We found 79736 price guide item(s) matching your search

Household Goods - topographical postcards; a brasss jam pan; a Staffordshire chamber pot; Commemorative ware; playing cards; bow and arrow; etc

Ernie Hudson signed 10x8 b/w photo. American character actor. Possibly best known for playing Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters Good condition. All items come with a Certificate of Authenticity and can be shipped worldwide.

Michael Rennie signed photo and typed signed letter. Typed letter, dated 1945 signed by actor Michael Rennie (1909 - 1971). He is best known for playing the space visitor Klaatu in The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951). The letter is on Gainsborough Studios headed paper. Comes with a signed 13 x 9 cm sepia portrait photo and the original mailing envelope. Good condition. All items come with a Certificate of Authenticity and can be shipped worldwide.

Franz Beckenbauer. 10x8 picture playing for West Germany. Excellent. Good condition. All items come with a Certificate of Authenticity and can be shipped worldwide.

Three Liberation of Kuwait First Anniversary medallions 1991, two Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Commemorative medallions, coins and two packs of Saddam Husayn Wanted playing cards.

A Victorian Staffordshire figure of Peter Wilkins, in a dancing pose, 20cm high, another figure playing a lute, 20cm high, and a figure of a lady leaning on a pedestal and holding an umbrella

A Victorian Staffordshire figure group of a theatrical figure in an ermine cloak listening to a lady playing a guitar, 19cm high, and another of a courtier holding the hand of a girl in a Highland skirt, 25cm high (2)

A set of five Merrythought Golly figures playing musical instruments, all with original boxes

William Baillie exh 1900-1913 Glasgow, An old musician in costume playing violin watercolour, signed 24 x 30 cm

A pair of early 19th century pearlware figures of a boy and girl playing with puppies, with bocage, and square bases, 13cm high

A pair of Victorian Staffordshire figures of musicians playing a tambourine and accordion, 34cm high, and another figure group of musicians playing an accordion and a Hurdy-Gurdy, 28cm high. See Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835 -1875 A&N Harding fig. 1654

A matching pair of early 19th century Meissen figure groups, one depicting a lady playing guitar, a boy placing a garland on her head and a suitor with a hat of flowers, all under a apple tree, on a naturalistic base with foliate and ribbon base, cross sword and six point star mark, impressed D.95. 28cm high, some losses; the other depicting a seated lady with flowers gathered in her apron with a suitor and girl collecting fruit, as found.

An Indian or Sino Tibetan bronze of a deity riding a bird whilst playing a sitar possibly Sareswati, hexagonal stepped base, 16.5cm

A Chinese porcelain miniature bowl and cover, the domed cover with bud finial, decorated in famille rose colours with children playing with panels of character script, red seal marks to base, 7cm diam (2)

Stalag Luft III Playing Cards but all are the same card!

A COLLECTION OF TWENTY BOXED SETS OF CASPARI DOUBLE DECK PLAYING CARDS

Children/Postal - Early coloured postcard of children playing with a dog, used 1906 with very fine Glasgow machine cancel No.1

*Playing cards. A set of multiplication cards, n.p., circa 1840, ninety-eight (of 100) hand-coloured engraved cards, comprising forty-eight pairs of cards and two missing their companion card, each pair forming the picture of a bird or animal, the left-hand card with a multiplication problem beneath image, and the right-hand card with the solution, dusty, each card 82 x 50mm (3.25 x 2ins), contained in a custom-made cloth solander box, together with a set of thirty-four circular alphabet counters, circa 1830, twenty-five with a letter printed in black on one side and a hand-coloured engraving of an object, animal, or person on the other (lacking 'G'), the other nine with groups of letters on both sides, dusty and some soiling, contained in a circular wooden box, plus Madame Ronge's Kinder Garten Alphabet, circa 1850, alphabet pastime game made up of various sized card semi-circles and straight pieces, contained in original cardboard box (broken, with loss and repairs), lid with printed title label on front, and directions for forming the letters on underside, plus a late 19th century set of wooden alphabet tiles printed with letters, contained in wooden box with sliding lid Provenance: From the library of Percy H. Muir. (4)

*Manuscript playing cards. A set of fifty-two pictorial cards, late 19th century, fifty-two cards, each with pen & ink or pencil drawing (a number with touches of watercolour), two pencil illustrations overdrawn in biro in a later hand, each with the names of several prominent figures in neat manuscript, versos blank, a few with minor staining, 90 x 62mm (3.5 x 2.5ins), together with a pack of 19th century Spanish-suited playing cards, thirty-nine cards (lacking the six of coins), with blue ink stamp 'Pelliero Bengaglia, Genova', versos with dotted blue pattern (two with backing paper lacking) With illustrations such as Stephenson's Rocket, a sailing ship, flags, an anchor, snowdrops, scales, scientific instruments, a palette, and Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge. The names mentioned include writers, scientists, missionaries, astronomers, artists, architects, naval men, statesmen and historians, for example, Dickens, Nelson, Napier, Livingstone, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Wellington, Landseer, Turner, Soane, Pugin and Peel. (2)

*Suffragettes. Panko [or Votes for Women, The Great Card Game Suffragists v. Anti-Suffragists, Pictures by E.T. Reed of "Punch", Peter Gurney, c.1909], forty-eight pictorial playing cards, comprising eight suits of six (complete), some surface rubbing, purple patterned versos, rounded corners, 9 x 6cm (3.5 x 2.25ins), together with printed rule sheet, folded twice, contained in remains of box (without pull-off lid), plus a complete set of playing cards by Hall & Bancks, circa 1820s, dust-soiled, blue versos, 9 x 6.5cm (3.5 x 2.5ins) Uncommon card game that pits supporters and opponents of women's suffrage against each other. The advertisement for the game claimed 'Not only is each picture in itself an interesting memento, but the game produces intense excitement without the slightest taint of bitterness'. This translation of the suffrage movement into card games, and also board games, helped bring the message of the cause into domestic circles where more overt forms of propaganda might not have been welcomed. (2)

*Embroidered picture. An embroidered oval picture of a lady and child, circa 1790, finely worked in black thread on cream silk, with the faces carefully drawn in ink, showing a lady with a basket of flowers on her head, and a small girl playing 'ride-a-cock-horse', in a landscape with trees and a church, some minor loss of threads, 20 x 15.5cm (8 x 6ins), verre eglomise mount and black and gilt frame, annotated on reverse in later manuscript 'This silk embroidery work was awarded a medal at Alexandra Palace Industrial Exhibition 1880, to H.S. Course', together with a white metal prize medal engraved 'Alexandra Palace Industrial Exhibition 1880' and on verso 'Awarded to H.S. Course, Sec 4, Class 2', housed in original velvet-lined leather case, lettered in gilt inside hinged lid 'J.F. Wright Jeweller & Medallist, 44 Spencer St, Clarkenwell' Provenance: Mr. H.S. Course was a fourth cousin of the vendor. (2)

Games. Working Model Wheel of Fortune, Bishop & Co., 1867, a large folding sheet comprising sections of a Wheel of Fortune/Fortune Teller to be cut out and assembled, with engraved images and printed directions, unused, some tears to folds (some repaired on verso) and very slight loss to text, sheet size 50.5 x 39cm (19.75 x 15.5ins), together with Jack and his Seven Brothers, G. Ingram's Cardboard Models, circa 1860s, a large folding sheet comprising a game board with character playing pieces to cut out and components for assembling a teetotum, unused, several large tears to folds (some repaired on verso) and very slight loss to text, sheet size 56.5 x 44cm (22.25 x 17.25ins), plus Dean & Co, Grandpapa Easy's Amusing Addition; A New Poetical Number Book, [cover-title], circa 1840s, 16pp. including printed wrappers, hand-coloured engraved illustrations, soiled and extremities worn, spine resewn and repaired with adhesive tape, with some loss to front cover at spine (related closed tear on first leaf, repaired), slim 8vo, plus other children's books and ephemera including: an incomplete copy of Aunt Affable's Story of the Merry Cobbler, or What Good a Little Boy Can Do, circa 1840s; two Theatrical Picture Pop-Ups, entitled Too Much Talking is Hurtful (the story of Red-Riding-Hood) and Puss In Boots (subtitled A Rare Cat), [Germany, Frth: G. L”wensohn], circa 1880s, both missing one layer (of four); and The Fashionable Chinese Puzzle, circa 1820s Provenance: From the collection of Percy H. Muir. Sold with all faults, not subject to return. (approx. 24)

*Optical toy. A set of eight mirror anamorphosis cards, possibly French, circa 1860, eight hand-coloured lithographs, toned and spotted, with some soiling, two with a corner tip missing, and one with some closed tears, 16 x 19.5cm (6.25 x 7.75ins), together with contemporary viewing cylinder (cracked), polished metal with wooden base and finial top, height 10cm (4") Provenance: From the library of Percy H. Muir. Depicting a lady in a coronet; a gentleman bowing; a dancing girl; a young gentleman in blue; an elephant; a bunch of flowers; a young lady in a green dress; and a ten of hearts playing card. Similar to a set of twenty-four cards designed by Armand Louis Henri T‚lory (also known by his pseudonym Henri Emy) and published by Walter Freres. (1)

*Dodgson (Charles Lutwidge). On Catching Cold, offprint, [Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1881], drop-title, 4 pp., inscribed 'F.M. Dodgson' [Dodgson's niece] to upper margin of first page in an unidentified hand, disbound as issued, slim 8vo, preserved in modern cloth gilt chemise, together with other Dodgson ephemera, including a printed advertisement about Through the Looking-Glass, 1893, (5 copies), a printed circular about 'Through the Looking-Glass', 1894, A Postal Problem, 1891, printed sheets for Quadriliteral Diagrams and Quinqueliteral Diagrams, Two Letters to Marion, Bristol, 1932, (limited edition 213/300 copies), The "Wonderland" Postage-Stamp-Case (without stamps) in original printed envelope, Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing, 1890, Easter and Christmas Greetings, letters to Tony Beale on related Lewis Carroll matters from Gladys Dodgson, F.M. Dodgson, Bridget Coastie, and others, five Knitwear dolls of Alice figures, playing cards, magazines, newsletters, etc. (a carton)

*Crackers. A collection of vintage crackers, circa 1940s, five (of six) blue crepe paper and figured silver paper crackers, edged with silver glitter, each embellished with a fabric flower and foliage, length 23cm (9ins), accompanied by two small seated felt dolls, length 9cm (3.5ins), contained in original cardboard box with pull-off lid lettered 'Artistic Table Decoration, Christmas Crackers', box broken and one side missing, together with another three (of six) vintage crackers similar, purple crepe paper, edged with silver glitter, each embellished with a wire doll with painted plastic face, tied with a matching satin ribbon, length 23cm (9ins), contained in original cardboard box (one corner split), with pull-off lid lettered as above, together with a box of Pifco Fairy Lights, circa 1950s, coloured shades each with nursery rhyme and illustration (two lacking), plus a number of games and puzzles, including: a folding hand-coloured lithographed board The Steeple-Chase New Game, published by H. Narcon, Paris, mid 19th century; The New Game "Where's the Queen?" (with folding board and boxed playing pieces/rules); and The New Game of Cycle Tour (with folding board and boxed playing pieces/rules), plus a pair of Edwardian long kid gloves The lights have not been tested for electrical safety; sold with all faults, not subject to return. (a carton)

*Wallis (Edward, publisher). Game of Victoria, Queen of the Seas or British Colonists, Edward Wallis, circa 1840s, card game comprising thirteen (of 18) hand-coloured engraved cards and sixteen (of 18) printed cards representing various British Colonies and figures in (mostly) native dress, 7.5 x 6.5cm (3 x 2.5ins), with 7pp. booklet 'Directions for Playing the Game', contained in the original pictorial wooden box, together with Jigsaw Puzzle. Birds and their Nests drawn by Giacomelli and described by Mrs Surr, Thomas Nelson and Sons, circa 1878,a wooden double-sided jigsaw puzzle depicting six birds, accompanied by an illustrated book, part of the Queen Series of Picture Books, six colour lithograph plates of birds (matching those in the puzzle), with descriptions, jigsaw with one piece missing and one piece with a small loss, contained in the original wooden box with pictorial lid (repaired), plus Varty's Bible Illustrations Dissected: The Miracles of Christ, a wooden jigsaw illustrating six scenes from the life of Christ, complete (one interlocking tab broken but present), with a folded key picture laid onto linen, contained in the original pictorial box with printed publisher's advertisements on back of lid (lid repaired), plus The History of Printing, a wooden jigsaw, comprising forty-seven (of 48) pieces depicting historic moments in printing, contained in original pictorial wooden box, plus The Good Shepherd, a wooden double-sided jigsaw by Peacock & Co, depicting four scenes from the life of Christ, with an (incomplete) booklet describing the pictured stories and with full-page colour lithographs of the four scenes, contained in original pictorial wooden box Provenance: From the collection of Percy H. Muir. (5)

*Military Game. Belarungs-Spiel, Jeu de Siege, The Game of Siege, circa 1850s, hand-coloured lithographed folding board, depicting a fortress and four corner vignettes of Napoleonic soldiers, spotted, 32.5 x 31cm (12.75 x 12.25ins), twenty-one (of 24) turned bone and two black wooden playing pieces, contained in original cardboard box, rubbed and slightly worn, pull-off lid with hand-coloured lithographed label and lacking some of embossed border, together with a folding box board for another version of the game (worn, and without any components), plus The New Round Game of the Moorish Fort, Played upon an ordinary Table, circa 1860s, boxed game, comprising a painted red and gold cast metal fort, six green and six white marbles (of 14?), a wooden cue and rest (one cue lacking and only part of its rest present), two metal flags, and two wooden gauges, instruction booklet not present, contained in original wooden box with compartments, joints a little loose, sliding lid with printed paper label (rubbed and stained), 14 x 31 x 13.5cm (5.l5 x 12.25 x 5.25ins), plus Captain Lamorock Flower's Military Blocks Illustrative of the Field Exercise & Evolutions of Infantry. The Battalion Blocks Re-Arranged on a New Principle (Registered), by Captain William D. Malton, W. Mitchell & Co., 1871, wooden board with stands (one split in two), and numerous painted wooden blocks of various shapes, each with a metal pin, contained in original wooden box, printed green title label on hinged lid, and remains of printed key on underside of lid, 6.5 x 26.5 x 14.5cm (2.5 x 10.5 x 5.75ins) (3)

Neal (J., publisher). Wheel of Life No. 9, Neal's Penny Games. Shadows, Models, Dissected Puzzles &c. circa 1860s, large folding sheet with three rows of silhouettes (gardener with a club swallowing a rat, man with anvil and large powered hammer, and a jumping man), offsetting and some splits to folds, discolouration to final images of 2nd and 3rd rows, original printed wrappers, edge-frayed and spine splitting, front cover depicting a magic lantern show and other pastimes, rear cover with instructions, 8vo (unfolded sheet 29.5 x 89.5cm/11.75 x 35.25ins), together with Neal's Penny Games... Rifle Practice folding sheet with a large target surrounded by engraved soldiers, above printed directions for playing the game, a game to be played with cards or dice Provenance: From the collection of Percy H. Muir. The Wheel of Life silhouettes were intended for use with a homemade zoetrope, as detailed in the instructions on the reverse, and therefore are rarely found in their original uncut form as here. This set was no. 9 in a series, each sold for a penny by J. Neal who also supplied the completed zoetrope for an extra shilling. (2)

Card game. Jeu de Nain Jaune, Paris: Th. Donnadieu, circa 1853, French game in box containing five decorated compartments and an unopened pack of cards labelled 'Cartes Opaques... 1878', box with gilt lettered and decorated lid, printed rules on underside of lid, box rubbed and marked, together with a circular compartmented wooden gaming board titled 'Matrimony - Intrigue - Game', circa 1860s, hand-painted and with mounted engravings of playing cards, rubbed and without revolving base, diameter 25.5cm (10ins), plus Cadogan (Lady Adelaide), Illustrated Games of Patience, 1st edition, 1874,colour plates (one loose), hinges split, bookplate of Freda M. Biddulph on front pastedown, red edges, original pictorial green cloth, front joint partially split, extremities worn, 4to, plus Illustrated Games of Patience: Second Series, 1887, with bookplate as above, red edges, original pictorial blue cloth, soiled and extremities worn, 4to in 8s, plus Round Games at Cards by "Cavendish", 2nd edition, 1887, browned, all edges gilt, original red cloth with gilt design and lettering, marked, spine faded, small 8vo Provenance: From the library of Percy H. Muir. (5)

LONG PLAYING VINYL RECORDS - ELVIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION ON BLUE VINYL AND FOUR BEATLES LPS INCLUDING SERGEANT PEPPER AND REVOLVER

VICTORIAN WALNUT AND ROSEWOOD CASED MUSICAL BOX PLAYING 40 AIRS MANDOLIN TREMOLA

Peking glass snuff bottle, cameo carving of children playing, red jade cabouchon to stopper, 8.8cm h

‡ Klaus Friederberger (German/Australian/British b.1922) Girl playing Signed Oil on canvas 76 x 51cm Provenance: Hamilton Galleries, 1962, No. 6 ++Unlined, small chip of paint loss upper margin otherwise good condition

Doreen Kern. (British, born 1931). A modernist bronze sculpture of a woman playing a violin, incised “Doreen Kern 3/12”. Ht. 22cm.

A pair of cast patinated and gilt bronze Siamese temple dancers, one leaping and playing a drum, one in devotional stance. Heights 27cm.

Doreen Kern (British, born 1931). A modernist bronze sculpture of a boy playing a pipe, incised “Doreen Kern 9/12”. Ht.22cm.

Highly Important Album Some of the Earliest Irish PhotographsDated 1855Coghill (Sir Joscelyn) First Secretary of the Dublin Photographic Society: A very important Album of original 'Photographs, 1855', dated on cover 1855, the album containing circa 100 numbered pages, oblong quarto, with about 140 images in various sizes, many neatly captioned, some about 6 x 8 ins, others smaller, mostly portraits but also including some important landscape photos.Portraits include Sir Joscelyn himself, his wife Katharine, the young Egerton (oval) dated June 1858, Honb. Emmeline Plunket acting a part as 'Tragedy', Thomas Greene and (presumably) his wife, various family members, various tradesmen and servants, Sir Joscelyn playing cards, a good family group at a gate, Coghill's first carte-de-visite dated 1855, a splendid gentleman said to be Don Caesar de Bazant, a sleeping child, and many images of his wife and children.Landscape photos include Drumcondra House, a superb image of Drogheda harbour with sail-boats, important views of the Boyne Viaduct under construction, Muredach's Cross at Monasterboice showing fine uneroded detail, the bridge at Finglas before the city swallowed it, the Rock of Cashel with the original village at its foot, Hore Abbey, Adare Abbey, Desmond Castle, the old Weir Bridge, Gap of Dunloe, Muckross Abbey, Holy Cross, Brickeen Bridge, Newtown near Trim, an exceedingly bare view of Killiney with the obelisk, the Meeting of the Waters, Sackville St. with the Pillar and GPO, a windmill at Feltrum, the village of Swords, Chapel Izod (still a village), and near the end Windsor and some Welsh or English views and portraits.The quality of the images is generally excellent, the prints are neatly laid down and are mostly unfaded and in good condition. The album itself is strongly bound in half leather buckram. The covers are somewhat soiled and shaken, a few early pages have been cellotaped, but in general it is holding strongly. (1)A wonderful album by one of the earliest pioneers from the very beginning of photography in Ireland. See Edward Chandler's Photography in Ireland: The Nineteenth Century [Burke 2001] for further information about Coghill and his work, and his essay on 'The Mutual Relations of Photography and Art' [1859].Provenance: by family descent

A 20th century abstract bronze figure depicting a gentleman playing bongo drums

A period style highly decorative and heavily carved frame, probably 19th Century, decorated in bold relief with scrolling foliate motifs, containing a hand painted panel depicting an angelic harp playing female figure in robes, approx 38cm high, together with a Polish/Russian school carved softwood model of an eagle wearing a crown, applied with white metal religious medallion modelled in relief with a screen of the Madonna and child Christ, both in crowns, flanked by script, total height approx 23cm (2).

A bronzed figure of a young maiden with harp, a reproduction of Melodie by Par Ruttony and two further bronzed figures of cherubs playing, mark Auguste Moreau

A 19th century PVF miniature cylinder musical box, playing three airs according to tune sheet, single-piece comb, burr walnut case, with key, 6in.

A pair of Meissen shallow dishes, turquoise ground, painted to the centre with cherubs playing musical instruments on clouds within a gilded scrolling border, underglaze blue crossed swords, 24 cm diam, seconds quality (2) Condition Report Scratch to one cherub. Some rubbed gilding.

A 1960s goldtone metal and rhinestone brooch in the form of a stylised teddybear playing cymbals having rollover catch. Measures 5.5cms.

*FOURTEEN PACKETS OF SMOKING PLAYING CARDS including a leather bound pack 'with compliments from B. Morris & Sons Ltd., London'; FOUR CIGARS: King Six (x2) and 'Bull Dog' Imperials (x2); ten EMPTY PACKETS OF CIGARETTES including 'Fribourg & Treyer' and 'The Three Castles'; eleven CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO METAL DRINKS COASTERS; 'Players No 6' brown LEATHER WALLET; three Bond note pads; two 'Man Pipes' PIPE RESTS and a 'Nelson Tipped' KEY RING

LLADRO FIGURE, YOUNG MAN RECLINING ON GROUND PLAYING A FLUTE, 8" HIGH (SLIGHT FAULTS)

AN 18TH CENTURY DERBY FIGURE, modelled as boy playing horn, on naturalistic base with gilt scroll highlights, patch marks and impressed 9 and 13 under, approximately 17cm high

A PAIR OF 18TH CENTURY DERBY FIGURAL CANDLESTICKS, c.1780, modelled as boy playing pipe with dog at feet before floral bocage, together with girl dancing before floral bocage with sheep at feet, both set on scrolling bases, approximately 22cm and 22.5cm high (a/f) (2) (missing sconces) (Sotheby's 235 Country House Sale 1-6-94 lot labels to bases)

A CARVED ORIENTAL HARDWOOD ENVELOPE GAMES TABLE, having black baize playing surface to centre with relief moulded blossom and branches by wells to top over dragon, floral and foliate base with drawer, approximately 60cm square x 78cm high (closed)

TWO 18TH CENTURY DERBY FIGURE GROUPS, William Duesbury & Co, c.1760, shepherd playing pipe and shepherdess, both on scrolling gilt highlighted bases before floral bocage, approximately 23cm x 24cm high (a/f) (2) (Sotheby's lot 234 Country House Sale 1-6-94 labels to base)

A DERBY FIGURE GROUP, c.1775, modelled as Shepherd playing pipe to seated Shepherdess having urn on plinth with cover over, inscribed 12 to base, approximately 33cm high (a/f)

AN 18TH CENTURY DERBY FIGURINE, c.1765-70, musical shepherdess, modelled as shepherdess sat on tree stump playing flute with sheep at feet, set on scrolled gilt highlighted base, approximately 16.5cm high (a/f) (Sotheby's 245 Country House Sale 1-6-94 lot label to base)

A SET OF SIX 19TH CENTURY FRENCH IVORY FIGURES, modelled as musicians playing instruments stood atop walnut ebonised bound barrels, comprising conductor, accordion player, bagpipe player, lute player, cymbal player, Clarinetist, approximately 16cm high (a/f) (6)

A selection of playing cards etc

A Coalport couture collection figure of Sateen and a LLadro figure of a boy playing a mandolin

VERDI GIUSEPPE: (1813-1901) Italian Composer. A.L.S., G. Verdi, one page, 8vo, Santa Agata, 14th October 1877, to [Giovanni] Maloberti, in Italian. Verdi writes a brief letter to his friend, stating 'Here you have 120 Lire for the whole year 1878. Do not send me either the Chinese vases or the other one'. With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor foxing, VG Giovanni Maloberti (1799-1880) Italian Violinist and the Philharmonic concertmaster in Piacenza, a close friend of Verdi for more than fifty years. When Maloberti retired from playing music he became an antique dealer and, in Verdi, he found the ideal customer. The composer was, as the present letter suggests, a passionate antique collector and filled his homes with antique furniture, paintings and objet d'art.  Verdi rose to prominence in the Italian opera scene after the era of Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini, whose works significantly influenced him, and is now regarded as one of the pre-eminent opera composers in history. Verdi's operas remain extremely popular, in particular the works Rigoletto, Il trovatore and La Traviata, all of which continue to be performed each year at the leading opera houses around the world. 

JORDAN DOROTHEA: (1761-1816) Anglo-Irish Actress and Courtesan, the mistress and companion of the future King William IV. Rare A.L.S., Dora Jordan, two pages, 4to, Mortimer Street, n.d. ('Friday', annotated 1808 in another hand), to Miss. Dalrymple. Jordan states that she will be detained at the theatre tomorrow from 12 noon until 3pm and therefore won't be at Bushy to receive her correspondent and continues 'I have only to assure you that my best and most sincere good wishes must soon attend you; and allow me to add, that if you are as happy as you deserve to be, (and of which you have so fair a prospect) your lot will be a most enviable one', further concluding that 'Sophy desires her love'. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG In 1797 King George III appointed his son William, Duke of Clarence, as Ranger of Bushy Park, carrying with it residence at Bushy House, which Jordan makes reference to in the present letter. The future King William IV lived there with his mistress, and their ten illegitimate children, until the couple's relationship came to an end in 1811. In the present letter Jordan also makes reference to her eldest illegitimate daughter, Sophia Sidney (1795-1837) Baroness De L'Isle and Dudley, who served as State Housekeeper in Kensington Palace shortly before her death.  Pretty, witty and intelligent, Jordan made her first appearance on the London stage at Drury Lane in 1785 and remained there until 1809 playing a large variety of parts. It was said that the actress had the most beautiful legs ever seen on the stage and she was particularly remembered for her comedic roles. Jordan soon came to the attention of wealthy men after her arrival in London and the Duke of Clarence took the actress as his mistress for twenty years. Together they produced ten illegitimate children, Jordan having previously given birth to four other children by other men with whom she had conducted affairs.    

RACHMANINOFF SERGEI: (1873-1943) Russian Pianist, Composer and Conductor. A good, unusual vintage signed and inscribed 12 x 11 photograph by both Rachmaninoff and his wife, Natalya Satina, individually, the image depicting the couple seated together in a contented head and shoulders pose on a sofa in a wooden panelled room. 'Signed' and inscribed by Rachmaninoff in dark fountain pen ink, in Cyrillic, to the lower photographer's mount, 'To Tatiana Mikhailovna and Aleksei Alekseevich from the “Inseparable” Rachmaninoffs', and dated 1938 in his hand. Signed ('N. Rachmaninoffa') by his wife, also in dark fountain pen ink and in Cyrillic, with her name alone to the lower photographer's mount. Some very slight silvering to the edges of the image and with some slight chipping and a few small areas of paper loss to the edges and corners of the photographer's mount, about VG The present signed photograph is dated in the same year that RCA Victor recorded Rachmaninoff and his wife playing his 4-hand piano duet, Polka Italienne, in New York. Natalya Satina (1877-1951) herself a pianist, was in fact Rachmaninoff's first cousin and they first met in 1888 whilst young music students. They were married on 29th April 1902, but not without having to first petition the Tsar to allow the marriage as they were so closely related and the Russian Orthodox Church did not permit the marriage of first cousins. The pianist, composer and conductor's works are from the late-Romantic period of classical music and some of these compositions are among the most popular in the classical repertoire. Rachmaninoff is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century 

CROMWELL OLIVER: (1599-1658) Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland & Ireland 1653-58.Portion of a D.S., Oliver P, as Protector, at the base, one page (vellum), 8vo, n.p. (London), n.d. (1657), to [the Commissioners]. The portion is the left half of a manuscript Warrant instructing the Commissioners to make a payment out of the first moneys received 'by vertue of a certaine Act made in the Parliament… past in the year one thousand Six hundred fiftie & si[x]… in and about the Suburbs of London and within tenn mil[es thereof…to our]… welbeloved Sr. John Wollaston Knight and Alderman ... fyve thousand pounds to our ... Generalls at Sea' and 'foure thousand pounds to William Smithyer'. Lacking the seal and the right half of each line of text. Some overall staining and age wear, largely to the left edge and only slightly affecting a few words of text, Cromwell's signature largely unaffected and perfectly legible. About GThe Parliamentary Act (passed on 26th June 1657) referred to in the present document was created in order to prevent the multiplicity of buildings in and about the Suburbs of London and within ten miles of the same, and commenced 'Whereas the great and excessive number of Houses, Edifices, Out-houses and Cotages erected and new built in and about the Suburbs of the City of London, and the parts thereunto adjoyning, is found to be very mischievous and inconvenient, and a great Annoyance and Nusance to the Common-wealth', It was in effect a barely concealed device to raise money.  A Commission was to collect, starting with one half on 29th September 1657, one year's rent of the 'full improved value' of all properties of less than four acres built since 1620, with many interesting exceptions, such as for the Hospitals and for the developments in Covent Garden and Lincoln's Inn Fields. Sir John Wollaston (d. 1658) English Merchant, Lord Mayor of London 1643. He was elected Alderman for Bridge Without ward in 1657. Provenance: The present partial document is accompanied by an 8vo page removed from an album, featuring an image of Cromwell and with a manuscript annotation in the hand of a collector stating, in part, 'This parchment document was sent to me by Rev. Hy Thos Scott M.D. Oxford, England.  He obtained it from the famous collection of John Walker, London.  Vide Certificate [no longer present] J B Westley.'Oliver Cromwell entered the English Civil War (1642-51) on the side of the 'Roundheads' and quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the principal commanders of the New Model Army, playing an important role in the defeat of the royalist forces, is one of the most controversial figures in the history of the British Isles, considered by some a regicidal dictator (he was one of the signatories of King Charles I's death warrant in 1649), thought of as a military dictator by Winston Churchill, but a hero of liberty by John Milton and Thomas Carlyle, and a class revolutionary by Leon Trotsky. Cromwell was selected as one of the ten greatest Britons of all time in a 2002 BBC poll. 

NIGHTINGALE FLORENCE: (1820-1910) British Pioneer of Nursing. A good A.L.S., Florence Nightingale, four pages, 8vo, South Street, London, 26th April 1864, to Sir John Lawrence, marked Private. Nightingale writes in ink on mourning stationery and announces 'I have twice had news of Lady Lawrence and your bab-kin', explaining that her sister and brother-in-law, the Verneys, had been to Southgate to enquire after Lady Lawrence with Lady Hatherton, 'And your eldest daughter was so good as to receive them with all her own peculiar charm'. Nightingale remarks 'My sister fell quite in love with her. She said her extreme modesty (to use a good old English word) her unconsciousness of self & withal her perfect self-possession, make her quite a remarkable person. [These are the elements of a great "man"]', further continuing 'The little three year old, whom my sister calls Brat-kin, & who I believe is your especial pet, took Lady Hatherton's fore finger in his little hand, & said, "You are to come & see Baby", & led her away. But of course he was too wise a little man to allow her to see "Mama". Then he rode upon my brother-in-law's foot, & made great friends with him'. She continues to inform Lawrence of a garden full of boys and girls playing happily together, her sister having told her that 'it was so little like the artificial hot bed of what London children mostly are now' and adding 'my sister's eyes were full of tears when she described to me the beautiful scene'. Nightingale also comments on Lawrence's other daughters, 'I think they are longing very much for that time to come to join you. And I can fancy that even the baby is considered by Lady Lawrence something of an interloper because it prevented her from going out with you. They said that you had taken a house at Simla for them.' Nightingale concludes her informative letter 'My description is a very poor one; but you will fill it up. It only increases the greatness of your sacrifice. God grant you may see them all again safe & well, both those who are going out to you & those who are to be left behind in England is the fervent prayer of your faithful servt. …..' . With blank integral leaf. The pages of the letter are neatly tied together to the upper left corner with a thin red and white entwined string. VG John Lawrence (1811-1879) 1st Baron Lawrence. British Statesman. Lawrence had taken up his position as Viceroy and Governor-General of India on 12th January 1864 and continued in the post until 12th January 1869. Frances Parthenope Verney (1819-1890) English Writer & Journalist, sister of Florence Nightingale. On 24th June 1858 Parthenope married her sister's rejected suitor Harry Verney (1801-1894) English Soldier and Politician. She was an active supporter of her sister's work during the Crimean War. Lady Margaret Percy (c.1825-1897) Daughter of George Percy (1778-1867) 5th Duke of Northumberland and wife of Edward Littleton (1815-1888) 2nd Baron Hatherton. British Peer & Politician. Florence Nightingale is widely considered as the founder of modern nursing and gave the profession a highly favourable reputation, as such becoming an icon of Victorian culture, particularly in the persona of 'The Lady with the Lamp' who made rounds of the wounded soldiers of the Crimean War at night.  

PHILIP V: (1683-1746) King of Spain 1700-24 & 1724-46. A fine L.S., Yo el Rey, with three lines of holograph text at the conclusion, two pages, folio, El Buen Retiro Palace, Madrid, 25th April 1705, to Marquis Jacques de Puységur, in Spanish.King Philip V states `I have received your letter reporting the positive news regarding the location of most of the enemy´s troops, and that they were ready to start military operations close to Badajoz. Because the Marquis was without enough troops to resist or defend an invasion, I decided to send an extraordinary envoy to Maréchal de Tessé, instructing him, notwithstanding the King, my grandfather, orders for him to march straight to Extremadura where, according to these days reports, their presence is more necessary´ further adding `I specifically order that as soon as you receive this letter, you march to Extremadura with all the French troops located in the Old-Castile….and you will only leave to defend Castile all the infantry and cavalry Spanish troops.´ He concludes `I expect your zeal, and knowing that you are dealing with an affair which the King and I consider of the utmost interest, you will not delay a single instant in the prompt accomplishment of all orders instructed, and that you will report back on all you achieved´. Beneath his signature the King has added a further, severe instruction in his own hand, `The situation is too much under pressure, it´s not the time for you to have fun playing roles: therefore I want that you obey me absolutely and with no delay´. A letter of good content.With integral address leaf, bearing the remnants of a seal. VG    Jacques François de Chastenet de Puységur (1656-1743) Marquis de Puységur. French Lieutenant Général and military tutor of King Louis XV. Appointed Marshal of France in 1734. René Mans IV de Froullay (1681-1746) Marquis of Lavardin and Tessé, Grandee of Spain. Appointed Marshal in 1707.   Louis XIV (1638-1715) King of France 1643-1715. The longest reigning monarch in European history. Grandfather of King Philip V. The Spanish city of Badajoz, in Extremadura, was besieged in October 1705 during the War of the Spanish Succession 1701-15. Triggered by the death of the childless King Charles II of Spain, the major European conflict was to determine who should be the next King of Spain and whether a Bourbon or a Habsburg would take control of Spain's very extensive possessions. It was well known that the union of France and Spain under one monarch would upset the balance of power in Europe, such that other European powers would take steps to prevent it. The War concluded with the Treaty of Utrecht which forbade any future possibility of unifying the French and Spanish thrones. Philip V, Duke of Anjou, was born at the Palace of Versailles and was the Heir apparent to the throne of France. The grandson of King Louis XIV, Philip was the first member of the House of Bourbon to rule as King of Spain. The sum of his two reigns is the longest in modern Spanish history.