SCARLET PIMPERNEL AUTHOR EMMA ORCZY SENDS GOOD WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR

BARONESS EMMA “EMMUSKA” ORCZY DE ORCZI (1865-1947). The Hungarian-born Orczy is best remembered for The Scarlet Pimpernel.

TLS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. January 2, 1922. Villa Bijou, Monte Carlo. A typed letter signed “Emmuska Orczy”. It is written on her stationery from the Villa Bijou, Orczy’s home in Monte Carlo, and is addressed to Mr. Charles Wilson of Willington, Durham, England. Wilson was an author and teacher who maintained correspondences with many notable writers of the period: “Dear Mr. Wilson, I thank you very much for your kind letter of December 13th, and for your many kind wishes for the New Year which I heartily reciprocate. I am so glad you enjoyed your visit to Rome and I am sure you will like the second visit even better, because you will be more familiar with the ordinary circumstances of life in the city and will not have to worry about them and just be able to give yourself over to the enjoyments of the place. With renewed best wishes for your happiness and prosperity in the coming year, I am, Yours faithfully. Emmuska Orczy”. It is in very good condition with a few small tears along the fold lines and wrinkling to the lower right corner.

THE SIGNATURE OF IRISH REPUBLICAN JOHN BOYLE O’REILLY

JOHN BOYLE O’REILLY (1844-1890). O’Reilly was a writer, Irish freedom activist, and Irish Republican Brotherhood member (Fenian) who was sent to the British penal colony in Australia and then escaped to the United States.

ANS. 1pg. November 23, 1878. N.p. An autograph note signed “To Mrs. Wm. A. Horey with the Kindest regards of John Boyle O’Reilly 24^th Nov. 1878”. It is in fair condition, with a sizable water stain on the right and bottom edges of the large page that does not affect the writing

ALAN PATON WRITES ABOUT HIS BOOK THE LAND & PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA

ALAN PATON (1902-1988).  A South African author, Paton is best remembered for Cry, the Beloved Country.  He was an outspoken opponent of apartheid.

TLS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. November 5, 1962. South Africa.  A typed letter signed “Alan Paton” on blue air mail stationery.  He wrote to Mrs. Peter Scott of West Orange, New Jersey: “Thank you for your letter of October 23.  At the moment THE LAND & PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA is being revised, and I do not have a copy of the earlier edition.  I have translations, but do not suppose you would want any of these.  However, if you were to approach the publishers, J.B. Lippincott, 521 Fifth Avenue, New York 17, and ask them when the revised edition is likely to be out.  I would be glad to autograph a copy for your fund raising effort, if the book were sent to me in time.”    The Land & People of South Africa was published in 1955.  The letter has a rough right edge and is in very good condition.

AN ALEXANDER POPE SIGNED RECEIPT FOR A SUBSCRIPTION TO HIS SIX-PART ILIAD TRANSLATION

ALEXANDER POPE (1688-1744). Pope was an English poet and translator who was particularly celebrated for his satires like The Rape of the Lock.

DS. 1pg. April 30, 1715. N.d. A partially-printed document signed “A. Pope”. It is a receipt for a subscription (essentially a pre-order) to Pope’s English translation of Homer’s Iliad that was to be published in six volumes from 1715 to 1720: “REceiv’d of His Grace the Duke of Queensberry Two Guineas, being the first Payment to the Subscription, for the Translation of Homer’s Iliads; to be delivered, in Quires, to the Bearer hereof, in the manner specify’d in the Proposals. A. Pope”. The Duke of Queensbury was Charles Douglas, 3^rd Duke of Queensbury and 2^nd Duke of Dover (1698-1778). The receipt is matted and framed with an engraved image and short biography of Pope. The framing is new, with UV-resistant glass and acid-free materials. The receipt is in very good condition with some toning.

QUEEN AMALIE OF SAXONY WRITES TO HER SISTER-IN-LAW ABOUT POOR HEALTH AND A VISIT FROM HER SON

QUEEN AMALIE AUGUSTE (1801-1877). Amalie was a Princess of Bavaria, the daughter of King Maximilian I, and Queen of Saxony. Amalie married King John of Saxony in 1822, and they had nine children, including the future King Albert of Saxony.

ALS. 1pg. N.d. [circa 1853-1854]. N.p. [likely Dresden]. An autograph letter signed “A” by Queen Amalie of Saxony. Responding to a prior correspondence, Amalie discusses her recent poor health and a visit from her oldest son Albert and his wife Karola. The letter is written on both sides of an envelope and is accompanied by an English translation on a separate sheet: “Dear Therese, Pardon me that I have no yet answered your first letter & that I only today reply to the last. I was very miserable & have trouble to recover my strength. I think you heartily for your sympathies in our joy to have Albert with us again. It will unfortunately not last long, as he leaves already Thursday & takes Karola with him which will be for me a great sacrifice. I hope you are well again! It is to be hoped I shall soon be able to see you. Entirely yours A”. The translation is accompanied by a brief gloss: “Translation of Queen’s letter. Albert is her son & Karola is his wife. Amélie gave me this literal translation.” The recipient of the letter was likely Amalie’s sister-in-law Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1792-1854), who became Queen of Bavaria through her marriage to Amalie’s oldest brother Ludwig I. It is unclear who wrote the translation and gloss. The letter is in fine condition.

1691 MILITARY DOCUMENT TELLS OF CONFLICT IN IRELAND DURING THE TIME OF THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

(IRELAND).  Document Signed. 1pg. 7” x 9”. October 29, 1691. Ireland.  A document signed “Ranelagh”: “Recd then by me Richard Earle [sic] of Ranelagh Payma. of their May 12 Forces on an order bearing date of 24^th day of July 1691 by vertue [sic] of their May 12…of Privy Seale [sic] dated 11^th of July 1691 of Thomas Howard Esq Sum of five hundred pounds in part of said order for ye sum of hundred pounds five hundred thousand pounds Ranelagh”.  The document was written on behalf of Richard Jones, the first and only Earl of Ranelagh.  Jones (1641-1712) was an Irish politician in both the Parliaments of Ireland and England and was a notable convert from the forces allied with King James II to the forces allied with William III and Mary II during the Glorious Revolution. The Glorious Revolution saw the peaceful overthrow of the Catholic King James II over fears of a Catholic regime in Protestant England by the Protestant William III and Mary II in 1689. While this led to the English Bill of Rights, it also led to civil war in Ireland as Protestant forces tried to suppress a French-funded Catholic uprising of forces still loyal to James II. Though it took over fifty years to fully suppress Catholic dissent, Protestant military successes in 1691 in Ireland ended formally pacified Ireland, through efforts like those described in the document.  Ranelagh was an Irish village neighboring Dublin that was formally incorporated into Dublin in the Nineteenth Century. The document is in fine condition.