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Auction: 21066 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 103

Great Britain
The Collection of Mr. Horace Jack Crisp, Valet to King Edward VIII
The notebooks and official records kept by Jack Crisp in his capacity as valet to the Prince of Wales and King Edward VIII:
a. 1935 and 1936, two part printed monthly calendars titled "Season Kalendar", annotated "Mr. Crisp" at the top left, giving day to day details of the official engagements of the Prince of Wales and then as King for 1936, divided into "Morning, Afternoon, Evening". Highlights include:
The Kalendar for 1935 lists travels to Vienna, Budapest, Paris (February), meetings relating to the Silver Jubilee, audiences with diplomats, the Grand National (March), Visit to Cornwall, "HRH will hold himself in readiness to attend Cup Final, Wembley if the King cannot attend" (April), Silver Jubilee celebrations, State Ball and Dinner (May), Royal Ascot, National Gallery Board meeting (June), RAF Review, Mildenhall, Visit Channel Islands Garden Party, Buckingham Palace (July), Arrived Cannes (August), travel to Budapest, Vienna, Munich, Paris (September), Return to the Fort, Open International Motor Exhibition Olympia (October), Wedding at BP (Duke of Gloucester), Christening of HRH The Duke of Kents son, Funeral Earl Jellicoe (November), Opening Parliament, Sandringham (December)
The Kalendar for 1936 is more dramatic.
HRH flew to Sandringham, 11.55 H.M. passed away (January), meetings with Mr R. MacDonald, Mr Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister (February), audiences granted to ministers, diplomats, the Maharajah Holkar of Indore (March), Maundy Service, audiences detailed, Boy Scout at Windsor (April), The Aga Khan, Levee, private audiences (May), Fort - one week, Trooping the Colour, audiences granted to three Maharajahs (June), Canadian Cricket Team, Presentation of Colours, Vimy Ridge Memorial (June), Nahlin Trip - rotten (August), Balmoral (September), pages virtually blank for October, Sandringham mentioned, Opening of Parliament, Maharajah of Cutch, Visit Home Fleet, special train to S. Wales (November), "Friday 11 December 1936 FINIS".

b. Notebook "H.J. Crisp/York House/St James s Palace/ London SW1", with alphabetical sections A-Z detailing all the requirements for state, ceremonial and other occasions that the valet to the Prince of Wales and later as King would be required to know. Ranging from uniforms, medals and decorations, dress for Derby Day, Funerals, Jubilee day, Highland Dress, hunting kit, Levee, Admirals full dress, Review of Fleet, Opening of Parliament, Sandringham, Scouts uniform, Trooping the Colour, Windsor dress, Royal Yacht. Further notes re cocktails, food and drink preferences, dress as King for the funeral of King George V. A fascinating insight.

c. Bound lined exercise book, serving as an inventory of the Duke of Windsor's possessions stored, it appears, at Frogmore following the abdication. Together with a typed letter signed "Edward" written from Paris in October 1945 - "Dear Jack, I was glad to see you again at Frogmore last Saturday and wish to thank you for the good care you have taken of all my clothes and personal belongings stored there during the war."
Divided into 39 lists, detailing all the Duke's clothing, cigars, films, safari and shooting, rugs, robes, umbrellas and sticks, Uniforms, Orders and Decorations. As items listed were sent on or given away this was detailed in the inventory. Items handed to King George VI and Queen Mary are identified. The orders and decorations have an insurance value attached (List 39).

There is a letter to Mr Crisp dated October 1952 from Victor A. Waddilove, Private Secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, regarding updating the book. A further letter from Lord Kinross dated February 1960 thanks Mr Crisp for the loan of the register while working on "the Duke's book" - A Family Album.

d. British Passport, Mr H. J. Crisp, issued 6 June 1934 with passport stamps recording his travels with the Prince of Wales to Hungary, France, Austria and Germany

Offered as a collection.


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Sold for
£1,800

Starting price
£650