Scarce letter from Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI to King George I of Britain

143. Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Letter Signed. Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1711 until his death in 1740, whose death sparked the War of the Austrian Succession. LS in German, signed “Your Majesty’s willing friend, uncle and brother, Carl,” one page both sides, 8 x 12.5, March 16, 1715. Letter to King George I of Great Britain, addressed to “the Serene and Puissant Prince George Louis, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and also Elector of Hanover, our dear Cousin, Uncle and Brother.” In part (translated): “I have safely received, from the hands of your Majesty’s Lieutenant-General Cadogan, your friendly and cousinly writing of 15 January, and from his mouth been made aware in detail of the reasons which moved your Majesty to send him here. Cadogan will not only relate more fully on delivery hereof, to what extent I have now moved away from my former opinion, and indeed very serious misgivings, as to the matters with which it was concerned, being simply impelled by my consideration and regard for your Majesty, and also my sincere confidence in your right loving disposition, but he will also show how he performed his duties therein (as it is to be hoped) to your Majesty’s complete satisfaction; and in conclusion I have here deservedly and rightly to praise the great zeal and excellent sense, with which Cadogan has skillfully displayed the commission with which he was entrusted, even as he knew how to carry it out.” In fine condition.

George I had ascended to the British throne in 1714, retaining his title as Elector of Hanover throughout his reign. In the present letter, Emperor Charles VI refers to William Cadogan, a major general who served as envoy to the Hague from 1714 to 1718. The matters they discussed must have pertained to the 1714 Peace of Rastatt, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. In the treaty, Charles VI ceded the Spanish Netherlands to Austria and gave up all claim of the Empire to Spain. A highly desirable piece of diplomatic correspondence between two influential European monarchs. Starting Bid $200

144. Marie Antoinette Document Signed. Fabled queen of Louis XVI of France (1755-1793) whose public execution, along with that of her husband, was the most grisly, visible, and powerful symbol of the political aims of the French Revolution. Highly desirable manuscript DS, in French, signed “Payez, Marie Antoinette,” one page, 9.5 x 14.5, October 1, 1786. Headed at the top, “To the Writing-Master of the Pages,” Marie Antoinette orders her General Treasurer Marc Antoine Francois Randon de la Tour to make use of “the funds provided by the state for the maintenance and sustenance of many of our officers during the present year,” and pay Simon Dessalles, Writing-Master, 136 livres,17 sols, and 6 deniers in cash, “Which we have granted him for his subsistence in consideration of his having taught penmanship to our pages during the Quarter of July, August and September last.” She asks that the amount be paid by, “our dear and Well beloved people in charge of the Accounts of the King, our most Honored Lord and Husband in Paris,” and requests them to make the payment without difficulty. In fine condition, with paper loss to two corner tips, a bit of mild soiling and creasing, and a small tape repair to reverse. Countersigned by her secretary Nicolas Beaugeard, later wounded defending Louis XVI from a dagger thrust. Dessalle taught penmanship to Marie Antoinette’s pages and also to her children. He told the Dauphin to wear a Liberty Bonnet at the start of the Revolution. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA and an attractive hand-colored engraved portrait. Starting Bid $1000

146. Charles XIV John Autograph Letter

Signed. King of Sweden and Norway from 1818 until his death in 1844 (born 1763). Before his reign, he was a Marshal of France during the Napoleonic Wars and participated in several battles. In modern Norwegian lists of kings, he is called Charles III John; he was the first monarch of the Bernadotte dynasty. Scarce LS in French, signed “Votre affectionné, Charles Jean,” one page, 7.75 x 9, February 6, 1837. Addressed from Stockholm, a neatly penned letter to author Camille Paganel, in part (translated): “I have received the letter you sent me, accompanied by the Essay on the Establishment of Monarchy by Napoleon. Having known the late Monsieur, Your father, whose talents and merit I appreciated, it was very pleasant for me to find in the author of this work, a son worthy of him...I have instructed the Count de Lowenhielm, Minister of Sweden and Norway in Paris, to present You with a Medal.” In fine condition, with irregular light toning.

Starting Bid $200

145. King Louis XVI Document Signed. King of France (born 1754) from 1774 to 1792. In the wake of increasing unrest that developed into full-fledged revolution, Louis and his queen, Marie Antoinette, were executed in 1793. Desirable manuscript DS in French, signed “Louis,” one page, 10.25 x 14, December 11, 1787. Attractive untranslated document prominently signed at the conclusion by King Louis XVI and his ministers. In fine condition, with toning from prior display. Starting Bid $200 on Marriage of William IV. Historic manuscript DS, signed “George P.R.,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 12.5, July 31, 1818. Important royal warrant for affixing the Great Seal to the Earl of Liverpool’s power to conclude and sign “a Treaty for the Marriage of His Royal Highness The Duke of Clarence with Her Serene Highness The Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Cobourg-Meiningen.” Boldly signed at the head in ink by George IV as regent, and countersigned at the conclusion by Viscount Castlereagh. The crisply embossed paper seal affixed to the left side remains intact. Annexed to the warrant are three pages of instructions pertaining to the marriage contract, in part: “Having consented that a marriage shall be solemnized between His Royal Highness The Duke of Clarence, and Her Serene Highness Adelaide Amelia Louisa Theresa Carolina…and it being expedient to have the marriage contract drawn up in due form, and signed without delay, we have judged it proper to appoint a fit and able person for that purpose…Robert Banks Earl of Liverpool, First Commissioner of His Majesty’s Treasury, We have nominated, constituted, and appointed…to sign, in His Majesty’s name, the instrument or compact of marriage thus concluded.” In very fine condition. Starting Bid $500

147.

Enormous coronation portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, signed by the subjects and artists

148. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (2) Oversized Signed Photogravures. Spectacular pairing of two oversized photogravure portraits, both published by Thomas Agnew & Sons: a mammoth matte-finish 23 x 34 photogravure of an oil portrait of King Edward VII in his coronation robes by Samuel Luke Fildes, signed in the lower border in pencil by the subject, “Edward R & I, 1904,” as well as the painter (“Luke Fildes”) and engraver (“Joseph B. Pratt”); and a matching mattefinish 23 x 34 photogravure of an oil portrait of Queen Alexandra in her coronation robes by Samuel Luke Fildes, signed in the lower border in pencil by the subject, “Alexandra,” as well as Fildes and Pratt. Each is beautifully matted and framed to an overall size of 33 x 44. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200

Letter Signed on Siamese Culture. Revered monarch of Siam (1804-1868) best known as musical The King and I. ALS signed “Mongkut the King of Siam,” nine pages three sets of adjoining sheets, in

149.

August 9, 1854. Remarkable handwritten letter to “Reverend Samuel William Bonney, the American Missionary of Canton or Whampoo,” concerning the cultural development of Siam. He comments on his own use of English and religion in his nation, explaining that he cannot find a secretary to write his English letters: “It is here my difficulty there no many Siamese who would please to acquire the English language as our countrymen generally please but with their vernacular language only. You would think why I do not introduce them thereto? It is…as like with the Christian missionaries are most eagerly or earnest desirous of convert our countrymen to their Christianity but they could not introduce now thereto. Many of Christians are thinking that when I am or would be converted to Christianity all me countrymen or whole people of Siam would be converted at once. It is indeed uncorrect…you might think perhaps for I very please with English language and knowledges, sciences & so I might be nearest of their religion would be easily capable of being converted to Ch[ristiani]ty it is O! sir very wrong. I am very far from the system of old Jew’s superstition.” He goes on to make some pointed commentary on the different sects of Christians, praises Webster’s Dictionary, and balks at Bonney’s suggestions of introducing the railroad and telegraph to Siam. In fine condition, with scattered discoloration along the intersecting folds. Starting Bid $1000