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1. BALLANTRAE OF AUCHAIRNE, Lord (Bernard Fergusson) (1911-80). Signature.
Governor general of New Zealand (1962-67). Handsome signature, dated 1972 April 10, on a special heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. Fine. With original envelope.
Price: $25.00
2. BIDAULT, Georges (1899-1983).
Signature.
French director of the Council of the Resistance during World War Two; later French premier. Bold signature in blue fountain pen, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1981 January 20. Fine. With original envelope. Comes with a superb vintage 8½" X 7" glossy news agency photograph of 1947 showing Bidault signing the U.N. Charter. A fine signature and an outstanding (and quite scarce) photograph.
Price: $95.00
3. BLANC, Louis (1811-82).
Photograph Signed.
The "father of state socialism" in France was a journalist and author who in the 1840s attacked the government's policies and methods; a figure in the revolution of 1848, his socialist policies were a dismal failure and he fled to England, remaining there until 1870; remembered for his multi-volume "History of the French Revolution" (1847-62). PS, 2½" X 4¼", n.p., n.y. [ca. 1860]. Good only. No backstamp. Attractive sepia tone head-and-shoulders portrait of Blanc in middle age, gazing to the viewer's right, set within an oval. The photographic plate (measuring 2¼" X 3½") is in near fine condition, but the larger heavy stock card to which it's tipped (with 1/8th" margin at sides and top and ½" reveal at bottom margin) is marred with glue stain, having apparently been affixed into a 19th century photo album at some point. The larger bottom margin has been boldly signed by Blanc in dark brown ink -- and while also partly marred by this same glue stain, it remains bold and easily legible.
Price: $100.00
4. BLUNDELL, Denis (?-1984).
Signature / Autograph Note Sgned.
Governor general of New Zealand. Signature and date (1980 March 14) on a special heavy stock 5" X 3" card. Fine. Also, an ANS, 1p, 4" X 4", Auckland, New Zealand, 1980 March 14. Addressed to Richard Laade. Fine. Graciously grants a request. With original envelope.
Price: $50.00
5. BONNET, Henri (1888-?).
Typed Note Signed.
This noted diplomat served as French ambassador to the U.S. from 1944 to 1954. TNS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Washington, DC, 1947 June 10. Addressed to Kenneth Parker. Fine. On letterhead of "Ambassador de France aux Etats-Unis," Bonnet thanks the Parker Pen Company namesake -- founder George Parker's son -- for sending him a particular new pen, "a great favourite of mine." Comes with a 1945 news agency 10" X 8" photograph of Bonnet and others signing the United Nations charter for France.
Price: $75.00
6. BRIGHT, John (1811-89).
Autograph Letter Signed.
This fiery English member of parliament and orator gained fame for his crusade for free trade; he also fought for Irish independence and fiscal and electoral reform. ALS, 2pp, 4" X 7", Rothdale, 1877 September 16. Addressed to W.H.I. Aubrey. Very good. Would be fine except for mounting trace along left edge. Envious note to a friend about to visit the United States; suggests a couple contacts (although he comments, "I have few friends or acquaintances in the States to whom I can give or send letters of introduction"), one of them financier Cyrus W. Field ("You will find [him] hearty in the cause of Free Trade..").
Price: $195.00
7. BRODRICK, William St. John Fremantle (1856-1942).
Autograph Letter Signed.
This English statesman, 1st Earl of Midleton and 9th Viscount Midleton, held a wide array of important positions: member of Parliament 1880-1906, Under-Secretary of State for War 1895-98, member of the Privy Council 1897, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1898-1900, Secretary of State for War 1900-03 and Secretary of State for India 1903-05. ALS, 3pp (lettersheet), 4½" X 7", n.p., 1905 July 12. Addressed to Lady Cowper. Near fine. On fine stationery bearing an oval blind-embossed "House of Commons" seal on the first leaf, Brodrick chats with an aristocratic lady about social matters. Reads in part: "We were so sorry to hear of Ld. Cowper's illness & trust he is really better. It must be such an anxiety...." Bold and attractive. This came from the collection of Albert Johannsen, author of "The House of Beadle and Adams and Its Dime and Nickel Novels" (University of Oklahoma Press, 1950), the definitive reference work and bibliography on the subject. Johannsen's original 8½" X 11" file folder, bearing his printed "Collection of Albert Johannsen" label (partly filled in by Johannsen), accompanies this item.
Price: $50.00
8. BROWNLOW, William George Edward, 4th Baronet Brownlow (1902-84).
Autograph Letter Signed.
Lord Lurgan, a long and distinguished line of British nobility; son of William Brownlow, 3rd Lord Lurgan (1858-1937). ALS, 3pp, 5½" X 7", London, England, 1937 March 18. Addressed to Irving Schwerke (1893-1975), American expatriate pianist and music critic. Near fine. Likely in response to a musical invitation, Brownlow declines, replying in part: "My dear father died a few weeks ago, & I am hoping this weekend to go away for a complete change & rest over Easter. I hope to be in Paris a little later in the year so perhaps there may be a chance then if things are seasonably quiet!" Boldly signed "William Brownlow / (Lord Lurgan)." Penned large and bold on black-bordered mourning stationery. Original envelope (also with mourning borders) present, addressed in Brownlow's hand.
Price: $75.00
9. BULL, Odd (1907-?).
Signature.
Norwegian statesman who served as Chief of Staff of the U.N. peace-keeping forces in Palestine (1963-70). Signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., dated 1980 November 22 in another hand. Fine. With original envelope.
Price: $25.00
10. BUTLER, Richard Austin (?-1982).
Signature.
Lord Butler of Saffran Walden, British home secretary, foreign secretary and chancellor of the exchequer. Large aristocratic "Butler," heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., dated 1974 October 21 in another hand. Fine. With original envelope.
Price: $40.00
11. CAMBON, Jules (1845-1935).
Signature.
French career diplomat: governor-general of Algeria (1891-96), ambassador to the United States (1897-1902, in which capacity he helped negotiate the 1898 Treaty of Paris ending the Spanish-American War), ambassador to Germany (1907-14). Bold signature and "Ambassadeur de / France" in rich brown ink, heavy stock 3½" X 2½" card, n.p., 1901 June 17. Very good. Minor age toning; faint mounting trace at couple of corners. A bold, large, handsome example from the height of his fame.
Price: $30.00
12. CAMPBELL, Ian, 12th Duke of Argyll (1937-2001).
Signature.
British nobility, holder of various titled positions. Handsome bold "Argyll" signature in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1983 July 27. Near fine. Tiny staple hole at upper left. With 5" X 3¼" printed "With the Compliments of / The Duke of Argyll" transmittal slip. Original envelope also present.
Price: $20.00
13. CASEY, Richard G., Baron (1890-1976).
Signed First Day Cover.
This Australian politician and diplomat was the first Australian ambassador to the United States (1940-42), Governor of Bengal (1944-46) and the 16th Governor-General of Australia (1965-69). Signed First Day Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in Washington, DC on 23 June 1971 and with "First Day of Issue" boldly stamped. Single 8-cent "Antarctic Treaty 1961-1971" stamp at upper right. Fine. Near the center, the Baron pens a large, bold "Casey" in black fineline. Casey served as chief of Australia's delegation to the ratification of the important Antarctic Treaty, making this an especially appropriate cover and a choice signature.
Price: $75.00
14. CHANDOS, Oliver Lyttelton (?-1972).
Signature.
First Viscount Chandos of Aldershot. Signature (simply "Chandos"), heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., dated 1968 July 2 in another hand. Fine. With TNS from secretary transmitting same. With original envelope.
Price: $35.00
15. CHICHESTER-CLARK, James D., Lord Moyola of Castledawson (1923-2004).
Signature.
Irish noblemen and politician, parliamentarian and cabinet minister; prime minister of Northern Ireland (1969-71). Bold signature (simply "Moyola," per protocol) in blue ballpoint, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1980 February 20. Fine. With original envelope and note from admirer on which Moyola pens "Returned herewith -- / Good wishes M." Interesting and unusual.
Price: $45.00
16. CLARENDON, George William Frederick Villiers (1800-70).
Autograph Letter Signed.
The celebrated English Earl served three times as foreign secretary and was instrumental in arranging the Declaration of Paris (1856) ending the Crimean War and establishing the rules of maritime warfare. ALS, 1p, 4½" X 7", Grosvenor Crescent, 1844 June 18. Addressed to "My dear Sir." Near fine. As Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Clarendon "...cannot absent myself from a Committee tomorrow morning. It wd. be much more agreeable to me to attend the Examination for which you have had the goodness to send me a ticket. I enclose 50 as my contribution toward building the new Normal Schools....."
Price: $95.00
17. COUVE DE MURVILLE, Maurice (1907-?).
Signature.
The French premier (1968-69) served as mediator in the 1975 Lebanese civil war. Bold signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1972 September 15. Fine. With original envelope.
Price: $40.00
18. d'ORSAY, Count (Alfred Guillaume Gabriel) (1801-52).
Autograph Letter Signed (third person).
Memorable French dilettante artist, famed fop and hanger-on, a legendary man of fashion and society wit who befriended royalty and nobility as well as Lord Byron and Benjamin Disraeli. Third person ALS, 1p, 4½" X 7" (lightly tipped to heavy stock album leaf), n.p., 1844 February 23. Very good. Lightly age toned. Interesting third-person note signed twice within the text. In part: "Count D'Orsay presents his compliments to Mr Crowley and thanks him very much for the Etching, which is admirable -- Mr Landseer Saw it, and is quite delighted with it. Count D'Orsay remembers very well, having had the pleasure of being introduced to Mr Crowley by Prince Napoleon...." Crowley's identity remains a mystery, but Landseer of course refers to Edwin Landseer (1802-73), English artist famed for his paintings and sculptures of animals. d'Orsay was well known as a fanatical supporter of all things Bonaparte. Prince Louis Napoleon (later Emperor Napoleon III) was often hosted at d'Orsay's fashionable residence in London, and it may have been during one of these visits that the Prince introduced d'Orsay to Crowley. Quite handsome letter, signed two times in the third person, with interesting references.
Price: $250.00
19. DE LA BARCA, A. Calderon (?-?).
Autograph Letter Signed.
Minister from Spain to the United States -- or, as he signs himself, "Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni[potentiar]y from Her Catholic Majesty." ALS, 1p (lettersheet), 8" X 10", Washington, DC, 1848 April 27. Addressed to I.S. Lyon. Very good. Slight binding traces along left edge. Regards a New York monument to George Washington: "..as a proof of the admiration, which in common with all those who venerate what is noble and virtuous, I profess for the character of the immortal Washington, I have much pleasure in subscribing myself."
Price: $45.00
20. DIAZ, Porfirio (1830-1915).
Document Signed.
Mexican general and two-time president (1877-80, 1884-1911); forced into exile in Paris. Partly-printed DS in Spanish, 3pp, 11½" X 17", Mexico City, Mexico, 1904 January 23. Fine. Colored tax stamps. Title to a gold and silver mine named "Valbuena," issued to Alberto B. Whipple, signed by Diaz and other officials. Together with a hand-drawn plat map, 1p, 8½" X 12½", Zacatecas, Mexico, 1903 August 19. Fine.
Price: $200.00
21. DILKE, Charles W. (1843-1911).
Autograph Letter Signed.
This British statesman was an influential member of Parliament, espousing both imperialist and radical causes simultaneously; he was a member of William Gladstone's cabinet in his second administration, but was ruined politically when he was cited as a correspondent in a divorce suit; his controversial life inspired the play "The Right Honourable Gentleman." ALS, 3pp, 4½" X 7", London, England, 1904 February 23. Addressed to publisher William Heinemann (1863-1920). Near fine. Marked "Private," this curious and lengthy letter showing Dilke's perplexity at the review copies of books that his wife had been receiving from Heinemann: "My wife has never reviewed a word in her life, so far as she can remember, altho' in the early days of the 'Saturday Review' she wrote in it upon most other topics.... My wife is not even indirectly interested in English books, for she has no time to read them, with the exception of those of one or two personal friends and has less knowledge of the modern English book than the the ordinary reader."
Price: $75.00
22. DYKE, Sir William Hart (1837-1931).
Signature.
The 7th Baronet Dyke was a British aristocrat and long-time member of Parliament (Disraeli's Parliament whip, 1868-74), a pioneer of lawn tennis and a friend of Charles Dickens. Bold signature in brown fountain pen, heavy stock 4" X 2¼", n.p., n.y. Very goodf. Mild age toning.
Price: $35.00
23. EDWARD VII (1841-1910).
Autograph Note Signed.
King of Great Britain and England; eldest son of Queen Victoria. ANS "A.E." in pencil, 1p, 8½" X 6", Hotel Bristol letterhead, n.p. [Paris, France], n.d. Addressed to Marquisse. Very good. Slight age toning. "Delighted to call upon you at 5 today or will you be at Paris at that time and where." The Prince of Wales frequently signed letters with initials only.
Price: $200.00
24. ERNEST, Archduke (1553-95).
Autograph Letter Signed.
Known in the German-speaking world as "Ernst von Osterreich," this son of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II and Maria of Spain, was educated with his brother, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II; in 1573 and 1587 he was a candidate for the throne of Poland; from 1576 on he served as governor of the Archduchy of Austria in 1590 he was named governor of Inner Austria; from 1594 until his death he served as governor of Spanish Netherlands. ALS in Italian, 1p lettersheet, 7½" X 12", Vienna, Austria, 1579 March 26. Very good. Slight bit of age toning and quite minor foxing; inconspicuous small paper loss at left margin (¼" X 2¼") bears old but expert replacement. Overall attractive, boldly written and easily legible. Writing to his cousin, the Duke of Savoy (Emmanuel Philibert, 1528-80, Duke of Savoy 1553-80), it reads (translation): "Sir: Mr. de la Cruz, your ambassador, gave me a letter from you several days ago, and although I wanted to answer it before this, I have been kept from it by various things, and I hope you will not take offense at my delay. You may be sure that I shall always endeavor to do for you all that I can, as I have often told Mr. de la Cruz, who has probably so informed you. He has told me of the warmth and good will that you feel for me, which I feel certain of, and I do not know how to repay you except in kind as you may always find in everything that I can very well do you for. May God keep you as I would wish...." Signed simply "Ernesto" with a flourish. Integral address leaf present, on which Ernest notes "Al Senor duque de Saboya my primo," with a small deep burgundy wax seal bearing his family crest still present. A choice example of this autograph. Ernest died at the relatively young age of 42, making his autograph material quite scarce.
Price: $1,750.00
25. FRIEDRICH WILHELM IV (1795-1861).
Signature.
Incompetent king of Prussia prone to fits of insanity. Big, bold signature clipped from the close of an ALS, 5½" X 1½", n.p., n.y. Fine. Black bordered mourning statyionery. A large, flamboyant signature as eccentric as the man, with partial words in his hand evident above the signature and three full lines in his hand (in German) on the verso (and beneath this a pencilled identification by noted autograph dealer CHARLES HAMILTON).
Price: $175.00
26. GREY, Ralph Francis Almwick (Lord Grey of Naunton) (1910-99).
Signature.
This British statesman served, among other things, as governor British Guiana (1958-64), governor of the Bahamas (1964-68), and the last governor of Northern Ireland (1968-73). Handsome signature ("Grey of Naunton / Overbrook / Naunton, Glov. / England") in blue fountain pen, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, 1975 July 4. Fine. With original envelope, on which Grey inks "U.S.A."
Price: $40.00
27. HABSBURG, Felix von (?-?) and Otto von (?-?).
Signatures.
Sons of King Charles VII of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the last Austrian Kaiser, forced to abdicate. Pair of choice signatures, each on a heavy stock 5" X 3" card, Mexico City (for Felix’s), 1979 March 23 and 1979 March 16 respectively. Both fine and with original envelopes. Unusual.
Price: $75.00
28. HAILSHAM, Quintin Hogg, Lord Hailsham of St. Marylebone (1907-2001).
Signature.
This British statesman, a 2nd Viscount, served as First Lord of the Admiralty, minister of education, Lord President of the Council, chairman of the Conservative Party, minister for science and technology and secretary of state for education and science; in 1970 he became a life peer and twice served as Lord Chancellor (1970-74, 1979-87). Bold and handsome signature ("Hailsham of St. Marylebone") in Hailsham's interesting calligraphy, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1976 November 26. Fine. With original envelope.
Price: $25.00
29. HALIFAX, Edward (1881-1959).
Signature.
The English Earl served many government positions, but most importantly as Viceroy of India he attempted compromise with Gandhi and to persuade the English government to allow India some self-rule; later he became British ambassador to the U.S. Bold clipped "Halifax" and date on a 4" X 1" slip, n.p., 1943 January 2. Fine. Some words in his hand on the verso as well. Accompanied by a choice, original 10" X 8" glossy news agency photograph of 1941 depicting Halifax with Lord Beaverbrook at a press conference. Nice signature example, fine scarce photograph.
Price: $95.00
30. HALLGRIMSON, Geir (1925-90).
Photograph Signed.
This long-time mayor of Reykjavik (1959-72) served as prime minister of Ireland from 1974 to 1978. PS, 3 3/4" X 6", n.p., n.y. [1983 January 18]. Fine. With original envelope and transmittal note from secretary.
Price: $50.00
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