Description:

Disraeli Benjamin

Benjamin Disraeli ALS, Five Months After Becoming Beaconsfield & Joining the House of Lords, Citing Conflict with "Royal invitation"

 

4pp ALS inscribed overall and signed by British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) as "Beaconsfield" at the center of the fourth page. Written in London on July 10, 1877. On watermarked cream bifold mourning stationery with "2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W." letterhead. Expected light paper folds and mounting traces along top of last page, else near fine. Each page measures 4.375" x 6.875". From the Collection of Norman Boas of Seaport Autographs and purchased at Christie's December 5, 2017 sale.

 

Prime Minister Disraeli wrote this exquisitely polite note declining a party invitation that he had previously accepted from Alice Brook Stephen, Lady Northcote (d. 1934). Disraeli implored her to forgive him, citing a conflict with a newly issued "Royal invitation":

 

"Dear Lady Northcote,

 

I must ask you to do me a great favor, + allow me to take a great liberty. It is to permit me not to have the pleasure I had anticipated, of being your guest on the 18th.

 

I have received a Royal invitation for that day, which I by no means recognize as a command, but there are particular circumstances in this case, which would make my declining it not only inconvenient but personally disagreeable, to my work.

 

I must therefore, throw myself on your friendly interpretation of my conduct, the necessity of which I certainly regret.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Beaconsfield."

 

Disraeli's would-be hostess Lady Northcote had married Sir Henry Stafford, Lord Northcote (1846-1911) in 1873. The future First Lady of Bombay and Australia had mysterious family origins. Alice Brook was believed to be the daughter of a Vermont clergyman who had been adopted by the childless Canadian industrialist Lord Mount Stephen sometime during her childhood or early adulthood. Lady Northcote's adopted father, a close friend of royal grandson and future George V, had introduced her to her future husband.

 

In 1877, Lord Northcote was serving as secretary to his father, Sir Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh, then acting Chancellor of the Exchequer. The younger Lord Northcote later capitalized on his Foreign Service experience by serving as Governor of Bombay from 1899-1903, and General-Governor of Australia between 1903-1908. Lady Northcote became a Companion of the Crown Order of India in 1900 and was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919.

 

A major influencer of Victorian politics, Disraeli led the Conservative Party during two terms as Prime Minister, between February-December 1868, and between 1874-1880. In February 1877, Disraeli left the House of Commons to accept Queen Victoria's honorary title of Lord Beaconsfield and join the ranks of the House of Lords.

 

Provenance: Ex-Christie's December 5, 2017 sale; Ex-Norman Boas, Seaport Autographs



WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000