Description:

Victoria I Boldly Signed & Beautifully Illuminated "Queens Warrant" Related to Bankruptcy & Penal Servitude

A 3pp document boldly signed by Queen Victoria I (1819-1901), as "Victoria Rg" [Regina] in the upper left corner of the first page. Issued from Buckingham Palace on May 10, 1859. Also countersigned by two individuals, "Henry Whitmore" and "Peter D Cashburn" in the lower right corner of the third page. Secretarially inscribed on vellum. Four headlines of illuminated manuscript in gold, black, and red can be found at the top, complete with intricate flourishes, as: "Victoria By the Grace of God of the / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen / Defender of the Faith" etc., the headlines measuring 12.5" x 2.5" alone. A dark blue embossed revenue stamp for thirty pounds, with a printed "VR" stamp verso, can be found at upper left. Expected wear including gentle soiling, wrinkles, and isolated fading to the upper portion of the first page. Scattered pencil marks. A black-edged label has been overlaid at the center of the first page. The bottom edge of the third page has been trimmed. Else near fine and the later pages are quite dark and legible. 21.25"x 14.75."

The document relates to a criminal case that had taken place in Middlesex County, an urban area comprising Greater London, that had been tried two years earlier, on November 23, 1857. Three men named John Marks, Samuel Marks, and Abraham Simmons had been found guilty of fraud and deception relating to bankruptcy. According to trial transcripts fully available and digitized by "The Proceedings of the Old Bailey: London's Central Criminal Court, 1674 to 1913," the men were charged specifically "with an intent to defraud…creditors." John Marks was the principal defendant, with his younger brother Samuel Marks, and Samuel's father-in-law Abraham Simmons, named as accessories. All three men were convicted and sentenced to eight years of penal servitude.

Our document, issued by Victoria on May 10, 1859, allowed one Michael Barnett, who had transacted business with co-defendant Abraham Simmons, to assume "All our Estate rights" to a property, No. 7 Bell Street in Paddington. Ordinarily, the crown had the legal prerogative to automatically seize the goods, chattels, and property of convicted felons following their conviction. This document relinquished Victoria's legal right, however, and conveyed it upon "Michael Barnett his executors administrators and assigns…"

The Marks, Marks & Simmons case is a very colorful one which can be studied by reading contemporary newspaper accounts. The men, coach makers by trade, had attempted to secret goods valued at more than £10,000 (including six pianofortes!) by boat to Sydney, Australia under the noses of their creditors. The principal defrauder, John Marks, had declared bankruptcy six months earlier, in May 1857.

It is likely that the felons would have joined their pianofortes in Australia--as transported convicts--if they had committed their crime prior to the passage of 1853 Penal Servitude Act, and its successive piece of legislation, the Penal Servitude Act of 1857. Early Victorian punishment was extremely harsh and often entailed the transportation of its criminals to Australia, Tasmania, or America for various lengths of time, including life. The Penal Servitude Acts of the 1850s modified the criminal justice system. The Acts were considered much more lenient and humane as they provided prosecutors with other punitive options. Marks, Marks, & Simmons were sentenced to eight years of penal servitude. They would have served their incarceration in prisons within the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Gibraltar, or Bermuda, instead of halfway across the globe.

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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December 14, 2022 11:00 AM EST
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