Description:

William Gladstone
England, ca. 1846 to 1896
William Gladstone Archive: 75+ Letters, AMS, AQ, and more!
Archive
A large collection of over 75 letters, along with an autograph manuscript signed, an autograph quote, and a printed booklet, all relating to Prime Minister William Gladstone and dating from ca. 1846 to 1896. Some letters have retained their original mailing covers. The letters all have expected mail folds, with varying degrees of toning, soiling, and light foxing. Expected wear to the covers. All boldly signed by Gladstone.

The archive includes 42 autograph letters signed and 5 autograph postcards signed by Gladstone, along with numerous letters addressed to Gladstone and members of his family. Gladstone's letters are addressed to numerous recipients, including Lord Russell, Lord Granville, Arthur W. Haddan, Rev. Gilbert Elliott, Edward Stanley, and more. Also included are 10+ autograph letters to the Dean of Bristol, to whom Gladstone also wrote several letters.

*Please refer to the photographs for further condition information or make an appointment to see the collection in person at our offices!

*Please view our terms and conditions of sale for lots containing more than five items.

Highlights from the archive:

Autograph Manuscript Signed, "W.E. Gladstone." A working draft of his article entitled "Correspondence of John Lothrop Motley," a review published in the July 24, 1890 issue of The Youth's Companion, with numerous corrections throughout. 4pp, two slips of paper containing holograph insertions pasted to last two pages, n.p., dated April 1889.

Numerous Autograph Letters Signed "WGladstone" or "WG," to Edinburgh lawyer Philip W. Campbell. Various places, dated ca. 1885 to 1892. Several on mourning stationery. Gladstone requests that Campbell serves as his agent for the evening election, discusses the resignation of Churchill [Lord Randolph Churchill, father of Winston, who resigned his post of Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1886], mentions the plans of Mr. Cowan [Chairman of the Midlothian Liberal Association John Cowan, who organized the campaigns in Midlothian resulting in the repeated election of Gladstone], discusses fears of Home Rule activism in Scotland, and seeks his opinion about how to advise [John Macdonald] Cameron about postponing legislation:
December 2, 1886: "... Nothing has occurred to make my opinion that if England & Scotland want legislation they must first get Ireland out of the way. Some persons are afraid lest Home Rule in Scotland should start up in inconvenient and obstructive dimensions: but I do not perceive that persons of weight have as yet given their names in aid of any active agitation."
December 30, 1886: "... The letter of which you send me an extract is one of the rudest I ever saw from Mr. C. It was written no doubt before the Churchill resignation. What that resignation may produce it is too soon to predict. But I think 1. that it can hardly be otherwise than beneficial in one form or another, 2. that our position is sound and healthy, and we may patiently wait for our opportunities..."

Several autograph letters signed, "WGladstone," to Edward Stanley or his son Arthur. Various places, dated ca. 1879 to 1896:
May 10, 1882: "... It is a sharp edge at a dizzy height along which we have now to walk but I place undiminished and indeed enhanced reliance on that thorough comprehension of the situation by our great party which has been all along so remarkable ..."
July 23, 1884: "... I concur in both your grounds of objection to the proposal that Prison Sites shall be sold below their value to build working men's dwellings on them…In principle the scheme is to say the least most questionable: but its unsuitableness to the present moment of abstinence from contested matter is really palpable and glaring."
August 4, 1885: "I have not I think had any communication with Sir W. Harcourt on the question of Prison's Sites...Undoubtedly the more I think of the proposal in the Bill the more it evinces to me the aspect of one of the very worse pieces of Socialism that has yet come into our view."

3 autograph letters signed, "WGladstone," to the Dean of Bristol Gilbert Elliot. Various places, dated December 26 & 30, 1874, and April 19, 1879. Gladstone expresses anxiety about the continued unity of the Church of England, and explains that his difficulty with the Vatican Decrees involves Church authorities declining to take into account the views of others:
December 26, 1874: "... [T]he question which causes by far the greatest anxiety to me is how is the Church of England to be kept together, ... after the men of English blood have contrived to effect this for the 350 years since the first crisis of the 16th Century ... My point of view is, I am afraid, peculiar, but I am sensible of the real service done by all writers who like yourself make a reader feel the real price of the points they have to urge."
December 30, 1874: "The demands upon my time in connection with a controversy about the Vatican Decrees are so absorbing as to secure you from ... the case of our own Church difficulties. I will only say ... [I]f I were to choose a motto inferring my main idea of a true Church policy, it would be your motto to 'let the Church alone'... I have never declared a view in favour of or against any side or party in these matters, but what I lament is to see haphazard proceedings by persons in high authority, and what I desire is to see... some method of action just as any rational set of men must in a cabinet to deal with the Corn Laws the Currency or the Franchise. But what are we to expect when the fashion is set perhaps by your Bishop who so innocently boasts that he will on no account take consent with his brethren as to their common responsibilities. It is this sort of proceeding that grieves and alarms me; since whatever is right, that must be wrong..."

William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician, known affectionately by his supporters as "The People's William" or the "G.O.M." ("Grand Old Man"). In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four terms beginning in 1868 and ending in 1894. He also served over 12 years as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 10.5"
  • Medium: Archive

Accepted Forms of Payment:

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

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

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

January 29, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

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