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A RARE PAIR OF 25 BORE AUSTRIAN FLINTLOCK WENDER PISTOLS BY FRIEDR. RIES, CIRCA 1730 each with sighted turn-over barrels with octagonal breeches and silver 'spider' fore-sights, fitted with engraved plates facing the breeches and actions engraved with rococo scrollwork and numbered '1' and '2' respectively, iron tangs chiselled with further scrolls and an expanded flowerhead on a matted ground, signed border-engraved rounded locks, figured walnut full stocks carved with rococo foliage and scrollwork about the lock and breech tang, impressed with an early gewehrkammer number '109' beneath the lock, gilt-brass mounts cast in low relief with rococo scrollwork and foliage on a finely matted ground, comprising trigger-guards incorporating a lever on the forward portion to release the barrels, solid side-plates, spurred pommels and a pair of ramrod-pipes, engraved gilt-brass fore-end caps, and wooden ramrods with engraved gilt-brass tips 21.8 cm; 8 5/8 in barrels (2) Friederich Riss von Grölln (?) is recorded in Vienna as the son of a master gunsmith 17th July 1718.

A RARE 14 BORE D.B. BELGIAN PIN-FIRE BASTIN PATENT SPORTING GUN BY JH. MONTIGNY, ARQ.ER DU ROI DES PAYS-BAS A BRUXELLES, NO. 119, CIRCA 1860 with browned twist sighted barrels signed in gold script on the rib and fitted with bead fore-sight, forward-sliding breech operated by a hinged under-lever accommodated within the fore-end and with hooked sprung catch chiselled with foliage, stamped on the inside with the number and 'Bastin Frères Brevete', chiselled tang decorated with foliage and strapwork, engraved locks chiselled en suite and decorated with differing deer vignettes, figured walnut half-stock, chequered grip and fore-end, iron trigger-guard and butt cap, vacant silver escutcheon and a pair of sling mounts 77.5 cm; 30 1/2 in barrels Bastin Frères are recorded in Hermalle sous Argentan, near Liège 1848-1881. In 1855 they registered improvements to the Montigny carbine under patent no. 2149 with subsequent improvements in 1856, no. 2365. See Daubresse 2014, vol. 1, p. 48.

**A RARE SCANDINAVIAN COMBINED RAPIER AND MUSKET REST, 17TH CENTURY, PROBABLY NORWEGIAN with long slender tapering blade of flattened-diamond section, fitted at the base with a wooden collar carved in low relief, fitted in its early life with an iron head of U-shaped form with finely chiselled ram's head finial, tapering socket pierced for a match hook (missing) and decorated beneath with foliage, in its wooden scabbard carved en suite with the wooden collar, decorated with horizontal panels of allegorical figures in low relief including a King, warriors and trophies-of-arms (small chips, repaired in three places), and spiked iron shoe decorated en suite with the socket, and with brass inventory tag '472' 103.2 cm; 40 5/8 in blade Provenance George F. Harding Jr., Chicago Transferred to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1982, Acc. No. 1982.2855 A note in the museum archives by Stephen V. Grancsay states that this was originally a sword cane, later adapted to a musket rest and exhibited at the Columbian World Exhibition, Chicago, 1893.

A RARE SPANISH INFANTRY BREASTPLATE, CIRCA 1500 formed in one piece with a strong medial ridge and bold angular outward turns at the neck and arm-openings, struck with a mark to the right of the neck, its shoulders in each case fitted with a later short strap with an iron tab, its lower edge flanged outwards and pierced with two holes on each side (small areas of pitting and minor lamination) 33.5 cm; 13 1/4 in high Provenance Probably the Armoury of the Duke of Osuna and Infantado, sold over three sales in 1880, 1890 and 1896. Bashford Dean, New York French & Co., Inc. The mark is the same as that found on a right cuisse formerly in the armoury of the Dukes of Osuna, later in the collection of Francis Henry Cripps Day and also the left spaudler of an armour previously in the collection of Ambrose Monnell. See Mann 1932, p. 70 fig. 7 and Dean 1911, pp. 10-11 no. 9. A large number of breastplates of this type were formerly in the armoury of the Dukes of Ossuna, some of which are to be found in the Boston Museum of Fine Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Musée de l'Armée, Paris. A further series from the Armoury of the Dukes of Medinaceli is now preserved in the Army Museum, Madrid. Several examples of the type from the armoury of the Knights of St John of Rhodes are to be found in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The armoury of the Dukes of the Infantado was the second most important collection of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula after the Royal Armoury in Madrid. At one time it had no less than one hundred and sixty-two full armours, many of which had been made for distinguished Royal and noble patrons. This collection was matched by an equally impressive array of edged weapons, firearms and also rarities such as a shield made from an elephant's ear with a silver brim and another from a tortoiseshell. It also housed historic artefacts including the central gangplank from the Turkish flagship at the Battle of Lepanto presented by Don Juan of Austria to the 5th Duke. Despite a fire in 1702 much of the armoury survived into the late 19th century when it was dispersed. See Ramos 2013, pp. 1-16. For a discussion of the Spanish armour of this period see Mann 1932, p. 67.

A RARE 1796 PATTERN MYSORE HORSE OFFICER'S SWORD, EARLY 19TH CENTURY of regulation type, the blade etched with scrolling foliage, trophies-of-arms 'Mysore Horse' and with traces of the maker's details on the forte, iron stirrup hilt, wire-bound grip (loose) with traces of fishskin covering, in its iron scabbard (pitted) 84.5 cm; 33 1/4 in blade

A RARE FRENCH COMBINATION CANE 'LA TERRIBLE' with iron tip, painted brass body (the paint with small losses), the top with a turning collar concealing the locking catch, cane handle operating three characteristic fin-like blades when twisted and retracted, and chased silver-plated pommel 89.8 cm; 35 3/8 in overall The present system, 'La Terrible', was patented in France in 1893. It is a refinement of the earlier cane 'La Diabolique' which had nine steel spikes concealed within the shaft, patented in 1882. See Dike 1983, p. 302, nos. 29/112-114.

A RARE POT HELMET INCORPORATING THE SKULL OF AN EARLY 16TH CENTURY ITALIAN SALLET, MID-17TH CENTURY with hemispherical skull embossed with eight tapering flutes from the nape to the brow (small dents and an early internal repair), fitted at the brow with an obtusely-pointed peak, at the nape with a rounded neck-guard of three plates, the uppermost flanged outwards, and at each side with a pendant cheek-piece of two plates, the uppermost pierced with six groups of three holes and the lower pierced with a star-shaped arrangement of thirteen holes, and the main edges of the helmet formed with plain inward turns, complete with an early quilted canvas liner 26.0 cm; 10 1/4 in high Provenance Robin Wigington, Arbour Antiques, 2nd June 1983

A FINE AND RARE 30 BORE HUNGARIAN SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOL BY D. FLOCH A PEST, CIRCA 1760 with browned etched twist barrel fitted with silver fore-sight on a bed of silver scrollwork, signed 'D. Floch a Pest' in silver letters on the flat, encrusted with further silver scrollwork enclosing the owner's arms supported by a pair of hunters in contemporary dress over the breech, gold-lined vent, chiselled tang, border-engraved blued rounded lock inlaid with silver wire scrolls en suite with the barrel, fitted with rounded cock and steel each decorated en suite, the latter with enclosed spring inside the lock plate, highly figured full stock (fore-end expertly repaired) carved in low relief about the barrel lock and mounts including a green man mask issuant with silver wire scrollwork behind the tang, inlaid with silver wire scrolls over the fore-end, behind the rear ramrod-pipe, about the tang and over the butt, full silver mounts comprising openwork side-plate, spurred pommel chased with palmettes and the cap with a warrior mask profile, trigger-guard with foliate terminal, escutcheon decorated with the owner's crowned arms supported by a pair of lions, a pair of faceted ramrod-pipes and moulded fore-end cap and later silver-tipped wooden ramrod 30.2 cm; 12 in barrel Domonkos Floch is recorded in Pest circa 1760-70. Relatively few Hungarian firearms of this period are signed. See Géza 1911, pp. 209-227 and János 1971, p. 228.

A RARE VENETIAN SILVER-MOUNTED DAGGER, DATED 1786 with slender reinforced blade decorated with ornamental piercings within a pair of narrow fullers and a notched central ridge, silver hilt comprising a pair of drooping quillons, outer ring-guard set with a filigree 'doge's' crown set with coloured pastes, spirally fluted pommel, and retaining its original grip of plaited silver wire between Turk's Heads', in its original silver scabbard chased over its full surface with flowers and foliage incorporating the owner's initials and the dates '1786 and '1734' on the outer face, a galleon on the reverse, and fitted with a slender loop for suspension 35.0 cm; 13 3/4 in blade On 12th May 1797 the Venetian Great Council voted itself out of existence and thus ended the Republic. Napoleon's army entered the city shortly after.

**A RARE NORTHWEST ITALIC BRONZE HELMET OF MONTELPARO TYPE, 6TH CENTURY B.C. formed in one piece, the domed crown rising to a medial band framed by a low ridge on each side and with two applied low domed bosses front and back, pierced with a pair of holes in the centre, probably for a further boss (now missing), waisted at the base and flanged outwards to a rounded brim, the skull fitted with a large domed boss on each side, embossed over the greater part of its surface with a dense pattern of small marks, and in rich green patinated condition overall (small dents, the brim apparently bent back from a compression), the inside of the skull with a typed note 21.0 cm; 8 ¼ in high Provenance Colonel Wesley McPheron (1911-1994), acquired circa 1930. A very similar helmet from the collection of Major T. H. Jakobsson, Stockholm and previously in the collection of Count Calori, Rome, was sold Sotheby & Co., 11th May 1932, lot 214. Notably the treatment of the surface was the same as that of the present helmet. Another closely related helmet is preserved in the Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (No. MS1607) and another in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (acc. No. 08.2.2). For a discussion of this group see Cowan 2007 and Bottini et al 1988, pp. 229-230, abb. 7, 9.

A RARE CHINESE SWORD (DADAO), QING DYNASTY, LATE 18TH/19TH CENTURY with broad slightly curved blade formed with a hatchet point, the back-edge formed with a series of grooves and a pair of fullers enclosing three pierced brass lined quatrefoils, the ricasso inscribed with four characters on one face and with a dragon on the other, brass hilt comprising vertically recurved quillons with bud-shaped terminals, iron ring pommel applied with a spiralling design in copper, and the grip bound with red fabric over black leather 25.8 cm; 29 7/8 in blade The inscription refers to an officer's promotion. This appears to be a notably fine example of its type.

A RARE MEDIEVAL SWORD TANG WITH LATTEN POMMEL, 15TH CENTURY comprising the upper half of the tang and latten 'wheel' shaped pommel 11.2 cm; 4 3/8 in Another pommel of this type is preserved in the Royal Armouries, Leeds (inv. no. IX-729). See Dufty 1974, p. 18, plate 23a.

A FINE CASED PAIR OF 28 BORE FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS BY JOHN BARTON, CIRCA 1805 with slightly swamped octagonal rebrowned twist barrels signed 'J. Barton, London' in script on the flats, struck with view mark beneath the breeches, the barrelsmith's mark 'IB', two pellets including the numeral '1' on one barrel, gold-lined vents, border-engraved case-hardened tangs incorporating the back-sights and decorated with scrolls and flowers and a band of foliage behind the breeches, signed stepped bevelled locks engraved with foliage on the tails, signed beneath the pans and with starbursts above, fitted with engraved bevelled cocks, gold-lined semi-rainproof pans, bolt safety-catches, and steel springs with rollers, highly figured walnut full stocks, flat-sided butts cut with a diamond-shaped trellis design enclosing minute flowerheads, blued iron mounts comprising border-engraved trigger-guards decorated with a central bouquet and with pineapple finials, and a pair of ramrod-pipes, and each with its original ramrod, one with Wogdon type iron powder-measure and worm and the other with horn tip: in their original fitted mahogany case, the lid (bruised) with circular escutcheon incorporating a semi-circular carrying handle, the interior lined in green baize (areas of wear and small moth holes, the lid with trade label for 14 Haymarket and complete with accessories including copper three-way flask, bullet mould, turnscrew and mainspring clamp 25,.5 cm; 10 in barrels Provenance Christie's, South Kensington 20th November 1996, lot 332 B. G. S. Coles Collection Literature John O'Sullivan & De Witt Bailey, Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, London 2019, p. 191 cat. no. DP1. John Barton apprenticed to Robert Wogdon and became his partner in 1794, working as Wogdon & Barton until 1803. Following this he worked under his own name until 1819. Firearms by him from this later period are comparatively rare. For a full account of his life see O'Sullivan & De Witt Bailey, op. cit., pp. 32-40.

A RARE .900 CALIBRE BREECH-LOADING FRENCH MODEL 1828 FLINTLOCK FUSIL DE RAMPART, CIRCA 1830 with sighted barrel rifled with twelve grooves, fitted with folding back-sight (leaves removed), tip-up breech secured by a thumb-screw and with an additional folding lever for a gas-tight fit behind, rounded lock with Charleville Royal arsenal inscription, fitted with pierced cock and brass pan, figured walnut butt (cracked through and repaired), regulation iron mounts including pivot mount for a wall or rampart, and struck throughout with inspector's marks, L beneath a star 130.1 cm; 51 1/4 in barrel Rampart guns of this early flintlock model are notably rare.

A RARE .650 CALIBRE FLINTLOCK MILITARY RIFLE, EARLY 19TH CENTURY with tapering sighted barrel rifled with seven grooves (pitted), grooved tang for sighting, border-engraved rounded regulation lock with 'GR' crowned and 'Tower', full stock (fore-end cracked and repaired), the butt with raised cheek-piece on the left, regulation brass mounts comprising trigger-guard inscribed 'H1', flush-fitting side-plate, butt-cap, three ramrod-pipes, escutcheon inscribed 'HH', and fore-end cap, iron saddle bar with ring, a pair of iron sling swivels and original iron ramrod 77.8 cm; 30 5/8 in barrel Another rifle from this group is preserved in the Royal Armouries, Leeds, XII.3784. It has been suggested that the group was made for Hompesch's Hussars though this appears extremely unlikely for a number of reasons. See DeWitt Bailey 2002, pp. 98-102.

A RARE OTTOMAN FOREARM DEFENCE, TURKEY, 17TH CENTURY formed of a tapering gutter-shaped main plate and a smaller inner plate joined by rivetted mail links of rounded wire, the plates engraved with scrolling foliage on a punched ground over the greater part of their surfaces and brief inscriptions, and traces of early gilding (the main plate with an early patched repair and small holes, the edges with small chips, patinated) 39.8 cm; 15 3/8 in The inscriptions are Arabic: 'ala niyyat al-ghuza wa fi'l-jihad' (with the intention of the holy warriors and by way of holy war).

A RARE LARGE OTTOMAN FLASK, LATE 18TH CENTURY/EARLY 19TH CENTURY with tapering tooled leather body of near oval-section and with stitched borders, the outer face embroidered with a panel of traditional foliage, the inner face fitted with a robust leather strap, and completed with its turned wooden stopper with an additional smaller stopper within 42.0 cm; 16 1/2 in high An earlier, more elaborate flask of this form was sold in this room 7th December 2006, lot 318

A RARE PAIR OF IMPERIAL CHINESE 6 POUNDER KRUPP SYSTEM BREECH-LOADING RIFLED MOUNTAIN GUNS, NANJING, NO. 19, DATED 1882 each with tapering rifled steel barrel cut with an inscription on top, characteristic block-shaped breech with sliding transverse wedge operated by a T-shaped horizontal bar, with a further inscription on the rear face, a pair of trunnions, adjustable brass back-sights, on its original carriage with steel axles and steel-shod spoked cambered wheels with brass fittings (one T-shaped bar, one breech-block locking lever, the cap-squares and back-sights all expertly restored) 126.5 cm; 49 ¾ in barrels 6.0 cm; 2 3/8 in bore (2) Inscriptions: 光緒八年「壬午」金陵「機器局」監造 壬午」六十干支入面嘅第19 個 噐」- 古代標志名位，爵號的器物Guangxu's Eighth reigning year, 1882, no. 19th of 60, manufactured by the metal and weapons company, in Nanjing Another gun of this type, with the same inscription and dated 1881, in the collections of the Musée de l'Armée, Paris is exhibited at the Château de Vincennes. The Najing (Nanking) and Shanghai arsenals were established in the 1860s as major arms manufacturing centres as well as places for the study of Western languages and technical literature. Opened as part of China's Self-Strengthening movement they begun as ironworks with machinery purchased from abroad. At the beginning westerners were employed to instruct the local labourers in the manufacture and use of arms. By 1870 they were among the most successful and largest arsenals in Asia.

A RARE NORTH GERMAN ESTOC WITH FALSE-DAMASCENED HILT, CIRCA 1550-70, PROBABLY BRUNSWICK with long tapering blade of flattened-hexagonal section, stamped 'Valenca' and with the sacred trigram 'IHS' within a short fuller on the respective faces, rectangular ricasso struck with a cross mark and engraved with lines at the border on each face, iron hilt comprising a pair of straight flat quillons swelling to spatulate terminals, up-turned outer guard formed of a rounded plate, a pair of slender basal arms (one detached at one end), joined to a loop on the inside, the latter joined to the thumb-ring by a pair of slender bars, characteristic cushion-shaped pommel, with much early silver false-damascened finish, and wooden grip retaining its fishskin covering 107.0 cm; 42 1/8 in blade A number of military rapiers and estocs with hilts of this form are associated with the armoury of the Dukes of Brunswick, sold Sotheby's Hanover October 2005, lot numbers 218, 220 and 221. Another, from the same collection, was exhibited at the Tower of London 1952, cat. No. 67. The use of silver false damascene is notably rare. The hilt conforms to Norman type 12.

A RARE .65 CALIBRE FLINTLOCK VOLUNTEER RIFLED CARBINE WITH ENCLOSED LOCK BY HENRY NOCK, LONDON, LONDON PROOF MARKS, CIRCA 1800 with two-stage sighted twist barrel rifled with seven Baker-style grooves, the muzzle with bayonet bar on the right, octagonal patent breech signed 'H. Nock Patent', engraved with a band of foliage, struck with proof marks beneath and numbered '46', patent bevelled lock signed 'H. Nock' in script and with a sunburst at the front, figured walnut full stock (fore-end repaired), the butt with an early padded leather cheek-piece, struck with inspector's mark opposite the lock and the initials 'WT' in the ramrod channel and numbered '136' in the barrel channel, regulation brass mounts comprising trigger-guard, butt-plate engraved 'No. 46' on the heel, Baker pattern trap cover on the right of the butt, two ramrod-pipes, iron sling loops, and original iron ramrod, with an early iron charge measure 66.5 cm; 26 1/4 in barrel Rifled carbines of this type were produced by Henry Nock on a commercial basis for the London & Westminster Light Horse Volunteers and other Volunteer Companies. See Paine 1996, pp. 111-115.

A RARE VIKING DECORATED SWORD POMMEL, 9TH CENTURY in excavated condition, of two-piece hollow 'tea cosy' form, inlaid over its full surface with very slender silver lines (pitted, the inlays with losses, obscured and merged in places) 4.8 cm; 1 7/8 in high

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. An extremely rare D.S., Nap, one page, neatly inlaid to a page removed from an album, oblong 4to, Longwood, Saint Helena, 25th November 1817, to the Grand Marechal [Henri Gatien, Comte Bertrand], in French. The manuscript document, the text of which is in the hand of his valet Louis Marchand, is a short list of three expenses which Napoleon gives his approval to pay, stating, in full, `Instruction to pay - 1. November´s Clothes & Dressing 1000 Fr - 2. Wages for the months of October and November 3.450 Fr - 3. November´s House needs 4500 Fr - 8950 Fr´. Letters signed by Napoleon during his exile years at Saint Helena are of extremely rarity. Two very small pinholes to the upper and lower left corners, not affecting the text or signature, VG The present document was signed at Longwood House, Napoleon's residence on the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. Following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the British exiled Napoleon to the island where he was to spend the last years of his life, dying there in 1821. Napoleon refused to send and sign letters from Saint Helena because he considered that, as an Emperor, he should not be subject to censure by the King of Great Britain and although Napoleon dictated his memoirs whilst at Saint Helena, and various other manuscripts were written, documents signed by the fallen Emperor originating from Longwood very rarely appear for sale at auction. Henri Gatien (1773-1844) Comte Bertrand. French General. Gatien had accompanied Napoleon to Elba in 1814, and returned with him in 1815, holding a command in the Waterloo campaign. Following the French defeat, Gatien accompanied Napoleon to Saint Helena and did not return to France until after Napoleon's death. In 1840 he was chosen to accompany the Prince of Joinville to Saint Helena to retrieve and bring Napoleon's remains to France, in what became known as the retour des cendres. Louis-Joseph Marchand (1791-1876) Napoleon Bonaparte´s valet. Marchand remained faithful to the Emperor after his first abdication and followed him to Saint Helena. On Napoleon´s deathbed he was decreed Count. Marchand He took part in the "Retour des cendres" ("Return of Napoleon´s ashes")

WLADYSLAW IV VASA: (1595-1648) King of Poland 1632-48. A renowned Patron of the Arts. Wladyslaw gained fame when he defeated the Ottoman Empire and was elected Tsar of Russia by the Seven Boyars in 1610, although he did not accept the Russian throne. Rare L.S., `Vladislaus Rex´, one page, 4to, Warsaw, 20th January 1641, to Monsignor Honorato Visconti, Archbishop Larissano, in Italian. The King of Poland thanks his correspondent for his good wishes and sends his greetings on this Christmas occasion, stating in part `..Vladislao fourth by the grace of God, King of Poland and Sweden… we recognize your courteous affection which you deeply forward…´ Bearing the Wladyslaw attractive Royal paper seal affixed to the verso address leaf, in very fine condition. VG

LANNES JEAN: (1769-1809) Marshal of France. Duc de Montebello. One of Napoleon's most daring and talented generals and personal friend of the Emperor. A Rare letter of historical content, L.S., `Lannes´, two pages, 4to, Tudela, 25th November 1808, to his wife Louise Guéhenneuc, in French. Lannes is exultant and lengthy reports on his victory at the Battle of Tudela in Spain two days earlier, stating in part `I had written to you from Burgos that I intended to remain close to the Emperor, but I received the order on that same day to take the command of the army corps under Marshal Moncey and the division under General Lagrange. I marched to Logrono in order to attack the enemy who was here, fifty thousand men commanded by Catagnos. He was in a dreadful position, and has been tumbled from all flancs by six thousand men. Judge the valor of that scoundrel. I hope all will be under control before four days. We have chased them everywhere. He has not a single cannon now, we have taken all his artillery and made till now six thousand prisoners. There you have his formidable armies fully destroyed.´, Lannes further refers to his wife´s brother who is his aide-de-camp, stating `Louis had a horse killed under him and got his teeth hit, nothing important.. I am a bit tired, and intend to leave in two days to return alongside His Majesty. General Lagrange had his arm shot through, he is here with me, but nothing broken, it will be fine in a month time. Please tell Madame Lagrange to be calm, she will meet her husband in a month, he is departing to France. And you too, be secure, we will not have troubles, there is no more enemy, no army.´, and Lannes concludes with an unusual remark saying `The Battle of Tudela is the finest one we have ever had´. Further again referring to his wife´s health, to the difficulties of sending letters when he is far from the Emperor head-quarters, and asking for detailed information on his children. Lannes also asks his wife to forward his best regards to Corvisart `..tell him that I won´t forget his advice about the English..´ A letter of excellent content. With address leaf, postmarked. Small area of paper loss to the address leaf as a result of the letter opening, not affecting the text. Overall minor age wear, creasing and small tear to the bottom edge, only affecting partially the flourish of the signature. Together with A.L.S., signed by Joseph-César Saint-Mars, aide-de-camp to Marshal Lannes, one page, 4to, [Head Quarters at Aranda del Duero], 26th November [1808], to Lannes´ wife, Louise Guéhenneuc, in French. Saint-Mars reports on similar topics, the Battle of Tudela, about his correspondent´s brother Louis, and states in part `Marshal Lannes is keeping well and should not take long to return to the Emperor Head-Quarters where I have been ordered to return to announce this victory..´ G, 2The Battle of Tudela, near Navarre, in Spain, took place on 23rd November 1808. French army led by Marshal Lannes attacked a Spanish army leaded by General Castanos. It resulted in a full victory of Napoleon´s forces.Louise Antoinette de Guéhéneuc (1782-1856) Duchess of Montebello. Second wife of Marshal Lannes. Louise was a French "dame d´honneur", being the Mistrss of the Robes to Empress Marie Louise of France. Bon Adrien Jeannot de Moncey (1754-1842) Marshal of France, Duc de Conegliano. A prominent soldier in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Joseph Lagrange (1763-1836) French General and Count. A distinguished officer who fought at the Peninsula wars, Battle of Dresden, Leipzig, among many others.Charles-Louis Guéhéneuc (1783-1849) Frenc. Lannes´ brother-in law and his aide de camp since 1805. In 1809, and after Lannes´ death, he became aide-de-camp to the Emperor Napoleon I. Francisco Javier Castaños (1758-1852) Spanish General and Politician. One of the most important Spanish military officers during the Napoleonic Wars. He also served as the first President of the Senate of Spain in 1834. Appointed by the Spanish Queen Duke of Bailen for his heroic actions in the Battle of Bailen, the first defeat of the Napoleonic armies at open field which caused the flight of Spain of King Joseph Bonaparte. Jean Nicolas Corvisart-Desmarets (1755-1821) French Physician. In 1804 Corvisart became the primary physician of Napoleon Bonaparte, attending him until Bonaparte´s exile to St. Helena in 1815.

FRANKLIN WILLIAM TEMPLE: (1760-1823) American Diplomat. Grandson of Benjamin Franklin, and his Secretary since he was sixteen. Best known for his involvement with the American diplomatic mission in France during the American Revolutionary war. He was also Secretary for the American delegation that negotiated the United States independence at the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Rare A.L.S., `Franklin fils´ ("Franklin son"), with flourish, a large and good signature example, being very similar to Benjamin Franklin´s one, one page, 4to, n.p. [Passy], 30th December [1778], to Monsieur Ruault, Librarian, in French. The young Franklin sends an urgent request to the French Librarian, on Christmas period, and most probably on behalf of his grandfather, stating `I beg you, Monsieur Ruault, to send to Passy, tomorrow, 2 copies of my Grandfather´s works. The best binding that you can.´ Annotated to the upper left corner in the librarian´s hand `Sent on the 31st, brochés´. With blank address leaf in his hand, `Monsieur Ruault - Libraire - Rue de la Harpe - F.b St. Germain´, bearing several postmarks. Overall age wear and creasing, otherwise G Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American Founding Father of the United States. Franklin was a Polymath, Writer, Freemason, Scientist, Politician and Diplomat. He was the first United States Ambassador to France. Known as ''The First American'' for his campaigning for colonial unity.Temple Franklin remained always very close to his mentor and Grandfather Benjamin Franklin. He Published in 1818 Memoirs of the Life and Writings of B.F.In February 1778, the present letter´s year, Benjamin Franklin visited Voltaire accompanied by his grandson, telling him to ask for Voltaire´s blessing. Voltaire did so stating `God and Liberty´. In this same month of February Benjamin Franklin signed the alliance Treaty between France and the United States of North America.

BOELCKE OSWALD: (1891-1916) German flying Ace of the World War One. Credited with 40 victories. Boelcke is widely considered the “Father of the German combat air Pilots”, an influential figure also known as the “Father of Air Fighting Tactics”. His innovative turn of mind codified his combat experiences into the first ever manual of fighter tactics distributed to an air force, the Dicta Boelcke. Boelcke was killed in an air crash collision. Rare and excellent signed 3.5 x 5.5 postcard photograph by Boelcke, the image showing the air fighter standing outdoors, in uniform, alongside Crown Prince Wilhelm (1882-1951) and two more Verdun decorated officers, Oberlieutenant von Brandis, the hero of Douaumont, and Kurt Rackow, the hero of the capture of Fort Vaux, all in uniform. The photograph bears the printed heading “The army Commander in chief in Verdun, with three officers decorated with the “Pour le Merite” medal”. Signed in bold black ink `O. Boelcke´ across the image. VG

TOMASI DI LAMPEDUSA GIUSEPPE: (1896-1957) Italian Writer, the last Prince of Lampedusa. A good presentation book signed and inscribed by Lampedusa, being an 8vo hardback edition of the philosophical novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche, French language edition (‘Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra’), translated by Henri Albert, thirty-second edition published by Mercure de France, Paris, 1917. The custom bound copy features a good, lengthy presentation inscription to the front free endpaper, signed by Lampedusa with his initials (‘G.T.’), n.p., n.d. (a line of text beneath the signature which may have contained these details is only partially visible and was evidently trimmed at the time of binding to create uniform pages). Lampedusa writes in Italian and dedicates the book to his close friend Guido Lajolo, with whom he served in the same regiment during World War I, remarking that the book is a painful one, written at the height of an acknowledged tenderness that is forced to transform itself into hardness ‘by someone so rich and with delicate blue flowers, but finding no one willing to pick them, he’s obliged to turn them into pungent roses or aggressive Scotch brooms’, further quoting a sentence from the book, in French, ‘I became a fighter in order for my hands to be free to bless’, and commenting ‘It is also the work of a sumptuous artist and a contemporary observer of the crowds in our grotesque democratic times’, before concluding ‘It is as such the work of someone who resembles me (as much as lions may resemble wild dogs) and therefore I hope this will endear him to you’. An extremely rare, wonderful presentation copy. Morocco bound and with a gilt stamped title to the spine, as well as Lajolo’s name (‘G. Lajolo’) at the base and with four raised bands. The front board is a little loose and the upper part of the spine is torn (just affecting the title) and semi-detached. Some age toning to the edges of the pages and light staining throughout. G

EICHMANN ADOLF: (1906-1962) German Nazi SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer of World War II. Rare autograph manuscript signed `Adolf Eichmann´, one page, oblong 8vo sheet notepaper, n.p., 10th March 1961, in German. The page bears a lengthy text in Eichmann's hand, explaining his own thoughts short before the start of his trial, stating in part `Too far without being aware of, they are molded and bent, so that you´d hardly expected, got in the hell of a mess and that before becoming aware, did not succeed to leave, so simple because events occur, and exclude own free will acting´. About VG Eichmann was kidnapped-captured by the Mossad in Argentina on 11th May 1960 and was taken to Israel. At the time of the present letter, Eichmann was imprisoned in Israel. Written only a month before Eichmann´s trial started on 11th April 1961. He was subsequently found guilty of war crimes in a widely publicised trial in Jerusalem. Sentenced to death, Eichmann was executed by hanging in 1962.

MIRABEAU HONORÉ COMTE DE: (1749-1791) Honoré Gabriel Riqueti. French Writer and an early Leader of the French revolution. President of the National Constituent Assembly 1791. A successful orator who became the voice of the people. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `Mirabeau l´ainé´, (“Mirabeau the Eldest”), one page, small 4to, Paris, 5th October 1790, to M. Dubuisson, in French. Mirabeau expresses his opinion on the issue of Assignats to finance the Republic and states `Dear Sir, your proposal referring to the assignats you honour me with, saying that you think it would be convenient not to produce notes below two hundred pounds but to increase gradually by ten pounds after ten pounds up to 300, and those of 300 up to 400, seem to me very ingenious and deserves to be deepen.´ Mirabeau further comments `It allows to overcome difficulties, but I do not know if it would satisfy all the needs.´ Mirabeau further says that he remains open to any improvement on this proposal and encourages his correspondent to share his views with the Finance Committee. A bold black ink autograph letter by Mirabeau six months before passing away. With blank integral leaf. Small overall age wear and toning, GThe “assignat” was a type of a monetary instrument used during the time of the French Revolution. Mirabeau often attacked Necker's "caisse d'escompte", which had the whole control of the taxes, usurping the Assembly's power of the purse, and for this reason he heartily approved the system of assignats.Mirabeau remains still today a controversial figure, considered by some a leader who almost saved France from the terror, by others a demagogue lacking moral values, or even a traitor in the pay of the enemy.

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS: A good and rare multiple signed page, folio, by various Nobel prizes comprising PAUL DIRAC (1902-1984) English theoretical Physicist. Widely regarded as one of the most important physicists of the 20th century. Nobel Prize in Physics 1933. He formulated the Dirac equation. Among Dirac´s works, his contributions to quantum mechanics and electrodynamics, and also the new forms of atomic theory and general relativity. An unusual character described by Einstein as `This balancing on the dizzying path between genius and madness is awful´. Signed `P.A.M. Dirac´. Autographs of Dirac are rare and desirable; Christian de Duve (1917-2013) English-born Belgian Biochemist. Nobel Prize in Physiology 1974; André Frédéric Cournand (1895-1988) French-born American Physician. Awarded with the Nobel prize in Physiology in 1956 for his contributions to cardiac catheterization; Philip Noel-Baker (1889-1982) British Politician and Olympic medal winner in 1920. Awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1959 for his campaigns in favour of disarmament, and Sean MacBride (1904-1988) Irish Politician. Nobel Peace Prize in 1974. MacBride annotates above his signature `Disarm or the human race will be destroyed´. All signatures are in bold black ink and were obtained in 1979. VG

CHILLIDA EDUARDO: (1924-2002) Spanish Basque Sculptor. Rare signed and inscribed 5.5 x 8 photograph, the image depicting the Spanish artist in a head and shoulders pose. Signed and inscribed to the lower white border. Together with a T.L.S., signed by Chillida, one page, 8vo, San Sebastian, 28th January 1998, on his personal printed stationery, to Bengt Rosberg, in English. Chillida thanks his correspondent for the photographs he has received and sends his signed autograph. VG, 2

GAMAIN FRANÇOIS: (1751-1795) French Locksmith who played a crucial role in the trial against King Louis XVI which ended with his execution. Gamain informed the Convention that he had built a hidden iron cabinet at the Tuileries Palace according to the King´s orders, a cabinet found containing the documents which were the main accusatory evidences used by the prosecutor during the King´s trial. Gamain would be later appointed municipal officer. Rare L.S., `Gamain´, one page, small 8vo, Paris, 3rd July 1794, in French. The letter bears to the heading an ink stamp bearing the motto `Liberty - Equality´ and showing the revolutionary beret, also bearing the written heading of the Public Relief department. Gamain, in his capacity as Municipal Officer at Versailles, certifies that Pierre Etienne Marie Duval was born on 22nd August 1792. Countersigned by two more officers. Irregularly trimmed bottom edge, otherwise G to VG

LE BLOND DE SAINT-HILAIRE LOUIS: (1766-1809) French Cavalry General. Count of Saint Hilaire. Killed at the Essling battle. Napoleon ordered his burial in the Pantheon alongside Marshal Lannes. Rare A.L.S., `St-Hilaire´, one page, 4to, Toulon, 9th May 1798, with the printed heading `Liberté - Egalité´ and beneath his printed name and rank, as General of Brigade, to the War Commissioner Lajague, in French. Also bearing to the heading a small revolutionary vignette. Saint-Hilaire states in part `The impossibility of finding a suitable accommodation in Toulon, pledges me to ask you for a full bed to be delivered..´, further also requesting for bread from the hospital because the one he is eating is making him feel ill because of the wound. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise G

DICK PHILIP K.: (1928-1982) American Writer of Science Fiction. A rare T.L.S., Phil, one page, 4to, Santa Ana, California, 25th May 1979, to Professor Patricia Warrick. Dick alarmingly announces 'At four-thirty p.m. today I suffered an acute attack of a congenital arrhythmia, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, the first such attack I have experienced in a number of years. Whether it was due to your disturbing phone call earlier in the day or to a cluster of stress factors - such as tax problems - I do not know; in any case, since uncorrected PAT arrhythmia usually ends in death, I must regretfully inform you that I will not be coming to Appleton either in June or at any other time', further remarking that he is supposed to see a cardiologist and adding 'The book project, then, must be abandoned in all respects. This is a final decision on my part.' Dick concludes by expressing his regret at not being able to meet his correspondent, 'but I must defer to the gravity of this long-standing physical complaint which I had incorrectly supposed to be under control'. Accompanied by the original envelope. VG

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660) French Catholic Priest. Venerated both in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII. Vincent de Paul is known for his humility and for serving the poor. Extremely rare L.S., `Vincent de Paul I[ndigne] P[retre] D[e] l[a] M[ission]´, (''Vincent de Paul, Unworthy Priest of the Mission''), two pages, 8vo, Paris, 30th August 1658, in French. Saint Vincent de Paul states in part `The grace of Our Lord be with you forever. Madame the Duchess of Aiguillon, to who I once suggested to put the Tunis consulate in the hands of one of those who requested the post, did not find the proposal good enough because she feared that they appoint someone with other interests in order to get rid of the Priest of the Mission…´, further commenting that he will try to discuss the matter again with her and see if there is any change. Saint Vincent further refers to Algiers, stating in part `Considering the actual situation of matters, it is by no means suitable that Mr. Le Vacher goes to Algiers, nor to send funds.. I would tell you Sir that we have to wait and see if M. Knight Paul will take pride in honour to make an effort, or if the mercifulness of Jesus Christ will push him to go and deliver the slaves. If he goes ahead and succeeds things will change..´ Before concluding Saint Vincent de Paul refers to his correspondent´s trip to Toulon and to the hospital for convicts and states `As soon as I get the hospital accounts I will explain to the Duchess of Aiguillon that the hospital cannot subsist any more.´ With blank address leaf. Paper with watermark. Few extremely small ink holes and very light and small age wear, otherwise G to VGMarie Madeleine de Vignerot du Pont de Courlay, Duchesse d'Aiguillon (1604-1675) French Aristocrat, best remembered for her charitable work and her patronage of artists. The Duchess worked with St. Vincent de Paul and helped him to establish the Bicetre Hospital for foundlings. She also took part in re-organizing the Hotel-de-Dieu of Paris. The Duchess was also the patroness of Pierre Corneille who in 1636 dedicated his masterpiece tragedy Le Cid to her.

FLEMING ALEXANDER: (1881-1955) Scottish Biologist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1945. A rare manuscript D.S., Alexander Fleming, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. (annotated 4th September 1949 in ink in an unidentified hand at the foot). Fleming responds to a researcher's questionnaire featuring their questions at the head of the page, '1. Were your scientific "debuts" easy or difficult? 2. Did means of living (another profession or a private income) enable you to make yourself known in science?.......3. What work (or what discovery) made yourself more famous? Which do you consider as your master piece (sic)?' The biologist provides his answers below, in full, '1. Merely the result of years of hard work and observation. 2. No. 3. Penicillin because this has been useful to mankind. Perhaps best work was on the action of antiseptics or on lysozymes.' Documents or letters in any form signed by Fleming in which he refers to penicillin are rare and desirable. Some light age wear and minor creasing, largely to the extreme edges, a small area of paper loss to the upper edge and some ink show through from a few annotations in the hand of the researcher to the verso, only very slightly affecting a few words of Fleming's text and not the signature. G

FUNES LOUIS DE: (1914-1983) French Comedy Actor. An excellent and rare vintage signed and inscribed 5 x 7 photograph by Funes. The image shows the French comedian, in a three quarter length pose, in costume as French gendarme, one of his most acclaimed roles. Signed in bold blue ink `Avec toute ma sympathie, Louise de Funes´, to a clear area of image, also dated 1972 in his hand. Vintage photographs of Funes, even more in costume as Gendarme, are very rare and desirable. VG

SCHILLER FRIEDRICH: (1759-1805) German Poet, Philosopher and Playwright. An extremely rare fragment of an autograph manuscript, unsigned, two pages, slim oblong 12mo, n.p., n.d. (1804-05), in German. The text, apparently unpublished and with several corrections, is from Schiller's translation of Phedre and states, `O wird mir solcher Dank für meine Liebe? Verdammliches Verwegenes Erkühnen Freche That! Verdammliches Erkühnen! Und seiner frevelhaften wilden Lust zu büßen genug zu thun, Erlaubte sich der Freche gar Gewalt!´ further writing, to the verso, `Think of my Queen's complaints - O Lord! From a wicked love - all her hate arisen - Theseus´. Some light overall age wear and with very slightly irregularly trimmed edges, about G In the winter of 1804-05 Schiller was suffering from pain and spasms of pneumonia and the only literary work he could undertake was a translation of Jean Racine's dramatic tragedy Phedre, which had first been performed in 1677. The present fragment was one of a number excised from the original manuscript shorty after Schiller's death and presented to admirers as a keepsake of the poet.

SICKERT WALTER: (1860-1942) English Impressionist Painter, suspected of having been Jack the Ripper. A rare A.L.S., Walter, two pages, 4to, Neuville-Lez-Dieppe, n.d. (23rd December 1902), to 'My dearest mother' (Eleanor Louisa Henry, an illegitimate daughter of the British astronomer Richard Sheepshanks). Sickert writes a warm letter to his mother, wishing her a happy new year, sending family news, and also making references to his painting, in part, 'Bob [Sickert's elder brother, Robert, a recluse] is….very well. He really has been a godsend to me…..I have had to put my household arrangements on a footing of comfort and completeness more in harmony with the tastes of a gentleman from the “West End”…..He's the greatest use & comfort to me, & saves me half-a-day, I should say, almost every day one way or the other. As he can do his literature here just as well as in London I shall only be too glad if he would stay as long as he finds it suits him. He has had a terrible shock & the quiet eventless routine of a country life has done him good…..I am very well & as busy as these short days allow. If I only hadn't acquired that silly English habit of washing myself so much. It takes too much time = but I cannot break myself of it. I have been selling pictures ever since August to my relief & surprise. My studio here is made & paid for & my house warm & arranged. A few days ago I had a list of eighteen canvasses sold in Paris just recently exclusive of those I have sent to England to J. S. Forbes & Lowrey (who has Rossetti's old house). It is a great mercy. I have stopped all the gaps in my rather lean 4 years past here, & am now going to begin on my little lumps of English debts. A nice little “profession” I must say. About 20 years expense & effort to achieve, after 40, a living wage! Now it's done I am very pleased……Bob & I both think & talk about you all a great deal. We wish Oswald [Valentine, a successful businessman and their eldest brother] could or would some day snatch a day or two to come & see us…….I daresay I may come to London a little in the season. I have to wind up some old overdue canvasses now that will keep me close to my easel for a bit'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Sickert. VG

KRUPSKAYA NADEZHDA: (1869-1939) Russian Bolshevik, wife of Vladimir Lenin. Following the 1917 Revolution Krupskaya was at the forefront of the political scene. She was appointed deputy education Commissar 1929-39 with strong influence over the Soviet educational system. Rare A.L.S., `N. Krupsk´, two pages, 4to, n.p., 1923, to Elizabeta Borisovna, in Cyrillic. Krupskaya states in part `I was very touched by all the letters received from…..Menzhinskaya, Lunacharsky, and by the fact that the fifth book has been published. Say hello to everybody. Also to Mikhail Nikolaevich, and to Blonsky. I send the programmes and corresponding materials. Everything is fine. Show Timiryasev´s note to Mikh. Nik. I kindly ask Blonsky and Mikh. Nik. to get the job done. Forward the attached letter from Grinberg to Blonsky and transmit my kind request to continue the work…´ Although she would later fell out with Stalin, at the time of the present letter, Krupskaya was aligned with Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky´s opposition. Folded. With blank integral leaf. G to VG Anatoly Lunacharsky (1875-1933) Russian Marxist revolutionary. After the 1917 October Revolution, he was appointed as People´s Commissar for Education in the first Soviet government 1917-29. Lunacharsky is associated with the establishment of the Bolshoi Theater in 1919 together with Maxim Gorky, Alexander Blok and Maria Andreieva.

MARCEL GABRIEL: (1889-1973) French Philosopher, Playwright and Christian Existentialist. Widely regarded as the first French Existentialist, Marcel dissociated himself from Jean-Paul Sartre, preferring to his own thought as "Philosophy of Existence". Rare and very interesting T.L.S., Gabriel Marcel, four pages, 4to, n.p. [Paris], n.d. [c.1946-48], to Bernard Wall, in French. The lengthy typed document, containing few corrections in Marcel´s hand, being an exceptional political & philosophical text about Europe´s unification. A premonitory thought by Marcel, stating in part `I do not hesitate when I think that under a cultural point of view the political unification of Europe is desirable. I will go even further saying that I think that if this union is not achieved gradually…it is the end not only of our culture but also of the principles which permit to give meaning to life. Because if we remain in this incoherence and disorder, we will be evidently sentenced to succumb in a relatively short time under the pressure either of the Soviet world or under America.´ Marcel further refers to Malraux, to freedom concept, to religion, anarchy, to Gugliemo Ferrero when he opposed to the world of quantity the one of quality, saying `Occidental Europe can only fight for the defence of the quality against a world of massive production´. Marcel further again refers to federalism and to Europe options of surviving after WWII, saying `We must be blind not to be convinced…the recent History is full of teaching lessons..´ Before concluding Marcel refers to Nation and Federalism, and compares Europe to a human body, again a premonitory thought, stating `.. a contagion of reason, of goodwill, of generosity. In the same way that histologically there are proliferations not only of carcinogenic cells, but also good cellular tissues to cicatrize a wound… Human being tissues are to be redone. For this reason, the narrow point of view of Nationalism must be outpaced, although this doesn´t mean to deny the Nation. On the contrary, it is very possible that the Federalism is the only way to regenerate the Nation concept, releasing it of its excessive tasks which are making it heavier and causing its sclerosis.´ An extremely interesting manifesto in favour of forgotten human values. Folded, with very small overall age wear, otherwise G

CLEMENT VII: (1478-1534) Pope of the Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States 1523-34. Extremely rare L.S., `V.[este]r F.[rate]r Vicecancell.[arius], one page, 4to, Florence, 17th July 1521, to Venerable Canonicis, capitulo canonico plebis Sancti Geminiani, in Italian. Clement, in his capacity as Archbishop of Florence, states in part `We receive with great satisfaction your letter from the 16th, regarding the offer of the first vacancy of a canonical post..´, further saying `We thank you very much for it, and because it is convenient for M. Bastiano Guarguagli, from your countryside, to whom this dignity has to be conferred..´ With address leaf, bearing a paper seal affixed in fine condition. The address leaf states J(ulianus) tt.(tituli) S(anc)ti Lau(rentii) in Damaso - Pbr.(Presbiter) Car.(dinal) de Med(icis) S.(anctae) R.(omanae) E.(cclesiae) - J.(ulianus).. Vicecancell(arius). Paper with watermark. Very small overall age wear, with slightly uneven edges, otherwise GClement VII, born Giulio di Giuliano de `Medici, former Gran Maestro of Florence, was considered a reputed and experienced statesman. He attempted to liberate Italy from foreign occupation, but his Papacy coincided with political, military and religious struggles, including Martin Luther´s Protest Reformation, power struggle between Roman Emperor Charles V and Francis I of France, King Henry VIII of England´s divorce with England´s breaking away from Catholic Church, and Turkish invasions. Clement VII was imprisoned during the Sack of Rome. Nonetheless Clement VII left a significant cultural legacy, commissioning iconic artworks by Raphael and Michelangelo, including the latter's The Last Judgment in the Sistine Capel. Clement VII is also is best remembered for approving, in 1533 Nicolaus Copernicus´ theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun, a hundred years before Galileo Galilei´s heresy trial.

PAUL V: (1552-1621) Pope of the Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States 1605-21. Born Camillo Borghese. Paul V supported Galileo Galilei´s discoveries and protected him. Extremely rare L.S., `Il Card[ina]le Borghese´, beneath few holograph words in his hand `Come fr[at]ello Aff[ezionatissi]mo´, ("Your affectionate brother"), one page, 4to, Rome, 20th March 1604, to Monsignor Amalteo, Venice, in Italian. Paul V, in his capacity as Cardinal Vicar of Rome, explains to his correspondent that he has received his letter referring to the Archbishop, `Il supplicato avviso, che V.[ostra] S.[ignoria] mi da della disperata salute di Mons.[ign] Arci-Vesc.[ov]o di Zara..´ which gives testimony of `ha servito principalmente per confirmazione della sua buona volonta verso di me..´, ("has served mostly to confirm the willingness towards my person.."), and which he deeply appreciates. Paul V further again states "Desidereiche la colatione di quella chiesa cadessi nella persona di V.I., et io venendo il caso, non manchero di ricordare a N.S. il merito suo..´. A year after the present letter was signed, Pope Leo XI passed away and Camillo Borghese was elected Pope Paul V. With address leaf. Small overall age wear and crease to the lower right corner, otherwise G Attilio Amalteo (1545-1633) Nuncio to Transylvania, Archbishop of Athenes and Diplomat. Minuccio Minucci (1551-1604) Nuncio and Archbishop of Zara and Diplomat.

PRELOG VLADIMIR: (1906-1998) Croatian-Swiss Organic Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1975. Autograph Manuscript Signed, V. Prelog, eleven pages (feint squared graph paper), 4to, n.p., n.d. The manuscript, with various corrections, is entitled Proposals for Revision of the CIP System and commences, in part, ’12 years have elapsed since the last paper on CIP….In the meantime it became evident – from our own work, from discussions and correspondence with colleagues and above all through the endevour (sic) of Professor E. Reyer…..to teach computers to use the CIP system – that certain parts of it must be formulated more strictly and some other parts should be revised. There is one severe restriction for any revision of the CIP system. Because it is widely accepted and much used it is very important that already assigned descriptors remain unaltered or that they change only in a few rather rare cases. All changes that are not absolutely necessary should be avoided’, further writing on the determination of the sequence of ligands, hierarchical digraphs (‘It is constructed from the constitutional formula of an acyclic compound by adding phantom and duplicate atoms’), cyclic molecules, ligands containing rings (‘When ligands contain rings they are opened at the first ring atom encountered on the pathway starting with the stereogenic atom’), the rank of pathways and atoms (‘The rank of an atom along a pathway is determined first by its distance from the stereogenic center. The atoms of the second sphere precede always the atoms of the third one etc.’), Fischer projection formulae etc. Signed by Prelog at the head of the first page. Four file holes to the left edge of each page, not affecting the text or signature, VG

JOSEPHINE DE BEAUHARNAIS: (1763-1814) Empress of the French 1804-14, as first wife of Napoleon I. Rare A.L.S., `Josephine Bonaparte´, one page, neatly inlaid to a page removed from an album, 4to, Paris, 28th Floreal, n.y., in French. Josephine states `Mr. de Villeneuve m´a remis votre aimable lettre mon cher aimé, vous connaissez mon désir de vous obliger, et ce désir s´étend sur tout ce qui intéresse votre famille et surtout votre aimable mere, pour laquelle mon estime est sans bornes. Dites-lui bien, je vous prie, combien je suis désolée que sa migraine m´ait privée du plaisir de la voir, je n´ai jamais pu supporter la pensé de l´embarrasser dans un moment de douleur; j´espère mon cher aimé que vous avez vu le plaisir que j´ai eu de vous avoir a la malmaison et que vous désirerez y revenir…´, (“Mr. de Villeneuve has given me your kind letter my very dear, you know my desire to oblige you, and this desire extends to all related to your family and especially your dear mother whom I very greatly esteem. Tell her please how sorry I am…in such a painful moment. I hope my dear friend that you noticed the pleasure I had in having you at Malmaison and that you will wish to come again.´ A good and desirable rare letter in the Empress´ hand.The letter has been professionally and lightly affixed to a larger card, allowing the view of the blank verso. Very small minor staining, mostly to the bottom border, not affecting the text or signature. G to VG  

WEISS MARTIN GOTTFRIED: (1905-1946) German SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer, Commandant of Neuengamme concentration camp 1940-42, Majdanek concentration camp 1943-44 and Dachau concentration camp in 1945. Rare dark fountain pen ink signature ('Martin Weiss') on a 12mo piece neatly clipped from an official typed document and bearing one other word in the hand of Weiss. Autographs of Weiss are rare in any form as a result of his execution by hanging at the age of 40 following his trial and conviction at the Dachau Trials where he was found guilty of 'violating the laws and usages of war'. About VG

FUNES LOUIS DE: (1914-1983) French Comedy Actor. A very good and unusual vintage signed and inscribed 9 x 6.5 photograph by Funes. The image shows the comedian in a half-length pose, in costume as Marcel Ravelais, in a scene of Une Souris chez les Hommes (1963), alongside Maurice Biraud and Dany Saval. Signed in bold blue ink `Pour Pierre, amities, L. de Funes´, to the only small clear area of the image. Vintage photographs of Funes are rare and desirable. The present photograph is inscribed to well-known French autograph collector Pierre Goulliard. VG

SWINBURNE A. C.: (1837-1909) English Poet. Autograph Quotation, unsigned, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. (post 1867). Swinburne has penned a quotation of twenty-two lines which he identifies at the head as being an extract from A Song of Italy, further adding ‘inscribed with all devotion and reverence to Giuseppe Mazzini, 1867’, the quotation commencing ‘Thou too, O little laurelled town of towers/ Clothed with the flame of flowers’ and concluding ‘The fame that waits and watches and is wise/ A virgin with chaste eyes/ A goddess who takes hands with great men’s grief;/ Praise her, and him, our chief’. Rare in this form. A few very small, minor tears to the lower edge, not affecting the text, otherwise VG Swinburne had met the Italian patriot Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) in March 1867 and A Song of Italy, written in the same year, when a free and united Italy was almost a consummated fact, is primarily a song of praise to Mazzini, the foremost of Swinburne’s heroes.

COWPER WILLIAM: (1731-1800) English Poet & Hymnodist, a supporter of the Abolitionist Campaign and author of The Negro's Complaint (1788), often quoted by Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement. Rare A.L.S., Wm: Cowper, one page, 8vo, n.p., 17th April 1752, to a gentleman, evidently a banker or financier. Cowper announces 'I did not think it adviseable to mention any thing last night on the subject of the unexpected Deposite required lest it shoud get air' and continues 'But as you know the very great importance it is of to me to be furnished herewith and are not fearfull of having the Estate left upon your hands. If you wou'd be so good as to assist me in that Particular I shall be ready not only to pay you interest for the money during the time It is employd for my Service but make good all Costs & Damages occasion[ned] by moving your money and yr. deducting or paying Poundage or Charges otherwise accrueing in transacting This Affair….' In a postscript Cowper requests 'Sir for yr. Reason above be so good (considering my Deafness) to write your answer'. Neatly trimmed to the edges, only very slightly affecting the edges of a few letters of text, and with a few small tears and small areas of paper loss to the edges (some professionally repaired) and with some professional restoration to the central vertical fold (mainly visible to the verso). None of the faults affect Cowper's signature. G

CRANE HART: (1899-1932) American Poet, one of the most influential modernist poets of his generation who sought both inspiration and provocation in the works of T. S. Eliot. An extremely rare A.L.S., Hart, three pages, 8vo, on board the R.M.S. Tuscania, off Newfoundland, 9th December 1928, to Samuel Loveman ('Ahoy Sam!'), on the attractive colour printed stationery of the Cunard Line. Crane commences his letter by declaring 'The ship is rearing like a high-strung broncho (sic) and I'm out walking the quarter deck much of the time - enjoying the rythmical (sic) lift and plunge of it', adding that they have also experienced sleet and rain since Sandy Hook and that he has been to every meal ('O it's great!) and remarking'The bad gin pains are leaving my head - and taking only the bad memories with them - not the pleasant thoughts of you and Mary and others' before again returning to the subject of the liner, 'This is a pleasant boat - not at all crowded - and such nice people. English servants know how to be pleasant as well as efficient, and of course I would be given the one nearly handsome English waiter in the salon! Rather tough food - but I'm getting used to it. The whisky - which is all I've tried thus far - is like balm of Giliad - or whatever Poe said. A little goes a long ways - and really doesn't sadden one. I'll soon write more - from London'. In a postscript Crane remarks 'Melville makes fine reading on this trip'. Accompanied by the original printed Cunard envelope hand addressed by Crane to Samuel Loveman at the Rowfant Book Shop in New York. Autograph letters of Crane are extremely rare as a result of his suicide at the young age of 32 and the present letter is particularly desirable for its association and references to Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville (perhaps Crane was reading Moby-Dick; or, The Whale on his voyage across the seas?). VG Samuel Loveman (1887-1976) American Poet, Critic and Dramatist associated with Hart Crane and H. P. Lovecraft.

DEAN JAMES: (1931-1955) American Actor. A rare vintage signed 8 x 10 photograph of Dean seated on a stool in a three-quarter length pose. Signed in fountain pen ink with his name alone across a clear area at the centre of the image. Attractively glazed and matted in black leather with a gold coloured trim above a black and gold engraved plaque featuring a brief biography of the actor. 15 x 23.5 overall. VG Provenance: Accompanied by the original Certificate of Authenticity supplied by the Gallery of History and bearing the printed signature of the late President, Todd M. Axelrod, with the original purchaser’s details, dated 22nd January 1995.

MUSSOLINI BENITO: (1883-1945) Italian Fascist Dictator of World War II. Executed. Rare A.L.S., `Mussolini´, one page, 4to, mourning paper, n.p. [Rome], 21st January 1926, on the Prime Minister´s printed stationery, to Farinacci, in Italian. The letter bears the printed heading “Il Capo del Governo” (“The Chief of Government”). Mussolini, in his capacity as Prime Minister of Italy 1922-43, states `Dear Farinacci, tomorrow, Friday, meeting of the Directory at the Palazzio Chigi. I have also invited Rossoni.´ Mussolini concludes with the fascist salute `Saluti Fascisti´, also dated at the base in his hand. A bold black ink autograph letter with large writing. With blank integral leaf. Paper with attractive “Ludovica” watermark. Few very small tears to the edges, not affecting the text or signature. VG Roberto Farinacci (1892-1945) Italian Fascist Politician. Secretary of the National Fascist Party 1925-26. Executed. The letter on mourning paper is due to the decease of Margherita of Savoy (1851-1926) Queen consort of the Kingdom of Italy as spouse of King Umberto I, and mother of King Vittorio Emmanuel III.

PHILIP II: (1527-1598) King of Spain 1556-98. During his marriage to Queen Mary I of England, he was King of England and Ireland 1554-58. Rare L.S., `Yo El Rey´, as King, two pages, folio, Madrid, 17th February 1567, to the Kingdom Lietenant and Mayor of the city of Granada, in old Castilian-Spanish. The King refers to the subsidy granted by His Holiness Pope Pius V, stating in part `..the grace bestowed by his Holiness, with four hundred and twenty nine thousand ducats patronage, for a period of five years..´, further referring to the purpose of such subsidy `..to help with the manufacture and maintenance of the vessels and galleys which have to protect and defend the coasts and seas of Christianity against the infidels..´ The King further refers to the agreement had with Pope Pius IV `..the Pope´s predecessor, of happy memory..´, and confirms a further five years extension of the contract. The King gives lengthy instructions about the procedures to follow and the supervisions requested. With few countersignatures at the base of the document. With blank address leaf, bearing remnants of a former red wax seal. One very small hole to the centre, only affecting one word and not the signature. Overall minor age wear, with very slightly trimmed right edge. GPius V (1504-1572) Pope of the Catholic church and ruler of the Papal States 1566-72. Venerated as a saint of the Catholic Church. Pius V arranged the formation of the Holy League, which included the major Catholic maritime states in the Mediterranean, with the intention of breaking the Ottoman Empire´s control on the eastern Mediterranean sea. For this reason the Pope approves loans-subsidies to build vessels as the present letter reveals. A few years later, in October 1571, the League won a decisive victory over the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto.Pius IV (1499-1565) Giovanni Angelo Medici. Pope of the Catholic Church (1559-65)

[TOSCANINI ARTURO]: (1867-1957) Italian Conductor. Rare baton, being one of Toscanini´s batons during his NBC orchestra touring in 1950. An 11.5 baton (30cm), with wooden handgrip, attractively displayed beneath a 9.5 x 7 photograph, the image showing Toscanini standing, in a half-length pose and wearing his hat, alongside James Dolan. Framed in black, and glazed (plastic) to an overall of 12 x 15 (30cm x 38cm). Together with a 12mo clipped piece, bearing a seven bars of music with annotations in Toscanini´s hand. Also including an original unsigned 7 x 5 photograph of Toscanini showing him during rehearsals, two admittance cards to the late Toscanini´s services at the St. Patrick´s Cathedral in New York on 19th January 1957, and two original typed pages listing the honorary pallbearers. The list included among many others, Italian Ambassador Manlio Brosio, Mayor of New York Robert Wagner, Composer Samuel Barber, Director of the Metropolitan Opera Rudolf Bing, Tenor Giovanni Martinelli, Rudolf Serkin, etc… VG, 5 Provenance, the present baton comes from the estate of the late James B. Dolan (1915-2006) Librarian and Archivist of the NBC Orchestra under Toscanini 1942-54 and a friend of the Italian conductor. Dolan took care of all Toscanini´s scores and batons during and after his 1950 touring with the NBC Orchestra. Dolan would later be the Los Angeles Philharmonic´s librarian for 32 years.Dolan traveled with Toscanini on the symphony's 1950 cross-country tour. He was personally responsible for five large trunks of music for the 110 musicians who would perform 50 works during 21 concerts. On the special 12-car train, Dolan commanded an entire car for the music library. He was also the custodian of Toscanini's batons, which a Philadelphia dentist made by hand from the finest materials. Being in charge of them was no easy task, considering that the temperamental conductor could break several batons in anger during the course of a rehearsal. Dolan developed a hobby of making copies of scores with the conductor's notations, "all the editing and markings of his genius," Dolan wrote in a 1967 article. Other conductors have studied Dolan's copies to understand how the man considered the most brilliant conductor of his era shaped a particular piece of music.

BORGES JORGE LUIS: (1899-1986) Argentine Short-Story Writer, Essayist, Poet & Translator, a key figure in Spanish literature. A good, rare autograph manuscript signed, Jorge Luis Borges, one page, 8vo, Buenos Aires, 18th May n.y. (1927), in Spanish. The manuscript, with several corrections, is of an essay entitled Para el Centenario de Gongora and commences 'I will always be ready to think of Don Luis de Gongora every hundred years', continuing 'Gongora has risen to abstraction. The dedication to the letters, the esoteric and modest writing, the martyrdom acts of other people's misunderstanding and finesse, are symbolised in him. The witty Cordovan Luis de Argote - a man of bitterness on the lips and of youth employed in love - is now called Gongora, in the same way that two sticks tied in the middle are called a cross' and concluding 'Gongora is - I hope unfairly - the symbol of careful technicality, of the simulation of mystery, of mere adventures of syntax. That is to say, of academism that misbehaves and is scandalous. That is to say, of that melodious and perfect non-literature that I have always repudiated. I consign my hope - so often satisfied - of being wrong'. A wonderfully astute essay written in celebration of the tri-centennial of the death of Luis de Gongora. Some light overall foxing, otherwise VG Luis de Gongora (1561-1627) Spanish Poet who, alongside his lifelong rival, Francisco de Quevedo, is widely considered to be one of the most prominent Spanish poets of all time and a leading figure in Spain's Golden Age of literature. Gongora's influence on the Spanish-language avant-gardes was far reaching and Garcia Lorca's poetic group, 'The Generation of '27', are referred to as such precisely because their founding act was a celebration of Gongora's tri-centennial in that year. Para el Centenario de Gongora was originally published in Martin Fierro (No. 41, Buenos Aires, 28th May 1927) and reprinted in El idioma de los argentines the following year.

MARIA CHRISTINA OF AUSTRIA: (1574-1621) Princess Consort of Transylvania 1586-98, as spouse of Sigismund Bathory. Maria Christina was elected in 1598, for a period of four months, Sovereign Princess regnant of Transylvania. Rare L.S., `Maria Christierna´, one page, folio, Samos Vynar?, 3rd of October, n.y., to Reverend Alphonso, Bishop of Cervia, Italy, in Latin. To the heading, Constance is referred to as Princess of Transylvania, Voivode of Valaquia and `Born Grand Duchess of Austria´. The Princess refers to the letters exchanged with her correspondent and states in part `Most Reverend and Illustrious Sir, yesterday we received the light of the noble generosity of Sir Friveriens of Horberstam, right hand man for these matters..´ With address leaf, bearing an attractive Royal paper seal. Irregular right edge, with light water stain to the bottom right corner and upper edge, not affecting the bold dark ink signature. Overall age wear, otherwise GIn August 1595 Maria Christina married Sigismund Bathory, Prince of Transylvania. The marriage was regarded as a major political gain, as Sigismund, formerly a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, formed close ties with the Holy Roman Emperor. Emperor Rudolf II appointed Sigismund Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and also secured the possession of Transylvania, if the couple remain without offspring. However, this union proved to be completely unhappy. Sigismund, after a disastrous wedding night, refused to consummate the marriage and sent his wife to a fortress in Kovar Vara, where Maria Christina was kept as prisoner.

BRITISH ROYAL CHILDREN: A fine and extremely rare vintage signed sepia 4.5 x 3.75 photograph by all six children of King George V and Queen Mary individually comprising Prince Edward of Wales (1894-1972, later King Edward VIII and afterwards Duke of Windsor), Prince Albert of Wales (1895-1952, later King George VI), Princess Mary of Wales (1897-1965, later Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood), Prince Henry of Wales (1900-1974, later Duke of Gloucester), Prince George of Wales (1902-1942, later Duke of Kent) and Prince John of Wales (1905-1919), the private family image dating from around 1909 and depicting the siblings standing and seated together in full length poses, most in formal attire and Princes Henry and George both wearing sailor's uniforms. Signed by each in bold, dark fountain pen inks with their names alone to clear areas of the image. Signed photographs by all six children of King George V and Queen Mary are extremely rare owing to Prince John's tragically early death from an epileptic seizure at the age of 13. Neatly laid down, VG

ANDERSEN HANS CHRISTIAN: (1805-1875) Danish Author & Poet. Very rare autograph poem, signed `Souvenir de H. C. Andersen´, two pages, 4to, Paris, 26th April 1843, in French and in Danish. Andersen has cleanly written the poem `Le Soldat´ (“The Soldier”), to the left page in Danish, and to the right page in French. The poem corresponds to Andersen´s youth work `Soldaten´ (1830), in Danish. The poem in French contains the sixteen verses, in a French alexandrine form, twelve syllable verses, being Andersen´s version in French, different to the usual published translation of the poem. A very interesting translation by his author, being a poignant poem referring to the execution by squad of a soldier, whose friend is one of the squad members. Stating in part `Que ces tambours voiles résonnent tristement! - Que cette borne est loin! Que cette marche est lente! - Il me semble que mon coeur se brise lentement. - Ah! Quelle heure cruelle et quelle horrible attente! - Dans ce monde desert je n´aimais que lui seul - Lui seul que maintennant l´affreuse mort désigne….Neuf fusils ont vomi leur foudre destructeur(sic) - Huit balles ont sifflé plus loin que la victim - huit mains auront tremble craignant peut-être un crime…´ Signed by Andersend at the base, over the two pages displayed. A very rare and attractive double poem by Andersen. Very slightly uneven left edge, with extremely small tear to the upper edge. Centre fold reinforced to the verso. G to VG

MOVILA IEREMIA: (1555-1606) Voivode of Moldavia 1595-1600 & 1600-06. Very rare L.S., `Hyeremia Boebo´, two pages, folio, Zuchovica, 26th July 1596, to Reverend Bishop Alphonso, Apostolic Nuncio in Transylvania, in Latin. Movila, in his capacity as Voivode of Moldava is presented to the heading as `Ieremia Movila, Voivode and life inheritor of Moldavia..´, further sending a message to the Nuncio, expecting the support of Pope Clement VIII, stating in part `..by this Prince´s request, sent through Knight Stephan Bocskai, I beg your most Illustrious Sir to unite their kindred and adopt cause and work for our fidelity, by law, and because of the senselessness of the Boyars of Scerztha, and that our right prevail.. and Your Sir will protect your patronage, and guide his decision to bring to fruition, as my requests is indeed fair and equitable..´ Movila further refers to the end of Stefan Razvan´s time, impaled after the Battle of Suceava, only six months earlier `..ad exitum Rezvani ex hat provincial..´, and before concluding says `.. and we will be in debt to your Illustrious Holy Father for this task..´ With address leaf, bearing a royal paper seal affixed. Small overall age wear. G Clement VIII (1536-1605) Pope of Italian Roman Church 1592-1605. During his papacy he effected the reconciliation of King Henry IV of France to the Catholic faith and was instrumental in setting up an alliance of Christian nations to oppose the Ottoman Empire.A Boyar was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian, Moldavian and Baltic nobility from the 10th to 17th century.Stefan Razvan (?-1595) Voivode of Moldavia between April and August 1595. Razvan was a Romani descent from the state of Wallachia, his father was Muslim from the Ottoman Empire and his mother was Romanian. At that time, all the Romani people living in Wallachia and Moldavia were slaves, excepting the Ottoman citizens. He converted from Islam to Christianity and had the Boyar social status. With the help of Prince Sigismund Bathory they ousted Aaron the Tyrant in April 1595. His leadership did not last long, and the Polish-Lithuanian against the alliance between Wallachia and Moldavia, invaded the last and appointed Ieremia Movila. Ieremia Movila was a boyar who was placed on the throne as Prince of Moldavia by Polish Chancellor Jan Zamoyski, after the acceptance of Imperial tutelage over Moldavia by Stefan Razvan, having received backing from Transylvanian Prince Sigismund Bathory and Emperor Rudolf II. Movila was also accepted by the Porte, and Moldavia became a vassal of both countries, owing tributes to the Holy Roman Empire and to the Ottomans. When Stefan Razvan tried to return to the throne he was faced by Movila and Zamoyski, was captured and impaled.

STANISLAVSKI KONSTANTIN: (1863-1938) Russian Theatre Director. A.L.S., K Stanislavski, two pages, 4to, Nice, n.d. ('Monday, but I forgot the date', c.1929/30?), to 'Dear, sweet friend Liza!', in Cyrillic. Stanislavski announces that he is very worried about the problems with his correspondent's telephone, expressing his concern that, instead of two hours, it has now been 24 and he still hasn't received a telephone call, continuing 'Today they are going to the post office, and I decided not to wait for the telephone call, and to send a letter that I received from Dr. Roux' and further explaining 'He states that Dr. Mignou is known not only in Nice, but also in the whole of France, and considers him to be the best ear doctor here. Just in case, I asked him (Dr. Roux) to write him a letter……I am going to make another call now, after that, the letter will be dropped in the mailbox. If I manage to get through to you, I am going to do it in the evenings, although I used to avoid disturbing you at this time. Hospitals are better in the sense that bronchitis seems to get better, but whooping cough lasts for a long time.' Rare. VG Stanislavski's correspondent may have been Elizabeth Reynolds Hapgood (1894-1974) the renowned Russian translator and Soviet culture lecturer who worked as an English translator for Stanislavski. Stanislavski was recuperating in Nice at the end of 1929 and at the same time began work on a production plan for William Shakespeare's Othello. Stanislavski's plan for this work represents the earliest exposition of the rehearsal process that became known as his Method of Physical Action.