Khrushchev approves Stalin’s decree regarding the “celebration of May Day, 1948”

124. Nikita Khrushchev Document Signed. DS in Cyrillic, one page, 8 x 10.5, April 26, 1948. Khrushchev accepts a decree issued by Joseph Stalin, in part (translated): “The Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted Decree No. 1335 of April 26, 1948, signed Comrade Stalin ‘On the elimination of excesses and the reduction of expenses for the celebration of May Day, 1948.’” In fine condition, with file holes and short edge tears. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services. Starting Bid $200

125. Giuseppe Mazzini Document Signed. Italian patriot (1805-1872) who dedicated his life, much of which was spent in exile, to uniting his country under a republic. Manuscript DS, signed “With thanks, Joseph Mazzini,” one page, 3.75 x 5.25, December 10, 1853. Pay receipt issued in Chelsea, England, in full: “Received (per E. Y. Morton Esq.) the sum of one pound from B. N. Holroyd Esq.” In very good to fine condition, with light scattered staining and a label affixed to the reverse. An interesting English variant of Mazzini’s signature. Starting Bid $200

126. Giuseppe Mazzini Autograph Letter Signed. Italian patriot (1805-1872) who dedicated his life, much of which was spent in exile, to uniting his country under a republic. ALS in Italian, signed “Gius. Mazzini,” one page, 4 x 6.25, no date. Handwritten letter to “Gallenga,” in part (translated): “We have a meeting concerning the school. It is the question of organizing and establishing a management to which everyone should be bound. It is the question of having done so much we have to keep it in our own hands and prevent the interference of any outside influence. Come then. Tell our gambardella that the school is in full activity…we already have 91 primary students.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200

128. Maximilien Robespierre Document Signed. Fanatical idealist leader of the French Revolution (1758–1794) who was arrested and executed for the ‘Reign of Terror.’ Partly-printed DS in French, signed “Robespierre,” one page both sides, 8 x 12.25, July 17, 1794. Order, on official letterhead of the Committee of Public Safety, to commandeer six wagons belonging to the Water Company of Paris “which were to be taken over by the Committee of Public Safety,” for transport services, possibly for transport of the condemned. Signed at the conclusion by Maximilien Robespierre, Lazare Carnot, Bertrand Barere, and Robert Lindet. In fine condition, with intersecting folds and some light edge creasing and foxing. Around the time of this letter, shortly after the violent ‘Reign of Terror,’ 1400 enemies of the Revolution were sent to their deaths. Just eleven days later, on July 28th, Robespierre himself would meet his fate—guillotined without a trial in the Place de la Revolution. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. Starting Bid $300

129. Francisco de Paula Santander Autograph Letter

Signed. Colombian military and political leader (1792–1840) who fought alongside Simon Bolivar for the freedom of South America; he came to be known as ‘The Man of the Laws,’ and served as the first president of the Republic of New Granada, in present-day Colombia, from 1832 to 1837. ALS in Spanish, signed “Fr. P. Santander,” one page, 7.25 x 8.75, November 2, 1821. Untranslated handwritten letter from Bogota, sent to General Mariano Montilla, congratulating him on the liberation of Cartagena from the hands of Spain. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200

127. Jozef Pilsudski Signed Photograph. Polish statesman (1867-1935) who served as the Chief of State, the Prime Minister, and the First Marshal of Poland. In the aftermath of World War I, he became an increasingly dominant figure in Polish politics and exerted significant influence on shaping the country’s foreign policy. Pilsudski is viewed as a father of the Second Polish Republic, which was reestablished in 1918. Rare vintage matte-finish 3.75 x 5 photo of Jozef Pilsudski seated in his military uniform, signed in fountain pen, “J. Pilsudski.” Double-matted to an overall size of 6.75 x 8. In very good condition, with silvering, wrinkling, and several tears to the image background. Only the second signed Pilsudski item that we have ever offered. Starting Bid $200

Royalty

130. King Francis I Document Signed.

King of France (born 1494) who reigned from 1515 until his death in 1547. Known as the ‘Father and Restorer of Letters,’ the cultured and well-read Francis, himself a poet, ushered in the Renaissance in France with generous support for a number of writers and ambitious construction projects. Uncommon vellum manuscript DS in French, signed “Francoys,” one page, 9.25 x 7.5, 1540. Untranslated official document crisply signed at the conclusion in ink by King Francis I. In very good condition, with overall toning, creasing, and wrinkling. Starting Bid $200

King Henry VII hopes to expedite payment of Catherine of Aragon’s dowry in a rare letter to the King of Castile and Granada

131. King Henry VII Letter Signed on Catherine of Aragon’s Dowry. Significant LS in French, signed “V[ot]re frere cousin et bon pere, Henry R,” one page, 16 x 11.25, April 8, 1506. A letter of recommendation for Catherine of Aragon’s chamberlain who is leaving for Spain, sent to the King of Castile and Granada, Philip I of Austria. In part (translated): “We recommend to you…the Chamberlain of our very dear and very good daughter The Princess of Wales [Catherine of Aragon]…for the matter of which at her request we spoke of when we were together in our castle of Wyndesore. We beg you most earnestly, most high and very powerful prince.” In very good to fine condition, with scattered light foxing, and a repaired tear to the bottom blank area.

The matter at hand was evidently Catherine of Aragon’s dowry and her hope that King Philip of Castile would exert pressure upon her father, Ferdinand V of Aragon. Catherine (1485–1536), widow of Henry VII’s eldest son, Prince Arthur, was now betrothed to the new Prince of Wales, the future Henry VIII, but the marriage was contingent upon the second installment of her dowry being available in London. Ferdinand had thus far failed to supply it. The hapless princess was living on the uncertain bounty of the notoriously frugal Henry VII, and unable to pay even her servants. Prince Henry himself wrote to Philip, in terms similar to the present letter, on April 9th, while Catherine wrote to Ferdinand V two weeks later, begging him to consider that she was in debt, even for food, while complaining that Henry VII would not pay for anything.

In the complex web of relationships between England, Austria, and Spain, Philip (‘the Handsome’), Duke of Burgundy and son of Emperor Maximilian I, became King of Castile as a result of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon’s sister, Joanna (‘the Mad’), who inherited the kingdom on the death of her mother, Isabella I (‘the Catholic’). Philip’s claim was contested by Ferdinand V, whose powers Henry VII sought to limit. In January 1506, an unexpected but timely gale in the English Channel obliged the convoy of ships taking Philip and Joanna from Flanders to Spain to land at Weymouth. Philip was escorted to meet Henry at Windsor Castle (“Wyndesore”), where they concluded the secret treaty by which Henry undertook to support Philip’s claim to Castile—by force, if necessary. Philip and Joanna disembarked at Corunna on April 26th, and a meeting with Ferdinand V took place soon after. Still, the matter would not be resolved for several years—Catherine of Aragon would finally marry Henry VIII shortly after his ascension to the throne in 1509.

Past sales history: Lot 16, Valuable Printed Books & Manuscripts, Christie’s, June 8, 2005. Starting Bid $2500

King Henry VIII recalls Thomas Cranmer—the

‘Father of the English Church’—from the Imperial Court to install him as Archbishop of Canterbury

132. King Henry VIII Letter Signed on Thomas Cranmer. LS in French, signed “V[ot]re bon amy, Henry R,” one page, 17 x 12.25, October 1, 1532. Important letter to the “trescher et tresgrand amy Le seig[eu]r de Granvele premier maistre des Requestes et Conseill[e]r de L’emperor,” the master of requests for the Emperor, thanking him for welcoming his earlier ambassadors and agents and for helping to maintain good relations between England and the Empire. He announces that he is sending Nicholas Hawkins, Archdeacon of Ely, as ambassador in place of Thomas Cranmer. King Henry VII thanks him affectionately and asks him to give credence to everything that Dr. Hawkins would say on Henry’s behalf. Addressed on the reverse, which retains its papered seal embossed with royal arms. In fine condition, with a faint stain touching the signature.

Thomas Cranmer, called ‘the Father of the English Church,’ was to return to England to become the Archbishop of Canterbury, installed on December 3, 1533. In that role, he was a leader of the English Reformation and helped build the case for the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which was one of the causes of the separation of the English Church from union with the Holy See. Along with Thomas Cromwell, he supported the principle of royal supremacy, in which the king was considered sovereign over the Church within his realm. Cranmer put the English Bible in parish churches, drew up the Book of Common Prayer, and composed a litany that remains in use today. Denounced for promoting Protestantism by the Catholic Mary I, he was convicted of heresy and burned at the stake in 1556.

Past sales history: Sotheby’s, December 14, 1989. Starting Bid $5000

133. Catherine de Medici Document Signed. Influential Italian noblewoman (1519–1589) who was queen consort of France from 1547 to 1559 and the mother of three French kings: Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. Vellum manuscript DS in French, signed “Catherine,” one page, 19 x 9.75, May 30, 1561. Warrant to the superintendent of finances, directing him to pay Laurent Lefebvre the sum of 2,500 livres tournois out of pity and charity so that he may care for himself, in recognition of the services he once rendered as treasurer and paymaster of the domestic officers of the household. In very good condition, with intersecting folds, heavy overall wrinkling, some scattered stains, a few small edge tears and losses, and a long slit to the lower right. Starting Bid $200

134. King Philip IV of Spain Letter Signed. King of Spain (1605–1665) who reigned from 1621 until his death, remembered for his patronage of the arts, including such artists as Diego Velázquez, and his rule over Spain during the Thirty Years’ War. Manuscript DS in Spanish, signed “Yo El Rey,” one page, 8.25 x 11.5, July 10, 1643. Untranslated letter to the Marquis of Tordelaguna, giving instructions to the governor of Flanders, which was under Spanish domain at the time. Prominently signed at the conclusion by King Philip IV of Spain. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200