The then-Prince Regent sends letter to Queen Maria Carolina of Two Sicilies, de facto ruler of her husband King Ferdinand I's kingdoms, about the appointment of a new commander of British Forces in Sicily in the midst of Europe's Napoleonic Wars. A letter of historical importance! Manuscript letter signed: "George PR" as Prince Regent of the United Kingdom, 1 page, conjoined pages, front and verso, 7¼x9¾ folded. Carlton House, London, England. 1811 June 4. Addressed to "His Majesty/The King of the Two Sicilies", but begins "Madam". In full: "Circumstances having rendered it expedient the Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Military Forces in the Mediterranean, should also be invested with a Diplomatic Character and reside at the Court of His Sicilian Majesty; In consequence of the tired Fidelity, Zeal and Talents of Lieutenant General Lord William Cavendish Bentinck, I have made choice in the Name and on Behalf of His Majesty, of that Officer to discharge these Functions, and have accordingly conferred upon him, on His Majesty's Behalf, the Chief Command of His Majesty's said Forces, with the Character of His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.…"

THE KING ORDERS PAYMENT FOR PROVISIONS ISSUED "TO OUR FORCES IN NORTH AMERICA" TWO MONTHS BEFORE HIS FORCES TAKE FORT TICONDEROGA FROM THE FRENCH; AFTER THE KING'S DEATH THE FOLLOWING YEAR, IT WAS DECIDED THAT MONEY TO PAY FOR FORCES IN NORTH AMERICA SHOULD BE RAISED BY TAXING THE COLONISTS THEMSELVES KING GEORGE II. Historic Manuscript DS: "George R" as King of England, 2p, 9x14½, front and verso. Our Court at Kensington, 1759 April 28. "To Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Councillor Henry Fox Esqr Paymaster General of Our Guards Garrisons and Land Forces". Countersigned: "Hollis Newcastle" as Prime Minister, "H.B. Legge" as Chancellor of the Exchequer and "Bessborough" as Commissioner of Revenue.

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).

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.

As King he orders payment of £20 to Hugh Browne, countersigned by Lord Danby as Lord High Treasurer. Danby would soon land in the Tower of London, charged with corruption and abuse of office. Manuscript Document signed: "Charles R" as King of England and "Danby" as Lord High Treasurer, 1 page, 9x11¾. Wallingford House (London), 1876 March 22. The King orders payment of £20 to Hugh Bane, former Provost of Strabane in Ireland. CHARLES II (1632-1712) claimed the English throne after the execution of his father, Charles I in 1649.  The Scottish Parliament recognized his kingship, but that of England did not. Defeated by Oliver Cromwell on the battlefield, he fled to France in 1651. He was returned to the throne in 1660, although Charles dated his monarchy from 1649. Charles II's reign is known as The Restoration, and he was called the Merrie Monarch. He presided over a nation grateful for a return to normalcy after the conflict and puritanism of the Cromwell's Commonwealth. While executing some of those who had sanctioned the execution of his father, Charles II was careful not to make sweeping claims of absolute monarchy.

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.

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...…"

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.

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 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.

The King Philip V gives important and clear instructions of how the collection of alms for the Bull of the Crusade had to be done, specifying the penalties for the disobedient. It is a very important historical document! Document Signed: "I, The King", "Manuel de Messa", "Manuel Francisco Gonzalez" and "Cardinal de Molina" in iron gall ink. 12x8¼. Five pages. In part: "Philip V, for the Grace of God King of Castile, of Leon, of Aragon, of the two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of Navarra, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Mallorca, of Menorca, of Seville, of Cerdanya, of Cordoba, of Corcega, of Murcia, of Jaen, of Los Algarbes, of Algeriza, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, of the eastern and western islands, islands and mainland, of the ocean, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Borgona, of Bravante and Milan, Earl of Aspuro, of Flanders, Tixol and Barcelona, Sir of Vizcaya and Molina….The Earl and Marquee of Perales Don Bentura de Pinedo has sent us a list of the ecclesiastics who serve in the Holy Crusade. In this bishopric they should give several Bulls of the Predication of this upcoming year of 1741, some of them bought on credit by many neighbors of the cities, villas and places…Dated in San Idelfonso, October 13, 1740.…"

Manuscript DS: "Anne R" as Queen of England, 1p, 15x11¾. On vellum. Our Court at St. James, 1711 March 1. In full: "Anne, by the Grace of God, Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. To our truly and well beloved Robert Brown Surgeon, Greetings. We do by these presents commission and appoint you to be Surgeon to our truly and well beloved Brigadier General John Hill, our Commander In Chief of our forces going upon the next intended expedition. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Surgeon by doing and performing all and all manner of things thereto belonging. And you are to observe and follow such orders and Directives from time to time as you shall receive from the Commander in Chief of our forces or any your superior officer according to the Rules and Disciplines of Warr (sic)." Countersigned: "H. St. John". ROBERT BROWN joined Colonel Hill's Foot Regiment (later the 11th Foot) on September 15, 1708. On March 1, 1711, by this document, he was attached to General Hill's troops in Canada. General Hill led a combined army and naval force into the St. Lawrence River. In the fog, two ships ran aground, with the loss of about 450 men.