Sale 2514 - The Pride Sale, June 20, 2019

FREDERICK THE GREAT 1 c FREDERICK II; KING OF PRUSSIA (1712-1786) Letter Signed, “Friedrich,” as King, to the President of the Regency of Cleves Baron von Danckelmann, in German , granting him permission to visit Berlin. 1 page, 4to, with integral blank; mounted at corners and along one edge of blank to larger sheet, folds, faint soiling at edges. With address panel and remnants of wax seal removed from the original envelope, both mounted to a sheet. Berlin, 28 December 1764. [400/600] “I received your letter of the 22nd of this month, and I allow that, if you first take the necessary measures so that nothing is neglected with respect to your function, you may then come to Berlin for two months to arrange your family affairs.” WITH—early engraved portrait of King Frederick. THE LADIES OF LLANGOLLEN 2 c SARAH PONSONBY (1755-1831) Autograph Letter Signed, “El. Butler & Sarah Ponsonby ,” apologizing for delaying a guest who is to visit her, and informing her to expect that the visitor will be bringing a Christmas gift from them [probably a goose]. 2 pages, 8vo, with integral blank; faint scattered staining, folds. [Llangollen], 4 January 1826. [300/400] Sarah Ponsonby (1755-1831) and Eleanor Charlotte Butler (1739-1829) were friends from aristocratic Anglo-Irish families who escaped arranged marriages by twice running away together in 1778, once dressed in men’s clothing to avoid being identified. Later that year, when it became clear how deeply determined they were to be together, their families agreed to let them follow their dreams, and the couple settled in Llangollen, Wales, where they lived together for almost fifty years. Among the houseguests of the “Ladies of Llangollen” were the Duke of Wellington and Josiah Wedgwood, as well as several writers, including Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott, Anna Seward, Percy Shelley, Robert Southey, and William Wordsworth. 2