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THE SEX PISTOLS - 1976 ORIGINAL HANDBILL / POSTERAn extremely rare piece of original early Sex Pistols Promotional Material. For the show at Eric’s in Liverpool, England on October 15, 1976.From band member of Albert Dock, Martin Watson.In Martins words ` With regards to the Erics poster, another point of interest is that the two figures standing on the rock are John Campbell and Henry Priestman, both member’s of Yachts, and later, It’s Immaterial, and Henry Priestman , The Christians. I took the photograph on an art college trip to the Lake District and passed the negative on for the poster production but it was never returned. Ah well, history! ``The item measures just short of A4 at 295mm x 208mm and it served as both poster and handbill for the gig promotion, the Sex Pistols’ first outing to Liverpool. At that time at Erics, the main act performed upstairs early on in the evening and the support act (on this occasion my band, Albert Dock) played downstairs in what would later become the main club area.`This performance came at a pivotal time for the Pistols.  Less than a month before, they’d signed a five year management contract with Malcolm McLaren’s Glitterbest Ltd.  Three weeks prior to this show, Nick Mobbs of EMI saw the band for the first time, and on October 8, just a week before the Eric’s show, the group officially signed to the label.On October 10 the band recorded an early version of “Anarchy in the UK” with their sound man, Dave Goodman, and beginning on the 12th, they played shows in Dundee, Wolverhampton, and Birkenhead before the Liverpool show on October 15.  The Liverpool Echo noted “This gig certainly didn’t have the same impact as the Pistol’s Free Trade Hall gigs in Manchester – in fact it almost went unnoticed as there were only about 50 people there…Eric’s had only just opened on 1 October, and among the first bands to play were the Runaways and the Stranglers. But on 15 October, the infamous Sex Pistols pogo’ed their way into town…Holly Johnston, Paul Rutherford [both later of Frankie Goes to Hollywood], and Pete Burns [Dead or Alive] were all in attendance that night.”Just two days after the Eric’s show, the Pistols recorded the version of “Anarchy in the UK” that EMI released.  Five days later, on October 22, Stiff records released The Damned’s “New Rose”, the first-ever UK punk record, beating the Pistols debut single by about a month.Provenance from Martin Watson, Guitarist and Vocals for Albert Dock and later Yachts.

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - Concert Poster - At Frank Freemans Dance Club - Kidderminster, 1968 original poster. In fair condition a few pin holes but a rare survivor. It measures 33 x 33 inches

LP Record Collection of 17 LP Records by The Bee Gees. LPs include - Marley Purt Drive / Got to get a message to You / Bonanza / Best of french / Horizontal / Bee Gees on impact records / Trafalgar / Early days vol 3 / 1st LP / Massa.. / To Whom it may / Bee Gees Argentinian Pressing / Rare Precious and ... vol 3 / Sound of Love / Bee Gees Greats / Best of / 2 years on. In very good condition / vg +

GUAN-TYPE GLAZED THREE-TIERED STEPPED VASE QIANLONG MARK 乾隆款 仿官釉三登方壺 of trapezoid form, the three-tiered vase covered overall with a thick layer of greyish-blue glaze suffused with a network of faint russet crackles, leaving only the foot rim unglazed and covered in a layer of dark paint, the base inscribed with a six-character Qianlong mark in underglaze blue Dimensions:9cm highNote: Note: the form of this vase is very rare with prototype of similar three-tiered trapezoid form existing in a Southern Song to Yuan dynasty Guan-glazed vase, currently in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, no. 故瓷13487

A WOODEN FRAMED RARE DOUBLE SIDED ORIGINAL 'PLAYERS NAVY CUT' ENAMEL SIGN

A PSA 2016 GYARADOS EX SECRET RARE 123/122 POKEMON CARD - GRADED 9

A RARE BULOVA ACCUTRON SPACEVIEW STAINLESS STEEL WATCH

A RARE SEIKO GEN II MILITARY R.A.F WATCH, 7T27-7A20

A rare Beswick goat in pink colourway, with Beswick mark to base Model No. G223, (one horn restored)

MAUVAIS VICTOR : (1809-1854) French Astronomer and Politician. Mauvais won the Lalande Prize in 1843 for the discovery of comet C/1843. He is credited with several more comet discoveries. Mauvais committed suicide at the age of 45, leaving unfinished an important work on the determination of the positions of the most important stars. Rare and very important A.L.S., `V. Mauvais´, one page, 4to, Paris, 9th July 1844, to Monsieur De Vico, an Italian colleague, Astronomer, and Director of the Observatory of the Roman College, in French. To the heading, Mauvais writes from `Observatoire de Paris´, and reports to his correspondent about his very important and recent discovery, stating in part `J´ai l´honneur de vous annoncer que dans la nuit de Dimanche à Lundi dernier j´ai découvert une comète dans la constellation d´Hercule´ (`I have the honour to announce to you that during the night of last Sunday to Monday I discovered a comet in the constellation of Hercules..´ Mauvais further lists his observations and positions, with numbers and degrees, and underlining `En composant ces deux positions on conclut le mouvement Diurne suivant..´ (`By composing these two positions we conclude the following Diurnal movement…´) He further again adds some doubts on one of his conclusions and explains why. A letter of extremely interesting astronomy content. With address leaf bearing two postmarks. G to VG

LEIGH VIVIEN: (1913-1967) English actress, Academy Award winner for Best Actress in 1951 for her role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. A very fine vintage signed 8 x 10 photograph, the original Warner Bros. publicity portrait depicting Leigh seated in a half-length pose in costume from her Oscar winning performance as the Mississippi Southern belle Blanche DuBois from the Southern Gothic drama film A Streetcar Named Desire. Signed by Leigh in bold blue fountain pen ink to a light area at the head of the image. Rare in this form. A few very light, minor surface and corner creases, VG

PRINCE: (1958-2016) American singer & songwriter. Signed record sleeve for the album Lovesexy (1988) by Prince, signed '''Love God'' P' by the singer in bold blue ink and dated 1988 in his hand to a clear area of the colour front cover which features an image of Prince seated in a full-length naked pose. Record still present. Rare. Some very light, minor age wear and a few corner creases, VGLovesexy debuted at Number 1 in the United Kingdom charts and each of the individually released singles from the album became top 40 hits.

DARWELL JANE: (1879-1967) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1940 for her role as Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath. A rare vintage signed sepia 7.5 x 9.5 photograph of Darwell in a half-length pose, holding a pipe in one hand, in costume as Aunt Ri Hyar from the Western drama film Ramona (1936). Signed by Darwell in dark fountain pen ink to a clear area at the head of the image, further identifying her character name and film title in her hand. A few minor surface and corer creases, one only very slightly touching the signature. About VG

 [GANDHI MAHATMA]: (1869-1948) Indian political and spiritual leader during the Indian independence movement. An historic D.S., B. L. Taneja, by Doctor B. L. Taneja, Director of Pathology, one page, 4to, New Delhi, 22nd January [1948]. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is an official medical form issued by the Pathological Laboratory of Irwin Hospital, New Delhi, and is a Report on Blood II prepared for Mahatma Gandhi just eight days prior to his assassination (and only two days after having survived an attempted assassination), the report indicating that Gandhi was in fine health for a man of 78 years of age with normal levels of uric acid, cholesterol (150 mgs per 100 c.c. of blood against a normal level of 100 to 200) and plasma protein, a slightly high although average level of sugar (120 mgs per 100 c.c. of blood against a normal level of 80 to 120) and a marginally higher level of calcium (12 mgs per 100 c.c. of serum against a normal level of 9 to 11.5). Signed by Taneja at the foot above his official ink stamp. A rare and incredibly poignant document. Two file holes to the left edge and a couple of small staple holes to the upper left corner, none of which affect the text. VGThe present document once accompanied Gandhi's Report on Blood I document which was prepared a day earlier, on 21st January 1948, also by Dr. B. L. Taneja at the Irwin Hospital in New Delhi. The first report is known to have indicated a Haemoglobin level of 82%, a white blood cell (Leucocyte) count of 7,400, and a red blood cell (Erythrocyte) count of 4,790,000.In January 1948 Gandhi was living (in two unpretentious rooms) at Birla House in New Delhi from where he was conducting prayer meetings in the gardens. The first attempt by Nathuram Godse and his colleagues to assassinate Gandhi took place on 20th January 1948 when a grenade was thrown at the crowd listening to Gandhi speak in a park, leaving him alone on the speakers' platform. Godse's accomplices then lost their nerve and instead of hurling another grenade at the isolated Gandhi they instead fled amongst the crowd who had created a chaotic stampede. On 30th January 1948 Gandhi, accompanied by his great niece and another young lady, made his way on foot to a prayer meeting when he was confronted at close range by Nathuram Godse who fired three bullets into Gandhi's chest. Gandhi was immediately carried to Birla House and, having lost a lot of blood, was pronounced dead approximately thirty minutes later.   

MARCH FREDRIC: (1897-1975) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Actor in 1931/32 for his roles as Dr. Henry L. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Signed 8 x 10 photograph, the composite image featuring head and shoulders studies of March in costume as both Dr. Henry L. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, his Oscar winning roles. Signed ('Fredric March') with his name alone in dark fountain pen ink to the image, across a dark area although still reasonably legible. Rare in this form. A few very light, extremely minor corner creases, VG 

GALLE EMILE: (1846-1904) French artist and designer who worked in glass, considered one of the major innovators in the French Art Nouveau movement. An excellent Autograph Manuscript Signed, Emile Galle (in the third person to the title page and also within the text), twenty pages (including the title page), 4to (and a few smaller), n.p. (Nancy), n.d. (1884), in French. The manuscript, largely penned to the versos of Galle's personal printed stationery, is the artist's working draft (containing numerous corrections) of his report to the jury of the Central Union of the Decorative Arts VIII Exposition on the production and manufacture of his glass, including various specimens, and featuring details of the technical procedures of decoration and the diverse new applications derived from it, in particular new glass colouration including double and triple marbled glass, precious stone imitations, the use of air bubbles, extension of the palette of opaque enamels on glass, the use of transparent and translucent enamels on glass (other than cobalt oxide enamel), rare and strange decorations and new engraving procedures etc., in part, 'The exhibitor presents this year some tones coloured from the block (chrome oxide, iron oxide and diverse combinations of iron oxide, cobalt, manganese); some free imitations of precious stones, transparent, translucent or marbled with opaque veins. These colourations are obtained by introduction of diverse oxides and metallic salts in the glass, of opal glasses, and glasses coloured with gold or copper oxide….He still presents glasses with the introduction of gold sheets, platinum, finally some doublets and triplets with marbled sheet. Some specimens offer absolutely new effects, unprecedented use of which, neither modern or antique, offer any example…..the exhibitor asks the jury to examine the following samples…..Octopus light cigar case….cylindrical pot and tray…..basin with glass stopper, sapphirine colour, or blue quartz colour (composition based on potash) with translucent enamels…..Emile Galle incidentally reminds that glass, coloured with a small quantity of cobalt oxide in a pretty sapphire tone, colour which was since vulgarised by some French and foreign glass manufacturers, was emitted by him in 1878…..(and)…..commercialised by him under the name Clair de Lune, it was produced successively in Germany under the name Mondschein and in England under that of Moonlight Glass. A sample of this shade can be seen in the Decorative Arts museum……Marbled glasses with purple and bluish colours disclose the presence of gold. These marbling are yellowish when seen by reflection and red or pink by refraction…..These colours, interesting from the point of view of techniques, are not less interesting as regards decoration for the resources they offer the artist. Unfortunately, in considering the industrial use only, this procedure does not seem very practical, its effect being too variable…..it still requires some spendings of imagination to create interesting subjects out of their strange shapes…..The exhibitor also presents some tinted glasses containing gold and platinum sheets introduced in the glass in order to serve as foreground to enamels…..all the exhibitors decorations are handmade……The vivid desire to create….enamels on glass, a production with a really modern and French character, has led the exhibitor to research the colours that neither the Damas or Venise enamellers, nor the German painters have used in their productions, some reds and blues for example, some blacks, yellows and greens, some purples, pinks and violets, and most of all half tones, fine and broken shades, greys, flesh and ivory tones. Their judicious use, without dashing the decoration of the glass, can add to it a certain piquant…..diverse appropriateness between the decoration and the objects' destination had led Galle to research other translucent enamels than the old and magnificent blue derived from cobalt. Some objects having to represent the decorations by refraction as well as by reflection, it became necessary to enlarge the enamel palette in a sense contrary to opacity…..Emile Galle pays the greatest attention to the composition of the drawings intended to be executed in touret engraving. He never uses the fluor hydric acid engraving. It can be no use to him in the artistic effects he is searching for…..' Within the draft Galle details over eighty glass objects that he is presenting at the exposition including vases, scent bottles, bowls, tankards, goblets, cornets, a clock (made for the Queen of Italy), jugs, wine glasses etc. A manuscript of fascinating content and accompanied by a vintage unsigned 5 x 8.5 cabinet photograph, the albumen print by Otto Wegener of Paris depicting Galle in a head and shoulders pose and with the photographer's imprint to the lower mount. Some light overall age wear and a few creases and small tears (most noticeable to the left edge of the title page). G to VG, 2 

WELLES ORSON: (1915-1985) American actor & film director, Academy Award winner. A good vintage signed and inscribed 9.5 x 7.5 photograph of Welles in a full-length pose in costume as Charles Foster Kane, seated at one end of a long dining table, reading a newspaper, as Dorothy Comingore, in costume as Susan Alexander Kane, Kane's mistress and second wife, is seated in a full-length pose at the opposite end of the table, also reading a newspaper, in a scene from the drama film Citizen Kane (1941). Signed by Welles in dark ink to a light area of the image. Welles was nominated for both a Best Actor and Best Director Oscar for his work on Citizen Kane, his first feature film. Signed photographs of Welles from Citizen Kane, today regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, are rare and highly desirable. VG 

HENRY FREDERICK: (1594-1612) Prince of Wales, the eldest son and heir apparent of James VI and I, King of England and Scotland, and his wife Anne of Denmark. A fine, extremely rare D.S., Henry P, as Prince of Wales, at the head, one page (vellum), oblong folio, n.p. (Richmond), n.d. (30th May 1611), in Latin. The attractive and boldly penned document is a Warrant for a grant of office and states, in part, 'Henry first-born son of the most mighty James, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland king, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester, to all to whom the present letters might come greetings; know you that we of Our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant to our beloved and faithful Francis Crane, gentleman, the office of clerk to our council, our chamber at London or at Westminster or elsewhere appointed called or reputed or to be appointed, reputed or named the Prince's Council Chamber, and keeper of Our books and records there; and we have made, ordained and constituted the same Francis Crane clerk of Our council of Our chamber aforesaid and do make…..the said office with its appurtenances to the aforesaid Francis Crane, by himself or by his sufficient deputy or sufficient deputies for as long as it might please us, and further of Our fuller grace we have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant to the aforesaid Francis Crane…..the wage and fee of thirty pounds by year of lawful money of England, to be received and taken yearly by the hands of Our receiver general of Our treasury being in the hands of Our same receiver general for the time being to be paid yearly on the feasts of St Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by equal portions…..' Countersigned at the conclusion as examined by Thomas Stephens, Attorney General to the Prince of Wales in 1610 & 1611, and, most unusually, with a minute in English at the foot, also signed by Stephens, explaining the content of the document to the Prince, in full, 'This containeth a grant by your highness to Francis Crane gentleman of the office of clerk of your highness's council and keeping of your books and records in your council chamber during your pleasure with the fee of thirty pounds a year for exercise of the same office, payable by your receiver-general out of your treasure and is done upon signification of your good pleasure in this behalf by Mr [Adam] Newton your highness's secretary'. Autographs of Prince Henry Frederick are extremely rare as a result of his untimely death at the age of 18 from typhoid fever. Neatly inlaid to the upper and lower edges, very slightly irregularly trimmed to the left edge and with some very light, minor dust staining and age wear to the edges, none affecting the text or signatures, VGSir Francis Crane (c.1579-1636) English courtier and tapestry manufacturer, the founder of Mortlake Tapestry Works. Crane served both Prince Henry and his younger brother Charles, who was later crowned King Charles I, becoming auditor-general to Prince Charles in May 1617 and a member of his council in 1623. Crane was considered of sufficient social standing to become lay chancellor of the Order of the Garter in July 1626. Crane's fame rests on his establishment of the manufactory at Mortlake. Bearing his initials, the finest tapestries ever made in England are his lasting memorial. In 1618 James I's 'princely cogitation' led his privy council to enquire into certain possibilities of tapestry manufacture. Crane's proposals were accepted and, in August 1619, having been granted fees for the making of three baronets to offset initial costs, he acquired property at Mortlake for erecting workshops. These could accommodate eighteen looms, and by 1637 140 persons were dependent on the manufactory. During his lifetime, Crane's Flemish weavers, besides copying individual paintings, produced sets from seven major tapestry series. Sir Adam Newton (d.1630) Royal official, a native of Scotland, who was appointed tutor to Prince Henry in 1599. In October 1604 Newton had apparently been promised by the King the deanery of Durham, but when it became vacant there was competition for the post and Newton was able to call upon Prince Henry to support his claims, Newton was duly installed as dean on 27th September 1606; he then served as an absentee. In 1610 Prince Henry was given a separate household, in which Newton served as his secretary. Following the death of Prince Henry in November 1612 Newton became receiver-general in the household of Prince Charles, relinquishing to Thomas Murray (1564-1623) his claim to the secretaryship.Great hope and enormous expectations were invested in Henry, who died at the age of eighteen. 'The Flower of his House, the Glory of his Country, and the admiration of all Strangers', he 'epitomized the yearning of those who wished England to lead Protestant Europe in a great crusade against the might of Catholic Spain. He simultaneously embodied the aspirations of a new era in the arts, creating a court which would have rivalled the Medici grand dukes in Florence or that of Rudolf II of Prague. He formed the first royal collection of works of art, re-established the royal library, imported the first Renaissance bronzes (by Giovanni Bologna) into England, and purchased antique gems and medals. Major artists were recruited' including Isaac Oliver and Inigo Jones. James I 'found himself outshone by an heir whose far-ranging interests embraced not only the arts, but also the navy, equestrianism, garden-design, festivals and the sciences' (Roy Strong, Henry Prince of Wales and England's Lost Renaissance, 1986).An exceptional rarity - American Book Prices Current record only three other documents signed by Prince Henry as having appeared at auction in the last thirty years. 

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, Smolensk, 4th January 1634, to Monsignor Visconti, Archbishop of Larissa and Apostolic Nuncio, in Italian. Wladyslaw sends a kind and affectionate letter to Reverend Visconti on the occasion of the New Year festivities, sending his best wishes and stating in part `…che abbiamo del buen animo de V.S verso di noi coll´ augurio di felicita che ci ha fatto … del Santo Natale…´  The letter describes the location where the King is as `Dal Campo sopra Smolensco´ (“From the fields above Smolensk”) With address leaf, bearing an attractive Royal paper seal affixed in fine condition. The letter has been professionally repaired reinforcing the pages. Overall age wear, otherwise about G Nuncio Honorato Visconti (?-1645) Archbishop of Larissa  

MINEO SAL: (1939-1976) American actor, an Academy Award nominee for his performance in Rebel Without a Cause (1955). A good, rare vintage signed and inscribed postcard photograph of Mineo in a head and shoulders pose. Number D988 from the Picturegoer series. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink to a clear area of the background. Autographs of Mineo are rare as a result of his murder at the age of 37. About EX 

COURBET GUSTAVE: (1819-1877) French Painter. An innovator who rejected academic convention and leaded the French Realist movement. Courbet was active in politics and was imprisoned in 1871 for his involvement with the Paris Commune, having to live in exile in Switzerland until his death. Rare A.L.S., `Gustave Courbet´, one page, 8vo, n.p., Friday 22nd July 1870, to Justice of the Peace, in French. Courbet states `I have no knowledge of what you have written to me. If Mr Rossi painter and Mr and Mrs… wish to get an appointment, at home at 11h in the morning, please designate any day, rue Hautefeuille 32..´ Courbet adds a post-scriptum, beneath his signature, asking his correspondent to inform him in time. With blank address leaf. An extremely small tear to the edge, otherwise VG

[HITLER ADOLF]: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1934-45. Two small (2.5 x 0.5) swatches of gold and green coloured and patterned upholstery fabric removed from chairs in Adolf Hitler's Fuhrerbunker by Sapper Billingsby of No. 2 Platoon, 672 Army Company, in July 1945 and sent home to his parents. Accompanied by a copy of an A.L.S. by Billingsby, two pages, 4to, Berlin, 14th July 1945, to his Mother and Father, on the printed stationery of Hitler's Chancellery ('Kanzlei des Fuhrers der NSDAP'). Billingsby writes, in part, 'I am very pleased to say we are getting along much better now. We have got rid of the bugs alright....last night our Company arranged a trip sight seeing into Berlin, me and about 20 of our fellows went....we visited the place where Hitler spent the last few hours. The Hitler Chancelery (sic) a most wonderful building I have ever seen. The Russians are keeping guard over it but they allowed us in to inspect the inside. We found quite a lot of usefull (sic) stuff. I gathered quite a lot of the old boys writing paper....you will see a bit of German on the top. The whole place has caught a most severe battering, most of the place is all ruins....I can tell you the Coventry people can certainly rest assured that those German swine were repaid with a little interest for what they did to them....I am sending you a little of materials out of the chancelery (sic) The bit of green off his sette (sic) and the other bit off his chair out of his sound proof room '. A rare and unusual pair of artefacts from the place where Hitler was to kill himself by gunshot on 30th April 1945. VG, 2 Billingsby's reference to removing the present swatch from Hitler's 'sound proof room' must clearly be taken as a reference to the Fuhrerbunker where Hitler was to commit suicide. Billingsby's further comment in his letter in regard to visiting the place where 'Hitler spent the last few hours' reinforces this.

NGOR HAING S.: (1940-1996) Cambodian-American physician and actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1984 for his role as Dith Pran in The Killing Fields. A rare signed 8 x 10 photograph of Ngor in a head and shoulders pose in costume from his Oscar winning performance as the journalist and interpreter Dith Pran from the biographical drama film The Killing Fields. Signed by Ngor in bold black ink with his name alone to a light area of the image. Autographs of Ngor are rare as a result of his murder at the age of 55. EX

DICKENS CHARLES: (1812-1870) English novelist. A very fine, extensive A.Q.S., Charles Dickens (an excellent example, with paraph), one page, 4to, n.p., 28th April 1858. Writing in his characteristic blue ink Dickens has neatly penned a twenty-three-line quotation from David Copperfield, in full - -"We had only one check to our pleasure, and that happened a little while before I took my leave, when Miss Mills chancing to makesome allusion to tomorrow morning, I unluckily let out that, beingobliged to exert myself now, I got up at five o'clock. WhetherDora had any idea that I was a Private Watchman, I am unableto say; but it made a great impression on her, and she neitherplayed nor sang any more."It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu; and shesaid to me in her pretty coaxing way - as if I were a doll, I usedto think:"Now don't get up at five o'clock, you naughty boy. It's sononsensical!""My love", said I, "I have work to do""But don't do it!" returned Dora, "Why should you?"It was impossible to say to that sweet little surprised faceotherwise than lightly and playfully, that we must work to live."Oh! How ridiculous!" cried Dora"How shall we live without Dora?" said I"How? Anyhow!" said Dora.She seemed to think she had quite settled the question,and gave me such a triumphant little kiss, direct from herinnocent heart, that I would hardly have put her out ofconceit with her answer, for a fortune" -  David Copperfield, by……'  Signed and dated by Dickens at the foot of the quotation. Autograph Quotations Signed by Dickens are extremely rare, and this is a particularly handsome and desirable example, both for the physical size of the paper and length of the quotation. A few light stains to the right edge, only very slightly touching the concluding letters of three words, all of which remain perfectly legible. About VG The present quotation is taken from towards the end of A Little Cold Water, the title of chapter 37 of David Copperfield, published in 1850. The passage illustrates, for the first time, how a shadow is temporarily cast over David's love for Dora Spenlow, his future wife. Copperfield is deeply in love and does not quite comprehend what the reader sees: Dora, in her present childlike state, unable to cope with the responsibilities of a household, will prove little more than a hindrance to him. Maria Beadnell, Dickens's first love whom he met in 1830 is thought to have been the model for the character Dora in David Copperfield. Dickens regarded David Copperfield, a largely autobiographical work, as his favourite amongst all the novels he wrote. The quotation was written and signed by Dickens at a significant time in his life, making his choice of passage an interesting one. A year earlier, in 1857, Dickens had fallen in love with the actress Ellen Ternan, and his passion for her was to last the rest of his life. Dickens was increasingly finding his wife, Catherine, to be an incompetent mother and housekeeper, causing him financial worries. In May 1858, after Catherine accidentally received a bracelet meant for Ellen Ternan, Dickens and his wife separated, and Catherine would never see her husband again.  After separating from his wife Dickens undertook a series of hugely popular and remunerative reading tours, and the present quotation was signed during the first such tour, which lasted from April 1858 to February 1859 and consisted of 129 appearances in 49 towns throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. The original manuscript of David Copperfield was bequeathed by Dickens to his friend the biographer and literary critic John Forster (1812-1876), who in turn bequeathed the manuscript (together with other books, pictures and important manuscripts) to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. American Book Prices Current record only three other examples of quotations from David Copperfield signed by Dickens as having appeared at auction in the last 25 years. 

KUBRICK STANLEY: (1928-1999) American film director. Rare signed 10 x 8 photograph, the Warner Brothers image depicting Kubrick in a half-length pose, during the filming of one of his most remembered films `The Shining´ (1980). Signed `Stanley Kubrick´ in bold blue ink to a clear area at the head of the image. VG

RUTHERFORD MARGARET: (1892-1972) English character actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1963 for her role as the Duchess of Brighton in The V.I.P.s. An excellent vintage signed sepia 8 x 10 photograph of Rutherford in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in bold green fountain pen ink across a light area at the base of the image, 'with my congratulations & good wishes, Margaret Rutherford'. Signed photographs of Rutherford of this size and quality are rare and desirable. A few light surface and corner creases, otherwise VG

BORROMEO CHARLES: (1538-1584) Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Milan 1564-84 and was a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation. Borromeo was canonized as a saint by Pope Paul V in 1610. A rare L.S., as Cardinal Secretary of State, one page, 4to, Rome, 28th July 1563, to Sebastian Atracino, in Italian. Borromeo writes in response to a letter from the vice-legate of Pope Pius IV, with whom he had interceded on behalf of a lady, Donna Bartolomea da Bettona, stating, in part, 'S[ua] S[anti]ta ta m'ha commesso ch'io vi dica, che voi non v'intromettiate ne procediate piu.....in tal causa certificando la detta Donna che se verra, o mandera qua, non se le manchera di celere et espedita giustitia' (Translation: 'Your Holiness has commanded me to tell you that you are not to interfere or proceed further….in this case, certifying the said lady that if she comes, or is sent here, she will not fail to receive quick and expedient justice'). With integral address leaf bearing a blind embossed paper seal. Some light overall staining and minor age wear, about VGSebastian Atracino (c.1515-1563) Italian jurist who served as fiscal of the Holy Office from October 1557 to March 1560.In 1562-63 Borromeo played a decisive role in organising the third and final session of the Council of Trent, which had opened in 1545, and made a large contribution to the Tridentine Catechism.

DALI SALVADOR: (1904-1989) Spanish surrealist artist. A remarkable illustrated autograph Manuscript Signed, Salvador Dali, five pages (separate leaves), large folio (16 x 17”, 40 x 42.5 cm), n.p., 1953, in a singular language based on French interspersed with Hispanisms and other words phonetically reproducing the Catalan accent. Dali’s manuscript is entitled Mes secrets sinematographiques (‘My Cinematic Secrets’) and was originally published in the review La Parisienne in February 1954 in an adaptation by Michel Deon who normalized Dali’s deviant spelling and syntax. The manuscript in its original form, with important variations, therefore reveals the delirious orality of the Dalian text, the artist first affirming the conviction of his genius in cinematographic art by recalling the importance of his first two films, Un chien andalou and L’Age d’or, and by demeaning the role of the filmmaker Luis Bunuel in their realisation, further unveiling his film project La Brouette de flesh and describing the delirious visions and hallucinations he intends to put into images, in part, ‘Il i ha peu près une semaine que ge viens de découbrir que dans ma vie ge suis en tout en retard environ de 12 ans, cinéma i compris, il i a 11 ans que ge progète de faire un film intégrallement totalitairement cent pour cent hiper Dali, donc cela veut dire que vraisenbleblement ce film se tournera infin, l'ané prochaine - Ge suis le contraire du verger et du lu de La Fontaine comme que dans ma vie, et déjà dans mon adolescence ge réalisse tan de chosses sensationelles ….À 27 ans j'arrivai à Paris et ge créé avec Buñuel 2 films qui resteron historiques le Chien andalou et L'Âge d'or. Dernièrement Buñuel a faid tout seul d'autres films me rendan ainsi l'inmense service de que tout le monde puisse enfin savoir à qui apartené le côté génial et le côté primaire dans Le Chien andalu et L'Âge d'or…….Por qu'un film soit prodigieux la première des chosses c'et que l'on puisse croire au prodige que l'on vous montre, pour cela avant tout autre chosse il faut en finir avec le répugnant ritme cinématographique, cete conventionelle et anuyuesse [ennuyeuse] rétorique du mouvement de la caméra - même dans lé plus cumun mélodrame coment croire à l'asasin, si la caméra le suis en travelin partout même dans lé lavabo où il va laver le sang de ses mains?.........Mon prochain film sera exactement le contraire d'un film expérimental de vangarde et surtout de ce que l'on apelle aujurd'hui “créatif” sinonime de l'imitation servile de tous les lieux comuns du triste art moderne. Mon film sera une vrai istoire d'une feme paranoyaque amureusse d'une bruète qui succesivement se revêt de tous les atributs de la persone aimé, le cadabre de la quelle avais servi pour moayen de transport ; jusqu'à s'incarné à nouveau en elle, la bruètte devien de chair et c'et pour cela que mon film s'apellera La Bruètte de chair. Tout espectateur rafiné ou hutre moayen sera forcé de participer au délire de ma fétichiste, car il s'agit d'un cas rigureussement vrai, et cera raconté, come aucune documentaire n'est capable de le réalissé….. Ainssi ge peut déjà asurer à mes lecteurs que dans mon film il verron avec toute la minutie des mouvements lents se dévelopent dans la plus rigu­reusse euritmie arcangélique, l'un après l'autre 5 cignes blancs explosan. Les signes seron trufés de pomes grenades elles aussi munis d'une charge explosive adécuate, de façont que quand on aura pu observé avec minuci les derniers entre-déchirements des entrailles des cignes, se produiront les explosions des pomes grenades, de sorte que probablement tel que nous avons déjà expérimenté les grains de la pome grenade progetés à la périférie du décartelage anatomique, parvenan à causse de leur petite taille par les intertices jusqu'aux plumes en suspension, orteron cellesci, tell que l'on peut rêvé et surtout rêvassé, doit se produire entre les cor­puscules de lumière (graines de pome grenade et ondes lumineusses représentés por les blanchisimes arcangéliques plumes du signe). - De sorte que les corpuscules dans la dite expérience auron la corporaïté de Mantegne et les plumes le flue qui fit fameux le peintre Eugène Carrière. Aussi on pourra voir une escène, représentan la fontaine de Trevi à Rome, les fenêtres s'ouvran et 6 rinocéros tomben à l'eau, à chaque chute de rinocéros un paraplui noir s'oubre émerjan de l'eau de la fontaine…….Dans un'autre oportunité 100 ziganes españols tueron et dépèceron jusqu'à ne lessé que son esquelette pelé, un éléfant dans une rue de Madrid (transposan ainsi une fameuse scène africaine que g'é lu dans un libre). À un moment doné qu'oùs apéressent les côtes du paquiderme, deux ziganes (lesquels malgré leur frénési sauvage n'arrêten pas un instin de chanter du canté hondo pénétren à l'intérieur pour atraper les viscères meilleures, quer, rognongs ect….’ (Translation: ‘It’s been about a week since I’ve just discovered that in my life I’m about 12 years late in everything, including cinema, it’s been 11 years since I’ve been planning to make a film entirely totally one hundred percent hyper Dali, so that means that this film will probably end up being shot next year – I am the opposite of the orchard and the lu de la Fontaine as in my life, and already in my adolescence I did so many sensational things……At 27 I arrived in Paris and I created with Bunuel 2 films that will remain historic, Le chien andalou and L'Âge d'or. Lately Bunuel has made other films on his own, so that everyone can finally know to whom belonged the brilliant side and the primary side in Le chien andalou and L’Age d’or……For a film to be prodigious, the first thing is for people to be able to believe in the prodigy that is shown to you, for that, before anything else, it is necessary to put an end to the repugnant cinematographic rhythm, this conventional and boring retort of the movement of the camera – even in the most common melodrama how to believe in the assassin, if the camera follows him in travelling everywhere, even in the sink where he will wash the blood from his hands?.......My next film will be the exact opposite of an experimental vanguard film and above all of what we call today “creative” if not the servile imitation of all the commonplaces of sad modern art. My film will be a true story of a paranoid woman in love with a brute who successively takes on all the attributes of the loved one, the corpse of which had served as a means of transport; until it is embodied again in herm the bruètte becomes flesh and that is why my film will be called La Bruètte de flesh. Any refined viewer or Moayan oyster will be forced to participate in my fetishist’s delirium, for this is a strictly true case, and it will be told, as no documentary is capable of realising it……Thus I can already assure my readers that in my film he will see with all the meticulousness of the slow movements developing in the most rigorous archangelic  euritimia, one after the other 5 white swans exploding. The signs will be riddled with pomegranates, also equipped with an adequate explosive charge, so that when we have been able to carefully observe the last tearings of the entrails of the swans, the explosions of the pomegranates will occur...) In the left margin of the third page Dali has drawn two illustrations of male figures, the first somewhat grotesque and the second in a Cubist style, seemingly with another man emerging from his torso. A wonderful, rare manuscript which is distinctly Dali in its composition. Some very light, minimal age wear, VG OWING TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED - PLEASE REFER TO IAA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 

DUNN JAMES: (1905-1967) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1945 for his role as Johnny Nolan in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. An excellent, rare vintage signed and inscribed sepia 8 x 10 photograph, the original 20th Century-Fox publicity portrait depicting Dunn in a head and shoulders pose in costume from his Oscar winning performance as Johnny Nolan from the drama film A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which marked Elia Kazan's debut as a dramatic film director. Signed by Dunn in dark fountain pen ink to a light area of the image, 'Best to Johnny from Jimmy Dunn', and dated 1947 in his hand. A couple of very light, extremely minor surface creases, VG

WHO THE: An excellent vintage signed 6 x 4 photograph by all four original members of the 1960s English rock band individually, comprising Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon, the image depicting the band standing together in half-length poses. Signed by each in blue inks with their names alone to clear areas of the image. The printed address of the fan club secretary, Deirdre Meehan in London, appears to the verso. A rare and extremely desirable signed photograph by one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. About EX

MANIC STREET PREACHERS: A colour 6 x 4 postcard of the rock band Bon Jovi signed to the verso by all four members of the Welsh alternative rock band the Manic Street Preachers individually, comprising James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore and Richey Edwards, most with their first names only. Accompanied by an unsigned colour 4 x 6 candid photograph of Edwards at a Radio 1 Roadshow where the signatures are understood to have been obtained. Rare. Some minor creasing, about VG, 2.Complete sets of signatures of the Manic Street Preachers, including Richey Edwards, are rare following the disappearance of the then 27-year-old lyricist and guitarist on 1st February 1995. He was officially presumed dead in 2008. 

FLECHIER ESPRIT: (1632-1710) French Preacher and Author. Bishop of Nantes 1687-1710. One of the greatest orators of the XVIIº century. Fléchier entered the Academy on 12 January 1673, the same day as Jean Racine. Rare A.L.S., `Esprit Ev[eque] de Nismes´, two pages, 8vo, Montpellier, 22nd January 1700, in French. A cleanly written letter by Fléchier to a friar, stating in part `…les médecins ont conçu quelque espérance de votre guérison. Mais comme vous n'êtes pas sans fièvre, que votre poitrine souffre, et que vous êtes affaibli, dégoûté et presque découragé, je n'ose pas encore me consoler…´ (“…the doctors have some hope on your recovery. But as you are not without fever, your chest aches, and you are weak, disgusted and almost discouraged, I do not yet dare console myself...”) Fléchier advises his correspondent to have faith in God, and further states `… il faut un peu s'aider soi-même, ne pas se laisser accabler par le mal, quoi qu'on en soit abattu, user de remèdes quoique dégoûtants, dont Dieu veut peut-être se servir pour opérer votre guérison…´ (“you have to help yourself a little, not let yourself be overwhelmed by evil, no matter how dejected you are, use remedies, however disgusting, which God may want to use to reach your healing...”) Two water stains to the left border only partially affecting very few words, but not affecting the signature. Accompanied by an original printed engraving of the XIXº century. G 

HAYDN JOSEPH: (1732-1809) Austrian composer of the Classical period. A bound folio edition of Dr Haydn's VI Original Canzonettas, for the Voice with an Accompaniment for the Piano-Forte, Dedicated to Mrs. John Hunter, the title page further stating 'Printed for the Author, & Sold by him at No.1. Bury Street, St. James's, at Messrs Corri, Dussek & Co., Music Sellers to her Majesty, No. 67 Dean Street, Soho & Bridge Street, Edinburgh', n.d. (c. June 1794). The sheet music comprises The Mermaids Song, Recollection, A Pastoral Song, Despair, Pleasing Pains and Fidelity. Signed ('Haydn', with a paraph) by Haydn in dark ink at the base of the title page. Bound by Kelly of Gower Place in dark red cloth with gilt stamped title to the cover. Rare. Some light foxing and minor overall age wear, about VG Anne Hunter (1742-1821) British poet and salon hostess, wife of the surgeon and anatomist John Hunter. Anne Hunter is chiefly remembered as the author of texts to at least nine of Haydn's fourteen songs in English, including several represented in the present volume. Hunter and her husband entertained the leading Bluestockings at their house.

One of the finest signed photographs of The Little Tramp in existence CHAPLIN CHARLES: (1889-1977) English film comedian, Academy Award winner. A very fine vintage signed sepia 8 x 10 photograph, the excellent image showing Chaplin standing in a full-length pose in costume as the Little Tramp in a scene from his 1928 film The Circus. Boldly signed in dark fountain pen ink across a light area at the base of the image with a perfect example of his signature, 'With best wishes, Sincerely, Charlie Chaplin'. An extremely rare and desirable signed image. Some very light, minor silvering to the right edge of the image and minor age wear to the plain borders, VGThe Circus (1928) is the seventh highest grossing silent film in cinema history. Chaplin was presented with a Special Academy Award in 1928 for 'acting, writing, directing and producing' the film.

BOLAN MARC: (1947-1977) English guitarist, singer and songwriter, a pioneer of the glam rock movement in the early 1970s with his band T. Rex. Autograph Manuscript notes, unsigned (although featuring his name Marc in three places within the text), one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d. (c.1970). On ruled notebook paper, and in various coloured inks, Bolan has penned a series of notes, including deletions, relating to the recording of the song Seagull Women (released as Seagull Woman), in part, 'acustics (sic) mixed down….marc tracked on change down….mixed together lightly play Gibson thru out….Piano on C-C7-F-D7….guitar solo…Fender….drum pounded floor tom tom, deep sound Bass, marc tracked riff voices….on end drums on own, marc little acustic (sic) riff once'. One of the deleted notes, relating to 'deep sound', states 'First try Fuzz Hendrix sound'. An extremely rare Bolan manuscript, particularly considering the musician's tragically early death in a car crash at the age of 29. A single file hole to the right edge, not affecting the text, VGSeagull Woman appeared as track four on the B-side of the album T. Rex which was released on 18th December 1970 and had been recorded at the Trident Studios in London from July - August in the same year. The track represented the first time that Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman ('Flo and Eddie') provided back-up vocals to a T. Rex song. The duo would go on to sing on most of the group's subsequent string of hits.   

BIZET GEORGES: (1838-1875) French Composer. A rare and very fine A.L.S., Georges Bizet, three pages, 8vo, n.p. [Saint Gratien], n.d. [summer 1869], [to Louis-Godefroy Jadin], in French. Bizet sends an unusual and very interesting letter during his honeymoon, and in a poetic way initiates his letter stating in part `Tes lettres sentent le soleil. Ici, nous avons un demi beau temps, un soleil honteux, peureux, un soleil qui a beaucoup de choses sur la conscience. Je voudrais bien pouvoir emporter ma Geneviève mais il faut attendre. Nous sommes toujours et nous serons toujours heureux ici. et enchantés de te faire une place à côté de nous´ ("Your letters smell of the sun. Here we have half good weather, a shameful sun, fearful sun, a sun that has a lot on its conscience. I would like to be able to take my Geneviève with me, but we have to wait. We are always and will always be happy here, and delighted to make room for you next to us") Bizet further refers to his composition works, saying `Je travaille à me crever. Pasdeloup s'est enthousiasmé pour le Noé d'Halévy - il a fallu signer un traité et m'engager à lui remettre l'ouvrage acte par acte, à des époques très rapprochées. - Je n'en dors plus. - Il faut lui donner le 1er acte le 15 7bre - le 2d 30 7bre - le 3me 15 8bre le 4me 31 8bre. - Le 4me est à composer en entier - il y a pas mal à faire dans les autres et le 1er seul est instrumenté par Halévy. - Tu vois quelle charrette !´ ("I am working to exhaustion. Pasdeloup was enthusiastic about Halévy´s Noé - I had to sign a contract agreement and commit myself to handing over the work to him, act by act, at very close intervals. - I can't sleep anymore. - He must be given the 1st act on 15th September - the 2nd 30th September - the 3rd 15 October the 4th 31 October.  The 4th is to be composed in full - there is a lot to do in the others and only the 1st is instrumented by Halévy.´ Further again Bizet make fun of Auguste Mermet (1810-1889) a French Opera composer, who is completing his opera Jeanne d´Arc (1876), and also refers to his forthcoming good times saying `…Bref, les affaires vont marcher. Je vais habiter un charmant appartement´ ("…In short, business will work. I will live in a charming apartment") At the conclusion and beneath Bizet´s signature, his wife Genevieve adds fifteen lines of a friendly message. Small overall creasing, otherwise G 

[DREYFUS AFFAIR]: HENRY HUBERT-JOSEPH (1846-1898) French Lieutenant-Colonel involved in the Dreyfus Affair. Henry was arrested for having forged evidence against Dreyfus and was subsequently found dead in his prison cell. A rare A.L.S., Ht. J Henry, four pages, small 8vo, Bourbonne, 8th August 1888, to 'Mon cher ami', in French. Henry states that he was very busy before his departure, and was sorry not to have seen his friend, and continues 'Je vous ai dit je crois que j'avais envoye divers documents a M. Gentili di Giuseppe - mais je n'ai pu le voir et sa carte est venue me retrouver ici.  je vous serai oblige de le voir et de le presenter a M. Duval avec qui il doit entrer directement en relations - pour voir les dessins et les modeles. J'ai ecrit a M. Duval d'ici pour le prier de faire preparer une nouvelle notice destinee a remplacer celle qui est epuisee. Elle devra etre imprimee et je voudrais l'examiner a mon retour avant le tirage. Il conviendra d'introduire dans cette notice un type de part et viaduc pour tramway et chemins de fer a voie de 1me pour machines depuis 12 tonnes jus qu'a 30 tonnes - le moment n'est pas eloigne ou les parts demontables seront tres demandes en Algerie et dans les pays de colonisation. Il faut se hater de les faire connaitre si on ne veut pas voir nos inventions exploites par les autres qui semblent deployer dans cette voie nouvelle une activite fructueuse......cette publicite est opportune et indispensable'(Translation: 'I told you I believe I had sent various documents to Mr. Gentili di Giuseppe - but I could not see him and his card came to find me here. I will be obliged to you to see it and to present it to Mr. Duval with whom it must enter directly into relations - to see the drawings and the models. I have written to Mr. Duval from here to ask him to have a new notice prepared to replace the one which is out of print. It will have to be printed and I would like to examine it on my return before printing. It will be advisable to introduce in this notice a type of share and viaduct for tram and railroads with 1st track for machines from 12 tons up to 30 tons - the moment is not far when removable parts will be in great demand in Algeria and in colonizing countries. We must hasten to make them know if we do not want to see our inventions exploited by others who seem to be deploying a fruitful activity in this new direction…..this publicity is timely and essential'). Henry also asks if his correspondent has received General Annenkov, further remarking 'Je n'ai aucune nouvelle de ce qui s'est passe a la seance de vendredi dernier a la societe des Ingenieurs Civils. Avez-vous eu des renseignements .......je ne serais pas etonne qu'Eiffel ait intrigue pour empecher l´inspection de ma lettre' (Translation: 'I have no news of what happened at last Friday's session at the Society of Civil Engineers. Have you had any information…..I would not be surprised if Eiffel intrigues to prevent the inspection of my letter'). Some very light age wear, minor toning and a small rust stain to the head of the first page, otherwise VG Mikhail Annenkov (1835-1899) Russian nobleman and General, a renowned engineer who built the strategic Transcaspian Railway and was also involved in the planning of the Trans-Siberian railroad. Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923) French civil engineer who made his name with various bridges for the French railway network and is best known for the world-famous Eiffel Tower.

CARTER HOWARD: (1874-1939) English archaeologist and Egyptologist, discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun in 1923. An oblong small 8vo Address book previously belonging to and compiled by Howard Carter, evidently dating from the 1930s, bearing his pencil ownership signature ('Howard Carter') and address at Prince's Gate Court in London to the front free endpaper, containing approximately 200 addresses and many telephone numbers etc., in Carter's hand, in pencil, of various family members, friends, acquaintances and colleagues of the archaeologist in various cities around the world, including the Duke of Alba in Madrid, Baron Harold de Bildt of the Royal Swedish Legation in Cairo, the Earl & Countess of Carnarvon (including Countess Almina, the wife of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon who had supplied financial backing to the search and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb), Earl of Cadogan, William Carter, Samuel Carter, Albert Carter, Lady Colefax, John Drinkwater, Viscount Devonport, the Egyptian legation and consul in London, Lady Melchett, the Press Cutting Association, Sir Horace Rumbold, the Savile Club, Hassan Selius, Professor of Egyptology at the University in Cairo, Air Vice Marshal Francis Rowland Scarlett, Sir Harry Lloyd Verney (private secretary to Queen Mary) and many, many others. With marbled endpapers and gilt stamped Addresses to the front cover. A rare and fascinating record of the individuals associated with Carter in his personal and professional life. Some damp staining to the back cover and a few of the first and final pages, only affecting a few of the entries, and with some light overall age wear, G

TALLEYRAND-PERIGORD & FOUCHE: TALLEYRAND-PERIGORD CHARLES MAURICE DE (1754-1838) Prince of Talleyrand, French clergyman, politician and diplomat, Prime Minister of France, 1815 & FOUCHE JOSEPH (1759-1820) 1st Duc d'Otrante, 1st Comte Fouche. French statesman and revolutionary who served as Minister of Police (1799-1810, 1815) under Napoleon Bonaparte. D.S. by both Talleyrand ('Charles Maurice') and Fouche ('Comte de l'Empire Fouche') individually, one page, folio, Schoenbrunn, 24th August 1809, in French. The partially printed document, with manuscript insertions in the hand of Fouche, is addressed to Monsieur Laffontan, President of the Canton of Valence and is an Extrait des Minutes de la Secretairerie d'Etat ('Extract from the Minutes of the Secretary of State') originally issued by Hugues-Bernard Maret, Duke of Bassano, on behalf of Napoleon I, and states that they have deemed it appropriate to convene the assembly of the canton on 17th October 1809, and consequently order Laffontan to execute, and cause to be executed, the provisions of the acts of the Constitutions of the Empire, further stating 'Nous avons fait connaitre a notre premier Inspecteur de la Gendarmerie, et au General commandant la 10 eme Division militaire, que vous avez seul la police de l'assemblee; que nulle force armee ne doit etre placee pres du lieu de ses seances ni y penetrer sans votre requistion; qu'ils doivent ordonner de deferer a celles que vous adresserez aux Commandans de la Gendarmerie, et de vous preter assistance, si le cas l'exige et que vous le demandiez' (Translation: 'We have made it known to our first Inspector of the Gendarmerie, and to the General commanding the 10th Military Division, that you alone have the police of the assembly; that no armed force should be placed near the place of its meetings or enter there without your request; that they must order to defer to those which you will address to the Commanders of the Gendarmerie, and to lend you assistance, if the case requires it and that you ask for it'). Signed at the foot by Talleyrand in his capacity as Vice-Grand-Elector and by Fouche in his capacity as Minister of the Interior (rare as such; Fouche only served in the post from 29th June to 1st October 1809) and with a circular blind embossed seal beneath. With blank integral leaf. Some light, minor staining to the lower left corner and a very small hole to the centre of the text, otherwise VG

U.S PRESIDENTS: An exceptional and very rare multiple signed colour 8 x 10 photograph of the presidential seal, signed in black felt tip by seven former Presidents, comprising RICHARD NIXON (1913-1994) 37th President 1969-74; GERALD FORD (1913-2006) 38th President 1974-77; JIMMY CARTER (1924- ) 39th President 1977-81; RONALD REAGAN (1911-2004), 40th President 1981-89; GEORGE BUSH (1924-2018) 41st President 1989-93; BILL CLINTON (1946- ) 42nd President 1993-2001 and GEORGE W. BUSH (1946- ) 43rd President 2001-09. Signed in black felt tip ink by Reagan, Bush, W. Bush and Clinton, in red felt tip ink by Carter, in black ballpoint ink by Ford and in black ink by Nixon. A couple of very light brushes to Nixon's signature, otherwise VG An absolutely amazing signed photograph, by seven U.S Presidents, being the most presidential signatures on a single item we have ever offered.All signatures were acquired by former congressman James E. Rogan.

REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT - URRUTIA MANUEL: (1901-1981) President of Cuba from January to July 1959. Urrutia resigned his position a will better only seven months, owing to a series of disputes with Fidel Castro, and emigrated to the United States shortly afterward. Rare D.S., `Urrutia´, one page, Presidential Palace La Habana, 13th February 1959, "Year of the Liberation'', in Spanish. The typed document is a decree, according to which Doctor Manuel Urrutia Lleo, in his capacity as President of the Republic of Cuba, states that the council of Ministers has approved the law nº 72, containing two articles stating in part `Article One: We declare dissolve the National Sports Committee and removed from their posts all members of the Committee on the 31 December 1958. Article Two: All faculties and power that law establishes regarding National Sports Committee will be in hand of the Delegate and General Director of Sports that the President of the Republic will appoint...´ Countersigned at the base by Prime Minister Jose Miro Cardona and by the Minister of Education. The document bears at the base a large and attractive blue paper seal of the Cuban Presidency with ribbons affixed. Three binder half-holes to the left border, small tears to the right edge not affecting the signatures. G Jose Miro Cardona (1902-1974) Cuban Politician who served as Prime Minister for a very short period of six weeks. He was appointed by President Urrutia in January 1959 but unexpectedly resigned in February 1959 and was replaced by Fidel Castro.    

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 A.L.S., `Voltaire´, three pages, 4to, Les Délices, Geneva, 10th December 1760, in French. An unusual letter by Voltaire responding to a letter addressed to him on this same letter, partially to the lower part of the first page, beneath the text of the correspondent and to the second and third pages. The upper part of the first page is a letter sent to Voltaire relating to a legal court case referring to the rights of the King, King Louis XV of France, on the lands of La Perriere. They report that the inheritors of de Fleury in Bourgogne request the renouncement of President Mr. de Brosses, owner of part of the land known as “la terre de Tourney” and the renouncement of Mr. de Voltaire who holds the usufruct. The text refers to the official and written renouncement that they are expecting from Mr. De Brosses and the renouncement and further discharge of Voltaire.  Voltaire responds stating in part `Monsieur, J´obéis a vos ordres avec autant de reconnaissance que de joye, jay l´honneur de de vous envoier ma requeté contenant ma declaration que je renonce a la haute justice de la perriere, qu´elle appartient au Roy et que l´amande prononcée en ma faveur ne m´appartient pas. J´envoye un double de ma requeté a Monsieur l´Intendant de Bourgogne et je le supplie de vouloir bien exiger que Monsieur le préseident de Brosses signe ce double comme il le doit. Si Monsieur de Brosses fait quelque difficulté j´aurai toujours rempli mon devoir…´ (Translation: “Sir, I obey your orders with as much gratitude as joy, I have the honour to send you my request containing my declaration, that I renounce to the high justice of the Perriere, that it belongs to the King, and that the fine issued to me does not belong to me. I send a duplicate of my request to the Intendant of Burgundy and I beg him to request that the President de Brosses sign this duplicate as he should. If Monsieur de Brosses makes any difficulty, I will always have fulfilled my duty...”) Paper with watermark. The last page has been neatly and professionally inlaid. G to VG La Perriere was a land situated next to the lake of Geneva. In 1760, Voltaire wrote `La république de Genève a cédé cette juridiction au roi en 1749, par un traité solennel. On ne voit pas par quelle raison les officiers du bailliage de Gex, qui doivent être instruits de ce traité, ont attribué la haute justice de la Perrière aux seigneurs de Tournay. Il est démontré qu'elle appartient à Sa Majesté´ (Translation: “The Republic of Geneva ceded this jurisdiction to the King by a solemn treaty in 1749. We do not understand why the officers of Gex, who must be informed of this treaty, attributed the high justice of La Perrière to the lords of Tournay. It is clear that it belongs to Her Majesty”) Provenance: From the celebrated collection of Robert de Flers (1872-1927) French playwright, opera librettist and journalist. The manuscripts amassed by de Flers were dispersed in 2014 at an auction in Paris conducted by Beaussant Lefevre. 

VIGEE LE BRUN ELISABETH: (1755-1842) French portrait painter, particularly of women, who served as the portrait painter to Marie Antoinette. A.L.S., Mme Le Brun, in the third person, one page, 12mo, n.p., 11th December n.y. (c.1827), to Monsieur de Champagny, in French. The artist informs her correspondent that she will receive him and his companions on Sunday between 1 and 2pm. With integral address leaf (small areas of paper loss) in a different hand. Rare. Some very light, minor age wear, about 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''), three pages, 8vo, Paris, 9th August 1658, to Firmin Get, Superior of the Order at Marseille, in French. Saint Vincent de Paul refers to the sale of the Consulate in Tunis, and expresses his concerns on how will they be able to help the slaves from then on, stating in part `Je suis en grande peine de Mr. Le Vacher de Tunis, n´en ayant reçu aucune nouvelle depuis sa maladie. Si vous en avez appris quelque chose, faites m´en part… Nous ne vous avons pas encore adréssé ce qui nous reste pour les pauvres esclaves, tant a cause des banqueroutes arrivées, qui nous Font tout craindre, que des troubles survenus a la ville de Marseille, qui nous ont fait résoudre d´attendre encore…´ (Translation: "I am in great sorrow for Mr. Le Vacher of Tunis, having received no news from him since his illness. If you have learned anything, let me know… We have not yet sent you what remains for the poor slaves, both because of the bankruptcies that have occurred, which make us fear everything, and the troubles that have occurred in the city. of Marseilles, which made us resolve to wait…") Saint Vincent de Paul further refers to the Duchess of Aiguillon and to the Consulate in Tunis, saying `Madame la Duchesse d´Aiguillon n´étant pas ici pour lui parler de la vente du consulat de Tunis, je ne puis vous résoudre cela, qu´elle ne soit de retour du Havre. Je vous dirai néanmoins par avance que, si l´on vend, il est a craindre que le consul ne veuille souffrir un prêtre aupres de lui et qu´il trouve moyen de s´en défaire pour être plus libre de faire ce qu´il voudra… et qu´ainsi on ne puisse plus assister les pauvres esclaves; or, la privation de ce bien serait un grand mal pour eux… Je suis bien affligé du blocus de Marseille, et je prie N.S. qu´il ne permette pas que ce trouble naissant aille plus Avant, car il ne peut apporter que desolation…´ (Translation: "As the Duchess of Aiguillon is not here to talk to her about the sale of the consulate in Tunis, I cannot solve this for you until she is back from Le Havre. I will nevertheless tell you in advance that, if they sell, it is to be feared that the consul will not want to suffer a priest near him and that he will find a way to get rid of him to be more free to do whatever he wants... and therefore we will no longer be able to attend the poor slaves; and the deprivation of this good would be a great loss for them… I am very distressed by the blockade of Marseilles, and I pray Our Lord that he does not allow this incipient trouble to go further, because it can only bring desolation…") G to VG Firmin Get (1621-1682) Superior of the Mission in Marseille.Vincent de Paul established a mission in Tunisia in 1648, appointing at the head of it Jean le Vacher (1619-1683), and trying to help and assist white Christians held as slaves. Jean le Vacher was appointed French consul and continued Vincent de Paul work after the priest passed away. Le Vacher died tied to a cannon refusing to apostatise when the local Dey obliged him to.Marie Madeleine de Vignerot du Pont de Courlay (1604-1675) Duchess of Aiguillon. She was the daughter of Cardinal Richelieu´s sister. French Aristocrat, remembered for her charitable work and patronage.  

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. A very rare Letter Signed by Voltaire with exceptional content. L.S., `V´, also adding `Potsdam, 4th November´ in his hand, three pages, 4to, Potsdam, 4th November, n.y. [1752], to Mr. Formey, in French. Voltaire initiates his letter freely defending his ideas in an ironical way and ridiculing his correspondent´s theories, stating in part `En verité, monsieur, je ne vous croyais pas Suisse. Un illustre théologien de Bâle écrit que milord Bolingbroke a eu la chaude pisse et de là il tire la conséquence evidente que Moïse est l´auteur du Pentateuque. On prétend que de bonnes lois et de bonnes troupes ne valent rien, si l´on n´a pas une foi vive pour les dogmes de Zwingleet d´Ecolampade. Or, comme Titus, Marc-Aurèle, Trajan, Nerva, Julien, etc… avaient le malheur horrible de ne croire pas plus à Zwingle qu´au pape, et que cependant tout allait assez bien de leur temps…´ (Translation: “To be fair, sir, I didn't believe you were Swiss. An illustrious theologian from Basle writes that Lord Bolingbroke had a hot piss and from this he draws the obvious conclusion that Moses is the author of the Pentateuch. It is said that good laws and good troops are worthless if one does not have a lively faith in the dogmas of Zwingle and Ecolampadius. Now, as Titus, Marcus Aurelius, Trajan, Nerva, Julian, etc. had the horrible misfortune of not believing more in Zwingle than in the Pope, and yet everything was going quite well in their time...”) Voltaire further pursues his ferocious attack wrapped in fine literary forms but with crude words and mocking symbols, saying `Le chapelain de milord Chesterfield a pris en bon chrétien la cause de milord Bolingbroke, il l´a défendue dans une lettre pieuse et modeste. La traduction est parvenue ici avec la permission des supérieurs. Le roi a beaucoup ri: faites-en de même. Il paye bien les docteurs et se moque des disputes théologiques, métaphysiques, phoronomiques et dynamiques. Soyez très tranquille, vivez gaiement de l´Evangile et de la philosophie, et laissez les profanes douter de la chronologie de Moïse… essayez de vous mettre de grandes épingles dans le cul… ou plutôt faites-vous embaumer tout vivant, afin de n´attraper que dans sept ou huit cents ans ce point de maturité qui est la mort…´ (“Translation: “The chaplain of milord Chesterfield took as a good Christian the cause of milord Bolingbroke, he defended it in a pious and modest letter. The translation arrived here with the permission of the superiors. The King laughed a lot: do the same. He pays doctors well and doesn't care about theological, metaphysical, phoronomic and dynamic disputes. Be very quiet, live cheerfully from the Gospel and philosophy, and let the profane people doubt on the chronology of Moses... try to put big pins in your ass... or rather have yourself embalmed while alive, in order to only catch up in seven or eight hundred years this point of maturity which is death...”) A lengthy an extremely good content letter by Voltaire who, before concluding, sends two fine and wise statements `Croyez-moi, ne mettez aux choses que leur prix, et ne prenez point de grosses balances pour peser des toiles d´araignées´ (Translation: “Believe me, put only the real price on things, and do not take large scales to weigh cobwebs”), and `Il y a mille occasions où un vaudeville vaut mieux qu´une lamentation de Jérémie´ (Translation: “There are a thousand occasions when a vaudeville is better than a lament of Jeremiah”) Small overall minor age wear, with a small tear to the bottom edge, otherwise G Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey (1711-1797) German Churchman, Educator and Author. A founding member of the Berlin Academy who popularized scientific and philosophical ideas, in French, and contributed to Diderot´s Encyclopédie. Although Formey fought against the ideas of the philosophers, he held for a while an epistolary relationship with Voltaire, who published several articles in Formey´s journal L´Abeille du Parnasse. Formey was best known for his work Anti-Emile, which refuted point by point the ideas of Rousseau on education. Voltaire and Formey were not long in falling out, which we can deduct from the reading of this letter. The present letter discussion comes from the publication of Bolingbroke´s translation of Lettres sur l´Histoire which questioned the authenticity of the bible. In response to it, Formey published Dissertation sur l´Incrédulité an extract of Zimmerman´s Opuscules. King Frederick II of Prussia accorded the privilege of a printed publication response to Voltaire, who wrote Défense de Milord Bolingbroke under the pseudonym “Docteur Goodnatur´d Wellwisher”. Voltaire´s article caused a scandal because of its impiety.The present letter shows several interesting small variations from the published text of Voltaire´s correspondences.  

NATIONAL VELVET: A good, rare vintage multiple signed and inscribed sepia 10 x 8 photograph by the Academy Award recipients Mickey Rooney (Michael 'Mi' Taylor), Elizabeth Taylor (Velvet Brown), Donald Crisp (Herbert Brown) and Anne Revere (Araminty Brown) individually, the image depicting the actors seated around a dining table together at the Brown's home in Sussex in a scene from the film National Velvet (1944). Signed by each in fountain pen inks to the image. It was for her performance in this film that Anne Revere won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Some light overall surface and corner creasing, G

[GASTRONOMY]: BRILLAT-SAVARIN JEAN ANTHELME (1755-1826) French lawyer and politician who gained fame as a gastronome and epicure following his publication of The Physiology of Taste (1825). A rare D.S., Brillat-Savarin, one page, 8vo, Rue des Filles-St-Thomas, Paris, 23rd November 1819, in French. The partially printed document, completed entirely in Brillat-Savarin's hand is entitled Cercle d'Harmonie Trancendante ('Circle of Transcendent Harmony') and takes the form of an invitation and programme to a Journee musicale en l'honneur de Madame Sainte Cecile (Translation: 'Musical day in honour of Madame Saint Cecilia') addressed to Colonel Lacombe and stating that guests should assemble on Sunday 28th at precisely 10 o'clock in the morning. Brillat-Savarain details the programme of the day, with seven musical events ('Ouverturen hymne a l'harmonie…..Musique officielle inedite rares debuts…..libation chinoise confabulation…..Musique a volonte….libation finale' etc.) taking place at various times of the day and night, beginning at 10.30am and ending at 11pm. With integral address leaf. Some foxing, largely to the edges, otherwise VGBrillat-Savarin, who fled the Reign of Terror and, after travelling to Switzerland and Holland, taught music in America, organised musical days for the Cercle d'Harmonie Trancendante which he had founded after his return to Paris in 1796. Such events appealed to not only the ear, but the palate and throat, and in his Physiologie du Gout Brillat-Savarin wrote 'The artists who circulate in our salons drink with as much discretion as sagacity; but what they have lost on one side, they regain on the other; and if they are no longer drunk, they are gluttonous to the third heaven, so much so that it is assured that at the Circle of Transcendent Harmony, the celebration of the feast of Saint Cecilia sometimes lasted more than twenty-four hours'.  

TALBOT HENRY FOX: (1800-1877) English scientist, inventor and photography pioneer. A rare A.L.S., H. F. Talbot, two pages, 8vo, Harley Street (London), n.d. ('Wednesday Evg.'), to a gentleman. Talbot writes, in full, 'I regret I shall not be able to be present tomorrow evening at your experiments on the Thermo-Electric spark, being prevented by a dinner engagement. I hope I may see you on Saturday evening at ½ past 7 or 8 o'clock'. A light band of discolouration to the edges, evidently caused by previous framing, one small tear to the right edge and the upper edge very slightly irregularly trimmed, only very slightly affecting one word of text to the second page, G 

HUNT LINDA: (1945-     ) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1983 for her role as Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously. Signed 8 x 10 photograph of Hunt in a half-length pose, holding a camera in her hands, in costume from her Oscar winning performance as the photographer Billy Kwan from the romantic drama film The Year of Living Dangerously, set in Indonesia during the overthrow of President Sukarno. Signed by Hunt with her name alone in black ink to the image. Rare. EX

BERGSON HENRI: (1859-1941) French Philosopher. A major influential Thinker. Awarded Nobel Prize in Literature, 1927. A good A.L.S. H. Bergson, two pages, 8vo, Paris, 9th April 1921, to Louis de Launay, in French. Bergson thanks his correspondent for forwarding his poems and states in part `…mais comme je trouve sur ma table, en la rangeant, une petite envelope vide qui porte votre adresse, je me demande si je n´ai pas tout simplement oublié d´y inclure une carte. A tout hazard, donc, je vous adresse ce mot. Si je me trouve ainsi, vous avoir remercié deux fois, ce ne será pas trop, étant donné le grand et rare plaisir que j´ai eu à vous lire …´ (Translation “…but as I find on my table, when I was putting order, a small empty envelope which bears your address, I wonder if I had simply forgotten to include a card. Therefore, and just in case, I send you the present message. If I end up having sent you my thanks twice, it will not be too much, considering the great and unusual pleasure I had reading your work…”) With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope, postmarked and stamped, and addressed in Bergson´s hand. VG 

MALIBRAN MARIA: (1808-1836) Spanish Mezzo-Soprano. One of the most best-known opera singers of the 19th century for her dramatic performances and her extraordinary voice. She became a legendary figure after her very early death. Rare A.L.S., `M. F. Malibran´, one page, oblong 8vo, Brussels, n.d., to her impresario Jules Troupenas, in French. The letter bears to the upper left corner a blind embossed seal of « Bath ». Malibran enquires as to why her correspondent did not reply to her letter `Vous n´avez pas répondu à ma lettre. Pouquoi ?´ (`You have not answered to my letter. Why ?´), and continues to add that she has received notification from the postal services in Paris that there is a letter waiting for her from Milan and that there is a charge of 7 francs and 60 cents to pay, and a further 4 francs and 60 cents to have it sent to her. In concluding the singer asks Troupenas `Voulez-vous payer pour moi le tout et me l´envoyer? Je vous serai bien obligée´ (`Would you please pay the whole and send it to me ? I would be most obliged´). Autographs of Malibran are particularly rare following her untimely death at the age of 28. G to VG 

BUÑUEL LUIS: (1900-1983) Spanish Filmmaker. A reference for many Film Directors and the leader in the avant-garde surrealism cinema. Rare A.L.S., `Bunuel´, signed twice, one page, 4to, Paris, 1st of August 1968, to Andre Labarthe, in French. Buñuel responds to his correspondent´s message and states in part `Chers Janine et André, enchanté d´avoir eu de vos nouvelles. Et aussi de vous revoir bientôt. Je ne sors jamais le soir. Si vous pouvez on pourrai se rencontrer un jour de la semaine prochaine et déjeuner ensemble…´ (Translation: `Dear Janine and André, I am delighted to have received news from you. And also to meet you soon again. I never go out at night. If you can we could meet one day next week and have lunch together…´) Buñuel annotates his phone number, at the Greenwich Film offices, 72 Avenue of the Champs Elysées. Accompanied by the original envelope, signed by Buñuel to the heading, addressed in his hand, postmarked and stamped. G to VG 

HAYWORTH RITA: (1918-1987) American actress. An excellent vintage signed and inscribed 10 x 8 photograph, the image depicting Hayworth reclining in a seductive three-quarter length pose in costume as the ultimate femme fatale, Gilda Mundson Farrell, from her most famous role in the 1946 film noir Gilda. Signed in bold, dark fountain pen ink across the clear background of the image. Signed photographs of Hayworth from Gilda are rare and desirable. A few very minor, light surface creases, about EX

MADAME ROLAND: (1754-1793) Born Marie-Jeanne Philipon, also known as Manon Roland de la Platiere. French Revolutionary salonniere and Writer. She was the first Girondin to be arrested during the reign of terror and guillotined. Very rare A.L., signed with a small flourish, two pages, 8vo, in French. Manon sends a letter full of spicy comments, stating in part `Si j´étais dans une disposition caustique, je vous dirais que je vous fais passert trois lettres: d´une bégueule, l´autre d´un pédant, la troisieme d´un cadet de famille. Mais a la campagne on est pacifique, on pardonne aux sots; et partout on plaint les malheureux cadets. Silence donné! J´y consens, et c´est prudent; car je pourrais en dire long sur cette niece qui exhorte a pousser sa tante et qui pourrait si bien le faire elle même. J´imagine que vous n´attendrez plus rien de toute cette…´ ("If I was in a caustic disposition, I would tell you that I pass you three letters: one from a prude, the other from a pedant, the third from a cadet. But in the countryside we are peaceful, we forgive fools; and everywhere people pity the unfortunate cadets. Silence given! I consent to it, and it is prudent; because I could say a lot about this niece who urges to push her aunt and who could so well do it herself. I imagine that you will expect nothing more from all this..") Madame Roland, known as "Madame", says before concluding `Adieu, le soleil m´a fait mal a la tête,…. et je pleure comme un enfant. J´ai encore le coeur et l´esprit tous neufs pour les romans´ ("Goodbye, the sun gave me a headache,…. and I cry like a child. I still have a brand new heart and mind for novels..") Overall age wear and small creasing, otherwise G

BEN BELLA AHMED: (1916-2012) Algerian politician, soldier and socialist revolutionary who served as Prime Minister of Algeria 1962-63 and as the first President of Algeria 1963-65. Vintage signed 5 x 6.5 photograph of Ben Bella in a head and shoulders pose. Signed ('Ben Bella') in fountain pen ink with his name alone across a slightly darker area of the image although reasonably legible. Rare. VG

GWENN EDMUND: (1875-1959) Welsh actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1947 for his role as Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street. A wonderful vintage signed and inscribed 7.75 x 10 photograph of Gwenn standing in a three-quarter length pose in costume from his Oscar winning performance as Kris Kringle in a scene from the Christmas comedy-drama film Miracle on 34th Street. Signed by Gwenn in bold white fountain pen ink to the image. Signed photographs of Gwenn as Santa Claus are rare and highly desirable. Very slightly neatly trimmed to the right white border, VG

LEPAUTE JEAN-ANDRE: (1720-1789) French clockmaker who held the brevet horlogers du Roi. A rare manuscript D.S., Lepaute, one page, oblong 8vo, Paris, 14th April 1765, in French. The document is a receipt issued by Lepaute to Monseigneur le Duc Dancequne (?) for the sum of one thousand livre in full payment for a clock. With a further note in Lepaute's hand at the base confirming that he will resend the Duke the invoice for the same sum. Also bearing a short note, signed with initials, in an unidentified hand. With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

MELIES GEORGES: (1861-1938) French Film Director, a Pioneer of cinema and innovator in the use of special effects. Rare D.S., G. Melies, one page, 4to, Paris, 12th November 1912, the partially printed document being a receipt issued on Melies' attractive printed stationery. The manuscript receipt, in French, is for the sum of 370 Francs, being the payment of royalties due from the sales, in New York, of some of Melies' films. Also bearing to the front a red ink stamp of the Melies cinema manufacture over a tax stamp. Three binding holes to the left border, not affecting the text or signature. VG

FAULKNER WILLIAM: (1897-1962) American writer, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1949. D.S., William Faulkner, one page, 4to, n.p. (Los Angeles, California), 16th August 1943. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, states, in part, 'I, William Faulkner, hereby certify that I wrote, created and composed and/or collaborated in the writing…..of the screen play entitled “De Gaulle Story” and/or “Free French” based on the life of Charles De Gaulle and the Free French movement and the original dialogue used therein, as an employee of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., pursuant to an agreement of employment dated July 27, 1942, in performance of my duties thereunder and in the regular course of my employment; and that said Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. is the author and entitled to the copyright and all other rights…..' Countersigned at the foot by a Notary Public alongside their blind embossed seal. Rare. One small file hole to the upper left corner, a small minor tear to the right edge, and some very minor, light creasing, otherwise VG It was American President Franklin D. Roosevelt who had originally mooted the idea of a glorifying biopic of Charles de Gaulle and the Free French to Jack Warner, as he wanted to bolster de Gaulle's reputation. Warner passed the concept off to Faulkner the day that the writer arrived at the Warner Bros. studios. Unfortunately, Faulkner got caught up in an arduous series of edits on The De Gaulle Story (1942) in an effort to please de Gaulle's Hollywood consultant, Henri Diamant-Berger, who went to lengths to point out the script's flaws and inaccuracies in regard to French custom and the heroism of de Gaulle. When Faulkner had completed the script to Diamant-Berger's liking, the studio made the decision to shelve the project.

ZAMET SEBASTIEN: (1549-1614) Italian-born French financier who entered the service of the court of France as a valet to King Henry III. Zamet later maintained a close friendship with King Henry IV who would regularly visit the financier's mansion in Paris, where many people were received, particularly gentlemen looking for amorous and discreet appointments. A rare D.S., Sebastien Zamet, with five additional words in his hand, one page (vellum), small oblong folio, n.p. (Paris?), 31st December 1600. The manuscript document is a receipt for the sum of 400 'ecus soleil' for one year of his salary as superintendent of buildings at the Chateau de Fontainebleau. Some very light, minor age wear and a few creases, otherwise VG