Details:

George III autographed 5-page document. 5 total pages with two blank pages, measuring 8" x 12.5", St. James, London, dated November 1, 1808. The original document is written in English, accompanied by a copy written in Latin, attached with a purple silk ribbon. Signed by the King "George R" and addressed to the Lord Chancellor, John Lord Eldon.

George III instructs Eldon to affix "Our Great Seal of Great Britain…to an Instrument bearing date with these presents, a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed containing Our Full Power to Our Trusty and Well beloved Anthony Merry Esq., authorizing and empowering him to treat and agree with the Minister or Ministers of Our Good Brother the King of Sweden [Gustavus IV Adolphus]…" Countersigned at the end by the Foreign Secretary George Canning. With flattened folds, light soiling, and edge toning. Ink bleeding at the "G" in the King's signature, which has stained the lower portion of the document when it was folded.

Accompanied by the original folder and printed description used by Maggs Bros. Ltd., Ca. 1992. Housed in a custom linen covered clamshell case.

Expected wear to the folder, with original pencil notations.
Small tears at the edge where the ribbon is attached.

George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with George as its king. He was concurrently Duke and Prince-elector of Hanover in the Holy Roman Empire before becoming King of Hanover on 12 October 1814. He was a monarch of the House of Hanover, who, unlike his two predecessors, was born in Great Britain, spoke English as his first language, and never visited Hanover.

In the late 1780s, George's health was already beginning to deteriorate and he was showing signs of mental illness. By 1808, he was practically blind with cataracts, making his signature labored as we see in this document. An operation had been suggested in 1805 but was never attempted. His mental illness returned and he became dangerously ill in 1810, following the death of his favorite daughter, Princess Amelia. The Regency Act of 1811 was enacted, and his son (later George IV) acted as Regent until his father's death in 1820.

Gustavus IV Adolphus succeeded to the throne of Sweden in 1792. His reign was ill-fated, largely due to his incompetence during the Napoleonic Wars. The final straw came in February 1808, when he lost Finland to Russia and was consequently deposed in a Coup d'état the following year. This document represents the last British diplomatic approach to him before his dethronement.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11608 1394622-1