Photographs, Autographs and Ephemera

ROYALTY. A black and white photograph of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor signed to the card mount by both sitters, inscribed 'To A.G. Allen' and dated 1946 in ink, overall 32cm x 23.5cm. Provenance: Sir Albert George Allen (1888-1956) and thence by descent. Note: Sir Albert George Allen was the Duke of Windsor's solicitor during the period of the abdication. Allen was educated at North Malvern School. During the war he served as captain and Brigade Major. He was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the D.S.O. and the Military Cross. In 1930 he jointly founded the law firm Allen and Overy. He was nicknamed 'Poker Face' by the then King Edward VIII as they worked together through the political upheaval resulting from his decision to marry Wallis Simpson.

ROYALTY. A pair of 9ct gold oval cufflinks engraved with an unidentified armorial and initials, Birmingham 1899, 3.7g, together with a card inscribed 'For Mr Allen in remembrance of my husband' and printed 'Duchess of Kent', an envelope addressed to 'A.J. Allen Esq.' and a newspaper clipping relating to Mr Albert George Allen's visit to Fort Belvedere. Provenance: Sir Albert George Allen (1888-1956) and thence by descent. Note: Sir Albert George Allen was the Duke of Windsor's solicitor during the period of the abdication. Allen was educated at North Malvern School. During the war he served as captain and Brigade Major. He was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the D.S.O. and the Military Cross. In 1930 he jointly founded the law firm Allen and Overy. He was nicknamed 'Poker Face' by the then King Edward VIII as they worked together through the political upheaval resulting from his decision to marry Wallis Simpson.

ROYALTY. A silver cigarette case with engine-turned front and back, the hinged front with Edward VIII royal cypher, the interior with engraved inscription 'A.G. Allen from Edward R.I. 11th Dec 1936', hallmarked London 1934 by Ramsden & Roed, 9cm x 6.3cm, 104g, together with a piece of 'The Fort' letterhead paper also bearing the King's cypher. Provenance: Sir Albert George Allen (1888-1956) and thence by descent. Note: Sir Albert George Allen was the Duke of Windsor's solicitor during the period of the abdication. Allen was educated at North Malvern School. During the war he served as captain and Brigade Major. He was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the D.S.O. and the Military Cross. In 1930 he jointly founded the law firm Allen and Overy. He was nicknamed 'Poker Face' by the then King Edward VIII as they worked together through the political upheaval resulting from his decision to marry Wallis Simpson.

ROYALTY. Two fine linen handkerchiefs with embroidered entwined initials 'E.P.', together with a card inscribed 'With Best wishes from Edward P' and printed 'The Prince of Wales'. Provenance: Sir Albert George Allen (1888-1956) and thence by descent. Note: Sir Albert George Allen was the Duke of Windsor's solicitor during the period of the abdication. Allen was educated at North Malvern School. During the war he served as captain and Brigade Major. He was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the D.S.O. and the Military Cross. In 1930 he jointly founded the law firm Allen and Overy. He was nicknamed 'Poker Face' by the then King Edward VIII as they worked together through the political upheaval resulting from his decision to marry Wallis Simpson.

ROYALTY. An archive of material compiled by A.G. Allen relating to Wallis Windsor and Edward, Duke of Windsor, including manuscript notes and minutes taken by Allen during meetings with Edward during the events leading up to the King's abdication, accompanied with typed-up versions, a letter from King George VI, and also including Christmas cards from The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Christmas cards from Princess Marina, and photographs of related interest. Provenance: Sir Albert George Allen (1888-1956) and thence by descent. Note: this fascinating archive includes George Allen's 'Confidential Notes' in the days preceding the abdication. It includes details of telephone conversations and meetings with eminent persons, the handling of the press, a radio broadcast, and hints towards the prominence Edward held for him and his wife to obtain the H.R.H. title. The letter from King George VI to 'Dear Allen' and dated January 10th 1943 thanks the recipient 'for sending the very clear statement of the Duke of Kent's affairs' and continues that the King hopes 'it will be possible to find some way of augmenting the Duchess's income. Sir Albert George Allen was the Duke of Windsor's solicitor during the period of the abdication. Allen was educated at North Malvern School. During the war he served as captain and Brigade Major. He was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the D.S.O. and the Military Cross. In 1930 he jointly founded the law firm Allen and Overy. He was nicknamed 'Poker Face' by the then King Edward VIII as they worked together through the political upheaval resulting from his decision to marry Wallis Simpson.

AUTOGRAPHS, QUEEN ELIZABETH II & PRINCE PHILIP. A group of 4 Christmas cards signed in ink, possibly autopen, by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for the years 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.

AUTOGRAPHS, QUEEN ELIZABETH II & PRINCE PHILIP. Two Christmas cards signed in ink, possibly autopen, by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for the years 1999 and 2000.

AUTOGRAPHS, QUEEN ELIZABETH II & PRINCE PHILIP. Two Christmas cards signed in ink, possibly autopen, by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for the years 2003 and 2004.

AUTOGRAPHS, QUEEN ELIZABETH II & PRINCE PHILIP. A group of 3 Christmas cards signed in ink, possibly autopen, by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for the years 2006, 2008 and 2009.

AUTOGRAPHS, QUEEN ELIZABETH II & PRINCE PHILIP. Two Christmas cards signed in ink, possibly autopen, by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for the years 2010 and 2015.

MOTOR RACING. A collection of 30 black and white photographs of 1913-1914 motor races, 17cm x 21.5cm, including the Isle of Man TT and the French Grand Prix, most annotated in pencil to the reverse, often with driver and car details.

INVICTA. A pair of black and white photographs of Invicta motorcars, advertising 'W.H. Knibbs & Son Ltd Motor Body & Coach Builders, Ardwick, Manchester', circa 1932. Provenance: The Tim Harding Collection of Motoring Photographs.

AUTOGRAPH. Two black and white photographs signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Thomas Goldie Gardner, relating to his world record speed attempts in the MG EX-135, each 7.5cm x 12.5cm, framed as one within an oak frame, together with a related black and white photograph of George Eyston in the 'Magic Midget'.

CARINGTON BOWLES (publisher). A monochrome engraving 'The Bubblers Medley, or a Sketch of the Times Being Europes Memorial for the Year 1720', relating to the South Sea Bubble, 38.5cm x 31cm, together with a watercolour of flowers from an album.

YACHT RACE. An archive of photographs, letters and correspondence relating to The Sunday Times Golden Globe Round the World Race in 1968-1969 and yachting, including 29 black and white photographs, many mounted on board and 24cm x 36.5cm, including two photographs signed by the winner of the race Robert Knox Johnston and two signed by Sir Francis Chichester, also including typed correspondence on The Sunday Times Golden Globe headed paper with entry conditions, updates and other letters, mostly issued by Robert Riddell, but including an a.l.s. by Bernard Moitessier and a later t.ls. regarding a voyage to Pitcairn Island. Note: Robert Knox-Johnston was the only one of the nine entrants to complete the race, becoming the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world.

BRITISH TRANS-ARCTIC EXPEDITION. A group of 15 photographs mounted on board of the British Trans-Arctic Expedition in 1968-1969, including two photographs signed by all five members of the Expedition: Freddie Church, Allen Gill, Roy 'Fritz' Koener, Ken Hedges and Wally Herbert, two photographs signed by Wally Herbert and another signed by Alan Gill, each 23cm x 35.5cm, together with another smaller photograph and some related ephemera. Note: Herbert's expedition was the first to make it, undisputed, to the North Pole on foot, reached on 6 April 1969. In all, the expedition made a 3,800 mile surface journey from Alaska to Spitsbergen in Norway, over the North Pole.

AUTOGRAPHS. A small collection of clipped signatures, some mounted, including Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Stanley Baldwin, Thomas Beecham, Edward Burne-Jones, King George III, David Lloyd George, Nellie Melba, Thomas Moore, and Robert Southey.

AUTOGRAPHS, POLITICAL & MILITARY. A collection of signed letters and autographs of historical, political and military interest, including an autograph letter and a typed New Year greeting signed by Montgomery of Alamein, two autograph letters signed by Robert Peel, and a carbon copy of a letter dated 1958 signed 'Edward Duke of Windsor'; also including other letters and autographs, signed by H.H. Asquith, Marquess of Anglesey, Rowland Hill, Richard Owen, Marie Stopes, and Edward Heath.

AUTOGRAPHS, ART, MUSIC & LITERATURE. A collection of signed letters and autographs of art, music and literary interest, including a Poem-of-the-Month titled 'Francesca in Winter' signed by Stevie Smith, a t.l.s. signed by Hilaire Belloc, and two autograph letters signed by Feliks Topolski; also including other letters and autographs, signed by Vivien Leigh, Oliver Wendell Holmes, John Masefield, Bernard Miles, Marcus Stone and George Robey.