World leaders and Royalty Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

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...

CHARLES de GAULLE He signs a Nicaraguan stamp commemorating the Roosevelt-Churchill conference in Casablanca (1943), a meeting to which he was not invited even though it was held on French territory. Framed in the Gallery of History style with an unsigned photo of De Gaulle in uniform, to an overall size of 21x16. Stamp signed: "C. de Gaulle", 1½x1, mounted on a 3¼x2 card. Sixteen-centavos stamp issued by Nicaragua to commemorate the 1943 Roosevelt-Churchill conference held at Casablanca, French Morocco, North Africa. The meeting at Casablanca caused friction between Churchill, Roosevelt and the Free French. Charles de Gaulle, the accepted leader of the Free French, knew nothing of the meeting in Casablanca before it happened despite the fact that it was being held on French territory. He also objected to receiving an invitation to the meeting. As it was being held in part of France, he felt that he had an automatic right to be there. De Gaulle was not briefed about the planning for the meeting because it would have increased the security risk if more and more people knew about the meeting. This Nicaraguan stamp pictures Roosevelt and Churchill. Fine condition. read more...

KING LOUIS PHILIPPE A letter from the King of France informing the Duke of Broglie to the opening Session of the Chambers, framed in the Gallery of History to an overall size of 36x22 Manuscript Letter Signed: "Louis Philippe" in French as King of France, 1p, 7x9½. Paris, 1831 July 14. Addressed on verso to the Duke of Broglie, Peer of France. In full: "We inform you that the opening of the Session of the Chambers will take place in Paris on the twenty-third of July and that you must attend." Known as the "Citizen King" for his menial habits and public visibility, Louis Philippe (1773-1850) was a direct descendent of Philippe d' Orleans (1640-1701), the youngest son of King Louis XIII (1601-1643). Being far removed from the crown, he was raised more harshly than a well-to-do commoner. Louis was 57 years old when liberals and political allies opposed to Charles brought him to power as a revolutionary monarch through a political coup. Once named King, however, he chose a middle course between the monarchists and the Bonapartists. read more...

KING EDWARD VIII, ELIZABETH TAYLOR, DUCHESS OF WINDSOR and CESAR ROMERO All four signed this passport of an American sailing on the Queen Mary in 1950. Official U.S. Passport signed: "Wallis Windsor" and "Edward/Duke of Windsor" on page 45, "Elizabeth/Taylor" on verso (page 46) and "Cesar Romero" on page 47, 52p, 3¾x6. U.S. Passport number 254226, issued to Joseph Louis Sheerin, Somerville, Mass. Stamped "Canceled" on each page. An accompanying note (unknown hand) gives a brief background of Sheerin and states that Sheerin obtained these autographs when "returning from a visit to the United States with his wife on board the Queen Mary in May 1950...." On page 4, there is a photograph of Sheerin signed: "Joseph L. Sheerin". B/w, 2½x2½. In 1930, Edward, Prince of Wales, known for having a number of affairs, met and fell in love with a married American woman, Mrs. Wallis Simpson. After he succeeded his father, King George V, on January 20, 1936, concern about his private life grew in the Cabinet, especially over his association with Mrs. Simpson. read more...

KING GEORGE III and WILLIAM CAVENDISH The two powerful figures of Great Britain signed this military promotion that's dated January 23, 1800! Military Appointment Signed: “George R.” in top-left corner and “Portland” in bottom-right corner. One page. 9¼x13½. Text is partly printed. White embossed seal affixed beneath the signature. Text in full: “by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith & c. To Our Trusty and Welbeloved John Cooper Gent. Greeting: We do by these Presents, Constitute and Appoint you to be Assistant Surgeon to our Thirty-fourth for Cumberland Regiment of Foot commanded by our Right Trusty and welbeloved (sic) Colonel George Lord Southampton You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge all manner of Things thereunto belonging; And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from your Colonel _______ or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War; Given at Our Court at St. read more...

MUSSOLINI INSCRIBED A PHOTOGRAPH TO MARY PICKFORD!   BENITO MUSSOLINI. Large Photograph Mount inscribed and signed: "Alla Signora Mary Pikford/cordialmente/Roma 10 maggio 1926 Mussolini" in Italian. B/w, 15x22 overall, image 9½x15 (two surfaces). Photograph by V. Lavoisa, Roma. Water staining on "cordialmente" and "maggio" does not affect the inscription, just stains the surface it's written on. Mussolini is known to have been a fan of Mary Pickford which he has spelled "Pikford". According to Eileen Whitfield in Pickford: The Woman Who Made Hollywood (1997), Pickford praised both Mussolini and Hitler. In the 1998 DVD Mary Pickford: A Life on Film, the filmmakers briefly mention Pickford's "momentary flirtation" with Mussolini's fascism. In 1923, Mussolini appeared in Samuel Goldwyn's film, The Eternal City. BENITO MUSSOLINI was Prime Minister of Italy from October 31, 1922 when he was asked by King Victor Emmanuel III to form a government, until July 25, 1943 when he was deposed. read more...

MIKHAIL GORBACHEV He signs a 10x8 color photo of his historic first meeting with President Reagan. Historic Photograph signed: "Gorbachev" in Russian. Color, 10x8 overall, image 9½x6½ (one surface). Imprinted on verso: "Official Photograph/The White House/Washington", dated November 19. Fine condition. Accompanied by 1989 letter of transmittal, in French, from the Soviet Consulate in Montreal to a collector. Lightly creased. Fine condition. On March 11, 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev succeeded Konstantin Chernenko as General Secretary of the Communist Party, becoming the new Soviet leader. President Reagan first met with the new Russian leader at a Summit Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland on November 19, 1985. It was at this historic meeting that they agreed that "a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought". Mikhail Gorbachev (born in 1931) was the last General Secretary of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R. and the last Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1985-1991). He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his efforts to bring the Cold War to an end. read more...

MARGARET THATCHER. Photograph signed: "Margaret Thatcher". Color, 8x9¾. Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) was the longest serving British Prime Minister in more than 150 years and was the first woman to serve as Prime Minister. A Conservative, she was British Prime Minister from 1979-1990. She left the House of Commons when she was created a life Peer in 1992, with the title Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven. She continues to represent Conservatism in the House of Lords. In naming Thatcher among the 100 most influential persons of the twentieth century, "Time" magazine offered this accolade: "The triumph of capitalism, the almost universal acceptance of the market as indispensable to prosperity, the collapse of Soviet imperialism, the downsizing of the state on nearly every continent and in almost every country in the world - Margaret Thatcher played a part in all those transformations, and it is not easy to see how any would have occurred without her." Fine condition. read more...

KING CHARLES II He signs an order for shoes and stockings to be given to the poor. Manuscript DS: "Charles R" as King of England, 1 page, 15¼x7. On vellum. Our Palace at Westminster, (1681) February 9. Countersigned: "Arlington". In archaic English. Ordering the delivery of various articles of clothing to Henry Sidney, "Master and Gentleman of our Wardrobe of Roabes". In part: "One hundred fifty three yards of Russet cloth to make Gowns...fifty one paire of Single Soald Shooes and fifty one pair of Stockins' for distribution to 'fifty one poor men'...." HENRY BENNET, 1st EARL OF ARLINGTON (1618-1685) was Secretary of State (1662-1674) and Lord Chamberlain (1674-1685) under Charles II who reigned from 1660-1685. Browned at edges. Soiled. Lightly creased. Folds. Horizontal fold touches some text. Vertical fold touches some text. There is a 1-inch separation at vertical fold at bottom of page (all intact). Pinhead-size holes at upper blank margin. Erased notes (unknown hand) at lower right corner. read more...