Arthur James Balfour Collection of Autograph Letters Signed.

BALFOUR, Arthur James.

$2,000.00

Item Number: 146657

Rare collection of four letters signed by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905. The collection includes: Duodecimo, four pages, embossed with the House of Commons insignia and signed by Balfour to “Dear Duchess,” which reads in part “I am very glad indeed to hear of yr. success in finding a suitable model . . . . I should love to see your work as soon as you think the profane crowd may be admitted to it! In the meanwhile I venture to send you a book on anatomy for artists [not present], what you probably know already but which in case you do not may interest you. . . . It is the best book on the subject. . . . Arthur James Balfour” (Jun 26, 1892); Duodecimo, two pages on Parkins & Gotto’s Government Note stationary, dictated by Balfour and signed to Reverend Hensley Henson, which reads in part “. . . I need hardly add that every effort will be made by the Conservative Party to resist the further progress of the measure for the Disestablishment to Disendowment of the Church in Wales. Yours faithfully, Arthur James Balfour” (March, 20 1895); Duodecimo, four pages, signed by Balfour to editor of the Hibbert Journal, L.P Jacks, about a philosophical article he intends to contribute to the Journal, which reads in part, “I think I shall have something ready for you . . . . I shall be able to turn it to account in the shape of an introduction ‘Philosophic Doubt’, which I propose to reprint . . . . Yet I feel this great difficulty . . . . No one cares much about my particular point of view except myself: and in these cir[cumstanc]es to come before the world and ask them to consider [Henri] Bergson in relation to me–is more than my modesty can stand. . . . Yours Arthur James Balfour” (August 15, 1911); Octodecimo, three pages on Carlton Gardens stationary accompanied by a the envelope addressed to “the Clerk of the House of Lords,” signed by Balfour with his initials, which reads “Bloated official, battening on a too credulous country, and squandering amid the dissipations of a foreign capital the toil-worn pittance of the groaning taxpayer: when meanest thou to return to the scene of thy duties (not of thy labours) to devote such payments of time as can be spared from the more serious (!) desk occupations of my misspent life to the service of the long-suffering Public (with a capital P). I am here till Monday; lunch or dine, or five o’clock tea, any day except Sat when I dine out. A. J. B.” (n.d.). In fine to near fine condition. Minor toning to the hinge of the 1992 letter with a section of blue paper adhered to the rear of the 1895 letter.

Arthur James Balfour was born of an ancient Scottish family and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905. He was later First Lord of the Admiralty in Asquith's coalition government in the first World War, and foreign Minister under Lloyd George (1916-1919). As Foreign Secretary in the Lloyd George ministry, he issued the Balfour Declaration in 1917 on behalf of the cabinet promising support for a Jewish National home in Palestine.