pencil shading to Bernard's blind embossed initials at the head of the page. VG
'…its such a joy to think that the last bed I got into in England was yours…' EDWARD VIII: (1894-1972) King of the United Kingdom January - December 1936. Later Duke of Windsor. A fine, long A.L.S., David, (twice; at the conclusion and again at one interval in the letter), twelve pages, 4to, at sea, 5th - 11th August 1919, to his mistress Freda Dudley Ward ('My very own darling darling beloved little Fredie'), on the printed stationery of H. M. S. Renown. The Prince writes his letter, in pencil, over a period of six days at the start of his tour to Canada, beginning in a romantic vein, 'it's hell for me to-night (& is going to be till my return) loving you, wanting you & missing you! You just can't think what a huge whole in my life our parting & your absence makes sweetheart & I now have to face "the great blank" & feel so so terribly lost & lonely without you darling & the thought that I can't see you for over 3 months!! I'm so so miserable to-night & am on the verge of crying. It's a cruel separation as we both love each other & it all seems so unnatural somehow after the last 5 months when we hardly missed a day that we didn't meet at least once!! And this last 3 weeks has been heaven angel the most marvellous weeks of all don't you think?….we both mean every thing to each other, everything that really matters….I just can't tell you how much more than ever your crying & being so upset at our parting has made me love you love you sweetheart mine. How I loathe myself now darling for seeming so cold about it all as I know I did the last 24 hrs in London; I can't think what came over me as I was so crammed full of love….you were so divinely sweet to really mind my leaving England had a little to do with my pulling myself together so as not to be too "sloppy" as I didn't want to upset you any more!! My last sight of you sweetheart is more divinely marvellous than any that man could hope for parting from the woman he loves….its such a joy to think that the last bed I got into in England was yours, I couldn't get into mine at St. James's Palace yesterday at 6.00 & I'm so so glad that I didn't now!!', continuing to apparently refer to a keepsake from his mistress, 'Mrs. Thpider is worrying me to death from my watch chain trying to get back to Mr. Thpider in his house & she is vewy angwy with me for taking her away from him. Sweetheart I'm so so happy with all my precious sacred little souvenirs of YOU; first all my photos, then all my 3 rings, my disc which you've scratched & bitten & my cigarette case with your divine scratches & last but not least that lovely match box which I love so & then there's your sweet little sponge…' and further writing 'This is a marvellous ship & I have a very comfortable & luxurious cabin….the officers seem a nice lot tho' I haven't seen much of them as I've been keeping away from every body as much as possible….got some exercise after tea playing "medicine ball" on the quarter deck…I must keep fit for Canada, otherwise I shan't be any good.' (6th August), 'I've only just got away from the ward room sweetheart where I dined this evening; they are a nice cheery crowd & we've been bear fighting & playing vewy wough games ever since. 2 films of the ship's cinema (one even Charlie Chaplin) which were put on directly after dinner!!…I'm learning such a lot in this marvellous ship or rather rubbing up my scanty naval knowledge, it bores me stiff really darling…' (7th August), 'I'm more bored & restless & lonely than I've ever been in my life!! I'm just longing to get across & land on the other side & to start work; speeches etc. will keep me busy & I shall welcome them as they will help me in my loneliness & prevent my brooding a little tho. not much….oh! I am a thoroughly hopeless case for which there is only one cure & that is to be returned to England at once!!….Piers Legh is keeping (& is going to keep) the staff diary my copy of which I'm going to send you sweetheart to keep for me; he asks to be remembered to you darling….he's far more of a friend to me than Claud Hamilton is or ever could be!! Claud is so cold & hard & he just doesn't know that the word sympathy exists!!…'(8th August), '…we've only been steaming at 16 knts. since we left England on account of the "Dragon" & to-night we are only doing 10 knts. as we expect to see ice bergs in the early morning & shall be amongst them all to-morrow. I wonder if you've ever seen one sweetheart?….this afternoon we had some revolver practice & there was the cinema going after dinner as usual….you have my very latest programme haven't you sweetheart? I'm really hopelessly vague about it all & don't know the sequence of the cities, towns & places I am to visit let alone the dates!! But I don't care & am not worrying about anything much….except perhaps all the _ _ speeches I shall have to make everywhere & they won't be any worse than in England I don't suppose!! But its going to be hell having to make them far from my darling little mummie, a thing I've never had to do before; oh! why are fate & the way of the world so unkind sweetheart to prevent us living & travelling about together TOI et MOI!!….this is my very first ocean trip sweetheart I'm ashamed to say & so altho brought up in the Navy its all a new experience for me!!…' (9th August), '….its…been Sunday & I've been & am so terribly home sick beloved one thinking of last Sunday & I'm more lonely and miserable than ever; what a divine day that was & my memories of it are as sacred as all my memories of very own darling precious little Fredie Wedie….I simply loathe being separated from YOU like this sweetie its too bl_ _d_ for words & is so terribly depressing & I do feel so hopelessly lost….' (10th August), 'I enclose all the photos & the diary (no longer present) written up to yesterday tho the latter is too ridiculously pompous for words darling & will bore you to death; in fact I know you won't even read it tho I only send it to you to keep for me as it will be a useful record. It's more or less official & is sent to H.M. tho' I call it balls!!…to think that but for a hard fight on my part (knowing it was the right thing for me to do) I shld. never have set out on this trip at all. But I suppose we all have a job in the world tho mine is a bl_ _d _ one & no mistake & how I loathe it & all these camouflaged stunts & having to do the dud hero!! It does go against the grain…' and concluding 'Mrs. Thpider joins me in all I say & hopes that Mr. Thpider is not going out too much during her absence. She is nearly as jealous as I am darling….Bless you bless you for ever & ever sweetheart all all my great huge love which is far more desperate than ever. Your loving & devoted & adoring & upwardly heartbroken & miserable little David tho deep down he's the happiest man in the whole wide world knowing that his Fredie Wedie loves him!! But if only SHE would read HIS heart!!' (11th August). Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by the Prince in ink and bearing a black wax seal to the verso. A letter of excellent content. VG Freda Dudley Ward (1894-1983) Marquesa de Casa Maury. English Socialite, the mistress of Edward, Prince of Wales from 1918-23. Ward remained a close confidante of Edward's until 1934 when his relationship with Wallis Simpson began. Piers Legh (1890-1955) British Soldier and member of the Royal Household, equerry to the Prince of Wales from 1919-36. Lord Claud Hamilton (1889-1975) British Soldier and Courtier, equerry to the Prince of Wales from 1919-21.
'…I feel more & more strongly that its absolutely legitimate to lie…' EDWARD VIII: (1894-1972) King of the United Kingdom January - December 1936. Later Duke of Windsor. A fine, long A.L.S., David, (twice; at the conclusion and again at one interval in the letter, and a further three times with his initial D at other intervals in the letter), fourteen pages, 4to, Calgary, Banff and other places, 15th - 21th September 1919, to his mistress Freda Dudley Ward ('Fredie darling darling one'). The Prince writes his letter, in bold pencil, over a period of a week whilst travelling by train across Canada during his official tour, stating, in part, 'I really am down & out to-night sweetheart & feeling like death as I've never taken such a hopelessly miserable & despondent view of life as I do now!! It's hell beloved one & all on account of having had to do the P of W stunt & play to the gallery till I can do it no more!! This trip has been a huge success up to the present, I'll take a little credit for that as I have worked hard & no mistake; but its partly fear of not being able to keep it up & letting down the staff & spoiling the whole trip which has put me in this hopeless state of mind!! I feel….that I'm not ½ big enough man to take on what I consider is just about the biggest job in the world!! Can't you picture your poor little boy….struggling with a long & important speech for tomorrow which he knows he's going to crash over & so spoil his reputation!!….Your little boy is quite silly to have cracked just now when the worst stunts are over & he's going to have a very easy & perhaps pleasant week before reaching Vancouver…I like Calgary…I was taken straight to church where I had to dedicate a war memorial; then we lunched at the golf club tho it was too maddening not to be able to play on the fine course & all I got was a mouldy walk!!….I've just got away from a very wet & noisy dinner at the Ranchman's Club, though I think the title implies tight men doesn't it darling? They are a fine crowd of Westerners, but God they drink….it was stiff cocktails & scotch to-night followed by dirty songs. I guess I was lucky to escape before midnight having only been roughly handled by one drunken tho it was kind roughness…' (15th September), '…we rode off to the "round" up of cattle which was an amazing stunt; I rode a nice locally bred horse in a "stock" saddle…We were in time to help the cowboys & Indians round up the last odd hundreds of cattle & they collected close on 2000.…it was quite good fun & I got lots of hard riding doing my best imitation of a cowboy….it's a real good life that ranching darling tho a very hard one & one's got to be real tough to take it on as a living….I've been listening to the queer & funny experiences of the whole staff who all had an adventure or experience with one or more women to-night'. (17th September),'Of course I'm as usual terribly sad & lonely sweetheart tho only on top tho that is the part of me that I work on; the deep down part is always always the same blissfully happy because WE love each other!! I ask for nothing in this world except that my precious darling beloved little Fredie Wedie shld love me as I know SHE does….I owe my Mama 2 letters & my father 3 tho they do write such balls that they are hardly worth answering tho I suppose I shall have to make an effort soon!!….I had a good game of golf with Godfrey this afternoon & was playing better; a nice 9 hole course tho he beat me 3 up but only because I messed up the last 3 holes!!…There are ½ dozen nice Canadian girls here darling all of them hideous but good dancers & cheery & gt fun & good for any thing I shld say tho that doesn't interest this little boy….' (18th September), '…I was on the verge of tears reading all the marvellous divine things you say to me sweetheart & did want you want you beloved one & just held out my arms (I did really!!) tho alas nothing happened & I felt more hopelessly lonely than ever!!….Oh!! Its useless my trying to tell you what your last letter & everything in it means to your vewy vewy own devoted adoring little David…I had 2 rounds on the 9 hole course at Banff yesterday morning tho I was hopeless on account of a gale of wind & being worried by people coming up to shake hands or snap me; & the limit came when a hideous Yank girl in huge spectacles came up to me & called me "dear sweet child" to my face just after I had missed a long drive shot & was using the foulest language!!….But this is a marvellous spot….& I adore it because you do & because you've been here & I figured out your divine lovely little face on the glacier at the end of the lake. We've been dancing….to-night with those Canadian girls who I'm ashamed to say we brought up in our train from Banff & we had them to dinner again…don't be thulky Fredie darling & we only gave them a lift as they missed the train having planned to come on here anyway & if only you could see them you wouldn't possibly be thulky!!…I got more than fed up & bored with those very plain girls we've had more or less in tow since Calgary & am glad to be quit of them!!!!….I enclose a few more photos (no longer present) angel which may amuse you; that Indian rig (complete with feathered head dress) was given me by the Stony Indians yesterday when they made me a "chief" and called me "Morning Star"…did anyone ever feel less like a star in the morning than your little boy darling; such an inappropriate name to give me!!' (19th September), '…You see I tell you every thing as you know beloved one & as I promised to; of course there have been funny incidents the whole time particularly at the queer parties we go to tho. they don't happen to me only to the staff!! But these women out here are as hot as hell most of them & one has to be more than on one's best behaviour and never release oneself a scrap when dancing or talking to them as they are merely waiting for the least hint for a flirtation & they squeeze one's hand & say the most amazing things tho all that merely revolts me. They don't get any change out of your little boy sweetheart….I can't possibly reach England before 20th Nov & my visit to the States is still very vague…New York is going to be cut out….I shld like to have spent a few hrs in N.Y. having heard so much about it merely to see the amazing city….' (20th September), 'We spent a terrible 4 hrs….yesterday afternoon as after all the balls we were solemnly driven up to the top of a bl_ _d _ mountain (1 ½ hrs) in cars to unveil some mouldy tablet to commemorate my visit!! Christ! Your little boy was peeved & fierce over the whole stunt as it didn't do any good to anyone & it was a case of "Gud I'm cold" when we might have had a good climb by ourselves!!….Bless you sweetie mine for this last divine letter & for Mr. Thpider's photo on that angellic (sic) seal which I love & which has made me so happy & Mrs. Thpider is delighted wiv it too & says it's a good photo!! How you do spoil me Fredie darling & its so so sweet of you to have put Mr. Thpider on yr. pearl necklace….everything you've given me is sacred sweetheart, yr. photos & sponges….And we use the same scent, soap & tooth paste etc. so that I'm only thinking of YOU darling one even when I'm cleaning my teeth!!….I feel more & more strongly that its absolutely legitimate to lie & that we are more than within our rights to do so when it concerns our own private affairs angel....' OWING TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE-SALEROOM WE CAN NOT PUBLISH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT - PLEASE CONTACT IAA LTD DIRECTLY FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION
[CHARLES] (1948- ) Prince of Wales & [DIANA] (1961-1997) Princess of Wales. Small selection of four original official colour 10 x 12 photographs by Lord Lichfield, each taken at the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. Three of the images depict the Royal couple in different poses together, accompanied by bridesmaids, page boys and the Prince of Wales supporters', his younger brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and one image depicts Prince Charles and Princess Diana in full length poses together. All bear the credit label of Lichfield pasted to the versos and are individually numbered in pencil to the versos A4, A5, A9 and A10. A few with minor bumps to the corners of the photographer's mount, VG to EX, 4
ALBERT I: (1875-1934) King of the Belgians 1909-34. A good vintage signed sepia 8 x 11.5 photograph, the image showing the King standing in a three quarter length pose wearing his military uniform and cap. Photograph by Speaight of London and bearing their small pencil signature and blindstamp to the lower mount. Signed ('Albert') by the King in bold fountain pen ink with his name alone to the lower photographer's mount. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, about EX
PITT WILLIAM: The Younger (1759-1806) British Prime Minister 1783-1801, 1804-06. A.L.S., W Pitt, (the signature somewhat obscured by a large ink blot), one page, 4to, Berkeley Square, 28th December 1783, to [Sir Robert (?) Henderson]. Pitt informs his correspondent that 'immediately on the meeting of the House of Commons on the 12th of January Business of the Greatest moment will be brought forward' and continues 'I am the more anxious that you should be informed of this circumstance as you have had no opportunity of taking any part on the Questions respecting the East Indies, which have been so much agitated of late, and as I am fully convinced that if any Plan can be brought on, worthy of your support, it will not fail to receive it' and concludes 'It is on those grounds, and those only, that I can in any degree presume to expect it'. With blank integral leaf bearing a pencil annotation in the hand of a French collector indicating that the letter was sent to a Robert Henderson. VG Pitt took office as Prime Minister for the first time on 19th December 1783, less than ten days before the present letter was written, when he became the youngest Prime Minister at the age of 24. Pitt's letter is written in the aftermath of the Fox-North Coalition of 1783, a government whose ministry was a coalition of the groups supporting Charles James Fox and Lord North. King George III despised the government, and Fox in particular, but found that no other ministry could be formed at this stage despite several offers to Pitt. The British East India Company had been in trouble and Fox proposed nationalising it. The East India Bill was introduced and passed in the Commons but the King remained deeply opposed. He informed the House of Lords that he would regard any peer who voted for the bill as his enemy. The bill was defeated on 17 December 1783 and the King immediately dismissed the coalition. It was succeeded by a government formed by Pitt. After being dismissed, Fox and North tried to force Pitt from power through defeat in the House of Commons, but he refused to resign. The response of opinion in the country, evidenced by petitions, resolutions of borough corporations and the actions of the London mobs, showed strong opposition to the coalition and support for Pitt. In March 1784 a general election was called in which Pitt's government made massive gains. Pitt's correspondent was probably actually Sir John Henderson (1752-1817) Scottish Nobleman and Politician who served as MP for Dysart Burghs from 1780-84. Henderson was a known supporter of Pitt the Younger. We can find no trace of a Robert Henderson having sat in the House of Commons at the time of the present letter.
ASQUITH H. H.: (1852-1928) British Prime Minister 1908-16. A fine vintage signed 4.5 x 6.5 photograph of Asquith seated in a three quarter length pose in a wicker chair before a small table. Photograph by Walton Adams & Son of Reading and bearing their pencil signature to the lower photographer's mount. Signed ('Oxford') by Asquith in bold black fountain pen ink to the lower photographer's mount and dated September 1927 in his hand. Neatly mounted and contained in the original 4to photographer's presentation folder. Some extremely light, very minor age wear, VG In 1925 Asquith was raised to the peerage as Viscount Asquith of Morley in the West Riding of the County of York and Earl of Oxford and Asquith.
FOOTBALL: Selection of large 4to cards signed by various footballers and managers from different English clubs comprising Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Stoke City, Southampton, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers including Bobby Robson, Glenn Hoddle, Peter Shilton, Frans Thijssen, Steve Perryman, Peter Osgood, Alan Brazil, Osvaldo Ardiles, Ron Atkinson, Clive Woods, Terry Naylor, Don Givens, George Burley, Barry Daines, Peter Mellor, Russell Osman, Neil McNab, Joe Mercer, Arnold Muhren, John Lacy, David Armstrong, Mick Mills, Don McAllister, Dario Gradi, Terry Butcher, Colin Lee, Bobby Moncur, Chris Nicholl, John Pratt, Dave Needham, Terry Curran, Chris Jones, Justin Fashanu, Ivan Golac, Gerry Armstrong, Luther Blissett, Lee Chapman, John Duncan, Geert Meijer, Loek Ursem, Chris Hughton, John Gregory, Sammy Irvine, Keith Osgood, Peter With, Adrian Heath, Terry Venables, Dickie Guy, Garth Crooks, Mike England, Malcolm Allison, Norman Hunter, Steve Archibald, Ray Wilkins, Frank Worthington, Alan Mullery, Howard Kendall, Eddie Gray, John Chiedozie, Bryan Hamilton, Paul Hart, Tony Currie, John Lukic, Duncan McKenzie, Bob Latchford, Ray Ranson, Paul Power, Joe Corrigan, Mark Higgins, Dennis Tueart, John Radford, Gordon Taylor etc. A little duplication. Many of the cards are multiple signed and most have attached colour magazine photographs etc. Each with file holes to the left edges, not affecting the signatures. A few with some very light staining and some with light pencil annotations in the hand of the collector. Generally VG, 92
[BIGGLES]: JOHNS W. E. (1893-1968) English Pilot and Writer of adventure stories, creator of the ace pilot Biggles. Bold blue fountain pen ink signature ('Yours sincerely W. E. Johns') on a 12mo card, neatly laid down to a page removed from an autograph album. Together with Leslie Stead (1899-1986) English Illustrator of many of the Biggles novels. A good original pencil drawing signed by Stead on a 12mo piece, the image depicting the famous pilot in a head and shoulders pose wearing his flying cap and goggles. Signed ('Stead') in pencil at the base of the drawing and with the additional holograph salutation 'Biggles sends every good wish'. Neatly laid down to a page removed from an autograph album. A rare pair of autographs. About VG, 2 Stead apparently based Biggles' face upon his own face.
GORDON CHARLES GEORGE: (1833-1885) British Army officer, known as Chinese Gordon. A good, interesting series of sixteen A.Ls.S., C G Gordon, thirty one pages (total), mainly 8vo, various places (Mauritius, Jerusalem, Cape Town, Southampton etc.), November 1881 - November 1882, all to Charles Button in the Seychelles. The letters relate to the botany of the Seychelles, in particular the Coco de Mer and tortoises, and state, in part, ‘I got your paper on the Coco de Mer…if it was you who sent me the little tortoise, many thanks for it’ (20th November 1881), ‘I sent your remarks on to Mr. Broome about the Coco de Mer, and he writes that he takes the greatest interest in them. The great officials at Kew are also very much interested in the subject and you may expect that orders will come out, for a much more careful surveillance over there….I have asked Mr. Brodie to do some commissions for me, and feel sure you will help him’ (20th December 1881), ‘I am also glad that you are looking after the Coco de Mer….Glad to hear of your success in curing Cocoa Nut tree disease by the tests. Get the case or any you have given Brodie, for me, for he is too busy to attend to anything. Look after the two tortoises in the Govt. Plot…’ (5th February 1882), ‘I want the four little tortoises alive not dead. You may have to pay more for them than I put down however I will repay you. I send you a little box enclosing two brooches (neither the box or brooches still present) for Mrs. Button, one is the arms of the Seychelles when it gets free of the Mauritius, the other is the Hindoo representation of Universe. The Hindoos think that Curuman one of the incarnations of Bhudda, and which name signifies Tortoise when the flood came took the form of a tortoise and placed the Ark on his back & took it to Ararat with Noah. The tortoise eggs take six months to hatch. The flood lasted four months so that I think the flood covered them and that when it subsided, the eggs were hatched, they never could have walked down from Ararat. You see none of these isles have much animal life on them. NB. I forgot to ask you to get me in a bottle of spirits one of the little snakes, which are found on Praslin’ (10th February 1882), ‘I want the two or four Tortoises to be little ones and alive’ (16th February 1882), ‘Your letter was very interesting and I hope you will keep an eye on everything connected with the Coco de Mer, especially its mode of germination….this will be closely looked into….’ and ‘I would like a short bit of Common Cocoa nut wood, as well as of the Coco de Mer wood’ (both 7th March 1882), ‘If I do not come, keep the little tortoises for me. I may send for them at some future time’ (15th March 1882), ‘The vessel for Zanzibar which I had hoped to catch has not been able to await the coming in of mail, so that I may after all, have to come by the April mail. Please have everything ready….’ (19th March 1882), ‘I hear all the first class passages are taken for the mail leaving here on 18th April, so I may consider it almost certain I cannot come through Seychelles, so kindly see the things packed safely and ready to go….Mr. Broome….has no objection to you making the collection of things I want, and of taking specimens from the Govt. lands. I fear you will have trouble to get the two roots. If you have enough money, get a double set of each….’ (21st March 1882), ‘Many thanks for all you have done for me….Let me know how you go on at Seychelles in which place I take a great interest….This colony is a smart one & there is plenty of vigour in it’ (Cape Town, 17th June 1882), ‘Tell me about the Coco de Mer and anything you can think of in the way of curious things, for I shall take a great interest in Seychelles & Praslin….How is the Coco de Mer in the Govt. garden….and how are the Tortoises. I hope that they are looked after. Remember you are to keep two little ones for me of the Brood which came out last October. I wish I could come and settle out at Seychelles but it is too far off and I am thinking of settling down in Palestine’ (22nd October 1882), ‘Here is a letter (no longer present) from Mr. Dyer who evidently considers you to be what I know you are, a most valuable botanical ally….You know the buds sprout [here Gordon has illustrated his letter with two small ink drawings of clusters of buds]…put some of these up for me, but do not send them…for fear they should be stolen. I am sorry I lost the small cooped backed tortoise, in fact all the small things were stolen….Write me how the two big Tortoises are, also anything new about Coco de Mer’ (25th November 1882), ‘Thanks for your kind offer of the small Tortoises. I hope you will not give any away at all. A time will come when they will be very valuable and it is a great pity to give any of them away, they are only neglected’ (n.d.). Also including an autograph manuscript, unsigned, in Gordon’s hand, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. The manuscript is a list of seven numbered repairs which Gordon wishes to be carried out, including fixing roofs to outbuildings, repairing water pipes, placing double sashes in the windows, fixing an iron stove and slightly expanding a stable for three horses etc. A small original ink drawing in Gordon’s hand appears to the verso, detailing the rooms of the buildings and identifying the kitchen and stables. With some further pencil calculations and a small diagram in an unidentified hand. A fascinating archive of letters. Some of the letters have small, neat splits at the folds (a few slightly more extensive, and with contemporary repairs with small pieces of tape) slightly affecting some words of text, a few letters with small holes just affecting a few words of text etc. FR to generally G, 17
BRITISH ADMIRALS: Selection of A.Ls.S., a few T.Ls.S. etc., by various British Admirals, many of whom served during World War I, including John Kelly (3; two in pencil written to Vice-Admiral Francis Pridham), Percy Scott, Thomas James, Alan Hotham, Lionel Halsey (writing on behalf of the Prince of Wales, 1931), William Goodenough, Eric Geddes, Barry Domvile, John De Robeck, Stanley Colville, Cyril Cameron, Roger Backhouse (2; both to Vice-Admiral Francis Pridham) etc. Generally VG, 19
SCHIRACH BALDUR VON: (1907-1974) German Reichsjugendfuhrer, head of the Hitler-Jugend (Hitler Youth) from 1931-40 and Gauleiter of Vienna 1940-45. T.L.S., Schirach, one page, oblong 4to, Munich, 9th March 1932, to [Ernst Rohm], on the printed stationery of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, in German. Schirach, in his capacity as Reichsjugendfuhrer, writes to his superior and states, in full, 'I ask that note be taken of the following memorandum of the Reich Leader of the H[itler] J[ugend], with which I agree completely. I think it is intolerable that the 'Federation of German Girls in the Hitler Youth' be removed from the structure of the youth organisations and be subordinated to the Organisational Department of the NSDAP, which has no experience in the field of youth organisations'. To the verso Ernst Rohm (1887-1934, German Officer, an early Nazi leader who was co-founder of the Sturmabteilung. Executed on the orders of Hitler and Himmler following his involvement in the Night of the Long Knives) has written his reply, a T.L.S., Rohm (in bold indelible pencil), one page, oblong 4to, Munich, 20th March 1932, to Schirach, stating 'As I have no experience in the Youth movement, I have to go for the most part by the statements of the experienced youth leaders on my staff. I think the argumentation of the leader of Hitler Youth is so well founded that I see no reason to oppose it. On the contrary, I think the suggestions on the last page (6) of the memorandum of von Rentelns are close to the intentions of the Reich Organisational Leader I'. Rare. Two files holes to both the left and right edges and with an official stamp and a few pencil annotations to Schirach's letter. About VG
A few days before Hitler's first public speech in Berlin HIMMLER HEINRICH: (1900-1945) German Nazi official of World War II, Reichsfuhrer of the SS. T.L.S., H. Himmler, in bold pencil, two pages, oblong 4to, Munich, 26th April 1927, to [Philipp] Bouhler, on the printed stationery of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-Partei), in German. Himmler's letter comprises four numbered paragraphs and states, in part, '1.) Briefly for your information, Herr Hitler will speak on 11th May this year in the Burgerbrau Cellar provided we don't enter into the election campaign in Mecklenburg. 2.) Until 30th April this year the report from Hildebrandt in Mecklenburg, together with documentation, must have arrived stating that we have 3,000 officially stamped signatures….If this report does not arrive by 30th April, I ask for a reminder by telegram. If both conditions are not fulfilled by 30th April, we will not take part. 3.) Please tell the Photograph Dept. of the Schutzstaffel (S.S.) that I can't use their lectures in Lower Bavaria until the second week of May - from 5 - 10. 4.) Please schedule Director Reinhardt for Monday, 9th April, at the central evening meeting, along with Herr Hitler. Herr Hitler would like to take this opportunity to speak personally with Director Reinhardt on various things….' A good letter, not least for its references to Hitler and the S.S. Two file holes to the left edge and with various stamps and pencil and ink annotations to the left margin. VG Philipp Bouhler (1899-1945) German Nazi Party official who had joined the NSDAP in July 1922 with membership number 12. Deputy Manager of the NSDAP 1922-25 and Business Manager of the NSDAP 1925-34. Adolf Hitler had been barred from public speaking by the Bavarian authorities since 1925, however just a few days after the present letter was written the future Fuhrer, in his capacity as Chairman of the NSDAP, made his first public speech in Berlin on 1st May 1927.
ROMMEL ERWIN: (1891-1944) German Field Marshal of World War II. Vintage signed postcard photograph of Rommel standing in a full length pose, wearing his military overcoat and cap, in the desert. A second military officer, holding a pair of binoculars, stands alongside Rommel. Signed ('Rommel') in bold pencil with fair contrast at the foot of the image. VG
ROMMEL ERWIN: (1891-1944) German Field Marshal of World War II. Vintage signed sepia 4 x 6 postcard, being a reproduction of a head and shoulders portrait of Rommel wearing his uniform and Knight’s Cross. Signed (‘Rommel’) in bold pencil to a light area at the base of the image, which also features a facsimile signature. About EX
ROMMEL ERWIN: (1891-1944) German Field Marshal of World War II. D.S., Rommel, in bold pencil, one page, 4to, Geffechtsstand (Command Post), n.d., on the printed stationery of the Panzerarmee Afrika. The printed document, in German, is a form letter to an unknown recipient, explaining that he receives so many messages daily from Germany that he cannot answer them all personally, and continuing to refer to the German troops under his command in North Africa, as well as the 'extremely brave and dutiful' Italian comrades fighting at their side 'for the common victory' which will 'contribute to the final victory of the axis'. In a typed postscript Rommel states that he has no photographs available at present. Some very light, extremely minor foxing, and one small tear to the lower edge, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VG
MOSER HANS: (1906-1948) German Nazi SS Officer at the Neuengamme, Auschwitz and Mittelbau-Dora concentration camps during World War II. The only one of 19 defendants to be sentenced to death at the Dora Trial. Rare D.S., Moser, one page, small oblong 8vo, Mittelbau, 31st December 1944. The typed document is a certificate of confirmation relating to Josef Ackermann and allows him to wear a long haircut. With various official stamps and ink and pencil annotations to the verso. Central vertical fold and some light age wear and minor tears to the edges, not affecting the signature, G
VE Day A rare group of original historic documents relating to Victory in Europe Day, the 70th Anniversary of which was celebrated recently, in May 2015. Eisenhower's total cease fire order ending World War II in Europe. WORLD WAR II: An extremely rare and historically important document issued by Dwight D Eisenhower (1890-1969) American General of World War II, later American President 1953-61, to all of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) General and Special Staff Divisions, being Eisenhower's Total Cease Fire Order of May 1945. The telex document, three pages, 4to, SHAEF headquarters, 7th May 1945, printed in purple ink on official telex sheets with the red printed headings Confidential Confidential/ SHAEF Forward/ Staff Message Control/ Outgoing Message, is a Book Message marked Copy No. 2, prepared by SHAEF's Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Major General John Whiteley, and comprising three paragraphs. The historic document states, in full, 1. A representative of the German High Command signed the unconditional surrender of all German land, sea, and air forces in EUROPE to the Allied Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to the Soviet High Command at 0141 hours Central European Time, 7th May under which all forces will cease active operations at 0001B hours 9th May. 2. Effective immediately all offensive operations by Allied Expeditionary Force will cease and troops will remain in present positions. Moves involved in occupational duties will continue. Due to difficulties of communication there may be some delay in similar orders reaching enemy troops so full defensive precautions will be taken. 3. All informed down to an including Divisions, Tactical Air Commands and Groups, Base Sections, and equivalent. No release will be made to the press pending an announcement by the heads of the three governments'. The remaining pages of the telex comprise the complete distribution list, again headed Confidential and Urgent. With several official G-3 Division stamps and pencil annotations. A truly significant document marking one of the 20th centuries most momentous events. Some light overall foxing and minor age wear, about VG COPY NO. 2 OF ONE OF EISENHOWER'S FOUR IMPORTANT PERSONALLY AUTHORISED MESSAGES RELATING TO THE GERMAN SURRENDER Following the German capitulation at Rheims in the early hours of the morning on 7th May 1945 General Dwight Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, personally authorised four important messages relating to the German surrender and its implementation. The first message (FWD20798 - SCAF355 Top Secret) was transmitted at 0325 to 'AGWAR for Combined Chiefs of Staff, AMSSO for British Chiefs of Staff' (All General and Special Staff Divisions) and was prepared by Lieutenant Colonel J. B. Moore. Eisenhower's succinct message simply read 'The mission of this Allied Force was fulfilled at 0241, local time, May 7th 1945'. Eisenhower, now feeling that he needed to expand upon his previous cipher then sent a further cable urging the need for a tri-government announcement as soon as coordination between all three countries could be achieved. This second message (FWD20799 - SCAF356 Top Secret) was transmitted at 0320 (although it was intended to have been sent simultaneously with SCAF355). Distribution was also to 'AGWAR for Combined Chiefs of Staff, AMSSO for British Chiefs of Staff'. Although a Russian General had participated in the signing of the surrender agreement, the Soviets began pressing for a further ceremony to take place in Berlin on 9th May. At this point Eisenhower formally notified the British and American Chiefs of Staff of the German surrender and that General Susloparoff had signed on behalf of the Russians. Eisenhower also sent the message to the Allied Military Mission to Moscow asking them to notify the Soviet High Command that all active operations would cease at 2301 hours CET on the 8th May (effectively 0001 on the 9th May GMT). This third message (FWD20800 - SCAF357 Confidential) was transmitted at 0410. Distribution was to 'AGWAR for Combined Chiefs of Staff, AMSSO for British Chiefs of Staff, Military Mission Moscow' (AFHQ, SHAEF Main, SHAEF Rear). It was prepared by SHAEF's Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Major General John Whiteley. However, it was now after 0400 am and the surrender had been in effect for nearly one and a half hours but, most importantly, the three million men and women of the Allied Expeditionary Force were still totally unaware that World War II was over. Realising this Eisenhower issued his fourth message, represented by the present document, but this final message was of even greater significance as it was the first to be directed to the troops under his command. This was Eisenhower's personal 'Cease Fire Order' and the fourth message (FWD20801 - Confidential) was transmitted simultaneously with the third message at 0410. Distribution was to every major battle formation serving under SHAEF and required a two page listing, as shown in the present document. It again was prepared by SHAEF's Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Major John Whiteley. The first three messages were all directed to the American and British Chiefs of Staff, but the present document, Eisenhower's fourth message, was the first which the Supreme Commander personally addressed to the men and women under his command and the only one directing them to cease offensive operations. SHAEF messages were despatched by cable with recipients located outside SHAEF Forward distributing them internally by teleprinter. The number of documents printed on SHAEF Forward stationery, as the present example is, for internal distribution was restricted in accordance with the designated circulation, however 'Book Messages' were usually limited to no more than several hundred copies. Indeed, the G-3 Division itself was limited to just eight copies for its 61 staff. As such, the present document is of extreme rarity. We can find no records of a SHAEF Forward copy of the present document as having ever been offered for sale at auction. An example of Eisenhower's first message was sold at Bonhams, New York, on 29th April 2015 (Lot 158, $18,750/£11,838). Provenance: The present document was presented to General Eisenhower's Chief of Intelligence, Major General Kenneth Strong (1900-1982) by the cable originator, SHAEF's Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Major General John Whiteley (1896-1970), as a souvenir of the historic event. Strong and Whiteley were two of three key British staff officers Eisenhower brought in to assist him at SHAEF, and Strong played a leading part in the negotiations for the unconditional surrender of Germany in 1945. The present lot is accompanied by a photocopy of the main page of the document signed twice in blue ink by Strong ('Kenneth Strong, Major General') and a copy of a photograph showing Strong escorting Alfred Jodl, Chief of the Operations Staff of the German Armed Forces High Command, in to the 'War Room' at Rheims in order to sign the surrender terms on behalf of the Nazi state.
AUTOGRAPH ALBUM: An autograph album containing over 30 signatures, most on pieces or cards neatly mounted to pages, by a wide variety of famous individuals including Robert Baden-Powell, Oliver Lodge, Feodor Chaliapin, Archibald Corble (British Olympic Fencer 1912, 1924 & 1928), Edgar Seligman (Olympic Silver medallist 1908 & 1912 as a member of the British Fencing team) and other amateur foils champions, Harry Mitchell (Olympic Gold medallist as Light Heavyweight boxing champion, 1924), George Geary, Harold Larwood, John W. Hearne, Ernest Tyldesley, A. E. Walters (World Record holding cyclist), Hilaire Belloc, Rudyard Kipling, Alan Cobham etc. A few signatures are in bold pencil and some pages are multiple signed. Generally VG

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