DOCUMENT SIGNED BY ROBESPIERRE DURING THE REIGN OF TERROR

MAXIMILIEN ROBESPIERRE (1758-1794). Robespierre was a member of the Committee of Public Safety during the French Revolution. Robespierre and his Mountain political allies dramatically remade the French government, including by abolishing slavery and instituting a new anticlerical calendar, and they executed real and perceived critics of their reign. Estimates range from 35,000 to over 45,000 casualties of the Reign of Terror, which lasted until Robespierre’s execution on July 28, 1794, signaling the beginning of the end of terror as a public policy.

DS. 1 pg. 8” x 10”. August 5, 1793. Nice. A partially printed document signed “Robespierre” and “Ricord” in French: “IN THE NAME OF THE REPUBLIC. THE PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVES DEPUTIES FROM THE NATIONAL CONVENTION TO THE ARMY OF ITALY. Resolve and direct that the 1,700 loads of wheat that they have ordered the Municipality of Sainte-Agnes to transport to Antibes should be deposited in the storehouses of the Subsistances Militaires for the use of the Army”. This document was written during the French Revolution, specifically the height of the “Reign of Terror.” In the face of an anti-revolutionary backlash, foreign invasion, and tension within the revolutionary movement over the best steps forward, internal violence and terror became commonplace during this period from September of 1793 to July 1794.  The identity of the other signatory is unknown, though it is likely a political ally of Robespierre and perhaps a member of the Committee of Public Safety.  The seal of the Committee of Public Safety appears in the bottom left. The document is in excellent condition and comes with an English translation.

A YEAR BEFORE SAILING TO AMERICA, COMTE DE ROCHAMBEAU GIVES MILITARY ORDERS ABOUT PATROLS: “PLACE A NUMBER OF RATHER STRONG POSTS ABLE TO PROVIDE PATROLS COVERING THE VARIOUS EXITS…WHEN OUR TROOPS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY CAVALRY EACH ONE OF THESE STANDSTILL PATROLS SHOULD BE ESCORTED BY TWO HUSSARS”

COMTE DE ROCHAMBEAU (JEAN-BAPTISTE DONATIEN DE VIMEUR) (1725-1807).  Rochambeau was a French nobleman and Commander of the French Army during the American Revolution.  He arrived in Rhode Island in 1780 and, in 1781, he and Washington marched their combined forces to Yorktown to siege the British forces there.

DS. 2pg. 6 ¼” x 8”. August 3, 1779. Paramé [France].  A document signed “Le Cte. de Rochambeau” in French. He issued orders to Baron de Morangies, the Comte de St. Alban, respecting patrols: “At the entrance of each village...place a number of rather strong posts able to provide patrols covering the various exits. The officer on watch will then guide some of these patrols to various points…these soldiers must stand still there fully armed...not move, not speak but listening constantly to be relieved every two hours. These small patrols have the advantage not to be easily detected compared to the larger posts which are often noticed and found out through campfires...such standing patrols can detect noises of advancing enemy troops better than the so-called moving patrols...in case the enemy advance it is required that such patrols fire while withdrawing slightly. When our troops are accompanied by cavalry each one of these standstill patrols should be escorted by two hussars...”.  Rochambeau was on military duty in France, but within a year, he sailed for America where his performance was indispensable. He is the most underrated major figure of the American Revolution. The letter has dark ink, mailing folds and remnants of old tape on the address panel.

TYPED LETTER SIGNED BY FAMOUS ENGLISH WRITER, R.C. SHERRIFF

ROBERT CEDRIC “R.C.” SHERRIFF (1896-1975). Sherriff was an English writer best known for his play Journey's End and his Academy Award-nominated script for Goodbye Mr. Chips.

TLS. 1 pg. 8” x 10”. November 16, 1933. Surrey. A typed letter signed “RCS” to “Miss Marion R. Swingley”: “I much appreciate your nice letter of the 5th instant, and am returning the photograph herewith which I have signed as you wish”. The signed photograph is not included. Sherriff sent this letter while he was reading history at New College, Oxford, but he was already famous for his 1928 play, Journey’s End. The play was based on his experiences as a World War I Army officer and included a young Laurence Olivier in the original cast. The letter is in fine condition with some folds.

A MAN TRANSFERS HIS DIVIDEND PAYMENT FROM THE SOUTH SEA COMPANY TWO YEARS AFTER THAT COMPANY HIT THE PEAK OF ITS FAMOUS BUBBLE

(THE SOUTH SEA COMPANY).  The South Sea Company was a British venture established in 1711 to trade with South American colonies. Its publicly-traded stock became the subject of a massive bubble in 1720. Shares traded for £1050 British Pounds in June of that year, up from a mere £128 in January, but then fell back to the £100 range by the end of the year. Companies and private individuals alike were financially devastated when the bubble burst, and many of the company’s key figures were eventually prosecuted for various sorts of corruption.

ADS. 1pg. 6” x 7 ½”. July 28, 1722. N.p.  An autograph document signed “Tho. Macro” and written in the same hand. Mr. Macro transfers his dividend payment from South Sea Company stock to John Creichton of London: “Sr please to pay my Dividend of mid Summer cost for all my stock in the South Sea Company to Dr. John Creichton being 633:6:8 and this shall be yr dischange from yr unknown humble sert Tho. Macro”.  Macro received this dividend about two years after the South Sea Company reached its highest price and over one year after the bubble had fully collapsed. The document is in very good condition with a few small holes and a small piece removed from the bottom edge of the paper.  The address leaf is on the verso.  A memory of one of the financial market’s great stock bubbles.

SOUTHEY PAYS TO REPAIR HIS HOME, GRETA HALL

ROBERT SOUTHEY (1774-1843). Southey was an English poet from the Romantic School. He was the Poet Laureate for thirty years. He wrote a well-known biography of Horatio Nelson and his best-known poems include “God’s Judgment on a Wicked Bishop”, “After Blenheim” and “Cataract of Lodore.”

ALS. 1pg. 7 ¼” x 8 ¾”. June 3, 1819. Keswick. A scarce autograph letter signed “Robert Southey” to an unidentified correspondent: “The annuities shall be duly discharged. I have paid £1-5-3 for repairing the roof, & rebuilding a chimney shaken by the storms in January, & also the sum of £2.17.3 for a new pump, the old one being so rotten as to be no longer serviceable. The residue, accounting to £3.7.6 shall be sent by the Carrier, if no better opportunity of conveying it should occur.” Greta Hall was Southey’s home. The letter is in very good condition with mailing folds and it is tipped to a larger sheet. The writing is dark.

A SATIRICAL DANIEL SULLY QUOTE ABOUT POLITICS

DANIEL SULLY (1855-1910). Sully was an American actor, circus performer, and playwright.

AQS. 1pg. April 16, 1892. N.p. An autograph quote signed “Daniel Sully”. “The dutch do the voting while the Irish hold the offices Yours T. B. Sure Daniel Sully”. The quote seems to have come from an autograph album, as there are two more signatures on the verso. One is by Louisiana author George Washington Cable (1844-1925) – “Yours truly, G.W. Cable”. It is dated January 1885, and a pencil notation at the top of the page suggests that it was signed while Cable was on a literary tour with his friend Mark Twain. In very good condition.