Published: 2019-01-19 by, News Team in the National news category

Signatures of All 57 British Prime Ministers Go On Auction In Chiswick

In February, Chiswick Auctions will feature a unique private collection encompassing the signatures of every British Prime Minister to date.

This assortment, comprising documents, letters, clipped signatures, and photographs, is anticipated to fetch £9,000-£12,000 in a designated timed online sale of Autographs and Memorabilia scheduled from February 2 to 18.

Excluding the brief periods when Earl Waldegrave and the Earl of Bath briefly governed in 1757 and 1746, respectively, there have been 57 British Prime Ministers. The collection spans from Robert Walpole, documented in a Treasury record authorizing a payment of £223, to a glossy signed photograph of the current incumbent, Rishi Sunak.

Among the notable items are letters and missives from figures such as Sir Robert Peel, Benjamin Disraeli, and Winston Churchill, offering a fascinating glimpse into history. Collectors face the challenge of obtaining autographs from more obscure figures, as eight of the 57 Prime Ministers served for less than a year.

While Liz Truss holds the record for the shortest term at 49 days, she shares this distinction with George Canning (119 days) and Frederick John Robinson, The Viscount Goderich (144 days), who resigned in January 1828. Canning is represented by a letter arranging a carriage ride in July 1825, while Goderich is featured in a brief note declining an invitation.

Most documents in the collection are of a relatively mundane nature, but some hold historical significance. For instance, a three-page letter dated November 23, 1921, from 10 Downing Street sees David Lloyd George correspond with Conservative party MP Howard Gritten regarding an unemployment initiative, highlighting challenges in its implementation.

According to Valentina Borghi, a specialist at Chiswick Auctions, complete collections of Prime Ministerial autographs are rare. The vendor, a private UK collector, acquired these signatures through auctions or dealers. This collection offers a valuable opportunity to delve into British history, shedding light on both well-known and obscure figures in political leadership.

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