Every day Sophie Dupre presents two items from her large stock of signed photographs, autograph letters, autographs for sale, royal memoralbilia and antiquarian manuscripts.
The photographs are presented with the catalogue descriptions.
On this day... see what happened on your special day
February 18
On this day in 1857 the Chinese residents in the fledging state of Sarawak rebelled against the "White Rajah" James Brooke and in 1861 King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia became the 1st King of Italy
BROOKE (Sir James, 1803-1868, Raja of Sarawak)
Autograph letter signed to Herman Merivale, (1806-1874, Under-Secretary for India), headed ‘Private’, saying that “a young relation of mine is going to try his fortune in Southern Australia and in a few days sails for Port Phil[l]ip” the gateway to Melbourne, he would like an introduction “to the governor of the settlement and would very much prefer any official appointment under the local government to either gold washing or farming. Can you assist?”, he continues, “Sir John Pakington”, (1799-1880, Secretary for War and the Colonies), “wanted me at the C[olonial] O[ffice] on the 21st but unfortunately I did not get the note till yesterday” as he was “doing my devoir towards Mr [Henry] Drummond”, (1786-1860, member for West Surrey), “at his election”, but recommending “an article in the Edinburgh [Review] which is the best account of our political relations”, he is anxious to confer with members of the government on Borneo, “My own mind is made up for one or other course - efficiency on the one hand or independence on the other ... I shall be sorry to see such a field lost, but anything is better than measures insufficient to insure success”, 4 sides 7¼” x 4½”, Reigate, 23rd July 1852
VICTOR EMMANUEL III (1869-1947, King of Italy, Abdicated 1946 in favour of his son Umberto)
Exceptional portrait photo by d’Alessandri, Rome, signed and inscribed on the mount in Italian “To Cavaliere E. De Martino Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, Londra, Agosto 1891”, showing him three quarters length, full face, in uniform, wearing the Order of the Annunciate, with his hand in his jacket and his plumed hat on the table next to him, 9¾” x 7¼” in mount 13” x 8½”, London, August 1891
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