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Auction: 22066 - Historical Documents, Postal History & Autographs - Featuring the Robin Hunt Collection
Lot: 2055

(x) From the Mayflower Collection
John Bourchier, Third Earl of Bath
An Extraordinary Early Domestic Letter
1550 (3 November) autograph letter signed to his wife Margaret writing that "I have spoken to fenne to debate with Thomas Browne for the provision of Corne for owr household who hath donne the same accordingly" ... "Ther is a comyssyon with a proclamacyon cum downe to all Justices of peaxce for the sealing of the p[or]tes ... ".

Signed "your very louynge husbond, John Bathon", complete with address panel "To my very louynge wiff, the Lady countes of Bath, Delivr this".

Minor foxing, reinforcement along vertical fold though a superb example of an early domestic letter in the reign of King Edward VI.

provenance:
Listed in 'Tudor Royal Proclamations', Hughes and Larkin, 1964.

Notes: John Bourchier, Third Earl of Bath (c.1499 - 1561) Served as Commissioner at the trial of Lady Jane Grey.

A Proclamation of 20 October 1550 set prices for gran and forbade its export. There had been much enclosure of land for sheep rather than for arable use and this was combined with a poor harvest.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£900

Starting price
£320