‘The King’s Speech’ A Heartfelt Thank You
Recent events with the Royal family cannot have helped but bring to mind the tumultuous year of 1936, which saw the abdication of Edward VIII and the sudden thrust into the limelight of his shy, younger brother, Bertie, now unexpectedly became King. The struggles that King George VI had with his speech and a pronounced stammer are well documented, thanks to the relatively recent discovery of papers belonging to his Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. The discovery lent much to the 2010 Oscar winning film, The King’s Speech, which subsequently meant that Lionel Logue went from being a background figure to a near household name almost overnight. It is therefore an honour for us to be able to bring to auction the silver cigarette case that the newly crowned George VI gifted to Logue just four days after his coronation in 1937, along with a three page letter expressing his gratitude. Addressed to “My dear Logue”, the letter thanks him for his “expert supervision and unfailing patience” and goes on to say, “I want you to know how grateful I am, not only for your invaluable help with my speech, but for your devoted friendship and encouragement.” The cigarette case appears to have been given to Lionel Logue’s younger brother, Herbert, following the therapist’s death in 1953. It was then sold, together with the letter, to
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Charles McGowan, an Australian jeweller, who accepted it from Herbert Logue in lieu of £27 as an outstanding payment for a graduated pearl necklace. It has been handed down to McGowan’s descendants for the last 67 years and is now being reluctantly sold. It is believed to be the only letter between the two men available
outside of the Logue Archive and represents a unique piece of 20th century British history. This letter, along with the accompanying royal presentation cigarette case pictured on page 1, will be included in the Silver & Objects of Vertu sale on 28th & 29th April.
