Description:

20th C. European Notables
various, ca. 1901-1931
Incredible Autograph Album Collected By Margot Asquith! Royalty, Politicians, Writers, Actors, Musicians & More, 90+ Signers, ca. 1900-1931. Ex-Forbes
Signed Album
An incredible autograph album collected by Margot Asquith, Countess of Oxford and Asquith (1864-1945), the wife of British premier H.H. Asquith. Included within the sizeable scrapbook album are signatures, signature clips, photo postcards, postcards, photographs, cabinet cards, autograph letters signed, autograph musical quotations signed, calling cards, newspaper clippings, clipped letterhead, transmittal envelopes, and more, ca. 1901-1931, with the majority dating from 1908-1911, when Asquith was serving his term as Prime Minister. We counted over 90 signers ranging from members of Asquith's Liberal Party cabinet to British, German, Swedish, Romanian, and Egyptian royalty; from British politicians and British imperial administrators, to writers, actors, singers, composers, academics, religious clerics, military commanders, and aviators. Some of the autographs were directly signed on the pages, while the rest are affixed to the pages. The primary language is English but there is also French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, and other languages present. Ex-Steve Forbes Collection.

The album has padded red leather covers with gilt-embossed trim and spine, and pretty papered pastedown pages. Expected wear including toning, isolated discoloration, and scattered foxing within. Several pages appear to be missing items, and some pieces are detached but included. The binding is reinforced with tape. Edge rubbing, isolated surface loss, and some seam splits to the covers. Else very good to near fine. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition. The album measures 11.875" x 10.25" x 2.5."

Margot Asquith appears to have begun compiling the autograph album after her husband H.H. Asquith (1852-1928) was elected as Prime Minister in 1908; he later served as premier until 1916. Margot Asquith was a socialite and intellectual in addition to being the spouse of Britain's most influential statesman of the time. She and her husband's social and political connections gave them unprecedented access to European celebrities. The correspondence, clippings, and photos included within the album represent Margot Asquith's interests in international politics, arts and culture, women's suffrage, and current events.

The list of highlights is by no means exhaustive, and more research is needed!

Signers include, organized by category:

Asquith Family Members

- H.H. Asquith

- Margot Asquith

- Violet Asquith (1887-1969), later Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury

- Anthony Asquith (1902-1968), British filmmaker

- Elizabeth Asquith (1897-1945), later Princess Bibesco

European Royalty

- Edward VII (1841-1910), King of England

- Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925), Queen of England

- Princess Victoria (1868-1935), one of Edward and Alexandra's daughters

- George V, King of England (1865-1936)

- Prince Heinrich of Prussia (1862-1929), younger brother of Emperor Wilhem II

- Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia (1860-1917), Viceregal Consort of Canada

- Gustaf V (1858-1950), King of Sweden

- Victoria of Baden (1862-1930), Queen of Sweden

- Princess Margaret of Connaught (1882-1920), Crown Princess of Sweden

- Marie (1875-1938), Queen Consort of Romania

- Abbas Helmi II (1874-1944), last Khedive of Egypt and Sudan

British & South African Politicians

The scrapbook contains 13 out of 21 signatures of featured Asquith cabinet members including: David Lloyd George (1863-1945), future British prime minister; and Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon (1862-1933).

Also including:

- Arthur Balfour (1848-1930), former British prime minister

- Louis Botha (1862-1919), first prime minister of South Africa

- Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire (1833-1908)

- George Curzon, 1st Marquess of Curzon of Kedleston (1859-1925), former Viceroy of India

- John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838-1923)

- Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929), former British premier

Arts, Music & Letters

- Maud Allan (1873-1956), Canadian dancer

- J.M. Barrie (1860-1937), British writer

- Anatole France (1844-1924), French poet

- John Galsworthy (1867-1933), British novelist

- Elena Gerhardt (1883-1961), German singer

- Lillah McCarthy (1875-1960), English actress

- Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), Polish pianist and statesman

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Irish poet

- Richard Strauss (1864-1949), German composer

- Eleazar Sukenik (1889-1953), Israeli archeologist

- William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), Irish poet

Other

- Claude Grahame-White (1879-1959), British aviator

- Togo Heihachiro (1848-1934), admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy

- Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl of Kitchener (1850-1916)

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 11.875" x 10.25" x 2.5"
  • Medium: Signed Album

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