A personal inscription from a young king, a striking photograph of the Great Wall of China, and a military commission bearing Napoleon Bonaparte’s signature were among the highlights of our recent Books, Maps, Manuscripts and Photography auction, which attracted strong interest from collectors and enthusiasts throughout the sale.
The auction brought together a fascinating variety of printed material, manuscripts, photographs and historical documents, with several lots standing out for their rarity and connections to remarkable figures. One of the most intriguing lots was “Ways to Defend Yourself”, a first edition privately printed in Iraq in 1951 by King Faisal II, Youssef Al-Naip and Majid Abdul-Sattar. The copy had been presented to Mrs Jolliffe, the matron of Harrow School during Faisal’s time there, and the title page bears the inscription: “To Mrs Jolliffe, with my best regards, Faisal, 30.4.51.”
Illustrated with diagrams by Khalid Al-Rahal and bound in contemporary cloth-backed boards by Tawfiq-al-Shaykhli, the volume was one of just 50 copies. These copies were personally signed and presented by the young king to foreign dignitaries, fellow Arab monarchs and close acquaintances. The combination of its extreme rarity and direct personal association with Faisal II generated considerable collector interest, with the book achieving a final price of *£6,000.
Photography provided another notable result, with Herbert George Ponting’s carbon print of the Great Wall of China, dating from circa 1907, bought for *£2,625. The auction also included an intriguing group of 18th and 19th century manuscripts, military records and correspondence, among them an officer’s commission bearing the signature of Napoleon Bonaparte. The group was bought for *£1,750, underlining the continued appeal of historic manuscripts, military records and ephemera to specialist collectors.
The strong results achieved by these highlights reflect the enduring interest in historically significant objects. If you have an item you’d like Lawrences’ help with valuing, get in touch with one of their team. (All prices include *Buyers Premium).
Lawrences are welcoming consignments for their forthcoming Fine Art sales to include:
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