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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 26, 2023 at 6:24pm

The Duke of Wellington is not a hard autograph to find and he wrote almost all of his correspondence that wasn't personal in the third hand, like your letter in the OP: The Duke of Wellington...". I looked at a lot of examples online from sites I trust and this looks real to me, but I am not an authority on him.

History for Sale has a lot of his autographed material for sale that you can compare this one to: 

https://www.historyforsale.com/s/%22arthur%20wellesley%22

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on November 27, 2023 at 3:53pm

I just discovered that Wellington did, in deed, write his personal letters in the third person. I don't know I've ever encountered notable individual who wrote as such, but, then again, I'm more of an armchair collector.

I'll check out History for Sale for Wellington items. Thanks fore the reference and info.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on November 27, 2023 at 8:12pm

Writing in the third person during the early/mid. 19th century was common in the middle/upper classes in Britain.  These were usually shorter notes that were more businesslike in character.

Here's one written in the third person by 'Mr. Charles Dickens' :

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on November 26, 2023 at 6:32pm

This is a good one from the History For Sale listings  to compare with since it's also in that early Victorian third person style.  I would add, however, that the scan in Garrett's post makes that paper look awfully fresh for something that is now approaching 200 years of age.  I also see no signs of folds in that scan or much evidence of toning.  It could just be the scan....but I'd definitely want to know for sure it is original and not a copy if I was looking to purchase it.

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Permalink Reply by michelle on November 26, 2023 at 9:12pm

plus one.  No sign of aging at all on the original one posted.  IMO try and buy a letter or document with some interesting historical content concerning battles  or food  for obvious reasons, especially beef

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on November 27, 2023 at 3:55pm

Good advice. Thank you for the insightful observations. Even for a novice, such as me, I questioned the lack of aging, especially fold marks, etc. You probably saved me from making a costly mistake.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 26, 2023 at 10:12pm

The one in the OP looks like an older scan. He'll want to see a better image before he buys.

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Permalink Reply by michelle on November 26, 2023 at 10:18pm

For sure, but as his autograph isnt that difficult to find as you correctly wrote maybe look for something with more interesting content.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on November 27, 2023 at 1:02pm

Yes, a beef reference would be ideal!  :-)  

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 27, 2023 at 1:54pm

LOL! Funny Eddy! :-)

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on November 27, 2023 at 3:59pm

I totally agree. Considering that the Duke of Wellington was a voluminous writer whose career spanned some history's greatest moments, I would like to find something more substantive. 

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on November 27, 2023 at 3:58pm

I appreciate the advice and guidance. The Duke of Wellington has always been a personal hero of mine, as such, I want to get a nice Duke of Wellington piece. For a novice, such as me, I'm a sitting duck for unscrupulous dealers. 

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