19th Feb, 2025 10:00
Antiques & Fine Art
Autograph letter by Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimit Stuart ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’
Of Jacobite interest, an extremely rare and historic autograph letter by Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimit Stuart ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ to Patrick Murray, 5th Lord Elibank. The single page letter, with wax seal, signed and dated October 17th, 1745, and addressed from Holyroodhouse, appears to be a thinly veiled call to arms and request for Lord Elibank to use his influence in the Jacobite cause, for which Bonnie Prince Charlie assures him, he will be rewarded. Lord Elibank was a known Jacobite supporter along with his brother Alexander Murray of Elibank, after whom the ‘Elibank plot’ of 1751 is named. Horace Walpole described Murray and his brother, Lord Elibank, as.....such active Jacobites that if the Pretender had succeeded they would have produced many witnesses to testify their great zeal for him... yet so cautious that no witnesses of actual treason could be produced by the Government against them".
This letter is also particularly notable given the date-line, at the height of the Jacobite rebellion, sent from Holyrood during the brief period in 1745 when Bonny Prince Charlie made the Royal residence his home and signed his name with the title ‘P.R.’ (Prince Regent). Letter as follows: ‘I judge this is a fitt opportunity to acquaint you that I am well informed of your favourable inclinations towards my interest and am equally satisfied of your capacity to serve me. As you are now on the point of going to England where you are so universally known I don’t doubt of your making known to my friends the favourable situation of my affairs and my resolution of going thither with all possible diligence. I have instructed Mr Hepburn of Keith with what else I thought necessary and desire you may give entire credit to what he shall say and in return to your services on this occasional you may depend upon my particular favour and friendship.
Charles P.R.’
Jacobite Rebellion at Reeman Dansie…
An historic letter from Bonnie Prince Charlie stars in our February fine art sale. The group of Jacobite rarities were discovered amongst a superb collection of antiques from a house clearance in North Essex; over 250 lots from the Georgian townhouse will feature in our three-day February sale running from February 18th to the 20th.
The letter, addressed to Patrick Murray, 5th Lord Elibank, a known Jacobite sympathiser, is by family descent, and will be of significant interest to historians and collectors alike, falling within the timeline of the 1745 Jacobite uprising. Signed ‘Charles PR’ (Prince Regent) and written from Holyroodhouse, during Charlie’s brief tenure in the Royal Scottish palace, it implores the receiver, in veiled terms, to use his influence in England, amongst the nobles, to support the Jacobite cause. The letter is estimated at £1000-2000, and is offered alongside a lock of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s hair estimated at £200-300 and an 18th century portrait miniature of the young pretender, estimated at £300-500. A very extensive album from the same source, includes a number of letter from Charles’ father ‘The Old Pretender’, also features in the sale, offered at £3000-5000.
£1,000 - £2,000
Buyer's premium: 30%; Cars & Motorcycles: 12%
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Auction: Antiques & Fine Art, 19th Feb, 2025
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Friday 14th February 12pm - 5pm
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