A rare Tudor document signed in 1544 by King Henry VIII is for sale at a British collectibles company.
Paul Fraser Collectibles (PFC) are selling a large parchment of an official court document resolving a land matter.
What makes it so special is the hand-written name of Britain’s most famous king, inscribed with quill pen just four years before Henry died.
Henry’s reign was a tumultuous one that helped create the modern British state, most notably in his withdrawal from the Roman Catholic Church.
The document is large and very well preserved. Image courtesy of Paul Fraser Collectibles.
That was a decision born largely from the king’s own personality.
Paul Fraser, chairman of Paul Fraser Collectibles, said: “Henry’s insatiable hunger for women and power turned his country upside down and changed history forever.”
The document is a 22.5 inches by 15 inches (57cm by 38cm) parchment.
In signing, Henry authorises the return of some land in Sussex from crown ownership to the woman to which it was willed.
The stuff of day-to-day government.
But, it comes from a time when the future of the UK was being forged.
In the previous year, Henry had put his daughters Mary and Elizabeth back into the line of succession. Their reigns would be two of the most consequential (and bloody) in British history.
Later in 1544, he would send troops to France to protect Boulogne, travelling there himself to oversee a siege of the port that successfully added it to England’s French possessions. But, the main front of his war with Catholic Europe was developing to the north, and would culminate in the union of the English and Scottish thrones at the end of his Tudor dynasty.
PFC say the document has been restored to museum standards.
Paul Fraser said: “You seldom find Henry’s signature in even the most elite private collections.
“Obviously, it is rare: few examples survive after 500 years. Another reason is scarcity. Most Tudor Royal documents are owned by museums and institutions. And those still in private hands tend to stay there, often for generations.
“This is an absolutely stunning Tudor Royal manuscript, the size and condition of which I have rarely seen throughout my career.”
Henry’s name clearly signed on the parchment.
Henry’s signature may be particularly rare among British monarchs because of his volcanic temperament. Courtiers and officials so feared the consequences of catching Henry on one of his many bad days that they avoided putting papers before him.
When Henry’s signature does come up for sale, it routinely makes tens of thousands of pounds, but sales are so rare it is hard to find patterns in the market.
British royalty is highly collectible and celebrity-like followings can span centuries. Elizabeth I, Ann Boleyn, Victoria, Alfred, Charles I… all have dedicated fan bases who are interested in buying anything to do with them.
The Henry VIII document is currently for sale to PFC private clients and will be listed online soon.
