World leaders and Royalty Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

KING WILLIAM IV Folded paper envelope signed and hand-addressed to "Griffinhofe Esq."  by William as Duke of Clarence, with intact red wax seal Autograph Envelope Signed: "Clarence." 4½x3 (folded), with 1¼x1¼ red wax seal on verso. Addressed to "Griffinhofe Esq." in William's hand. William was created Duke of Clarence in 1789 and sat in the House of Lords, where he opposed the emancipation of slaves. Prince William Henry (1765-1837), the third son of King George III, reigned as King William IV from 1830 until his death. Since his older brothers, including King George IV, predeceased him without legitimate offspring, he inherited the throne, becoming the last Hanoverian monarch of England. William, who himself had 10 illegitimate children, also died without an official heir, resulting in the accession of his niece, Queen Victoria. As a young officer in the Royal Navy, the future king served in New York during the American Revolution, where George Washington authorized a plot to kidnap him, if this could be done "without offering insult or indignity. read more...

KING NORODOM SIHANOUK (CAMBODIA) Sihanouk signs a 4¾x2¾ card as Prince of Cambodia. Handsomely framed to 27¾x15½. Calling card signed: "N. Sihanouk" as Prince of Cambodia, 4¾x2¾ card. Inscribed by a secretary in French "For Mr. Joseph R. Hovance". Norodom Sihanouk (1922-2012) first became King of Cambodia on April 24, 1941 when he was 18. He served until March 3, 1955. As Prince, he was Head of State of Cambodia from April 20, 1960 to March 18, 1970, April 17, 1975 to April 11, 1976 and June 14, 1993 to September 24, 1993. Cambodia was known as the Khmer Republic from 1970-1976 and Kampuchea from 1976-1989. From 1945-1962, Norodom Sihanouk served as Cambodia's Prime Minister eight times; the longest period was for 21 months (1958-1960). From November 20, 1991 to June 14, 1993, he was Chairman of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia. Sihanouk was King of Cambodia once again from 1993-2004. He has been in self-imposed exile since April 10, 2004. Fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 27¾x15½. read more...

DAVID BEN-GURION David Ben-Gurion writes to an admirer and he reminisces about the writer's parents. ALS: "Your family friend,/D. Ben Gurion", 1p, 4¾x8½ lined sheet. Sdeh Boker (Negev, Israel), 1970 December 6. To Rina Yashar, Holon. In Hebrew, fully translated. Begins: "To Rina Yashar, Shalom and greetings". In full: "Do not regret the letter you have written to me. I was happy to receive it and enjoyed it. Being of the generation of your family, I was well acquainted with your parents. I did not know Yosef Vitkin personally but his activities and urging of youth groups in the diaspora to come to this country were well known to me. And now you have disclosed to me that fifty years ago, a boy was named Yaraiv, a name I (wrongly!) considered for some time as my invention. I only have a grandson bearing that name, while you have a brother (of that name) who already has grandchildren of his own, I imagine. I cannot write to your grandson that your father taught me to plow the earth, as I do not recall it. I remember your father from Segera. read more...

KING FERDINAND V AND QUEEN ISABELLA I OF CASTILE The Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella "The Catholics" issue two manuscript documents in old Spanish, one signed by the King regarding the will of the Queen and the other by her. Collection, comprised of 1) Manuscript Document signed: "Yo el Rey" 2 pages,11¾x8¾. Also signed: "Gaspar de Trizio" as Royal Secretary. Ink signatures (unknown) on verso, light show-through at upper left margin. Lower right corner chipped and soiled. Edges soiled and toned. Right edge chipped and worn. Paperclip creases at upper left margin. Otherwise, fine condition. 2) Manuscript Document signed: "Yo la Reyna" 2 pages, 9¾x8½. Also signed: "Gaspar de Trizio" as Royal Secretary.  3½x2½ slit in body of document - has been damaged with tape on verso. Adhesive and paper residue on verso. 4-inch tear at center. Horizontal fold creases. Soiled and toned. Fully Translated in English: read more...

JOSÉ MARTÍ One day before he announced the creation of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, Martí signed this historic, Spanish-language autograph letter arranging tuition payments for the daughters of a friend and ideological rival, Miguel Figueroa. Historic ALS: "José Martí", 1 page, 7½x10¼. [New York], 1892 February 13. In Spanish, translated. In full: "Señora [Mother] Zulueta. My Dear Madam: I had wanted to go myself to put in the hands of Madam Treasurer the tuition payments for the Figueroa girls, and to discharge in person the errand with which their father entrusted me. But I have not been able to recover yet from my illness, so I am mailing the checks to Madam Treasurer, and if I am on my feet by Monday - and my health is not compromised by my attendance at a public meeting tomorrow - I hope to have the pleasure of personally greeting you and the Figueroa girls, to whom I beg you to give the enclosed letter." On the eve of his announcing the organization of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, formed to gain Cuba's independence from Spain, Martí helps his friend and sometime ideological opponent, MIGUEL FIGUEROA (1851-1892). read more...

MAXIMILIAN Authorizing the establishment of gas manufacturing plants in three Mexican cities for the installation of gaslight. Manuscript DS: "Maximilian" as Emperor of Mexico, 4p, front and verso, 8½x10½. Palace of Mexico, 1865 August 3. Countersigned: "Manl Enzio y Berra" for the Minister of Public Works. In Spanish, fully translated. In part: "Being that gaslight is such an important improvement for the Cities, the greatest effort should be expended to obtain it. Since it cannot be done on a large scale, unless high costs are incurred, it is appropriate to offer some concessions to the entrepreneur. Having heard our Councils of Ministers and State, We Decree: Art: 1: Given the cession made by Mr. John Potts, an exclusive privilege is granted for twenty five years to Mr. William Lloyd, agent of the Company to establish in this Capital and in the Cities of Puebla, Cordova and Orizava, being free to extend this to Jalapa, gas manufacturing plants in suitable places at his discretion, as long as they are located in the suburban areas of each location, in agreement with local Authorities.... read more...

SADDAM HUSSEIN His red ink signature on a very rare typed 1980 document, four months before Iraq invaded Iran. Exceedingly rare DS in Arabic as Head of the Revolutionary Command Council, 1 page, 8x11. No place, 1980 May 20. Translated, in part: "Decided... According to Paragraph 'A' from the temporary bylaw. The Governing Revolutionary Council decided on 20 May as follows: A - confiscate the numbered and content of building and it will be registered in the name of the Ministry of Finance; B - the Ministers responsible will carry this decision ...." In 1969, 32-year-old Saddam Hussein was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) of Iraq. He effectively held power in the country along with President Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr. In 1979, Bakr resigned and Hussein became President, Chairman of the RCC and Prime Minister (until 1991 and again from 1994). Four months after signing this document, Saddam launched an invasion of Iran's oil fields, but the campaign bogged down in a war of attrition. The war dragged on in a stalemate until 1988, when Iran and Iraq accepted a cease-fire that ended the fighting. read more...

ISABELLA OF PORTUGAL The Holy Roman Empress who married her cousin Charles V signed this document in 1536 Document Signed: "Yo la Reyna" ("I the Queen"), 1p, 11¾x16½. No place. Date: October 8, 1536. In Spanish, not translated. Queen Isabella of Portugal (1503-1539) was an infant of Portugal by birth. She travelled to Seville to marry her first cousin Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. He ruled much of Europe at the time. The wedding was celebrated on March 10, 1526 in the palace of Alcazar of Seville, and even though it was a political union, the marriage proved to be a true love story. When her husband was away throughout the 1530s, Isabella served as the Regent of Spain. Isabella died in May 1539, when her sixth pregnancy ended in a stillbirth. Her husband was away at the time and her premature death affected him deeply; he never remarried and dressed in black for the rest of his life. Her son Philip succeeded the Portuguese throne, claiming his mother's rights temporarily uniting the Iberian Peninsula under one crown in what would later be called the Iberian Union. read more...

KING NORODOM SIHANOUK (CAMBODIA) Historically Important Vietnam War Typed Letter signed "It is totally wrong to claim that we 'permit' the Vietcong to use our country as a sanctuary or place of rest. When they cross our border or stay temporarily inside the border, it is always against our liking and in spite of our protestations. So when the American army and its allies with 1.500.000 men, are incapable of hermetically closing the border between Vietnam and Cambodia, how could we do better with an army of 36.000 men, defending 3 borders?" Exquisitely framed to 34½x20½. Typed Letter signed: "N. Sihanouk" in English as Cambodian Head of State, 2 pages, 8x10¼. Phnom Penh, 1969 February 28. To Alan Hirsch, Flushing , N.Y. In full: "I have received your letter of the 25th January, and thus I thank you. I realize that you have been misinformed regarding what is happening in my country: 1) Cambodia is not 'tiny' -if it is not compared with the United States, Russia, etc. With its 181. read more...