HENRY FREDERICK: (1594-1612) Prince of Wales, the eldest son and heir apparent of James VI and I, King of England and Scotland, and his wife Anne of Denmark. A fine, extremely rare D.S., Henry P, as Prince of Wales, at the head, one page (vellum), oblong folio, n.p. (Richmond), n.d. (30^th May 1611), in Latin. The attractive and boldly penned document is a Warrant for a grant of office and states, in part, 'Henry first-born son of the most mighty James, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland king, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester, to all to whom the present letters might come greetings; know you that we of Our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant to our beloved and faithful Francis Crane, gentleman, the office of clerk to our council, our chamber at London or at Westminster or elsewhere appointed called or reputed or to be appointed, reputed or named the Prince's Council Chamber, and keeper of Our books and records there; and we have made, ordained and constituted the same Francis Crane clerk of Our council of Our chamber aforesaid and do make…..the said office with its appurtenances to the aforesaid Francis Crane, by himself or by his sufficient deputy or sufficient deputies for as long as it might please us, and further of Our fuller grace we have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant to the aforesaid Francis Crane…..the wage and fee of thirty pounds by year of lawful money of England, to be received and taken yearly by the hands of Our receiver general of Our treasury being in the hands of Our same receiver general for the time being to be paid yearly on the feasts of St Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by equal portions…..' Countersigned at the conclusion as examined by Thomas Stephens, Attorney General to the Prince of Wales in 1610 & 1611, and, most unusually, with a minute in English at the foot, also signed by Stephens, explaining the content of the document to the Prince, in full, 'This containeth a grant by your highness to Francis Crane gentleman of the office of clerk of your highness's council and keeping of your books and records in your council chamber during your pleasure with the fee of thirty pounds a year for exercise of the same office, payable by your receiver-general out of your treasure and is done upon signification of your good pleasure in this behalf by Mr [Adam] Newton your highness's secretary'. Autographs of Prince Henry Frederick are extremely rare as a result of his untimely death at the age of 18 from typhoid fever. Neatly inlaid to the upper and lower edges, very slightly irregularly trimmed to the left edge and with some very light, minor dust staining and age wear to the edges, none affecting the text or signatures, VG

Sir Francis Crane (c.1579-1636) English courtier and tapestry manufacturer, the founder of Mortlake Tapestry Works. Crane served both Prince Henry and his younger brother Charles, who was later crowned King Charles I, becoming auditor-general to Prince Charles in May 1617 and a member of his council in 1623. Crane was considered of sufficient social standing to become lay chancellor of the Order of the Garter in July 1626.

Crane's fame rests on his establishment of the manufactory at Mortlake. Bearing his initials, the finest tapestries ever made in England are his lasting memorial. In 1618 James I's 'princely cogitation' led his privy council to enquire into certain possibilities of tapestry manufacture. Crane's proposals were accepted and, in August 1619, having been granted fees for the making of three baronets to offset initial costs, he acquired property at Mortlake for erecting workshops. These could accommodate eighteen looms, and by 1637 140 persons were dependent on the manufactory. During his lifetime, Crane's Flemish weavers, besides copying individual paintings, produced sets from seven major tapestry series.

Sir Adam Newton (d.1630) Royal official, a native of Scotland, who was appointed tutor to Prince Henry in 1599. In October 1604 Newton had apparently been promised by the King the deanery of Durham, but when it became vacant there was competition for the post and Newton was able to call upon Prince Henry to support his claims, Newton was duly installed as dean on 27^th September 1606; he then served as an absentee. In 1610 Prince Henry was given a separate household, in which Newton served as his secretary. Following the death of Prince Henry in November 1612 Newton became receiver-general in the household of Prince Charles, relinquishing to Thomas Murray (1564-1623) his claim to the secretaryship.

Great hope and enormous expectations were invested in Henry, who died at the age of eighteen. 'The Flower of his House, the Glory of his Country, and the admiration of all Strangers', he 'epitomized the yearning of those who wished England to lead Protestant Europe in a great crusade against the might of Catholic Spain. He simultaneously embodied the aspirations of a new era in the arts, creating a court which would have rivalled the Medici grand dukes in Florence or that of Rudolf II of Prague. He formed the first royal collection of works of art, re-established the royal library, imported the first Renaissance bronzes (by Giovanni Bologna) into England, and purchased antique gems and medals. Major artists were recruited' including Isaac Oliver and Inigo Jones. James I 'found himself outshone by an heir whose far-ranging interests embraced not only the arts, but also the navy, equestrianism, garden-design, festivals and the sciences' (Roy Strong, Henry Prince of Wales and England's Lost Renaissance, 1986).

An exceptional rarity - American Book Prices Current record only three other documents signed by Prince Henry as having appeared at auction in the last thirty years.