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
August 21
ON THIS DAY
On this day in 1765 William IV was born. The third son of George III and younger brother and successor to George IV, he was the last king and penultimate monarch of Britain's House of Hanover. He served in the Royal Navy in his youth and was, both during his reign and afterwards, nicknamed the "Sailor King". In 1829 Otto Goldschmidt was born. He was a German composer, conductor and pianist, known for his piano concertos and other piano pieces. He married the "Swedish Nightingale", soprano Jenny Lind.
WILLIAM IV (1765-1837, King of Great Britain) Fascinating Autograph Letter Signed “William”, with transcription, to Sir Henry BLACKWOOD, (1770-1832, the distinguished Vice-Admiral, he witnessed Nelson’s codicil to his will as he lay dying on Victory), saying he “never can forgive nor forget the bad temper of Sr: George Cockburn” (1772-1853, full Admiral, 1837, 1st Naval Lord, 1841-1846), “or his conduct to me in Office”, as chiefly responsible for William’s resignation from the post of Lord High Admiral, “but I really believe he is fully aware of my knowledge and anxiety for our Service and is anxious to gain ... popularity by following the plans I had proposed”, he laments that “Sir T[homas] B[yam] Martin” (1773-1854, Comptroller of the Navy, 1816-1831), permitted himself “to be misled by the ignorance and prejudice of that blockhead Sepping[s]”, (Sir Robert, 1767-1840, Master Shipwright, Surveyor of the Navy, 1813-1832), 2 sides 4to., Bushy House, 26th December 1828 55489
GOLDSCHMIDT (Otto, 1829-1907, German-born Founder and Conductor of the Bach Choir, husband of Jenny Lind) Autograph Letter Signed to George Grove, apologising for not answering “your kind note ... to come to your performance of ‘Fidelio’ ”, as Mme. Goldschmidt and he were not free, but waited till he might “ask the favor of accepting a couple of seats for a little Concert I contemplate giving next Monday”, 2 sides 8vo., Argyle Lodge, Park Side, Wimbledon Common, 7th April 1859 51357
Click on images to view more details
