statesman

[François Guizot, Prime Minister of France, historian and statesman.] Autograph Letter in the third person, in French, to ‘Mesdemoiselles Berry’ [i.e. Horace Walpole’s friends Agnes and Mary Berry]

Author: 
François Guizot [François Pierre Guillaume Guizot] (1787-1874), Prime Minister of France, historian and statesman [Agnes and Mary Berry]
Publication details: 
‘Vendredi 10 Avril’ [no year and no place].
£80.00

See Mary Berry’s entry in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, lightly aged and folded for postage. 1p, 16mo. Neatly written in his distinctive close hand: ‘M. Guizot regrette beaucoup qu’un engagement antérieur ne lui permette pas d’accepter, pour le 11 avril, l’aimable invitation de Mesdemoiselles Berry. Il a l’honneur de leur envoyer deux volumes qui les amuserons peut-être quelques momens, et de leur offrir ses hommages respectueux’. The item is from the papers of Lady Maria Theresa Lewis (1803-1865), to whom Mary Berry left her papers for publication.

[Sir Edward Grey [Viscount Grey of Fallodon], Foreign Secretary during First World War.] Autograph Letter Signed to the ?Provost? [of Oriel College, Oxford, Sir David Ross], regarding what is probably not ?a matter for the head of a College'.

Author: 
Sir Edward Grey [Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon] (1862-1933), Liberal Party politician, Foreign Secretary for much of the First World War [Sir David Ross [W. D. Ross] (1877-1971)]
Publication details: 
30 November 1922; on letterhead of Fallodon, Christon Bank, Northumberland.
£45.00

See the entries for Grey and Ross in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Reads: ?My dear Provost / Probably you will not think that the enclosed requires any answer or that it is a matter for the head of a College but as it concerns a member of Oriel I send it on to you / Yours very truly / Grey of Fallodon.?

[Viscount Sydney [John Robert Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney], Liberal politician, twice Lord Chamberlain of the Household and twice Lord Steward.] Part of Autograph Letter, with Signature, regarding the killing of rabbits.

Author: 
Viscount Sydney [John Robert Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney] (1805-1890), Liberal politician, twice Lord Chamberlain of the Household and twice Lord Steward
Sydney
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£50.00
Sydney

On 11 x 6 cm piece of aged paper, with patches of discoloration and traces of mount on reverse. Good clear firm and undamaged signature on front: ‘[...] I am Sir / Yr Obt. Sert. / Sydney’. The reverse reads: ‘[...] ristricted from killing rabbits on the land lately taken on lease from me and also from ploughing up any part of it but I hereby give you leave to kill rabbits or any [...]’. See Image.

[The Earl of Rosebery, Liberal Prime Minister.] Letter in a Secretarial Hand, signed by him, regarding appointment to a post at the Treasury, with a dinner invitation to Sturgis and his wife (George Meredith’s daughter).

Author: 
The Earl of Rosebery, Liberal Prime Minister [Archibald Philip Primrose (1847-1929), 5th Earl of Rosebery; Henry Parkman Sturgis (1847-1929), American-born banker and Liberal politician]
Publication details: 
27 April 1895; on letterhead of The Durdans, Epsom.
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. With mourning border. On first leaf of a bifolium. In good condition, folded once for postage. All in a secretarial hand, except the signature ‘Rosebery’. Addressed to ‘My dear Sturgis’ - the item is from the autograph album of Sturgis’s wife, George Meredith’s daughter Marie Eveleen (‘Mariette’; 1871-1933). He regrets that he has ‘disposed of the vacancy of the secretaryship at the Treasury’. Had he not, he ‘would gladly have considered the claims of your candidate’. Ends: ‘I wonder if you and Mrs Sturgis would come and dine here some evening.’

[The Duke of Wellington, conqueror of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo.] Autograph Valediction to Letter, with signature 'Wellington' .

Author: 
The Duke of Wellington [Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington] (1769-1852), conqueror of the French in the Peninsular Campaign, and of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo; prime minister
Wellington
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£50.00
Wellington

One of the great figures of world history. On one side of 10 x 3.5 cm piece of wove paper, cut from the end of a letter, with blank reverse. In fair condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of glue at right (away from signature) and central horizontal fold (over signature). Evidently cut from the letter in response to a request for an autograph. Reads 'Your obedient servant / Wellington'. See Image.

[George Wyndham, Conservative politician and author.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to Canon Milford, Rector of East Knoyle, regarding arrangements for the funeral and burial of his father Percy Scawen Wyndham.

Author: 
George Wyndham (1863-1913), Conservative politician and author, one of the Souls [Canon Robert Newman Milford, Rector of East Knoyle; Percy Scawen Wyndham]
Publication details: 
14 and 16 March 1911. Each on letterhead of Clouds, East Knoyle [Wiltshire].
£50.00

Wyndham’s entry in the Oxford DNB states that the family estate was ‘some 4000 acres in Wiltshire’. Milford (1829-1913) was his rector at East Knoyle, and the letters inform him about arrangements for the funeral of Wyndham’s father Percy Scawen Wyndham (1835-1911). Both items in good condition, lightly aged, and folded for postage. Each addressed to ‘My dear Canon Milford’ and signed ‘George Wyndham.’ ONE: 14 March 1911. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Begins: ‘I have found a written permission from my Father to have the Funeral - committal to the erth - where I think best.

[Duke of Devonshire [Spencer Compton Cavendish (1833-1908), 8th Duke of Devonshire].] Autograph Letter Signed regarding prizegiving at Derby Grammar School

Author: 
Duke of Devonshire [Spencer Compton Cavendish (1833-1908), 8th Duke of Devonshire, styled Marquis of Hartington between 1858 and 1891, aristocrat and statesman [Derby Grammar School]
Publication details: 
15 June 1901; on letterhead of Chatsworth House, Chesterfield.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Outer sides somewhat grubby, otherwise in good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Addressed ‘Dear Sir’ and signed ‘Devonshire’.

[Lord Curzon [George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquis Curzon of Kedleston], Conservative statesman and Viceroy of India.] Autograph Letter Signed [to Mr Campbell], declining an invitation as he will not be taking 'any part in public affairs' that summer

Author: 
Lord Curzon [George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquis Curzon of Kedleston] (1859-1925), Conservative statesman, Viceroy of India
Publication details: 
Undated, but after 1895, and probably written early in 1922. On letterhead of The Priory, Reigate.
£65.00

See his long and sympathetic entry by David Gilmour in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Curzon acquired the Priory at Reigate after his marriage in 1895, and the letter probably dates from around March to July 1922, when, according to the Oxford DNB, ‘he was laid low by a combination of phlebitis, thrombosis, and lymphangitis which kept him out of action for five months’. 4pp, 12mo. On bifolium. Written in pencil. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight spotting at foot of first page. One central fold for postage.

[The Duke of Wellington, conqueror of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo.] Autograph Signature 'Wellington' on front of an envelope addressed by him to 'M General / Henry Thomas'. Sealed with red wax.

Author: 
The Duke of Wellington [Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington] (1769-1852), conqueror of the French in the Peninsular Campaign, and of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo; prime minister
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£65.00

One of the great figures of world history. A 12 x 8 cm envelope, with the front panel addressed in Wellington's distinctive forward-sloping hand to 'M General / Henry Thomas'. Under this is a line wih three loops, and at bottom left the good clear signature 'Wellington'. The envelope is in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and has been ripped open with military decisiveness. On the reverse is a government seal in red wax, of which the only clear impressions are the unicorn and a fragment of text at the head: '[...]R . IN . CHIEFS . OF [...]'.

[William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal Prime Minister and the ‘Grand Old Man’ of Victorian politics.] Autograph Signature franking front panel of envelope.

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), Liberal Prime Minister under Queen Victoria and the ‘Grand Old Man’ of Victorian politics
Gladstone
Publication details: 
Basingstoke postmark, 20 October 1864.
£28.00
Gladstone

Information regarding this major figure in British history is not far to seek. On 11.5 x 5.5 cm panel cut from front of envelope. In fair condition, with a few traces of glue at centre and short closed tear to right-hand edge; none of this anywhere near the signature. The letter is addressed in another hand: ‘The Solicitor General / Hackwood Park / Basingstoke’, with last word deleted. Signed in the customary manner at bottom left: ‘W E Gladstone’. Basingstoke postmark in blue, and cropped frank in red. See image.

[William Ewart Gladstone ['The Grand Old Man'] (1809-1898), Liberal Prime Minister.] Autograph Signature ('W E Gladstone') on part of Autograph Letter Signed (to Mr Robson?).

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone ['The Grand Old Man'] (1809-1898), Liberal Prime Minister under Queen Victoria
Gladstone
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£42.00
Gladstone

Fragment of letter in Gladstone’s autograph, with his signature, on both sides of 10 x 6 cm rectangle. In good condition, with one vertical fold. Five lines on recto read: ‘<...> It was most kind of you to send me the delightful pearl studs - & to write so friendly a letter. Lady Paget gave me a set’. Recto reads: ‘<...> & preserve your kind thought | With many thanks to you & Mrs Robson | Always | W E Gladstone’. See image.

[Lord Derby [Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby], Tory politician.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Derby') to 'G. Norbury. Esq.' (i.e. artist Richard Norbury), explaining his reluctance to be patron to the proposed Liverpool Watercolour Society.

Author: 
Lord Derby [Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby] (1826-1893), Tory politician, Foreign Secretary and Colonial Secretary [Richard Norbury (1815-1886), artist; Liverpool Watercolour Society]
Publication details: 
5 December 1871. On letterhead of Galloway House, Garliestown, N. B. [i.e. Scotland].
£35.00

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. A daughter from Lady Derby's first marriage was married to the Earl of Galloway, from whose seat Derby writes. Addressed to 'G. [sic] Norbury. Esq.' Having received the letter of the unnamed male recipient, he feels he 'must decline to give my name as patron of the now proposed society of water colour painters in Liverpool: not because I do not approve of the formation of such a society, but because your invitation to join it is the first intimation I have received of any such project being in contemplation'.

[ William Trumbull, Statesman ] Autograph (Clipped) Signature Will. Trumbull only.

Author: 
Sir William Trumbull [ (1639–1716), statesman ].
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£20.00

Clipped signature, 6 x 3.5cm, tipped onto sl. larger piece of paper, good condition

[François Guizot, historian and Prime Minister of France.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Guizot') to a lady, having procured a ticket for her to the following day's 'Séance Royale'.

Author: 
François Guizot [François Pierre Guillaume Guizot], French historian and statesman, Prime Minister of France under Louis Philippe
Publication details: 
16 June [no year, 1830s or 1840s?] [Paris?]
£120.00

On one side of a 12 x 13 cm piece of paper with the corners cut away to make a irregular octagon shape. In fair condition, lightly aged. Laid down on part of leaf from album. Reads: 'Madame | Voici un billet pour la Séance Royale de demain. Je suis charmé d'avoir pu me le procurer puisque vous le desiriez. | Agréez, je vous prie, Madame, l'hommage de mon respect | Guizot | Dime. Juin 16.' At bottom left, in a contemporary hand: '184'.

[William Ewart Gladstone ('The Grand Old Man'), Liberal Prime Minister.] Autograph Signature ('W Gladstone') as frank, on panel cut from front of envelope, addressed by Gladstone to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), Liberal Prime Minister
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£45.00

5.5 x 10 cm piece of paper, cut from the front of an envelope. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Immediate | The | Lord Archbishop of Canterbury | W Gladstone'. The signature is in the customary place, in the bottom left-hand corner.

[Cavour, Italian statesman and leading figure in the Risorgimento.] Autograph Letter Signed ('C Cavour'), in Italian, enclosing a letter for the Marquess of Azeglio, and inviting the recipient to contribute writing in a powerful 'organ of publicity'.

Author: 
Cavour [Camillo Paolo Filippo Giulio Benso, Count of Cavour, Isolabella and Leri] (1810-1861), Italian statesman, leading figure in the Risorgimento [Massimo Taparelli, Marquess of Azeglio (1798-1866)
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£250.00

1p, 12mo. On the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium, the rest being blank. In good condition, lightly aged, with a hole on a blank part of the paper at the foot of the first leaf. Neatly written and signed 'C. Cavour'. Cavour begins by taking up an offer by the unnamed recipient, by asking him to convey a letter to his rival Massimo Taparelli, Marquess of Azeglio (1798-1866), Prime Minister of Sardinia.

[ François Guizot, French historian and statesman. ] Autograph Signature ('Guizot') and seal, franking letter to 'Monsieur le comte de Jarnac | Chargé d'affaires de France | à Londres'.

Author: 
François Guizot [ François Pierre Guillaume Guizot ] (1787-1874), French historian and statesman [ Philippe-Ferdinand-Auguste de Rohan-Chabot (1815-1875), comte de Jarnac ]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£40.00

The 19.5 x 27 cm front panel of an envelope, with the flap. In fair condition, lightly aged, with slight discoloration to the cover from the three seals. In the top right-hand corner of the cover is written the word 'Particuliere'; at bottom left is the signature 'Guizot'; slightly to the left of centre is the address: 'Monsieur le comte de Jarnac | Chargé d'affaires de France | à Londres'. The three seals in black wax adhering to the flap. None has the full impression and only one is complete.

[ Henry Grattan, Irish nationalist politician. ] Autograph Note Signed to an unnamed recipient.

Author: 
Henry Grattan (c.1746-1820), Irish nationalist politician
Publication details: 
No place. 1 April [ 1815 ].
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, laid down on part of a leaf from an album. Headed in a contemporary hand 'Read', with the date '1815'. The note reads: 'Dear Sir | I beg to return you my warm thanks for your very kind & obliging letter which has made me very happy & conferd [sic] on me a great favor | I Have Dear Sir | the honour to | be with great | thanks your | faithful humble srvt | Henry Grattan'.

[ Herbert Henry Asquith, Liberal Prime Minister. ] Autograph Note Signed ('H. H. Asquith') to W. J. Fisher, agreeing to join a committee appealing for help for the family of Harold Frederic.

Author: 
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith [ H. H. Asquith ] (1852-1928), English Liberal Prime Minister
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 20 Cavendish Square, W. [ London ] 15 November 1898.
£55.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'My dear Sir, | I shall be very happy to be one of the committee who are to appeal for help for the family of the late Harold Frederic.' The letter relates to a Victorian scandal. In 1884 Frederic (1856-1898) had come to England with his wife and five children as the London correspondent of the New York TImes. He set up a second household with Kate Lyon, with whom he had a further three children. Lyons was a Christian Scientist, and when Frederic suffered a stroke in 1898, she tried to cure him by faith healing.

[ George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland. ] Autograph Note in the third person to R. Lambert, suggesting a meeting.

Author: 
George Eden (1784-1849), 1st Earl of Auckland, English Whig politician
Publication details: 
Admiralty [ London ]. 20 August 1835.
£50.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed: '20 August 1835 | Lord Auckland to R L'. Reads 'Lord Auckland would be much obliged to Mr Lambert if he would call here tomorrow soon after two o'clock -'.

Five Letters, most signed "C.S." [Clifford Sharp, editor,, New Statesman] to Robert Lynd, essayist.

Author: 
Clifford Sharp, (1883-1935), editor of the New Statesman.
Publication details: 
1923-1933.
£180.00

3 ALsS, ANS and TNS, three on New Statesman letterheads, one on letterhead of 127 Willifield Way, Golders Green; 27 July 1923, 19 June 1924, and 5 January and 23 March 1933, 8pp., 8vo and 12mo.An undated note, on New Statesman letterhead, reads 'These fruits of abstinence are not for me. If you got in that bottle of whiskey you spoke of for God's sake drink it.' (MG notes that this was written 'evidently on one of his cures for alcoholism'.

[First issue of printed periodical promoting the views of the Irish Dominion League.] The Irish Statesman.

Author: 
[Warre B. Wells, editor, The Irish Statesman; The Irish Dominion League]
Publication details: 
[The Editor, 13 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.] Vol. I. No. 1. 28 June 1919.
£200.00

28pp., 8vo. Stapled and unbound. No covers. Outer leaves creased and staples rusted, otherwise in good condition on aged paper. Includes the manifesto of the Irish Dominion League, and articles by Conor O Brien ('Wanted: A Social Policy'), James Stephens ('The Story of Tuan Mac Cairill'), Thomas Bodkin ('The Hone Bequest'); H. F. Norman ('Our Musical Legacy'); Sir Horace Plunkett ('Correspondence: The Irish Dominion League') and John Eglinton ('Life and Letters').

[Cushrow Russi Irani, Editor-in-Chief, The Statesman.] Duplicated typescript of speech titled 'Fiej's Role on the International Scene

Author: 
[The Statesman Print Journalism School, India; Cushrow Russi Irani, Editor-in-Chief, The Statesman; FIEJ; Federation Internationale des Editeurs de Journaux et Publications]
Publication details: 
'Transcript of speech delivered by Mr Cushrow Irani at the FIEJ Congress in Tokyo - 16th May 1985.'
£76.00

9pp., folio. With compliments slip ('With Compliments from C. R. Irani'). No other copy traced, either on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

A pressed flower, picked from the grave of the American politician Daniel Webster by Marie de Grasse Stevens [later Lady Evans].

Author: 
[Daniel Webster (1782-1852), American politician; Marie de Grasse Evans (d.1920), Lady Evans [nee Marie de Grasse Stevens, daughter of Hon. Samuel Stevens of Albany, New York]
Publication details: 
Picked from the Old Winslow Burial Ground section of the Winslow Cemetery, near Marshfield, Massachusetts. August 1859.
£80.00

Small sprig (6cm long), pinned to 8 x 5 cm piece of ruled paper, torn from a notebook. The paper carries the note by Stevens: 'Grave of Daniel Webster | August 1859.' Placed in a 9.5 x 12 cm envelope, docketted in pencil: 'From Daniel Webster's grave | M. F. B'. Marie de Grasse Stevens, daughter of the Hon. Samuel Stevens of Albany, New York, friend and colleague of Daniel Webster, and widow of Irving Van Wart, married the English banker Francis Henry Evans in 1872. She became Lady Evans on his being knighted in 1893. From the Evans papers.

Five Letters, most signed "C.S." [Clifford Sharp, editor,, New Statesman] to Robert Lynd, essayist.

Author: 
Clifford Sharp, (1883-1935), editor of the New Statesman.
Publication details: 
1923-1933.
£180.00

3 ALsS, ANS and TNS, three on New Statesman letterheads, one on letterhead of 127 Willifield Way, Golders Green; 27 July 1923, 19 June 1924, and 5 January and 23 March 1933, 8pp., 8vo and 12mo.An undated note, on New Statesman letterhead, reads 'These fruits of abstinence are not for me. If you got in that bottle of whiskey you spoke of for God's sake drink it.' (MG notes that this was written 'evidently on one of his cures for alcoholism'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Chs G. Greene') from the American newspaper editor Charles Gordon Greene to W. F. Allston, regarding the involvement of 'Capt. Sturgis' [William F. Sturgis?] with a newspaper article.

Author: 
Charles Gordon Greene (1804-1886), newspaper editor, associated with Boston Statesman, Taunton Free Press, Boston Spectator, National Palladium, United States Telegraph [Captain William F. Sturgis]
Publication details: 
Boston; 17 November 1841.
£150.00

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In reply to Allston's letter Greene assures him that 'Capt. Sturgis did not write the paragraph' Allston alludes to, 'nor did he contemplate the publication of his decision in a newspaper at the time he made it known to the gentleman who furnished me with the information'.

Autograph card signed to W. A. Dowding,

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone
Publication details: 
postmarked 19 April 1880.
£70.00

Liberal Prime Minister (1809-98). One page, 12mo, the verso, with printed stamp, addressed in autograph to "Mr W. A. Dowding / 47 Mary Street / Bristol". "With compliments & best wishes, as well as thanks. W E Gladstone / Ap. 19. 80". Gladstone had just concluded his celebrated electioneering campaign involving speeches at stations between London and Edinburgh.

Autograph Letter Signed ('C R Hewitt') to Sewell Stokes.

Author: 
C. R. Hewitt (1901-1994) (Cecil Rolph Hewitt, who wrote under the pseudonym 'C. H. Rolph'), English policeman, journalist, editor and author [Francis Martin Sewell Stokes (1902-1979); G. W. Stonier]
Publication details: 
21 November 1957; 6 Liskeard Gardens, London, SE3, on New Statesman letterhead.
£45.00

8vo, 2 pp, 33 lines. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. An interesting letter, written by a former policeman to a former probation officer, on the subject of the latter's book 'Come to Prison: A Tour through British Prisons today' (Longmans, 1957), about which the former has written a negative review. Begins by praising Stokes' 'really generous letter, written at what cost in self-control I can only dimly imagine'. When Hewitt 'read the published review', he thought 'that it was still on the whole unfair'. 'I hate reviewing really, and am a bad reviewer.

Letter Signed "[V?] Broglie" to "Monsieur le Baron Denois", Milan (French consul)..

Author: 
Jacques Victor Albert, Duc de Broglie, French Statesman, publicist and historian.
Publication details: 
Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, Direction Politique, Paris, 26 March 1833.
£85.00

IN FRENCH. One page,m folio, minor defects, but text clear and complete. He discusses the case of a M. de Cormel whose family business requires his staying in Milan and Padua (the death of his uncle, Colonel Paolo Angelini "deced dans le royaume Lombardo Venitien"). He wanst to believe that M. de Cormel will cause no trouble to the Government of "Lombardo Venitien" and requests the Baron's "bons offices" during his stay and for his ultimate journey to Dalmatia.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-98), British Liberal Prime Minister
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£35.00

Dimensions of paper roughly four and a half inches by one and a quarter. Good, on ruckled and slightly discoloured paper, with traces of glue adhering to reverse. Reads 'Very sincerely yours | W E Gladstone'.

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