Description:

Venezuela Boundary Dispute
Paris, France, ca. 1899
Two Rare Signed Photos of Arbitration Members for Venezuela Boundary Dispute
Photograph
Two signed photographs by members of the arbitration panel for the Venezuela Boundary Dispute. There is faint silvering to the smaller photograph, and the mat has chipping and minor damage at the right edge. Toning and mat burn to both mounts. All boldly signed, very good overall.

The first image measures 18" x 15", [Paris], [ca. 1899]. Shown are five members of the arbitration panel, who each sign below the image: Supreme Court Justices David J. Brewer and Melville W. Fuller (who represented Venezuela), Privy Counvillor and Lord Justice Richard Hann Collins and Chief Justice Lord Charles Russell (representing Great Britain), and Frederic De Mertens (a Russian member selected).

The second image measures 19.5" x 15.5", Paris, [ca. 1899]. Shown are all 29 members of the Arbitration Tribunal, who each sign below the image and include: President Benjamin Harrison, Severo Mallet-Prevost, Secretary of War Benjamin F. Tracy, Richard E. Webster, David J. Brewer, Melville W. Fuller, Richard Henn Collins, Lord Charles Russell, Frederic de Mertens, James H. Reddan, Roland Gray, and others. Both images were taken by photographer Eugène Pirou, who had been awarded a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1889.

The Venezuela Boundary Dispute was a diplomatic controversy which nearly caused a war between the U.S. and Great Britain. The issue stemmed from Venezuela's claim to land that had been inherited from Spain, which Great Britain claimed had been acquired by them in 1810 from the Dutch. In 1895, U.S. Secretary of State Richard Olney, invoking a new and broader interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, essentially demanded arbitration. Britain refused the offer, causing Grover Cleveland to denounce the British in a message to Congress on December 17, 1895. Rumors of a potential war began circulating until British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury sent a conciliatory message to the U.S., which conceded the validity of the Monroe Doctrine. An American commission was appointed to negotiate a boundary line, which was finally drawn in 1899. However, to this day, the boundary is still contested by Venezuela.

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: 19.5" x 15.5"
  • Medium: Photograph

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