Everybody needs good neighbours...
The word 'unique' could have been coined especially for this item. It will make you tremble just to stand in close proximity to it.
It has made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
It's the only one of its kind in private hands...
Sure, others are in museums, but you'll never get the chance to own, or profit, from them.
But you can own, profit from, admire and gaze upon this item in the comfort of your own home.
You see...we have available the earliest signature of a British Monarch that you will ever find.
And the condition of the manuscript is nearly as fresh as the day it was written...over 540 years ago.
It's a Treaty signed by Edward IV proclaiming the conclusion of a treaty of peace with Francis Duke of Brittany.
The Treaty itself is incredible, 15 inches by 23 inches in size, written in French and signed by the King of England.
This is a truly remarkable piece...
Edward IV dated 1467.
The earliest known signature of any British Monarch
It's the history behind the item that excites me.
Let me share it with you...
In 1066, Harold II was the King of England, flushed with success, enjoying his victory at the 'Battle of Stamford Bridge'.
Meanwhile in the south of England, William the Conqueror had landed.
On hearing of the invasion Harold and his troops rushed south to fight William at the Battle of Hastings.
As you may recall from the Bayeux tapestry, Harold was fatally wounded and William proclaimed King of England.
But William had one problem: As a Duke of Normandy he still owed allegiance to the King of France, Philip I.
As such the Kingdom of England and the Duchy of Normandy would remain in personal union until 1204.
The remnants of the Duchy of Normandy have remained under the sovereign rule of the Kings and Queens of England until this day...
They are now known as the Channel Islands.
The irony is not lost on me as I sit here in our investment office in Guernsey, gazing at this historical one-off.
Edward III, father of Edward IV still had a claim to the throne of France, which resulted in the hundred year's war 1337-1453, and England's loss of all but Calais.
Which brings us nicely on to Edward IV...born in Rouen in 1442, who found himself newly crowned and then quickly embroiled in the Wars of the Roses 1455-1487.
A series of Civil Wars then ensued between the houses of Lancaster and York, tying Edward up in wars for all of his reign.
Then after his death, his son and heir Edward V was subsequently murdered and Richard III, his Uncle, assumed the crown.
Edward IV was effectively the last French King of England...
Thus ended our French connection...
I had never even seen an Edward IV signature before I came across this wonderful item and perhaps I never will again, which leaves me in something of a quandary...what is an item like this worth?
It is an item of historical importance, the earliest known signature of a British Monarch.
How do you compare it? And with what? Perhaps a copy of the Magna Carta? It is certainly of a similar historical significance.
A copy of the Magna Carta was recently sold by Sotheby's in New York for $21 million.
Documents like this have a quality, a value and a rarity which will always remain long after the purchase price is forgotten.
Today we are offering a major piece of British history.
It should rightfully be displayed at Buckingham Palace or at the Houses of Parliament...
It's a document to be proud of...true heritage...something that your great grandchildren will always be thankful for...
The simple truth is we are only custodians of these exceptional pieces of history....they have lived through exciting times and seen our history in the making...
This is an exceptional opportunity to share that close association with a Nation's history, and hold a document held by one of our past Kings over 540 years ago...
This signed Treaty between England and Brittany was designed for their mutual support against King Louis XI of France.
This Treaty with Brittany must rank as one of the most important early signed Royal documents to have ever come on the market and can truly be claimed to be of considerable historical importance.
The signature "Edoward" reinforces the French connection, and indeed the whole document is written in French, which would be one of the last times this would be seen by an English Monarch.
Very few original Royal proclamations survive today, or even from the later Tudor period.
It is signed in 1467, and written in French, by an English King...
Francis II (1435-1488) was the last Duke of Brittany...emboldened by the new alliance with England...he invaded Normandy, only to lose.
The promised reinforcements from England and Burgundy never arrived, and he was forced to sign a succession of Treaties with France curtailing the independence of his Duchy.
These were difficult times for the Monarchy in England, and Edward IV was right at the centre of the break with the French throne, and English territory within France.
This is real history in your hands...
And, more importantly, this is the sort of opportunity that rarely shows itself.
Once it's gone it's gone, and possibly forever.
I've never seen a document like it and perhaps never will again.
It's that simple...
This document is something of massive importance...with a place in History...and the earliest known signed document by any King or Queen of England.
So, it's a unique opportunity to invest £150,000 in a one-off historical document that could easily be worth over £1 Million in future years.
Think quickly...
You may never get the chance again to own such a superb piece of history...
Call me urgently.
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+44 (0) 1481 708 270 or
email investments@stanleygibbons.co.uk
Toll free from the USA on 1 866 644 6146
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Sincerely,
Mike Hall
Chief Executive
The Stanley Gibbons Group PLC
P.S. "Unique" is an overused word...but not in this case...the potential for long term price appreciation is enormous...do not miss this moment.
P.P.S. Phone me today...this is exceptional...one of a kind.