- A handwritten 1714 letter detailing arrangements for a gun salute at the Tower of London during Queen Anne's funeral
Queen Anne (1665-1714) reigned from 1702 until her death in 1714.
Queen Anne was the last monarch of the House of Stuart, and was succeeded by her second cousin George I of the House of Hanover.
The letter, from the Lords Justices in Council, instructs George Compton, the constable of the Tower of London to fire a gun from the Tower every minute during the funeral procession from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey, and the funeral itself.
"...particular care be taken that during the Proceeding of her late Majesties Funerall from Kensington to Westminster Abby, and until Her Maj. Body be interred, a gun be Fired at the Tower every Minute..."
Headed "At the Council Chamber St James'."
Signed handsomely by the joint commissioner of the Privy Seal, Edward Southwell (1671-1730), at the foot.
Features an embossed Privy Council seal. Includes original paper address wrapper, and remains of red wax seal.
31 x 19cm.
The letter was sent by local messenger on August 5, 1714, four days after Anne's death at Kensington Palace on the 1st.
Anne was buried on the evening of August 24 at Westminster Abbey, next to her husband in the Stuart vault.
During Anne's funeral, the judges of the King's Bench and the Common Pleas wore black robes rather than traditional red. This began the tradition of judges wearing black.
Spine-tingling early postal history with absorbing content.
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