This album contains documents relating to French history from the 15th to 19th centuries, portrait prints and letters relating to American history, autographs of British notables (such as William Wilberforce) and one clipping from a 17th century dutch engraving.
Van de Weyer [née Bates], Elizabeth Anne Sturgis (1817-1878), wife of Jean Sylvain Van de Weyer, friend of Queen Victoria
This album chiefly contains the engraved portraits and autographs of notable diplomats in the court of Queen Victoria, and others of Sylvain Van de Weyer's acquaintance. Many of the items are undated, therefore the date range of the album is taken from items which can be dated to a specific year.
The albums contain engraved portraits, autographs and correspondence of notable individuals chiefly from the United Kingdom, Belgium and France, but other countries are also represented. The vast majority of these items are from the 19th century, with an engraved portrait of the individual on the verso of the album page and a corresponding autograph/letter from that individual to Sylvain Van de Weyer or Elizabeth Van de Weyer on the recto of the album page. There is also a small grouping of older items relating to French historical figures. Many of the items are undated, therefore the date range of the collection is taken from items which can be dated to a specific year.
Receipt addressed from "St James’s ", signed “C.J. Fox” and “Andrew Basilico” for expenses incurred by Basilico during his duties as the “Messenger to the Foreign Department” (also known as the “King’s Messenger”, a position Basilico held from 1782-1813).
Printed facsimile of an autograph letter, signed, from Joseph Bonaparte to Napoléon Bonaparte, dated...
Printed on the head of the letter: "Extrait d’une letter du Général Bonaparte à son Frere Joseph à Marseille, Departement des Bouches du Rhone. Paris, 6 Messidor an 3 de la Republique".
Lettering at foot of engraving: "The Portraicture of the Most Illustrious & Noble William of Nassau Prince of Orange, etc. born 1627 and married 23 May 1641.”
The publication line is cropped from the lower edge.