Historical Memorabilia
Original documents, letters, photographs and objects from the past: signed manuscripts, 19th-century albumen photographs, medals, flags and military equipment.
United States-Italy - Military medal - Militaria Set, Collection
Spain - Medal - Placca Ordine al Merito En Campana OMS CTV
Italy - Medal - Scudetto RSI della Decima Mas usato nella 2° Guerra Mondiale
Vatican - Military medal - Commander of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great
Italy - Badge - Placca da petto Ordine Costantiniano di San Giorgio - 20th - late
Spain - Document - Horno de Haza - 1615
Photo album - Fotoalbum mit ca. 75 Fotos, Polen, Frankreich, Krankenwagen Einheit - 1939
Italy - Medal - distintivo Milizia MVSN leoni della 180 Legione Parma AOI
A. Ouver - A. Ouver - Inkwell - Laffly-White (White TBC), Version 1917 Armoured Car - Spelter, Marble
French Notaire - Carre - 1875 - 4 pages - Signed Document from the oldest notary office in France
Coran - Coran manuscrit enluminé, Āyat al-Kursī, verset du Trône. - 1800-1850
Prins Amédée de Croÿ - Zeldzame Antieke Gesigneerde Foto (1927) van Prins Amédée de Croÿ, Bisschop van Doornik – - 1927
Ernesto Ché Guevara - Document signed Che Guevara - 1964
Pedro Téllez-Girón y Velasco - Lettre signée - 1529
Attrib Laroux - Large Vintage Albumen Photograph Middle East Chained Lion
Junger Mann, Ambrotypie, USA, 8x9,5cm, Gold coloriert - Portrait
part of a tracing boards set - William Harvey's late 19th century Masonic Translucent Tracing Paper/ Tracing Board Illustration - 1899
Léopold Gabriel - Batch de 27 carte photo Congo belge Léopold Gabriel
Italy - Medal - Bandiera fazzoletto Garibaldi 1859 risorgimento
Only One Available Worldwide for Sale - 1801 Illustrations of Masonry by William Preston- Autographed by Sir. Isaak Heard - 1801
Italy - Military helmet - Kingdom of Italy Fire Brigade firefighter's cap, model 1909. - 1911
Religieux Islamique, - Rare manuscrit arabe islamique ancien, recueil religieux. - 1700-1800
Judaica - alpaca - 1940-1950, 1950-1960 - Freemason cigarette case
Japan - Five sword guards from the Edo period of Japan. - Sword scabbard fitting - 1800-1850
![[Queen Elizabeth II era] - and Prince Philip Signed Christmas Card - 1995](https://img.fancybonnet.com/4b729050-6c8f-4ebd-a4ae-76e32abe6e0d/card.webp)
[Queen Elizabeth II era] - and Prince Philip Signed Christmas Card - 1995
Anselm Kiefer (1945) - hand signiert - Vorzugsausgabe - Johannis-Nacht 1990
San Giovanni Paolo II - Bolla Papale, Firmato, Pergamena, Autografo Papa, USA - 1991
Russia - Army/Infantry - Badge - Für Verdienste um das Vaterland in den Streitkräften der UdSSR - 20th - late
Henri Oltramare e.a. - Vrouwen op bed (3x)
Signed; Ernesto Ché Guevara - Che Guevara documento firmado + certificate of authenticity - 1960
Medieval Scriptorium - Medieval Latin Bible Commentary – Illuminated Parchment Manuscript Leaf – Paris - 1220
Spain - Document - Encabezado - 1554
Karl Lagerfeld - Deux cartes postales et collages originaux adressées à Jacques de Bascher - 1988
Marcel Pagnol - Lettre autographe signée - 1962
Herzog Ernst Friedrich III. von Sachsen-Hildburghausen - Handschriftlicher Brief mit Unterschrift - 1768
![[King Charles III - era] - as Prince of Wales & Diana, Princess of Wales Signed Christmas Card - 1982](https://img.fancybonnet.com/f835a35e-3213-4647-90ed-301cf58ca404/card.webp)
[King Charles III - era] - as Prince of Wales & Diana, Princess of Wales Signed Christmas Card - 1982
Manuscrito - Esclavos España colonial, año 1860. Seguro sobre la vida de un esclavo. Habana, Cub*. La Protectora - 1860
![[République Romaine - Bonaparte] Alexandre Berthier - General en Chef de l'Armée d'Italie - Lettre autographe signée au citoyen Cacault - 1798](https://img.fancybonnet.com/0dff052a-35bf-4e09-ad31-5cba6b751808/card.webp)
[République Romaine - Bonaparte] Alexandre Berthier - General en Chef de l'Armée d'Italie - Lettre autographe signée au citoyen Cacault - 1798
![Soong May-ling [Madame Chiang Kai-Shek] 宋美齡 - Hand signed card PSA/DNA double certified with COA - 1950](https://img.fancybonnet.com/8c4513ed-5c0a-4403-8a2c-35b05d54bbc1/card.webp)
Soong May-ling [Madame Chiang Kai-Shek] 宋美齡 - Hand signed card PSA/DNA double certified with COA - 1950
Batch 22 stereoscopic autochromes - Gardens, children, flowers and family scenes - Plaque - Glass
![Signed; Che Guevara [with COA] - Ceremony for the presentation of Communist work certificates to 170 workers - 1964](https://img.fancybonnet.com/449a9df1-8e90-451e-a389-adcd4cee7a12/card.webp)
Signed; Che Guevara [with COA] - Ceremony for the presentation of Communist work certificates to 170 workers - 1964
Yves Delaporte (1879–1979) - Yves Delaporte – Architectural Notes on Notre-Dame de Paris, Chartres and French Cathedrals - 1950
Louis Philippe König der Franzosen - Brief - 1826
Salmar, Genova - Società Saline Mar Rosso - (Colonies Italiennes) Album photographique consacré à l’aménagement des salines de la mer rouge
Sculpture, soldato francese - 24 cm - Bronze
35 Plates/ Betta Kappa - Late 19th century Ritual of Freemasonry. - 1880
Japan - Flag - December 28, 1941. Japanese residents greeted the Japanese army with a celebratory flag upon their
Personnalités du XIXe et du XXe siècle - Une centaine de lettres et cartes autographes signées - 1850
What is in Historical Memorabilia
This category brings together original objects and papers with a historical story. Handwritten documents and letters range from royal acts of the 1600s to French Revolutionary papers, Napoleonic letters and twentieth-century manuscripts. Photography is well represented: ambrotypes, albumen prints by nineteenth-century studios such as Bonfils, photo albums from the 1930s and stereo views. You will also find military medals and orders, naval flags, helmets and equipment, Masonic objects and nautical instruments.
Reading a listing
- Language: the language of a document or letter; French, English, German and Spanish are the most common.
- Pages: the number of leaves in a letter or document.
- Height and width: in centimetres.
- Condition: from excellent to fair, with notes on ageing, folds and stains.
What to check before buying
For signed letters and documents, compare the signature with known examples and read whether a certificate or letter of authenticity is included; a signature is only as good as the evidence behind it. Old paper is often folded, browned or stained at the edges, which is normal for its age. Albumen prints fade and yellow in light, so keep them out of direct sun. Military items can be subject to import rules in some countries; check your own country's regulations on insignia and equipment before ordering.
Prices
Most pieces here are between EUR 400 and EUR 760.
Frequently asked questions
What is an albumen print?
An albumen print is a photograph printed on paper coated with egg white and silver salts, the most common photographic print from about 1855 to 1890. Albumen prints have a warm brown tone and fine detail, and often yellow or fade over time. Studio views of Egypt and the Middle East by photographers such as Bonfils were typically made this way.
How should I store old documents and letters?
Keep them flat, in acid-free folders or sleeves, away from direct sunlight, heat and damp. Never use adhesive tape or laminate them. Handle them with clean, dry hands and store them at a stable room temperature. For display, frame them with UV-filtering glass and acid-free mounts.
What is an ambrotype?
An ambrotype is an early photograph made on glass, popular from the mid-1850s into the 1860s. The faint negative image on the glass appears positive when backed with dark varnish or cloth, and each one is unique. They were usually sold in small cases and are fragile, so check for cracked glass or flaking backing.