WORLD HISTORY

KING KAMEHAMEHA IV  ~~  HIS AUTOGRAPH TRANSLATION OF THE “PRAYER FOR ALL ESTATES OF MEN,” LIKELY A WORKING MANUSCRIPT FOR HIS 1862 SELF-TRANSLATED BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, THE FIRST IN THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE!

KAMEHAMEHA IV.  (1834-1863) Fourth king of the united Kingdom of Hawaii (1855-1863). Exceedingly-rare Autograph Manuscript, in pencil, Unsigned. One page, full legal folio. [Approximately 8 ½ x 12 inches] No place [Hawaii] No date [circa 1862].

SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN  ~~ THE FAMED BRITISH ARCHITECT, RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL IN LONDON, IN HIS ROLE AS DIRECTOR OF HIS MAJESTIES ROYAL HOSPITAL IN CHELSEA

WREN, CHRISTOPHER (1632-1723). English architect, who played a leading role in the rebuilding of London following the devastating Great Fire of 1666, and whose St. Paul’s Cathedral takes a place among the greatest designs in the history of architecture. Scarce Manuscript Document Signed, “Chr. Wren.” One page, large folio. [9.75 x 15 inches].  No place [London]. March 11, 1698. 

A 17^TH CENTURY LETTER OF CREDIT WITH GOOD NUMISMATIC OVERTONES

VYNER, SIR THOMAS. 1ST BARONET (1588–1665).  Wealthy English businessman and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London; James I appointed Vyner to the office of comptroller of the mint; under Oliver Cromwell, Vyner and a partner purchased a large quantity of Spanish bullion to be converted into coins for both the English government and the East India Company; in 1656, he became the Lord Mayor of London and was knighted by Cromwell.  Exceedingly-rare Autograph Letter Signed, “Thos. Vyner”. 1/3 page, legal folio.  London, September 1, 1653.

LETTER WRITTEN FROM THE YUKON GOLD RUSH IN 1898

ALASKAN GOLD RUSH.  Canadian / Yukon gold rush of the late 1890s.  Autograph Letter Signed, “Charlie”, in blue wax pencil.  Two full pages, quarto.  No place, [Ships Camp] May 27, 1898. 

EARLY IN HIS POLITICAL CAREER WINSTON CHURCHILL REPORTS:  “[LORD ROSEBERY] IS BEING APPROACHED BY THE LIBERAL ASSOCIATIONS OF GLASGOW TO SPEAK THERE AS A COUNTERBLAST TO [BALFOUR] THE PRIME MINISTER.”

CHURCHILL, SIR WINSTON S.  (1874-1965).  British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1940-1945, 1951-1955).  Enlightening and early Typed Letter Signed, “Yours very truly, Winston S. Churchill”, on his imprinted 105, Mount Street, W. stationery.  One full page, quarto.  London, September 8, 1904. 

CHURCHILL WRITING AT A PIVITAL POINT IN HIS REMARKABLE LIFE’S STORY  ~  GIVING NOTICE TO SIR GEORGE ALLEN, PUBLISHER OF ‘THE PIONEER’, INDIA’S ENGLISH DAILY NEWSPAPER, —  OF HIS ARRIVAL IN SOUTH AFRICA,  TO COVER THE BOER WAR AS A NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT – SAYING:  “I WAS PACKED OFF TO S. AFRICA IN SUCH A HURRY TO CHRONICLE THIS WAR” —

NOT KNOWING THAT JUST A MEAR TWO WEEKS LATER, HE WAS TO BE CAPTURED, WHEN HIS ARMOURED TRAIN WAS AMBUSHED BY THE BOERS.  HIS SUBSEQUENT DARING ESCAPE,  MADE HEADLINES THE WORLD OVER, AND SERVED AS THE LAUCHING PAD FOR HIS REMARKABLE POLITICAL CAREER

CHURCHILL, WINSTON, S. (1874-1965). British statesman, and Prime Minister. Simply superb, and irreplaceable Autograph Letter Signed “Winston S. Churchill”,  as newspaper correspondent for the Morning Post to cover the Boer War.  Two pages, octavo on blindstamped “South Africa” stationery.  Cape Town, [South Africa].   October 30, [1899].

BOLD SIGNATURE OF LORD PALMERSTON, PRIME MINISTER OF ENGLAND

TEMPLE, HENRY JOHN, 3^rd VISCOUNT PALMERSTON (1784-1865) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Fragment of a Partial Partially Printed Document Signed, “Palmerston.” War Office. April 27, 1822.