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
January 19
On this day in 1884 the composer Jules Massenet's opera "Manon" premiered in Paris and in 1812 in the Iberian Peninsula, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, after a ten day siege ordered British soldiers of the Light and third divisions to storm Ciudad Rodrigo. Strategically, the fall of the fortress opened the northern gateway into French-dominated Spain from British-held Portugal.
MASSENET (Jules, 1842-1912, French Composer)
Fine portrait photo by H. Manny, signed and inscribed to “Madam Dexter Fearjon trés respectueux hommage”, showing him half length, looking to one side, 9” x 6”, in mount 13” x 10”, no place, no date, dated on the verso 1889, slightly damaged on the signature and one word
WELLINGTON (Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, Field Marshal & Statesman)
Autograph Letter Signed to Frances LADY SHELLEY, (née Winckley, 1787-1873, wife, 1807, of Sir John Shelley, 1772-1852, M.P., 6th Baronet of Maresfield, Sussex), saying he was “just going to write to congratulate you upon Shelley’s success at Newmarket when I received your note”, and concludes that “Frederick”, (her second son, 1809-1869, from 1867 8th Baronet), “will now have a Private Tutor”, the Duke has “spoken to Coleman respecting Dr Parkestone’s Dogs & he says they are very good”, but asked the Duke to see them first, “I shall be most obliged [to] you if you will desire that they may be sent to Stratfield Saye. Let me know to whom I shall give the Money for them”, the Duke continues “The Radicals at Glasgow appear to think they have had enough of Rebellion. I trust that the mutineers taken will be hanged. The Tyrant”, apparently the Duke’s wife Kitty, “is still out of town but I believe she comes this day”, he will be “very happy to see you when you come to town. My house”, Apsley House, which he bought from his brother Richard in 1817, “is nearly finished”, 3 sides 8vo black edged, 12th April 1820, four closed tears at ends of horizontal folds without loss to tex
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