LUCKNER NICOLAS: (1722-1794) German Officer and Danish Count. Luckner joined the French army, supported the French Revolution and became Marshal in 1791. In 1792 Rouget de Lisle dedicated to him the Chant de Guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin ("War Song of the Army of the Rhine"), which was to become better known as the Marseillaise, the French anthem. Aged 70, Luckner asked for dismissal which the National convention accepted, but when he returned to Paris he was arrested and sentenced to death, dying by guillotine. D.S., `Luckner´, one page, 4to, Freskati, Sweden, 16th August 1792, in French. The partially printed document, bearing a rare vignette to the heading stating "La Nation, la Loi, le Roi", is a pass given to Stanislas Daiguillon allowing him to reach Paris. Signed by Luckner in his capacity as General Commander of the army of the North. With a red wax seal to the front and an attractive ProPatria watermark. Overall age wear, mostly to the edges. Folded, with small tear and very small holes to the fold, not affecting the text or signature. G £300-400
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GLINKA MIKHAIL: (1804-1857) Russian Composer. Very rare A.L.S., `Michele Glinka´, one page, 8vo, Varese, 5th May, n.y., [1831-1833], to Isidore Cambiaggio, in Italian. Glinka explains that his poor health will prevent him from coming to Milan, and states in part `I am about to send you the music of mi Trio with the amendments and changes, it has been impossible to me because of I have my mind full..´ further saying `..I do not tell you about my health, I beg you to have the kindness of going through my trio as soon as possible because I am scared that the cold preclude me from escaping promptly from Milan..´ With integral address leaf. Small area of paper loss due to seal removal. Overall age wear with one stain not affecting the signature. G £4000-6000Although Glinka spent three years in Italy listening to singers, romancing women with his music and meeting famous composers like Mendelssohn or Berlioz, he became disenchanted with Italy. He decided that his mission in life was to return to Russia, write in a Russian manner, and do for Russian music what other composers like Donizetti or Bellini had done for Italian music.
ALEXANDER I OF RUSSIA: (1777-1825) Emperor of Russia 1801-25. Rare A.L.S., Alexandre, two pages, 4to, Veliki Locnik, 11th September, [1804/05], to an unidentified correspondent, in French. The Tsar states in part `I am quite crossed learning that the day before my departure you came to see me at home while I was away. I was hoping to see you the day after..´ further saying `..I write to you these lines to tell you that when you will dispatch the Siniatin squadron under Admiral Teth, and once you consider that for the best of the service and duty you should be close to me, I authorize you to join me, at your ease regarding the time you will do so and the time you will spend close to me.´ Paper bearing a J. Honig & Zoonen watermark. With blank integral leaf. Folded. VG £2000-3000
ROSSINI GIOACCHINO: (1792-1868) Italian Composer. A rare A.M.Q.S., G. Rossini, three pages, 4to, musical score paper, London, 26th June 1824, annotations in Italian. Rossini has carefully penned 24 bars of music on two and three staves corresponding to his opera Ermione (1819), adding multiple side annotations, tempos, `Canto.. Pianoforte.. ´ as well as voice texts beneath the musical notes `Cosi piu mio non e.., come si puo cosi… e questa soffre il ciel, perfidia ed empie.. e ancor per l´infedel un fulmine non ha…´. Signed and dated in bold black ink at the base. The musical score sheets bears attractive blind embossed ornated borders. Professionally repaired to the fold and to the verso. G £5000-8000Ermione (1819) is an opera in two acts by Rossini, which is based on the play Andromaque by Jean Racine. The opera was withdrawn after few performances and would only be performed again a hundred years after Rossini´s death. Rossini said about it "It's my little Italian Guillaume Tell; and it will not see the light of day until after my death."
GREGOIRE HENRI: (1750-1831) Also known as Abbé Grégoire (“Abbot Gregoire”). French Catholic Priest, Abolitionist and revolutionary Leader, appointed President of the Convention. Rare A.L.S., `Bishop Senator Gregoire´, two pages, 4to, Paris, 28th September 1810, to Sauquaire de Souligné, in French. Greoire states in part `I have expressed my way of thinking as opposed to yours… You have been blessed with distinguished talents, but these talents being a blessing of heaven, they claim a legitimate use of it. Your heart, Monsieur, is may be more religious than what you believe..´ A lengthy letter of good content. With blank address leaf bearing a small area of paper loss as a result of the opening. G £300-400 Gregoire is well remembered for his memorable speech in the first session of the National Convention, 21st September 1792, stating `Kings are in morality what monsters are in the world of nature´. Two months after Gregoire delivered a speech demanding that King Louis XVI be brought to trial and immediately after was elected President of the Convention, over which he presided in his episcopal dress. Abbé Gregoire attempted to save the life of the monarch by proposing that the death penalty should be suspended.
OUDINOT NICOLAS: (1767-1847) Marshal of France. Duc de Reggio. Unusual and very rare battle map, one page, large oblong 19 x 15 slightly thicker paper, n.p., n.d., the battle armies locations drawn being of the Battle of Austerlitz, 1805. The battle map contains multiple hand-written annotations by Marshal Oudinot, naming the Officer leading the different troops or indicating the name of the regiment or location. Most of the texts, drawings, lines and curves, are in pencil and in another hand. Oudinot annotates in dark ink at various points of the map `Cavalry of the Russian Guard´, `Murat´, `Brunn´, `infantry of the Russian guard´, `telnitz´, `menitz´, etc.. Edges slightly trimmed, with one tear, not affecting the annotations. Folded, with small overall age wear. F to G £2000-3000
LA FAYETTE GILBERT DU MOTIER: (1757-1834) Marquis de La Fayette. French Aristocrat and Military Officer. Close to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, La Fayette fought in the American Revolutionary War. He later became a key figure in the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830. Rare A.L.S., Lafayette, one page, 8vo, Paris, Friday morning, 8th June 1827, to Achille Chaper, in French. Lafayette sends his regards to his correspondent and states in part `..would you please send me or tell me where can I collect the (fuseaux) if they are ready because I could take them with me tomorrow at noon..´ With blank address leaf in his hand. Folded, otherwise VG £600-900
![[BONAPARTE - EGYPT]: Pierre Berardier Grezieu (1755-1799) French General of the French Revolution. Appointed vice-Chief of St](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/7e99bbd2-d456-478b-b4b0-aacc009f7b1f/aae236b3-05d5-476b-9e99-aadb011ae775/468x382.jpg)
[BONAPARTE - EGYPT]: Pierre Berardier Grezieu (1755-1799) French General of the French Revolution. Appointed vice-Chief of Staff under General Bonaparte, he was present at the Battle of the Pyramides and Commander during de besiege of Jaffa where he died of plague few weeks after victory. A rare D.S., `Grezieu´, being a printed military day order, two pages, folio, Cairo, 30th August 1798, in French. The printed document is issued by Alexandre Berthier, in his capacity as General and Chief of Staff, and was printed at Cairo. Signed in bold black ink at the base of the document. Left edge very slightly trimmed, otherwise VG £120-200
CHENIER ANDRE: (1762-1794) French Poet of Greek origin. A precursor of the Romantic movement. Chenier was guillotined at the early age of 31. Very rare A.L., by André Chenier, two pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d., in French. The cleanly and carefully written text being a poem, part of his work L´Amerique, one of his last unfinished works, intending to write about the explorations which leaded to the discovery of the New World, describing the people and customs of the American native people. Chenier states in part `Magellan, fils du Tage, et de Drake et Bougainville - Et l´Anglais don't Neptune aux plus lointains climats - Reconnaissait la voile et respectait les pas. - Le Cancer sous les feux de son brulant tropique - L´attire entre l´Asie et la vaste Amerique - En des ports ou jadis il entra le premier…´ André Chenier´s name is written at the base in an unknown hand. The autograph page has been neatly laid down and matted allowing both sides lecture. Overall age wear, otherwise G £2000-3000At the request of Malesherbes, the defense counsel to King Louis XVI, Chénier provided some arguments for the King's defense. After the King´s execution Chenier sought a secluded retreat at Versailles. He was arrested at Passy by two agents of the Committee of Public Safety who were in search of a Marquise but only found a stranger who they imprisoned on suspicion of being the aristocrat they were searching for. Chenier had only come on a visit. Chénier was one of the last people executed by Robespierre who was himself seized and executed only three days later. Chénier's life was the subject of Umberto Giordano´s opera Andrea Chenier (1896).Pushkin wrote a poem based on Chenier last hours.
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. Rare L.S., `Clemens papa VIIIs´, as Pope, one page, 4to, Palazzo di Montecavallo, 5th May 1603, to the Santa Romana Chiesa Camerlingo, in Italian. The letter refers to a `Laudemio´ payment due to the Apostolic Chamber for the approval of the purchase of a property `in the Agro Pontino´, by someone from the Pontifical State. Stating in part `E´stata deliberata la metà della tenuta e casale chiamato palude pontina spettante a detto Gio[vanni] Batt[ista] per prezzo di scudi ventiottomila di m.ta come piu largamente apparisce nelli atti dell´Archivio..´ One ink stain with extremely small hole affecting only few words of the text, not affecting the signature. Edges very slightly trimmed and small overall age wear. G £1000-1500Giovanni Battista Gottifredi was member of the "Magistrato dei Conservatori" of the Roman senate government. It has been largely reported that Clement VIII may have been the first Pope to drink coffee. Coffee supporters often claim that the spread of its popularity among Catholics is due to Pope Clement VIII's influence. He was pressed by his advisers to denounce coffee. The advisers believed coffee was the "bitter invention of Satan" because of its popularity among Muslims. However, upon tasting coffee, Pope Clement VIII declared that, "This Satan's drink is so delicious that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it."
DELACROIX EUGENE: (1798-1863) French Painter. Regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school, he is also considered one of the last old Masters of painting, and one of the few who was ever photographed. Rare A.L.S., `Eug. Delacroix´, one page, 12mo, n.p., n.d., Friday, to an unidentified correspondent, in French. Delacroix states in part `It is with pleasure that I have been able to obtain the tickets that you requested…you will probably receive them tomorrow the latest.´ Folded, with small pinholes to the upper left corner. G £250-350
KLAPROTH JULIUS HEINRICH: (1783-1835) German Linguist, Ethnographer, Explorer and Orientalist. His works are credited with the turning of East Asian Studies into scientific disciplines. A rare A.L.S., Le Prof. Klaproth, in the third person, at the head, one page, 12mo, on a drawing light brown paper, Berlin, 13th November 1800, to Mr. Puyton-Morveau, in French. Klaproth sends his regards to his correspondent through Docteur Friedlander, and stating in part `He persuaded me that you will accept rending him services which will contribute to extend the knowledge of this scholar and traveller.´ G to VG £400-600
MENGELE JOSEF: (1911-1979) German Schutzstaffel (SS) Officer and Physician in the Nazi Concentration Camp Auschwitz during World War II. Rare fountain pen ink full signature `Josef Mengele´ on a small oblong 12mo piece neatly clipped from an official document, with the printed text beneath "Unterschrift". Matted in black beneath a 5 x 7 photograph of Mengele, the image showing him in a profile head and shoulders pose, and above a brief printed biography. Framed and glazed in a silver coloured wooden frame to an overall size of 9 x 13.5. VG £1000-1500
TOLSTOY LEO: (1828-1910) Russian Writer of the masterpieces War and Peace and Anna Karenina. A rare, large vintage signed and inscribed 10 x 15 photograph of Tolstoy seated in a three quarter length pose wearing his familiar dark peasant's tunic. Photograph published by Joseph Daziaro of Moscow and with his small printed label neatly affixed to the base of the verso. Signed by Tolstoy in Cyrillic across the lower part of the image and dated Yalta, 26th December 1901 in his hand. Signed photographs of Tolstoy of this size are particularly rare and desirable. The signature and inscription partially run across a darker area of the image and the text is a little light although legible. Some light overall age wear and minor scuffing to the image, G £4000-6000 The present photograph is inscribed to Pavel Alexandrovich Boulanger (1865-1925) Russian Railway official, a friend of Tolstoy and Tolstoyan Disciple. Boulanger was employed by the Moscow-Kursk Railway company and helped to arrange transport to the Crimea in the summer of 1901, where Tolstoy had been ordered to convalesce by his doctor following an illness. Tolstoy signed this photograph in 1901, the year that he was selected to receive the first Nobel Prize for Literature. In October he had turned down the honour believing that the prize money would bring unwanted complications to his life.
KENNEDY MERNA: (1908-1944) American Actress. Best known for her role opposite Charlie Chaplin in the silent film The Circus (1928). Rare signed postcard photograph, the Ross image depicting Kennedy standing, in a full length pose, alongside a white horse, in a scene of The Circus film. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink across the image. Kennedy died of a heart attack at the early age of 36, only four days after her marriage. VG £80-100
![[ALEXANDER III & ROYAL FAMILIES]: (1845-1894) Emperor of Russia 1881-94. An excellent and rare 10.5 x 9.5 photograph, annotat](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/7e99bbd2-d456-478b-b4b0-aacc009f7b1f/1fab06f2-a491-4b20-9b76-aadb011ac0f2/468x382.jpg)
[ALEXANDER III & ROYAL FAMILIES]: (1845-1894) Emperor of Russia 1881-94. An excellent and rare 10.5 x 9.5 photograph, annotated to the image "Fredensborg, 1893", unsigned, the Hohlenberg image, Ostergade, including the Royal family members of Russia, England, Denmark and Greece related to Emperor Alexander III and his wife Empress Maria Feodorovna. The photograph was taken during Emperor´s Alexander last holiday in Denmark, he would die the year after. Comprising his spouse Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928) Empress of Russia 1881-94, Princess Dagmar of Denmark; their children Grand Duke Nicholas II (1868-1918) future Tsar of Russia. Assassinated; Grand Duke George (1871-1899) who died at the early age of 28 of tuberculosis; Grand Duke Michael (1878-1918) Heir presumptive 1894-1904. He deferred acceptance of the throne when Nicholas abdicated in 1917; Grand Duchess Xenia (1875-1960) and Grand Duchess Olga (1882-1960); the English Royal family represented by Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925) Queen Consort of the United Kingdom 1901-10 as spouse of King Edward VII and her daughter Princess Victoria (1868-1935); and the Danish Royal family represented by Christian IX (1818-1906) King of Denmark 1863-1906 and his spouse Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1817-1898) Queen of Denmark 1863-1898, both father and mother of Queen Alexandra of England and Empress Maria of Russia; and the Greek Royal family represented by George I (1845-1913) King of Greece 1863-1913. Assassinated; and his wife Olga Constantinovna (1851-1926) Queen Consort of Greece 1867-1913. Regent of Greece in 1920. Grand Duchess of Russia. Overall age wear, with small corner creases. Remnants of former affixing to the verso, otherwise G £1200-2000
MICHEL LOUISE: (1830-1905) French Anarchist and medical Worker, a leading figure in the Paris Commune. She used the pseudonym “Clémence” and was also known as “The Red Virgin of Montmartre”, or “La Louve Rouge” (“The Red she-Wolf”). Rare and good A.L.S., `L Michel´, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., in French. Michel states in part `.. If I had been aware, I would have gone there despite all. I did not respond to you because I was still expecting to meet you, I thought about it every day..´ With blank integral leaf. Edges trimmed with small tears and creasing to the edges. About G £250-350
WLADYSLAW IV VASA: (1595-1648) King of Poland 1632-48. A renowned Patron of the Arts. Wladyslaw gained fame when he defeated the Ottoman Empire and was elected Tsar of Russia by the Seven Boyars in 1610, although he did not accept the Russian throne. An extremely rare L.S., `Vladislaus Rex´, one page, folio, Royal Palace, 2nd March 1632, to archbishop of Larissa, in Italian. The king of Poland states in part `..I will be pleased that Your Santity instructs the payment of ten thousand florins to Bartholomeo Morichoni, my servant, to attend the supplement of the expenses for the war against the Turks…´ The document bears to the front a large paper seal affixed. With blank address leaf. Overall age wear and staining. Professionally repaired. F to G £800-1200Nuncio Honorato Visconti (?-1645) Archbishop of Larissa.
NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. An exceptional and rare L.S., Np, three pages, gilt edges, 4to, Vilna, 29th June 1812, to Marshal Berthier, in French. Napoleon is at Vilnius, actually Lithuania, where he entered and occupied the city the day earlier, and sends important military orders to several of his Marshals, stating in part `Send orders to Prince of Eckmuhl, the Friant division must be at the service of the King of Naples, and the Gudin division must cross the Viliya bridge at nine in the morning and be at the service of the King of Naples too…. The Prince of Eckmuhl will go in person to Mikhailichki..´ further adding `..Send orders to the King of Naples instructing him to move with divisions….and chase away the enemy from Niementchine, pursuing them on their retreat. He will join the the Duke of Elchingen, who should be this evening at Meichagola, and will proceed in the same way, also check in detail the situation at Vilkomir, to know what is there… Inform him that the Duke of Reggio is reaching Chaty to attack the General Wittgenstein troops.´ Further again, and before concluding, Napoleon states `Send order to the King of Naples in order that he sets cavalry posts every three leagues, in order to communicate easily, and send same order to Duke of Eckmuhl.´ A lengthy and interesting military orders letter, related to the Russian campaign troops. Folded. VG £1500-2000 Prince of Eckmuhl (1770-1823) Louis Nicolas Davout. Marshal of France, Duc d´Auerstaedt. Known as the Iron Marshal, Davout was the only Napoleonic Marshal not to have been defeated in battle by 1815.Duke of Elchingen (1769-1815) Michel Ney. Marshal of France, and Prince de la Moskowa. Executed.Duke of Reggio (1767-1847) Nicolas Oudinot. Marshal of France.
CAGLIOSTRO ALESSANDRO: (1743-1795) Giuseppe Balsamo, known as Count di Cagliostro, Italian Adventurer and Occultist. Cagliostro, whose origins were shrouded in mystery, was a renowned magician close to most European Royal courts, his occult arts including alchemy, psychic healing and scrying. An extremely rare L.S, `Io Giuseppe Balsamo´, a bold good example signature, two pages, 4to, n.p., [Rome], n.d., in French. Cagliostro signs at the base of a carefully written text, being copied extracts of letters sent by Mrs Swinton to Mrs Cazin, mainly related to Cagliostro, gossips on his origins, his behaviour, etc.., stating in part `..I have to admit that I was one of his most devoted partisans.. until I was shown the documents signed by him, with his writing that I know well..´, further saying `..the real name of the self-called Count di Cagliostro is Cico, from Naples, son of a coachman..´ The present document, probably written by disappointed disciples of Cagliostro, was signed in Italy, where he returned in 1789 from his exile in England. He was arrested and sentenced to death on the charge of being a freemason, but Pope Pius VI commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. Small overall age wear and creasing to the borders. Two very small holes not affecting the signature. G £5000-8000Cagliostro was arrested in 1785, held in the Bastille, and prosecuted for his uncertain participation in the affair of the Diamond Necklace at the court of King Louis XVI of France, involving Queen Marie Antoinette. The bad reputation of the Queen was definitively ruined by the implication that she participated in a crime to defraud the crown jewelers of the cost of a very expensive diamond necklace. This Affair is historically significant as one of the events that led, among other causes, to precipitate the French Revolution.
GARROS, VEDRINES & KIMMERLING: Rare multiple signed page by three legendary Pioneer Aviators. Although for different reasons, all died in air crashes. Comprising Roland Garros (1888-1918) French Aviation Pioneer and Fighter Pilot of World War I. Garros died at the very early age of 29 when he was shot down by a German fighter pilot only a month before the end of the war; Jules Védrines (1881-1919) French Pioneer Aviator, the first to fly at more than 100 mph. Winner of the Gordon Bennett Trophy race, 1912. Autographs of Védrines are rare as a result of his untimely death at the age of 37 in an air crash, & Albert Kimmerling (1882-1912) French Pioneer Aviator who died at the very early age of 29 in a crash while test flying. One page, 8vo, removed from an autograph album, individually signed by the three pilots, with written text in the hand of Védrines, stating `Souvenir of a superb travel over-flying the English capital, on 3 / 7 / 1911´. Also signed by René Vidart (1890-1928) French Pionner Aviator, who died at the early age of 38, adding alongside `Souvenir of a bird of France´. Bearing to the verso four signatures by British famous men, including the actors Henry Ainley and Norman Forbes Robertson. Small overall age tone with small foxing to borders, otherwise G £200-300Védrines refers to the European circuit flight Calais - London. Védrines won the race, Vidart was second, Kimmering fourth and Garros fifth.
CHAVEZ HUGO: (1954-2013) President of Venezuela 1999-2013. A very good and unusual rare manuscript document signed `Hugo Rafael Chavez´, twenty three pages (23), small 8vo, green paper cover, being his personal diary, written during his parachuting course from 24th June to 14th July 1974, in Spanish. A very lengthy and carefully written diary by a young Chavez, with multiple annotations each day, referring to his fears, his goals, his day by day course, his relationships with women, his feelings, his jumps and results, etc… Chavez states in part `24th June - Today I kept on with my psychologic training. Am sure I´ll achieve my goal. Am confident in myself…25th June - I think that the army should be on the streets.. Today I saw for the first time how an officer used his sabre against a soldier. "The Present is struggle. The Future belongs to us"… 6th July - In the evening I took Marysabel and Nury to the cinema. We were intending to watch "The Exorcist".. I held each one by an arm and we run the three together through the empty streets, we enjoyed very much.. 9th July - We were informed that we would only fly on Saturday and will try to make the five jumps all in one day. .. In the evening we watched the film "Party in California" with Elvis Presley… 11th July - "The one who leaves all aside in order to be useful to his Homeland do not lose anything.. Bolivar"… 12th July - Tomorrow I´ll jump for the first time in my life, it will be one of the greatest experiences in my life.. 13th July - People say that you find the real courage when you learn how to control your fear, and I did so…´ And before concluding, above his signature, Chavez states `Finally, thanks God, I am a paratrooper´. A very interesting content manuscript. VG £600-900
![[LOUIS XI]: (1423-1483) King of France 1461-83. Called "The Prudent" or "The Universal Spider" because of his diplomatic cons](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/7e99bbd2-d456-478b-b4b0-aacc009f7b1f/9e28465b-2a7a-4b06-b49d-aadb011a4712/468x382.jpg)
[LOUIS XI]: (1423-1483) King of France 1461-83. Called "The Prudent" or "The Universal Spider" because of his diplomatic conspiracies. A very rare and attractive document, one page, 17 x 12 parchment, bearing an extremelly attractive and very large heavy wax seal attached, in good condition, showing the image of the King with his scepter, and text titles to the circular border, issued in Bressuire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 31st October 1481, in old French. The document being a pledge or guarantee given for the amount of 1200 crown écus, to Humbert de Dortans, Counselor of State to King Louis XI and his Butler since 1481. Signed `By the King´, by `Berbisey´, head of a Bourgogne family, a very attractive signature, bearing a medieval drawing alongside. Bearing a contemporary registry annotation to the verso. Folded. G £1000-1500
BERNHARDT SARAH: (1844-1923) French stage Actress. The most prominent actress of her time. A.L.S., Sarah Bernhardt Damala, a rare form of signature, three pages, 12mo, Elvaston Place, London, n.d., 1882, to a Notary, in French. The document bears her monogram heading, Bernhardt referring to an outstanding payment and apologizing for her lack of order with such matters, states in part `I thought that this invoice was long ago paid. The brave man has not wanted to create any trouble to me, despite the behaviour of his landlord. I am grateful to him´, she further informs her correspondent about her return date to Paris and states `..my husband will visit you on Wednesday next week..´ Accompanied by a contemporary 4 x 6 photograph, Studio Paul Boyer, unsigned, depicting Sarah Bernhardt in costume in Edmond Rostand´s play L´Aiglon based on the life of Napoleon II. EX £80-120Aristides Damala (1855-1889) Known as Jacques Damala. Greek Officer and later Actor. Husband of Sarah Bernhardt 1882-89. Died at the very early age of 34 of a cocaine overdose.
CATHOLIC MONARCHS: ISABELLA I OF CASTILE (1451-1504) Queen of Castile 1474-1504 & FERDINAND II OF ARAGON (1452-1516) King of Aragon 1479-1516 & as Ferdinand V King of Castile 1475-1504. Known as the Catholic Monarchs, they ruled jointly over the Kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Aragon and Sicily 1475-1504. They are recognized for laying the foundations for the political unification of Spain, and also for completing the Reconquista as well as their support and financing of Christopher Columbus´ voyage of 1492 which led to the opening of the New World. Rare L.S., individually signed by the Queen and the King `Yo la Reyna´ and `Yo el Rey´, one page, oblong 4to, Zaragoza, 10th December 1493, to Juan de Ribera, in old Castilian. The document being a letter, sent by the King and Queen, to Juan de Ribera, Captain General in charge of our Kingdoms borders with Navarre, referring to their order related to `no people of our Kingdoms will cross the Kingdom of Navarre borders´ where at that time battles between "parcialidades y colores" were taken place. The King and Queen state having been informed that this order had not been fulfilled, they instruct Captain Juan de Ribera to `..make them all return to the towns they came from..´ The document bears a royal paper seal, detached from the verso, in very fine condition, and several countersignatures to the verso too. Folded. Extremely small age wear and few small stains, otherwise VG £4000-6000
VAN DER MEERSCH MAXENCE: (1907-1951) French Flemish Writer. Prix Gongourt award in 1936. Died at 43 of tuberculosis. Rare A.L.S., `Maxence Van der Meersch´, one page, 8vo, n.p., 12th April 1946. On his personal embossed letterhead `7 Quai des Alliés Wasquehal (nord)´, to Maurice Garçon, in French. Van der Meersch sends his warm congratulations to his correspondent stating `..au Maitre du Barreau et de la plume.´ a fine compliment, for his recent appointment as member of the French Academy. EX £60-90 Maurice Garçon (1889-1967) French lawyer and writer.
JOYCE JAMES : (1882-1941) Irish Novelist and Poet. Widely regarded as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century, and best known for his work Ulysses (1922). Very rare A.L.S., James Joyce, one page, small 8vo, Paris, 18th May 1926, to Miss Bollach. Joyce writes to Lily Bollach who worked with Joyce on some of his works, the present letter most probably referring to his manuscript of Work in Progress, which would be later re-named Finnegan Wake. Joyce in a permanent linguistic search states in part `..It is all my fault for copying out of an earlier version. I am sorry to have put you to unnecessary trouble.´ and further about corrections to add, saying `Please read «noblesse…» and later «during alleged recent act of our chief magistrates as required by statues». For Mockmacmahonson in the other place read «Mockmacmahovitch» and after the words.. The verse begin, correctly as you say «Day shirker»´ The 8vo opened letter being a Pneumatique letter, folded, hand-addressed by Joyce to the verso, also postmarked and post-stamped. Overall age wear. G £10000-15000 Finnegans Wake is a work of fiction by Joyce, his final work. Considered one of the most difficult works of fiction in the English language. Written in Paris over a period of seventeen years and published in 1939, only two years before Joyce´s death.
WAGNER RICHARD: (1813-1883) German Composer. Exceptionally rare A.M.Q.S., `Richard Wagner´, one page, 4to, Vienna, 27th December 1862, inscription and annotations in German. Wagner has penned a 5 bars musical quotation, annotating Wotan to the heading, and adds voice texts beneath the musical notes. The text corresponds to Wotan recitativo in The Valkyrie, third act, stating `dieser Augen leuchtendes Paar, das oft ich lächeldn gekost´. Wagner adds beneath `See you Soon! Your tired and sleepless Richard Wagner´. Small professional repair to the verso, to the edges, otherwise G £8000-12000Wotan is the role of the God of battle and Ruler of the Gods, played by a bass-baritone, in the opera Die Walkure (The Valkyrie) (1870) by Richard Wagner. It is the second of the four music dramas that constitute Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung).
BABEUF GRACCHUS: (1760-1797) His real name being François-Noel Babeuf. French Journalist and political Agitator. The nickname “Gracchus” was taken from the Roman tribunes of the people. His articles published on the newspaper Le Tribun du Peuple (“The Tribune of the People”) were calling for popular revolt against the government. Babeuf advocated for the abolition of private property and democracy. He was executed at the early age of 36 accused of conspiracy for his role in the Conspiracy of the Equals. Rare A.L.S., `G. Babeuf´, one page, 8vo, Paris, 6th October 1796, to his wife, in French. The letter is written from Prison, while Babeuf is still waiting for his trial, stating in part `In the evening. I have received this morning a letter of Emile and another one of the mother dated 14th. This letters have pleased me a lot as I was worried.. I write this letter to you in order to keep you out of the concern that my letter of this morning may have caused to you…´ further and before concluding saying `Am fine. Let me also know how is your health? I kiss you from deep in my heart.´ With a two lines post-scriptum. With blank address leaf, written in his hand `To Citizen Mme Babeuf´. Folded, with overall age wear, creasing and edges trimmed. About G £1000-1500 The Conspiracy of the Equals was a failed coup d´Etat, inspired on Jacobin´s ideals, intending to overthrow the Directory government. Babeuf´s song “Dying of Hunger, Dying of Cold” became a popular tune in cafés and disaffected troops were planning an insurrection for the 11th May 1796. Babeuf was arrested a day earlier on May 10th. Although more important people involved in the conspiracy were arrested, the tribunal depicted Babeuf as the leader. The government crackdown was successful as they considered that executing the most popular of them would annihilate any further attempt of insurrection. There were attempts to rescue the prisoners several times, but all failed.
PETER III: (1728-1762) Emperor of Russia for only six months in 1762. Son of Anna Petrovna, the elder surviving daughter of Peter the Great. Peter III was deposed, most probably assassinated, as a result of a conspiracy led by his wife who succeeded him as Catherine II. Despite his very short reign, Peter III proclaimed religious freedom, a very enlightened move at that time, abolished the secret police and forbid landowners to kill their serfs. An extremely rare document, signed as Emperor, only two days after ascending to the throne. L.S., `Peter´, in Cyrillic, a bold ink signature, one page, folio, Saint Petersburg, 7th January 1762, to Bakhirev and Yakimov, in Cyrillic. The document being a decree addressed to the Court Office instructing to appoint Spiridon Bakhirev and Petr Yakimov Lieutenant Colonels and granting the allocation of their salary in the sum of three hundred rubles per year. The sheet bears a crown watermark. In very fine condition. VG £6000-9000
CECILIA RENATA OF AUSTRIA: (1611-1644) Queen consort of Poland 1637-44 as spouse of King Wladyslaw IV. Archduchess of Austria as daughter of Ferdinand II, holy Roman Emperor. Cecilia died at the very early age of 32 after giving birth to a stillborn daughter. None of her children exceeded childhood. Rare L.S., Cecilia Regina, one page, folio, Warsaw, 16th June 1640, to Archbishop Larissano, Apostolic Nuncio to Warsaw, in Latin. The Queen of Poland thanks her `very dear friend´, refers to their former correspondence and mentions that `..last ones delivered by your son, which makes me happy..´ Cecilia further thanks the Archbishop for the favour rendered. With blank address leaf, bearing a royal paper seal affixed. Overall age wear and creasing, with small water stain to bottom and upper edges, not affecting the text and signature. G £1000-1500
![[GUILLOTINE & DEATH SENTENCE]: A rare and good selection of printed original documents, including decrees, referring to guill](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/7e99bbd2-d456-478b-b4b0-aacc009f7b1f/8accacc1-436d-4322-84c5-aadb011acd28/468x382.jpg)
[GUILLOTINE & DEATH SENTENCE]: A rare and good selection of printed original documents, including decrees, referring to guillotine and death sentences, two to four pages, 4to, dated 1791 to 1794, in French, including law decree, two pages, 28th September 1791, abolishing the death sentence under tortures; Law approval by Louis XVI, 25th March 1792, related to `Death sentence and ways of executions to be adopted in future´, it is not yet named Guillotine as will be later approved, further saying that the death sentence convicted will have his head cut `but Humanity demands that death sentence has to be the less painful when executing..the way that will be adopted will be decided by…in order to be the same all over the Kingdom..´ Together with Antoine Louis (1723-1792) French Surgeon. An interesting lengthy report on ways of decapitation and type of knifes, four pages, recommending the English system; Decree by Lebrun & Garat, 4th December 1792 stating `..Anyone suggesting or attempting to restore Royalty in France…will be sentenced to death..´; Decree, three pages, dated 13th June 1793, establishing the cost of the guillotine transport according to distance, etc.. A set of interesting content contemporary decrees. G to VG, 9 £400-600The first name given to the decapitation artefact was La Louison or Louisette, and after Antoine Louis´ death in 1792, the definitive adoption of system was entrusted to Joseph Ignace Guillotin (1738-1814) French Physician.XVI.
HAYAKAWA SESSUE: (1889-1973) Japanese Actor. A Hollywood star during the silent film era. First Asian actor holding leading roles in Europe and America where he became a sex symbol too. Rare signed postcard photograph, the image depicting Hayakawa in a close-up profile portrait pose. Signed in bold dark fountain pen ink to a partially clear area at the base of the image. VG £60-90
ANNA CATHERINE CONSTANCE VASA: (1619-1651) Polish Princess. Daughter of King Sigismund III and his second wife Constance of Austria. Anna Catherine Vasa died childless at the early age of 32. Rare L.S., Anna Catharina Constantia, one page, folio, Warsaw, 14th January 1634, to a reverend, in Latin. The Princess congratulates her correspondent for his new appointment and indicates that `..your appointment will increase happiness all over the world..´ further thanking him for his previous and kind letters and wishing him all the best. With blank address leaf, written to the last page the date, location, and `Sor.ma Principessa di Polonia´. Overall age wear and staining, with edges trimmed. F to G £400-600
WIRION LOUIS: (1764-1810) French General of the Gendarmerie. Rare A.L.S., Wirion, one page, folio, Verdun, 23rd January 1804, to the Minister of war, in French. The document bears at the heading an attractive and rare French Revolution vignette “In Legibus Salus”. Wirion, in his capacity as Commandant of the Verdun position, supports a request received from `Edouard de Ste-Croix, English from Jersey, prisoner in Verdun, demanding an authorization allowing him to return to Laval, in the Mayenne department…It has been attested that this prisoner suffers an illness that is called Epilepsy..´ The document bears a large watermark. Folded. Very small, minor overall age wear. VG £250-350 Wirion shot himself in the head at the Bois de Boulogne after having been accused of prevarication and exploitation of English prisoners in Verdun.
PAGNOL MARCEL: (1895-1974) French Filmmaker, Novelist & Playwright. An excellent vintage signed and inscribed 9 x 11.5 photograph by Pagnol, the image depicting him in a head and shoulders pose looking directly towards the camera. Photograph by Henri Moiroud. Signed ('Marcel') by Pagnol in bold, black fountain pen ink to a clear area at the base of the image and further inscribed ('a toi, mon cher Tintin, avec ma meilleure affection') in French and dated 1943 in his hand. Signed photographs of Pagnol of this size and quality are rare and desirable. VG £800-1200Henri Moiroud (1911-1999) French Photographer who served as still photographer at Pagnol's film studios in Marseille from 1941-56.Pagnol became the first filmmaker to be elected to the Academie francaise in 1946 and is widely regarded as one of France's greatest 20th century writers and is notable for excelling in almost every medium - memoir, novel, drama and film.
HENRY II OF FRANCE: (1519-1559) King of France 1547-59. Rare D.S., Henry, one page, large oblong 20 x 11 vellum, irregularly trimmed to the right and bottom border, Villers-Cotterets, 15th March 1558, to his war Treasurer, in old French. The letter being a payment order, stating in part `To our dear and beloved Loys Nicolas de Caluxe, archer at the service of our dear and beloved cousin le vidasme de Chartres, knight of our order, the sum of a hundred and nine pounds..´ Countersigned by the King´s secretary Bourdin. With a contemporary signed registry annotation to the verso. Overall creasing, with right and bottom borders partially trimmed, not affecting the text or the King´s signature. F to G £500-800 Francois de Vendome (1522-1560) is the person they referred to as vidasme de Chartres.Henry II would die a year letter, after suffering an untimely death in a jousting tournament. Surgeons were unable to cure the infected wound inflicted by the captain of his Scottish Guard.
NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. Extremely rare L.S., `Bonaparte´, a bold and good example early signature, one page, folio, Cairo, Egypt, 26th July 1798, to General Cafarelli, in French. The present letter is written only five days after the Battle of the Pyramids, a decisive victory wiping out almost the entire Egyptian army. Napoleon entered Cairo after the battle and created a new local administration under his supervision. In his capacity as General-in-Chief, Napoleon states `I beg you General to take in charge immediately the raise of a map of the city of Cairo and its surroundings..´ further adding `Make them do it first as a croquis, at a glance and with a very large scale..´ Napoleon plans to establish head-quarters at Cairo, and states `I also wish you to let me know the place we could choose to build a citadel which would contain our main institutions and keep the city of Cairo respectful.´ The letter is in the hand of General Geraud Michel Duroc (1772-1813) aide de camp to Napoleon since 1796. Small overall age wear and staining to the upper right corner, with extremely small areas of paper loss to the left edge as a result of binding removal. G £3000-4000 Louis Maximilien Caffarelli du Falga (1756-1799) French General of Italian origin. He served on the French invasion of Egypt with a wooden leg. Only a month before the present letter was written he landed with Napoleon at Valletta to occupy Malta in June 1798. A year after he had his right arm amputated when his elbow was smashed by a bullet during an assault on Acre. Gangrene struck caused a fever that killed him. Napoleon wrote of him in the order of the day: "Our universal regrets accompany General Caffarelli to the grave; the army is losing one of its bravest leaders, Egypt one of its legislators, France one of its best citizens, and science, an illustrious scholar."
CARRIER JEAN BAPTISTE: (1756-1794) French Revolutionary and member of the Convention. Well-remembered for his infamous Drownings at Nantes (`Noyades de Nantes´). He was guillotined on 16th December. Rare D.S., `Carrier´, underlined, a large and bold good signature example, one page, folio, Ille-et-Villaine, n.d., [c.1793], to citizen Colliot, in French. The partially printed document bears the heading "Les Représenants du Peule" ("The Representatives of the People") and is the appointment of citizen Colliot as member of the council, stating in part `We have no doubt that your patriotism will oblige you to accept a position occupied for too long by men unworthy of the name of Republicans. You owe the Republic the use of your talents; to refuse, would be a crime…´ Signed at the base by Carrier. With blank address leaf, bearing two halves of a red wax seal as a result of the opening. Overall age wear, mostly to the edges, otherwise G £1000-1500
BONNIER D´ALCO ANTOINE: (1750-1799) French Diplomat and member of the National Convention. Bonnier d´Alco voted in favour of the execution of King Louis XVI. Rare A.L.S., `Bonnier´, two pages, Rastadt, 15th March 1799, to his friend Jean François Curée de l´Herault, member of the Council of 500, in French. A lengthy, boldly and carefully written letter by Bonnier, stating in part `..I sincerely thank you my friend for your support during the session, showing also your good judgement and justice sense..´ further saying `..according to what newspaper published, I had accepted my appointment in the legislative administration corps; the truth being that I have been appointed Minister at Rastadt on 6th Brumaire, and that I couldn´t be appointed to the council of the ancients until Germinal, this means five months later..´ With small hole to the blank address leaf as a result of the opening. Lower edge slightly trimmed, otherwise G £200-300 The present letter was written from Rastadt where he was entrusted a diplomatic negotiation to the Rastadt congress, and where he would be assassinated only a month later by Hungarian Hussars.
BILLAUD-VARENNE JACQUES NICOLAS: (1756-1819) French Revolutionary, often considered a key architect of the period known as The Reign of Terror. Nicknamed "Le Tigre" ("The Tiger"). Billaud-Varenne was member of the Committee of Public Safety. He was later sentenced to deportation to French Guiana after is involvement in the 12th Germinal insurrection (1st April 1795). Rare A.L.S., `Billaud-Varenne´, one page, 4to, Dorvillier, Guiana, 24th April 1801, to Decams, a Merchant, in French. Billaud-Varenne states in part `I find once again myself short of money. I will therefore need one hundred and twenty pounds for the two remaining months of this quarter.´ further saying `I do not know if it is the dearth which I spoke to you about, and which frightened you, has prevented you to accomplish your plan..´ and before concluding adds `..I will take with me a cup of cacao which am preparing right now..´ With blank integral leaf, bearing to the last page contemporary accounting annotations. VG £120-200
STALIN JOSEPH: (1878-1953) Soviet Dictator. Leader of the Soviet Union as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party 1922-52. Rare A.N.S., `No objection. I. St[alin]´, in red pencil, to the head of a T.L.S., `P. Moskatov´, in blue pencil and in Cyrillic, one page, 4to, Moscow, 11th April 1942, to `Tovarich Stalin I. V.´, in Cyrillic. The war-time document bears a red ink stamp to the head stating `Top Secret´, the printed monogramme with Soviet hammer and sickle, and the printed heading of “Workforce Accounting and Distribution Committee at the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR”. Moskatov states `According to the Resolution nº434, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR allowed the Committee and the Executive Committee of Molotovsky region (tovarisch Goryunov), to mobilize, within two weeks, and for the period of wartime, 150 women from working-age inactive population in the Berezniky city, Molotovsky region, in order that they would work at the Berezovskaya thermoelectric plant..´ With two binder holes to the left border not affecting the text or signature. Very small overall creasing, otherwise VG £2500-3500Piotr G. Mostakov (1894-1969) Chief of labour reserves 1940-46 in the USSR Council, and Chairman of the auditing commission of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union 1952-60. Three times awarded with the Lenin Order.
HITLER ADOLF: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1934-45. Rare document dated in Munich, 21st October 1931, being a T.L.S., signed by Hitler, one page, oblong 4to, on the “Adolf Hitler - Kanzlei - Munchen - Briennerstr. 45 ” printed stationery (“Adolf Hitler - Chancellery - Munich - Brienner Street. 45”). The Brienner strasse building, known as the “Brown House”, was acquired by the NSDAP and converted into the new Party headquarters, where the Nazi Party moved to in January 1931. Although Hitler would not become Chancellor until 1933, this “Kanzlei” (“Chancellery”) named by Hitler, worked for this short period as a State within the State of the Weimar government which was still controlling Germany. The letter is addressed to Mr. Rhinow, in Braunschweig, and Hitler thanks him for sending an ink delete. Folded, with overall small creasing, otherwise G £1500-2000
LATTRE DE TASSIGNY JEAN JOSEPH DE: (1889-1952) French General during WWII and Indochina war. Former officer during World War One, he fought at Verdun and was wounded multiple times. He was the only French General to command American troops during WWII, and the representative at Berlin on 8th May 1945, together with Eisenhower, Zhukov and Montgomery. Posthumously appointed Marshal of France. Rare A.L.S., J. de Lattre, two pages, 8vo, Paris, 7th August 1951, on his printed letterhead paper “Le General de Lattre de Tassigny”, [to Maurice Garçon], in French. De Lattre has found yesterday, on his return to home, a quite delicate letter from Pierre Benoit the writer, and sends to his correspondent a copy of the letter plus his response, stating in part `..now that I am recovering, I take all this on friendship. You have just given to me a new proof of yours, and I do not know how to thank you for this..´ Folded. VG £120-200
MCQUEEN STEVE: (1930-1980) American Actor. An excellent and very rare colour multiple signed 5 X 5 photograph `Steve Mc Queen´, the image depicting the American Actor outdoors, standing in a three quarter length pose, alongside Mexican racing driver Pedro Rodriguez, at the Le Mans racing circuit, in June 1971. Also signed by Pedro Rodriguez, `Afectuosamente Pedro Rodriguez´, who participated continuously at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1958 to 1971, and on his last year with Porsche, and with Jackie Oliver as co-driver. Rodriguez died at the early age of 31, less than a month after signing the present photograph at Le Mans; Jackie Oliver, British racing car driver, founder of the Arrows team. He was the co-driver of Rodriguez in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971, and Jo Siffert, Swiss racing car driver. Steve McQueen was inspired by Siffert in his role as Michael Delaney in the film Le Mans (1971), they worked closely and friendly, Siffert performing few driving scenes on the Porsche 917K. Siffert, like Rodriguez, died that same year 1971, only few months after signing the present photograph. All have signed in bold black ink to clear or partially clear areas of the image. Signed autographs of McQueen related to Le Mans racing circuit are scarce and desirable. The four edges have been cleanly clipped. VG £1000-1500 Pedro Rodriguez de la Vega (1940-1971) Mexican Grand Prix motor Racing driver. Winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1968. Rodriguez died in July 1971 in a car race crash at Norisring in Nuremberg when he was driving for the lead. Only few months earlier Rodriguez won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1000 Km Monza, both in 1971 and both with Jackie Oliver as co-driver. Few months before dying Rodriguez and Siffert, together with Oliver, obtained the 2nd position at the 1000 Km Nurburgring.Jackie Oliver (1942- ) British Formula One driver. Founder of the Arrows team. Winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1969, as co-driver of Jacky Ickx with the Ford GT40 Gulf.Jo Siffert (1936-1971) Swiss racing car driver. Winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1968. Siffert died at the early age of 35 at the 1971 World Championship Victory race at Kent in England, having his car roll over after a crash and being caught under the burning car.
MARQUIS DE SADE: (1740-1814) French Writer, Nobleman and Revolutionary Politician. Best-known for his erotic works and sexual fantasies with violence and lack of morality. Author of The 120 Days of Sodom. Sade spent thirty-two years of his life imprisoned and most of his works were written while incarcerated. The word sadism was coined from his name. Rare A.L.S., `Sade´, one page, 4to, n.p., 19th November 1809, to his farmer François Ripert, in French. Sade needs money and instructs Ripert to deal this matter with the Notary Courtois. Further sharing the sadness of his correspondent whose son has died, stating in part `I have learned that your elder son has passed away, I beg you to believe that I share such loss, always so painful for a father…´ With blank address leaf. Small overall age wear and creasing, otherwise G £1000-1500
SEABROOK WILLIAM: (1884-1945) American Journalist, Explorer, Occultist and cannibal. Seabrook served in World War I where he was gassed at Verdun, further becoming a reporter for The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair and few others. He wrote about his experiences with cannibalism, Satanism and Haitian Vodou in his books Jungle Ways (1930) and The Magic Island (1929). On September 1945 Seabrook committed suicide by drug overdose. Rare T.L.S., `Seabrook´, including multiple annotations, corrections and full sentence in his hand, one page, 4to, Studio Hotel, rue Delambre, Paris, 20th February 1932, to Maurice Garçon, in French. Seabrook states in part `Fels, chief-editor of VOILA, who I first met five years ago, and who always seemed to me a dirty guy, has come to meet me on my return from Tombouctou, with fake compliments, and asked me for the photographs of my reportage in order to publish them with VOILA. I kindly explained to him that it was going to be published by another magazine, but when he kept on insisting I clearly told him that he was pissing me off, and his magazine too. I sent him to hell..´ further saying `..I thought that if someone powerful could warn him a bit and tell him that if he acts so again, he may have strong problems,… Therefore, obviously, I thought about you..´ and before concluding he adds `Forgive my nigger way of writing.´ Folded with small overall age wear. G £80-100Maurice Garçon (1889-1967) French lawyer and writer.
LAVAL PIERRE: (1883-1945) French Politician, Prime Minister of France 1931-32 & 1935-36. He further served in Vichy´s Regime following France´s defeat in 1940, and as Head of Government 1942-44. After the Liberation of France, Laval was arrested, accused of collaboration with the enemy in a trial full of faults, and executed by firing squad. Rare A.L.S., `Pierre Laval´, one page, 8vo, Paris, 15th September 1924, to Jean Farger, in French. Laval, on the Deputies´ Chamber printed stationery, regrets not being able to attend his correspondent´s invitation and states in part `..being retained on that same date by previous commitments..´ Autograph letters by Pierre Laval are rare and desirable. VG £120-200
SIGISMUND III VASA: (1566-1632) King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania 1587-1632. A highly controversial Monarch in Poland during his long reign. Sigismund III was also King of Sweden and Grand Duke of Finland from 1592 to 1599 when he was deposed by his uncle King Charles IX of Sweden. During the Time of Troubles in Muscovy he invaded Russia and held Moscow from 1610 to 1612. Rare L.S., `Sigismundus Rex´, one page, folio, Sykorini, 10th November 1630, to Archbishop Larissano and Apostolic Nuncio to the Polish Kingdom, in Latin. Sigismund expresses his joy for the appointment of his correspondent to his Kingdom and expects that under his lead the apostolic decrees will take them to the twinning of the Homelands. Further proposing his capital and at the Academy to host the growth of the religious letters messages. With blank address leaf, bearing an attractive and large royal paper seal affixed, in very fine condition. Overall age wear with water stains. Professionally repaired to the verso reinforcing paper. G £2500-3500 Sigismund III transferred the capital from Krakow to Warsaw in 1596 where he was commemorated by his son Wladyslaw IV with Sigismund´s Column, a city landmark and the first secular monument in modern history.
CHARLES XII OF SWEDEN: (1682-1718) King of Sweden 1697-1718. Killed during the besiege of Fredrikshald. Very rare A.N.S., Carolus, as King, one page, oblong 20 x 7 clipped piece, Stockholm, 12th April 1700, in Swedish. The apparently in a rush written text is an order referring to his guard officers and is dated shortly before his departure to the war between his brother in law, the Duke of Holstein, and Denmark. At the time of the present letter the King is only seventeen, although he assumed power at the age of fifteen. Overall age wear and staining, with a tear to the centre fold, partially repaired to the verso, although not affecting the signature. F £300-400 In 1700, date year of the present letter, a triple alliance of Denmark-Norway, Saxony-Poland-Lithuania and Russia launched an attack on the Swedish protectorate of Holstein-Gottorp aiming to draw advantage as the Swedish Empire was unaligned and ruled by a very young and inexperienced King, thus initiating the Great Northern War. Leading the Swedish army against the alliance Charles won multiple victories despite being usually significantly outnumbered. A major victory over a Russian army three times the size in 1700 at the Battle of Narva compelled Peter the Great to sue for peace which Charles then rejected. Charles was an exceptionally skilled military leader and tactician as well as an able politician. He is quoted by Voltaire as saying upon the outbreak of the war, "I have resolved never to start an unjust war but never to end a legitimate one except by defeating my enemies". With the war consuming more than half his life and nearly all his reign, he never married and fathered no children.
FRANZ FERDINAND OF AUSTRIA: (1863-1914) Archduke of Austria. Heir to the Austrian throne since 1896. His assassination is widely considered the reason for the outbreak of World War One a month later. Extremely rare superb matte-finish signed 6 x 8.5 photograph by Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the image depicting the heir to the throne in a half length pose, wearing his military uniform and medals. Boldly signed in black ink to the lower mount, an attractive and good signature example, also dated `1st of January 1912´, in his hand. Very attractively presented on its original and elaborated multi-tiered 11.5 x 14.5 mount, bearing an appealing affixed brass or gilt crown above the image. Framed in oak (most probably its original frame), with decorative gilt liner, also glazed, to an overall size of 17.5 x 20. A scarce and most impressive royal signed photograph framed. About EX £5000-8000Though it was not expected that Franz Ferdinand would succeed to the Austrian throne, the suicide of his cousin, Crown Prince Rudolf, and later the renounce of Franz's father, Archduke Karl Ludwig, to his right to succession, cleared the way for Franz Ferdinand to become ruler of Austria. On June 28th 1914, Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were riding in an open car through Sarajevo, Bosnia, when Nedeljko Cabrinovic, a member of the Serbian secret society Black Hand, threw a bomb at their car. Shaken but unharmed, the Archduke insisted on maintaining his schedule, including a speech and a trip to the hospital to visit those who had been injured in the attack. During an unexpected wrong turn en route to the hospital, the car was spotted by an associate of Cabrinovic's, Gavrilo Princip, who opened fire with a pistol. Both the Archduke and his wife were struck and died shortly after. The attack strained Austro-Serbian relations to a breaking point, and his assassination is usually cited as the immediate impetus for the outbreak of World War I a few weeks later.
ELISABETH OF AUSTRIA: (1837-1898) Empress of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Queen Consort of Croatia and Bohemia 1854-98, spouse of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Assassinated. A rare, attractive signed greetings card, the stiff oblong folding 12mo card (now neatly split into two halves at the central vertical fold) featuring a decorative colour floral design to the front cover and a printed caption ('Besten Gluckwunsch') in German to the inside, signed ('Elisabeth') by the Empress to the verso and with a five line greeting in her hand, in German, in full, 'May the lucky wings fulfil their mission and bring a wholehearted wish to you, from your faithful old friend'. VG £1500-2000 Elisabeth of Bavaria (also affectionately known as 'Sisi') was, at 44 years, the longest serving Empress-Consort of Austria and had married her husband, Franz Joseph I, at the age of sixteen. Elisabeth was ill-prepared for the formal Habsburg court life and early in her marriage she was at odds with her mother-in-law, Princess Sophie, who took over the rearing of Elisabeth's daughters. The birth of a male heir, Rudolf, improved her standing at court considerably. However, the death of Rudolf and his mistress in a murder-suicide tragedy at his hunting lodge in Mayerling in 1889 had a huge impact on Elisabeth from which she never fully recovered. She withdrew from court duties and travelled extensively, unaccompanied by her family. Unusually tall, particularly beautiful and with long, flowing hair, Elisabeth became obsessively concerned with maintaining her youthful figure and beauty, spending two or three hours each day on her coiffure. While travelling in Geneva in 1898 she was stabbed to death by an Italian anarchist.
FRANQUIN ANDRE: (1924-1997) Belgian comics Artist. An influential figure, best-known for his creation of Gaston Lagaffe as well as his comic strip Spirou et Fantasio produced from 1947 to 1969. Rare A.L.S., `Franquin´, two pages, 4to, n.p., n.d., [c.1978], to the President of the Saint-Michel comic awards jury, in French. In this letter full of humour and amusing jokes, Franquin states in part `If I had known that you would appoint me member of your jury, I would have read feverishly the last two months to take care of my comic culture. My knowledge of recent publications is not updated; my choice will be poor and questionable. I have also bad memory and I might have proposed people who have been awarded on previous occasions..´ Franquin further refers to his correspondent´s partial selection, mentioning `..there is a bit of Pilote, but no Humanoide, nor Audie or Fromage…Fluide, the Echo and others with albums, are edited in Belgium, no?´. At the base, an interesting post-scriptum, Franquin stating `Stop torturing this dragon, monsters are in fashion. While angels…´ Letters of Franquin related to comics are rare and desirable. Folded. Overall age wear and creasing. G £800-1200 Franquin was appointed with the Grand-Prix Saint Michel in 1981 for his Idées Noires.
VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his name being François-Marie Arouet. Voltaire is known for his attacks on Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion and expression, and separation of church and state. Rare L.S., `Voltaire´, two pages, 4to, Chateau de Ferney, Geneva, 18th July 1763, to Monsieur Dehaye Minime, in French. Voltaire states in part `Forgive, Monsieur, an old man ill and almost blind, if I haven´t thank you earlier for your flattering prose and your lovely verses. If I was healthy and young…´ further saying `..It seems to me that the water of Hippocrene matches better with you than the Neapolitan oil which is not curing Louis Eleven..´ With blank address leaf. Overall age wear and light foxing. Professionally repaired to the folds. G £2000-3000
DUCHESS OF MONTPENSIER: (1627-1693) Anne Marie Louise d´Orleans, known as "La Grande Mademoiselle". Grand-daughter of King Henri IV and first cousin of King Louis XIV, she is one of the greatest heiresses in history. Anne Marie died unmarried and childless. Rare L.S., `Anne Marie Louise d´Orleans´, one page, oblong 15 x 11 parchment, Paris, 21st April 1690, in old French. The letter is a request to the King referring to the appointment, according to the report received, of the `..Master of the Waters and Forests of our Duchy..´, stating `We very humbly beg His Majesty that according to the present appointment and presentation, He will order that all letters of provisioning and supplies will be given to Pierre Beaupoil..´ With two small holes to the upper border only affecting one word. Overall age wear and staining, with one ink stain only affecting to the first letter of first name of the Duchess. G £400-600The Duchess of Montpensier left her vast fortune to her cousin Philippe of France. She received proposals from various members of European ruling families, including Charles II of England. She eventually fell in love with the courtier, Antoine Nompar de Caumont and scandalized the court of France when she asked King Louis XIV for permission to marry him. She is best remembered for her Memoires and for her role in the Fronde, bringing the famous composer Lully to the king's court.
BESSIERES JEAN-BAPTISTE: (1768-1813) Marshal of France, Duc d´Istria. Killed in the battle field in Rippach, the day before the battle of Lutzen. Rare A.L.S., `Bessieres´, three times, one at the head, one page, 4to, Paris, 16th July [1804/1805], to Mr. Raguideau, Napoleon´s Notary in French. Bessieres is in charge of supplying the funds authorized by Napoleon, reporting on the Emperor´s decision to grant the following gratifications and states in part `His Majesty´s wish is to grant two hundred francs of allowance for Cesar his coachman, fifty francs to M. Jardin one of his squires..´ At the base of the document Bessieres lists the figures, showing 500 francs for Etienne Marie Jardin (1777-18?), serving Napoleon since 1800. Very small overall minor age wear and creasing, otherwise G £200-300
JOHN ALBERT VASA: (1612-1634) Polish Prince, son of King Sigismund III Vasa and Austrian Archduchess Constance of Austria. John Albert was appointed Cardinal, and Prince-Bishop of Krakow and died at the very early age of 22. Extremely rare L.S., Joannes Albertus, one page, 4to, Strumica, 11th January 1623, to Archbishop Larissano, Apostolic Nuncio to Warsaw, in Latin. John Albert Vasa sends his best wishes to his correspondent and congratulates him for the new appointment `..which I wish will bring benefits for all of us..´ further expressing `..my wish to see you again soon in purple..´ and concludes offering his support in future. With blank address leaf, bearing an attractive royal paper seal affixed, in very fine condition. Overall age wear with water stains. Professionally repaired to the verso reinforcing the old paper. G £400-600John Albert died in Padua, Italy, where he was sent by his brother, King Wladyslaw IV Vasa with a diplomatic mission. The cause of his death is uncertain.
LAKANAL JOSEPH: (1762-1845) French Politician. Member of the National Convention 1792-95. He voted for the execution of King Louis XVI. Lakanal is well remembered when, as President of the Education Committee, he introduced many important changes in the French educational system. Rare A.L.S., `Lakanal - from the Institut of France - Doctor in Sciences and Literature´, three pages, 4to, Magny, n.d., [1808], to Monsieur Le Rat de Magnetot, prefect of Andelys, Eure, in French. A lengthy and interesting letter full of complaints and reproaches to his correspondent´s behaviour, stating in part `..I am seated on the last step.. comfortably.. I have been assured that during your one before last trip to Paris, you have been intriguing talking to a half-god of the Jour, in order to leave me standing and uncomfortable…´ further saying that such comments do not match with his correspondent´s kind messages, making a parallelism with Cyrano-Bergerac, and stating `..It is easy to raise up your soul, high enough so such abject slanders cannot reach you.. Isn´t it useful that larvae exist? Nightingales eat them and sing even better: I do not sing, and have never crawled..´ With address leaf in Lakanal´s hand to the fourth page with a small area of paper loss due to the opening of the letter, also bearing an ink post stamp and remnants of a former red seal. Very small overall, minor age wear and creasing, otherwise G £600-900 In 1815, after the battle of Waterloo, Lakanal went into exile to the United States. He became a planter in Alabama, owning slaves, and was appointed president of the University of Luisiana which he reorganized, today know as Tulane University.
COCHON DE LAPPARENT CHARLES: (1750-1825) French Politician and Minister of Police. Member of the National Convention and of the Committee of Public Health. Cochon de Lapparent was one of the Commissars in charge of the King´s indictment, voting in favour of the King´s execution. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `Cochon´, four pages, 4to, Paris, 22nd October 1796, to General Hoche, in French. The document bears the printed heading, and an ink stamp, of the Minister of Police of the Republic. A very cleanly written lengthy letter, Cochon stating in part `I watch, my dear General, with same sadness as you, the direction that since a while the sense of Public spirit is taking, and am ready to prove with all my correspondence that I have done all I could with the power I hold to prevent the malicious trying to take advantage of the recent events…The government only wishes, and can´t do anything else but wishing, the consolidation of the Republic, and I support this as much as my poor capabilities allow me to do so. I am indignant reading about the horrors and the lies against the Republic that all these Royalist journals, paid with foreign gold, are vomiting. Several have been arrested and denounced to the Public Prosecutor…but they are released by the tribunals, and this will keep on happening until we have a repressive law for press abuses.´ further again saying `..I am fully aware of the dangers that the Republic is facing, with enemies under different masks ready to attack from the inside of the country. In Lyon, in the department of the Calvados, the Royalists are showing up audaciously.. What else can I do? Tribunals are not under my competence, and the police has so short capacities that it is even astonishing that they can achieve what they do.´ Cochon de Lapparent also responds to Hoche´s questions regarding the last executions and the Colonnes Mobiles, stating `You talk to me about the way the last conspirators have been judged. We have material evidences and also written ones of their conspiracy…and regarding the formation of the Colonnes Mobiles I have issued a circular, sent to all departments, according to the Directory orders…The Colonnes Mobiles could be very useful…and I am going to send orders to the Chouanne departments..´ Paper with watermark. A letter of very interesting content. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG £600-900 Lazare Hoche (1768-1797) French General of the Revolutionary army. Best known for his victory over Royalist forces in Brittany. Minister of war.The Colonnes Mobiles, also called Colonnes Infernales (Infernal Columns) were operations led by the French revolutionary in the War in the Vendée. The National Convention approved laws allowing the extermination of anti-Republican terrorists in the Vendée. Army columns were formed and sent through the Vendée to exterminate the anti-republican population. The actions of these "Infernal Columns" continue to be a subject of heated debate in France.
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