Her appointment of a 2nd lieutenant of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, also signed by the Secretary of War, the Earl Grey Military Appointment signed: "Victoria Reg" as Queen of the United Kingdom. Also signed "G Grey" as Colonial Secretary. 1 page, 12¾x9½. St. James Court, London, England. 1852 January 14. Appointment of George Henry James Rowling as Second Lieutenant of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, effective from December 5, 1851. QUEEN VICTORIA (1819-1901) ascended to the throne on June 20, 1837 (her coronation ceremony was held the following year). She ruled the United Kingdom longer than any other monarch before or since, although Queen Elizabeth II, crowned in 1953, may best that record. Victoria's 63-year reign (1837 until her death in 1901) endeared her to her subjects, and she gave her name to an era, the Victorian Age. Her husband, Prince Albert, whom she married in 1840, was an able political figure himself, the Queen's close advisor until his death in 1861. The royal pair had nine children - four sons and five daughters. Victoria's reign was celebrated with two jubilees, honoring her 50 and 60 years on the throne. Britain was the world's greatest power during her reign, and she became Empress of India in 1877.

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).

A unique and absolutely breathtaking document! This is an illuminated legal judgment written in gothic Spanish in 1588 to King Philip II. It's less a legal document and more a work of art, with vivid and eye-popping page-sized illuminations of the Virgin Mary and a coat of arms as well as illuminated text on vellum pages, and it's bound in purple velvet covers with braided four-color cord. Must be seen- and held - to be believed! Illuminated book signed: "Felipe Ortega" "Antonio Benal", "Martin de Bareda", "De Rosales". 87 pages (some blank), 9¼x12½, vellum pages. Covers are pressed layers of paper covered in purple velvet and with cloth paste downs inside, bound in white, blue, red and yellow braided cord. Written in 1588. Written in Spanish. Partial Translated in English: "King of Castile, of Leon, of Aragon, of Jerusalem, of Portugal, of Navarra, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Mallorca, of Seville, of Cerdena, of Cordoba, of Corcega, of Murcia, of Jalem, of Gibraltar, of the Canarias Islands, of the western and eastern islands, of the islands in firm sand, of the ocean, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Borgona, sir of Biscay...…"

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. Fragile. Folds, 1 touches 1 letter of signature. Partial separation of folds affects some text. Stained, some stains touch text.

Manuscript LS: "Matthias" as Governor of Austria, 1½p, 8¼x12¾. Vienna, 1605 April 12. To the Abbot of Neuberg. In German, not translated. The letter concerns clerical and legal matters, including the suppression of a local rebellion. Matthias was Governor General of Spanish Netherlands (1577-1581) and was appointed Governor of Austria in 1593 by his brother, Emperor Rudolf. Matthias was crowned King of Bohemia in 1617 and of Hungary in 1618. Matthias was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612-1619. Full, 2¼-inch seal on verso of integral leaf, light show through at left margin of first page. Lightly creased and foxed. Chipped at edges. 2 minor holes at lower horizontal fold affect signature in unknown hand on second page. 2 minor holes and ½-inch tear at fold on integral address leaf, which is lightly browned. Fragile, but fine condition considering its age.

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. Presented in a custom-made museum-style tabletop showcase with hinged lid which allows access to album. 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. Covers, signatures and sleeves are lightly toned. George's signature has bled slightly but is in fine condition. 2) Photograph unsigned of Queen Elizabeth and King George VI. B/w, 6¾x8½.…"

The King Philip II issues a rare license to Pro Notary Fausto Reeballo, who was a native of Milan, to be able to have, regardless been an alien, four hundred ducats of rent in his kingdoms. Manuscript Document Signed: "Yo El Rey" and "Don Luis de Salazar". 12x8¼. One page. Fully Translated in English: "The King. The proto notary Fausto Reballo, who was born in the city of Lody in the state of Milan, has begged us that knowing where he is going and that our ancestors have served us and will serve. You will have to be native of these kingdoms in order to have a rent on personal benefits and other pieces for the church, according to your mercy, and we did not think it was right. In this letter we give you permission to possess maximum four hundred ducats that equal one hundred fifty thousand marcos of rent every year, destined to benefits or pensions, or to any other rent for the church that since the day of this letter on, you might be dispossessed. For instance, we will only make you natural of these kingdoms, even though you are an alien. We apologize for any laws and pragmatics opposed to it, but they are still valid. So, we order you not to have more than the first four hundred ducats for the church from which you were deprived.…"

Rare document signed by King Louis XIV. Manuscript DS: "Louis" as King of France, 1p, 9½x12½. Versailles, 1674 October 11. In French, not translated. The order approves the payment of the sum of 46,296 French pounds to Mr. DuFresnoy, Head Farmer of the Andes (province of France), for payment of interest due on a principal of one million pounds for a 10-month term. 3 horizontal and 5 vertical lines cross out a deputy's "Louis" signature; the word "bon" (good) is written by King Louis XIV above cross-outs. Endorsed by DuFresnoy on verso. Lightly creased and toned. Worn edges. Minor stains, not at signature.

Color photo of the royal couple with their staffs, signed by both on the 12x10  mount and dated 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. While Christmas cards picturing the couple appear on the market from time to time, signed photographs, especially ones of this size, are extremely scarce. Signatures light in areas but fully legible. Fine condition. Accompanied by PSA/DNA LOA.

The Infanta, heir to the Spanish throne, corresponds with the Countess of Salvatierra about her health and good spirits Autograph letter signed: "Maria Teresa" in brown ink. 2 pages front and verso, 8¼x12. Two letters written on same paper. From the Condesa de Salvatierra to Princess Maria Teresa. Written at the Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain. January 20, 1657. Roughly translated: Expression of pleasure to hear news from the King of the Infanta's good health, with mention of her sister's health and activities and the worse weather. Response from Maria Teresa to the Condesa de Salvatierra. Written at Royal Palace of El Pardo, Madrid, Spain. January 21, 1657. Roughly translated: Expression of pleasure to hear of sister's good health, looking forward to seeing her the following day. Mention of the bad weather. MARIA TERESA (1638-1683) was the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and his wife, Elisabeth of France. Because Spain had no "Salic Law" preventing the accession of a female monarch, Maria Teresa was heir presumptive to the Spanish throne from 1646 to 1657, an interval during which Philip had no living sons. In 1660, she was married to her first cousin, King Louis XIV of France, as part of the settlement of a war between France and Spain.

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. In October 1813, Byron, who published his wildly popular The Corsair three months later, had recommended Hodgson, who became a lifelong friend, to translate Lucien Bonaparte's Charlemagne.

The King Philip IV responds to a letter sent by the Countess of Salvatierra (signing with old Spanish signature) in which she informs him of the improvement in the health of his daughter Infanta Maria Theresa and the opinion of the doctors about the trip of the Infanta. The King responds with joy for the good news and for seeing her soon Autograph Letter Signed: "Yo, El Rey F." and "La condesa de Salbatiera" in iron gall ink. 8¼x11¾, folded. 16½x11¾, flat. Two pages. Fully Translated in English:" May God protect Her Highness, she had a good night but coughed a few times, however, Your Highness does not have any cough during the day and ate her soups with so much joy. Your Highness has had a good evening and has been happy and just as Your Majesty, she is now friends with the music and is better than in other days. Obeying the mandate of Your Majesty I asked the physicians if there was any inconvenience for Her Highness to go to the retreat and all pf them but Pedro Miguel said they did not see any inconvenience for Her Highness to go there so Your Majesty, order what you believe convenient to do. I only have one inconvenience about it, and it is that Her Highness is going to be very uncomfortable in the berth. It is been a beautiful day here.…"