EDWARD VIII Four months before his abdication from the throne, the King of the British Empire appointed a second lieutenant by signing this official document Rare Partly Printed DS: "Edward R I" as King of the British Empire, which included the United Kingdom, India, and numerous semi-autonomous states. One page, 16x12. Our Court at Saint James's. Dated August 11, 1936. In part: "Edward the Eighth by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India &c. To our Trusty and well beloved Hugh Holmes Greeting! We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct, do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Land Forces from the twenty-seventh day of August 1936. You re therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Second Lieutenant…". When King George V died on January 20, 1936, his eldest son acceded to the British throne as King Edward VIII. On December 11, 1936, King read more...

SOUVENIR TYPESCRIPT OF KING EDWARD VIII's ABDICATION SIGNED WITH HIS RARE SIGNATURE: "EDWARD R I" KING EDWARD VIII. Exceedingly Rare Typescript signed: "Edward R I", 1p, 8¼x10¾. Headed: "Instrument of Abdication". In full: "I, Edward the Eighth, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Emperor of India, do hereby declare my irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for Myself and for My descendants, and My desire that effect should be given to this Instrument of Abdication immediately. In token whereof I have hereunto set My hand this tenth day of December, nineteen hundred and thirty six, in the presence of the witnesses whose signatures are subscribed." At the lower left: "Signed at/Fort Belvedere/in the presence/of/Albert/Henry/George". In addition to the King, the original Instrument of Abdication was signed by King Edward's three brothers: Albert (Duke of York, who became King George VI), Henry (Duke of Gloucester) and George (Duke of Kent). 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...

EMPEROR HIROHITO, CO-SIGNED BY: EISAKU SATO and SHIINA ETSUSABURO In this very rare and important 1965 document, Emperor Hirohito notified Bolivian President René Barrientos that he was recalling Japan's ambassador to Bolivia. Also signed by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato and Foreign Minister Shiina Etsusaburo Document signed "Hirohito", "Eisaku Sato" and "Shiina Etsusaburo", with red ink seals. 2 pages, 9¾x13¼, 1 sheet folded, front and verso, on cardstock, with embossed Imperial Seal of Japan at top edge of page 1. With two binder holes at left edge. Dec. 21, 1965. Addressed to René Barrientos, President of Bolivia. In Japanese, partially translated: "The important mission of Mr. Eiji Kawasaki is at an end, the Japanese government having recalled him, whom it had accredited Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary…" Lightly toned. Light impressions on letter (do not touch sigangures). Show-through from seals on page 2. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: Untranslated Japanese language letter of transmittal. Lightly toned and creased. read more...

THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY: KING GEORGE VI, QUEEN ELIZABETH, ELIZABETH II, and MARGARET All four members of the family signed this album cover specially made for recordings that commemorate Elizabeth II's 16th birthday Album Cover Signed: “George R.I.”, “Elizabeth R.”, “Elizabeth”, and “Margaret”. A rare set of six BBC records, pressed after a Royal Command Performance of the radio show It's That Man Again (1939-1949). The show was the first Royal Command Performance of a radio show ever. The show was done on April 21, 1942, the day of Elizabeth II's 16th birthday. The signed album was given to star of the show Tommy Handley after the performance at Windsor Castle, the two princesses' home for five years during WWII. It's That Man Again satirized the rule of Adolf Hitler and boosted morale of the British home front during the war. A Royal Command Performance is when the reigning monarch specifically requests a show. Before this instance, it was typically theatrical or orchestral in medium. read more...

KING FERDINAND V AND QUEEN ISABELLA I OF CASTILE The Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella "The Catholics" issue an important and valuable manuscript document in old Spanish giving power to Don Hernando and mention the first Archbishop of the Holy Church of Granada, Fray Fernando de Talavera Manuscript Document signed: "Yo el Rey" [I the King], "Yo la Reyna" [I the Queen], 1 page, 12¼x8½. Also signed in text "Gaspar de Trizio" as Secretary to the King and Queen. Abbey of Granada, 1501 May 28. Fully Translated in English: "Don Fernando and Dona Isabel by the grace of God King and Queen of Castille, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, Galicia, the Mallorcas, Seville, Cerdina, Cordova, Tortosa, Murcia, Jaen, the Algarbe, Algeciras, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, Count and Countess of Barcelona and Lords of Bizcaya and Molina, Dukes of Arsenas, of Neopatria, Counts of Borelo and Cerdania, Marquesses of Oriscan and of Soriano. read more...

PRINCE CHARLES and PRINCESS DIANA (UNITED KINGDOM) Color photo of the royal couple with their staffs, signed by both on the 12x10  mount and dated by him 1991. Extremely scarce! Rare Photo Mount signed: "Charles 1991" and "Diana". Color, 12x10 overall, image 10x7½ (two surfaces). The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured with their staffs. Thirty-two-year-old Charles, Prince of Wales, had married 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Prince William, second in line to the throne, was born in 1982 and Prince Harry, third in line, was born in 1984. The Prince and Princess of Wales separated in 1992, a year after signing this photograph, and their divorce became final on August 28, 1996. One year and three days later, on August 31, 1997, 36-year-old Diana, who had been stripped of her title, Her Royal Highness, by her former mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, was killed in a car crash in Paris. Signed photographs of the Prince and Princess of Wales are rarely encountered. read more...

  PRINCESS DIANA. Typed Manuscript signed: "Diana", 1p, 7¼x9. Kensington Palace, 1992 November. In full: "The death of someone we love can be one of the most painful experiences any of us will have to bear. In this lovely and sensitive book Fraser Smith reassuringly faces up to the distressing emotions which commonly accompany grief, whilst at the same time offering a message of hope on every page. He addresses honestly the questions and concerns which death raises and in reply offers words which have brought solace and consolation to bereaved people over many generations. I am sure this book will prove to be an immense source of comfort both to those who have themselves experienced the death of a loved one, and also to those who are called to care for the dying and bereaved." Methodist Minister Fraser Smith's book, Life after Life: Readings to Comfort the Bereaved, was published in England in 1993. Deaths touched upon in this book range from abortion to loss of an elderly partner to accidents. read more...

PRINCE CHARLES and PRINCESS DIANA Photo of the royal couple, signed on the mount in 1992, contained in a handsome leather presentation frame Photo Mount signed: "Diana" and "1992 Charles". Color, 3¾x5 overall, image 3x3¾ (two surfaces). In original 5½x7¾ green leather presentation frame (embossed with gold coat of arms at center) with back stand. Then 32-year-old Prince Charles of Wales (b. 1948), heir to the British throne, married 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer (1961-1997) in a legendary "fairytale" wedding in 1981, beginning a relationship that would captivate the world. Their first son, Prince William was born a year later in 1982, and another son, Prince Henry (Harry) followed in 1984. Their tumultuous relationship was much scrutinized in the media, and Diana experienced an astoundingly high celebrity status: eventually the Prince and Princess of Wales separated in 1992, and they were officially divorced in 1996. read more...