AUTOGRAPHS OF GREAT SOLDIERS
The fascinations of autograph collecting--Points which influence
the value of an autograph--Autographs classified--A "Schomberg"
letter--The notes scribbled by Airey at Balaklava--General
hints--Prices of autographs
Ninety-nine out of every hundred autographs which find their way into
collectors' albums are said to be those of actresses, who are popular
favourites to-day but not to-morrow. As a consequence, autograph
collecting is seldom considered a serious hobby worthy of the attention
of serious-minded people. This seems a great pity, for if letters and
documents written and signed by real celebrities are collected, not
only may much pleasure be gained from the pastime, but a great deal of
instruction as well.
The wise collector will find that his best plan is to specialize in
one definite direction, and if he follows our advice he will limit his
interests to autographs of great soldiers. Perhaps he will argue that
military signatures are so seldom met with, and so expensive to obtain
when they are offered for sale, that his treasures will not accumulate
fast enough. This, however, is a matter on which he need have no
fears, especially now that the great European conflict has created so
vast an output of military correspondence.
The value of an autograph naturally depends on a number of factors.
The eminence of the writer is, of course, the first consideration,
but the price will also depend on whether the signature is normally
written, whether it was written before notoriety came to the writer,
and the state of preservation of both paper and ink. Can the celebrity
be considered a prolific letter-writer? This is another question which
influences the value of an autograph, for according to the rarity of an
individual's signatures, so will the price be affected.
We say, above, that the eminence of a writer is the first consideration
in deciding the value of his signature. We should be very diffident,
however, at explaining just what factors make for eminence. It
certainly is not rank alone, nor even ability; perhaps we may best
describe it as being in the "public eye."
The autograph-hunter does not seek for signatures alone: he casts
around for entire letters, documents, and signed papers of every
description; it is thus clear that the importance of the communication
plus the autograph should be taken into account when pricing treasures.
For the sake of convenience, we may classify the specimens in our
collections under the following heads:--
1. Signatures, unaccompanied by other written matter.
2. Signatures appended to short letters or documents; the body of the
matter being typed, printed, or written by a private secretary.
3. Signatures appended to short letters or documents which have been
wholly written by the celebrity in question. (Such are known to
collectors as Holographs.)
4. As No. 3, but letters or documents of some length.
[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF A PORTION OF THE LETTER WRITTEN BY CROMWELL
TO LENTHALL, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, ANNOUNCING THE VICTORY OF
NASEBY.
(_From the original in the British Museum._)]
Of the above four classes, the specimens coming within the first are
obviously the least valuable, for they are the most frequently met.
Copies may be found on the fly-leaves of books, on photographs of
celebrities, etc. The second class, unfortunately, is gradually ousting
the third class, since the typewriter is speedily becoming universally
used for all but private letters. Specimens in the second class are
worth a trifle more than those in the first, and a great deal less than
those of the third. Specimens in class 3 are those which the average
collector should aim most at securing; those in class 4 are a trifle
too unwieldy for all but the advanced collector.
[Illustration: A BATTLEFIELD SOUVENIR.
The mug bears two verses of poetry which are somewhat significant,
as they reveal the character of the Tyrolese peasant and soldier.
Translated, they run as follows:--
Eagle, Tyrolese eagle,
Why are you so red?
Is it from the sunshine?
Is it from the red sparkling wine?
It is from the red blood of my enemies
That I am so red.
There are, of course, many ways of arranging an autograph collection,
but on no account should the specimens be fixed to the album without
adding comments on both the subject-matter of the MS. and the identity
of the author. The following letter is given as a specimen. The
original is to be found in the Royal United Service Museum:--
"LISBURNE, _6th March, 1689_.
GENTLEMEN,
I have this day written another for the Battering Gunns and Morters
to be Sent over hither. But now having the Matter under further
consideration doe think it Expedient and necessary for their
Majesties Service to send an Express herewith. And it is to direct
you Immediately on Receipt hereof to cause Eight guns of Eighteen and
Twenty Foure Pounders with all their Equepage, Furniture and Stores
with A good Proporcon of Boms to be Shipped on Board a very good,
light and Nimble Saylor. And that the Capt. or Master be Ordered to
Sayle with them directly for the Lough of Bellfast. For that wee
cannot undertake with any sort of Reasonable Accomodacon the Siege
of the Fort of Charlemount untill those Gunns arrive here. And with
worke I would gladly have furnished before his Majesties coming hither
wherefore I pray use all Dilligence and Expedicon in dispatching away
thence the said Shipps so Fraighted as is herein afore Expressed.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your very loving friend and servant,
SCHOMBERG."
The letter, we must add, is written in a splendidly clear hand by a
clerk, and signed by Schomberg. It therefore belongs to class 2 above.
Under such a document, we might comment as follows: Note the quaint
grammatical forms, also the spelling which clearly shows that
orthography was not an exact science two hundred odd years ago. The
use of capital letters is also curious. Lastly, we may point out the
apparently effeminate ending given to the letter.
As to the identity of Schomberg, we might write: "Marshall Schomberg
was one of William III's generals who took part in the Irish campaign
against James II. He captured Carrickfergus, Belfast, Newry, and
Dundalk, although his troops consisted of raw levies. During the Battle
of the Boyne he assisted William in gaining a brilliant victory, but
was unfortunately slain towards the end of the encounter."
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Translation._
MY DEAR BROTHER,
Not being allowed to die among my troops, it only remains
for me to place my sword in the hands of your Majesty.
I am your Majesty's good brother,
NAPOLEON.
SEDAN, _Sept. 1, 1870_.
AUTOGRAPH LETTER WRITTEN BY NAPOLEON III TO WILLIAM I OF GERMANY AFTER
THE BATTLE OF SEDAN.]
As one would expect, the subject-matter of a letter greatly affects its
value. The following epistle, written by Lord Dorchester, is therefore
of more than ordinary consideration.[22]
[22] The original may be seen in the Royal United Service Museum.
"CULFORD, _Dec. 9th, 1803_.
DEAR FOX,
I was only in town for four days and besides the hurry which always
attends such a visit to London, I was under the necessity of going to
Court on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, which put it out of my power
to call on you.
From the contemptible effort of the insurrection itself in point of
numbers and characters of persons concerned, to the wish of which no
importance could have been attached in the minds of the public, but
for the unfortunate murder of the worthy and truly respectable
Lord ----, and for the still more contemptible preparation of arms, or
plan of operations on the part of the Rebels, it did not appear to
me that any blame could be attached either to the civil or military
departments of the Irish Government for not having taken more
efficient precautionary measures.
From the documents you transmitted to me, it is clear that no blame
can be imputed to you, and from my intimate knowledge of some of the
persons confidentially employed in the civil line, I should with
difficulty believe any charge of want of activity or capacity in that
quarter.
It is certainly a mark of weakness in a government to create
unnecessary alarms, and it has the ill effect of shaking the public
confidence. In this business, however, the Irish administration
appears rather to have erred on the other side, but I am persuaded
that this error proceeded from a recollection of the mischiefs which
a very contrary line of conduct had produced a few years ago in that
unfortunate country.
I shall send your papers by the Coach by my Porter in Town, and direct
him to forward them to you.
Believe me, with great regard,
Dear Fox,
Most Faithfully Yours,
CORNWALLIS."
Of still greater value are the following priceless notes, scribbled
in pencil during action, by Major-General Sir Richard Airey, K.C.B.,
Q.M.G., and sent to the Earl of Lucan who commanded the cavalry
division at Balaklava, October 25, 1854.
"(_a_) Cavalry to take ground to left of 2nd Line of redouts occupied
by Turks.
RD. AIREY, _Q.M.-Genl_."
"(_b_) Cavalry to advance and take advantage of any opportunity to
recover heights. They will be supported by Infantry which has been
ordered to advance on two fronts.
R. AIREY."
"(_c_) Lord Raglan wishes the Cavalry to advance rapidly to the front,
follow the enemy and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the Guns.
Troop of Horse Artillery may accompany. French Cavalry is on your
left. Immediate.
R. AIREY."[23]
[23] These three most interesting autograph notes are also to be seen
in the Royal United Service Museum.
Before concluding these notes we may give some general hints.
Preserve all facsimile signatures which are to be found; they are
useful for purposes of comparison when doubtful originals come along.
The signature should never be cut from a document; the whole sheets
should be preserved.
An original letter ought not to be pasted on to the album. It is far
better to fix it in position by slipping it under "ears" or bands of
paper pasted to the pages.
To restore a faded signature, dab it carefully with a solution of hot
tincture of gall containing a trace of dissolved potassium chlorate.
When dry, dab it with a pad moistened in ordinary lime water. The
process is simple, but it is well to experiment on a useless specimen
before treating valuable ones.
Valuable documents which are torn and perhaps crumbling may be
prevented from deteriorating further by sandwiching between two sheets
of glass, and binding with passe-partout edging.
In deciding whether a document is genuine or not, the composition
of the ink and the texture of the paper should be taken into
consideration. Forgers find great difficulty in matching papers made
more than fifty years ago.
Great care should be used to discriminate between the autographs of
people possessing similar names (e.g. Kitchener, the writer on cookery
matters, must not be confounded with Kitchener, the soldier).
[Illustration:
William of Orange.
Duke of Wellington.
General Wolfe.
Earl Roberts.
King Albert of Belgium.
General Sir Ralph Abercromby.
George Washington.
SOME AUTOGRAPHS OF NOTED SOLDIERS.]
* * * * *
Lastly, it may be useful to give a list of some of the prices realized
by military and allied autographs at public sales, etc., in order that
the collector may gain some rough idea of the value of his treasures.
(A.L.S. means Autograph letter, signed; D.S. means Document, signed;
L.S. means Letter, the signature only of which is in the handwriting of
the celebrity.)
_Abercromby, Sir Ralph._--British general; killed in Egypt, 1801.
D.S., 8s. 6d. A.L.S., with portrait attached, £2.
_Allen, Capt. Wm._--Of the Niger Expedition. A.L.S., 2s.
_Alva, Ferd. Alvarez, Duke of._--Spanish General; oppressed the
Netherlands; executed the Counts Egmont and Horn. L.S., two guineas.
_Amalfi, Duke of._--Imperial marshal commander-in-chief after
Wallenstein. Died, 1656. L.S., 14s.
_Anne, Queen._--D.S., a Privy Council Letter; signed also by
Buckingham, Schomberg, and nine other peers, 10s. 6d.
_Auchmuty, Sir Samuel._--English general; died, 1822. D.S., 4s.
_Barkstead, Colonel John._--Cromwell's Governor of the Tower, executed
1662. D.S., 10s. 6d.
_Barrington, Viscount._--Secretary of War; died, 1793. A.L.S., 3s. 6d.
_Beaver, P. Capt._--With Nelson at Trafalgar. A.L.S., 5s. 6d.
_Blücher._--The famous Prussian field-marshal. L.S., 9s.
_Bonaparte, C. Louis Napoleon._--Emperor. A.L.S., two guineas.
_Burnaby, Capt. Fred._--Author of "A Ride to Khiva." A.L.S., 3s. 6d.
_Charles I._--King of England. D.S., £2 10s.
_Cromwell, Oliver._--D.S., £9.
_Dorchester, Lord Guy Carleton._--L.S., 5s.
_Egmont and Horn, Counts._--Executed by Duke of Alva. L.S., signed by
both. Sixteen guineas.
_Gordon, General._--Killed in the Soudan. A.L.S., two guineas.
_Kempenfelt, Admiral._--Perished in the Royal George. D.S., one
guinea.[24]
[24] H. T. Scott, "Autograph Collecting," Part iii.
[Illustration: AN OLD MUG BEARING THE FAMOUS PICTURE DEPICTING "THE
DEATH OF WOLFE."]