KING EDWARD VIII The King pens his exceedingly rare signature on this typescript! 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). It was then given legislative form by a special act

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 commemorated 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 presented on April 21, 1942, the day of Elizabeth II's 16th birthday. The signed album was given to the 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. Includes six records that are of the performance on that date.

EMPEROR AND EMPRESS HIROHITO Spectacular pair of rare, signed photographs in original Imperial frames. These signed photographs measure 5¾ x 8½ inches and are housed in their original blue leather Imperial frames. Both feature formal, full-length images, individually signed in bold Japanese calligraphy with black sumi ink by Hirohito and Empress Kojun. Signed royal portraits presented in matching pairs are very scares as they were given only to guests of the emperor. Fine condition. Overall frames measure 8 x 10¾. Light surface scratches present on the frames. Easel damaged on the back of Emperor Hirohito's frame. Otherwise, fine condition. HIROHITO (1901-1989), born Michinomiya Hirohito, Japanese emperor during World War II, was originally designated as "Showa" or "Enlightened Peace". He became emperor in 1926 following the death of his father Taisho. Despite having supreme authority in Japan, he did little more than to ratify the policies of his ministers. Historians debate Hirohito's role in Japan's expansionist policies, which began in 1931 and one of the major causes of World War II.

KING CHARLES III 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.

LORD BYRON Rare, signed autograph letter from 1814, to lifelong friend and fellow poet Francis Hodgson, discussing Byron's impending visit. Rare ALS: "Byron", 1 page, 7x9. No place, 1814 July 18.To Mr. Hodgson.In full: "Tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday at farthest expect in all -- Capt. Byron (whom you know or will know) accompanies us. If there is not convenient room - we can dispose of him at the Hostel. Excuse haste -- in the hope of seeing you&c&c." Handwritten postscript: "P.S. Many thanks for today's epistle. I shall be happy to see you so." LORD GEORGE GORDON BYRON, 6th Baron Byron of Rothdale, wrote this letter to Reverend FRANCIS HODGSON (1781-1852), a poet and scholar whom he had met when he began studying at Trinity College in Cambridge in October 1805.By the time this letter was written, Byron had been lionized in Whig society after the 1812 publication of the first two of his four cantos of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1812-1818). The opening lines of the canto had first been written to Hodgson on board a ship bound for Lisbon.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II The longest-reigning monarch in British history, exercises her Royal Prerogatives by signing a pardon for a parking fine. Partly Printed Document signed: "Elizabeth R" as Queen, 2 pages, 8½ x 13. Our Court at St James's, 1974 October 8. In part: "Whereas Ian Johnson at Wells Street Magistrates' Court on the eighteenth day of June 1974 was convicted of four offenses of causing a motor vehicle to wait in a registered street during the prescribed hours and was ordered to pay fines totaling sixteen pounds. Now know ye that We in consideration of some circumstances humbly represented unto Us, are Graciously pleased to extend Our Grace and Mercy unto the said Ian Johnson and to pardon and remit unto him the fines imposed upon him as aforesaid…." Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland and of many other realms, ascended the throne in 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. The "R" in her signature stands for "Regina," the Latin word for Queen.

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 mentioning 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. By the present, as we can

KING CHARLES III 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 LadyDiana 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. However,

LORD BYRON His handwritten quotation from an epic Celtic poem by Ossian and his signature. Autograph quotation unsigned: "Motto to Neustein, Adieu. Why dost thou build the hall, Son of the winged days? Thou lookest from thy towers today; yet a few years, and the blast of the Desert comes, it howls in thy empty Court. - Ossian". 6¾ x3½ page. Accompanied byhis signature: "Byron", on a 2x1 slip of paper affixed to a 4½x2¾ card. GEORGE GORDON BYRON (1788-1824), the sixth Baron Byron, commonly known as Lord Byron was among the foremost English poets of the Romantic movement. Among his best-known works are the poems "She Walks in Beauty" (1814) and "So, We'll Go No More a Roving" (published 1830). Even more renowned are his narrative poems, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1818) and Don Juan, his 17-canto masterpiece (1819-1824). Byron was a political and social reformer, a defender even of the Luddites, but was also noted for his aristocratic excesses, which included huge debts, many love affairs and self-imposed exile from Britain (1816 to his death).

KING GEORGE VI, CO-SIGNED BY: QUEEN ELIZABETH (THE QUEEN MOTHER) This exquisite presentation album - signed by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth as King and Emperor and as Queen Consort - contains an historic 78-RPM recording of the BBC radio broadcast of George VI's coronation and an address by him as king. It comes framed, Gallery of History Style, in a presentation case with a UV-resistant UF-3 Plex lid. Two items: 1) Album signed "George R I" by King George VI and "Elizabeth R" by Queen Elizabeth on vellum inside front cover. "14¼x12½x3¾. On cover: "The Coronation/of/The Majesties/King George VI and Queen Elizabeth/in/Westminster Abbey/and/H.M. The King's Broadcast Message/May 12th, 1937" in gilt. "R.I" stands for "Rex Imperator" (King Emperor), a title used from 1877, when Queen Victoria became Empress of India, to 1948, following Indian independence. Album has purple satiny-fabric endpapers. Contains 15 78-RPM records, 11¾ inches in diameter each by the Gramophone Co., Ltd. of Hayes, Middlesex, England, in paper sleeves.

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 KingEdward VIII. On December 11, 1936, King