Lot 416

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Description:

War of the Spanish Succession DS Re: Shipping Duties Collected for "Carrying on a Vigorous War against France"

1p partly printed and partly handwritten document relating to financing the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) which had erupted just four months before. Document #186 is dated October 15, 1701 and is presumably signed by Richard Savage, 4th Earl of Rivers (ca. 1654-1712) as "Rivers" in the right margin (no signature examples of Rivers could be located for comparison.) The document, which confirms receipt of £125 towards the English war chest, is docketed and endorsed verso. Unevenly trimmed at left. With expected light folds and scattered foxing. Minor mounting traces visible verso and a few collectors' pencil inscriptions, else very good to near fine. 7" x 10.125."

The War of the Spanish Succession stemmed from the disputed succession of the Spanish throne following the death of the childless Charles II, the last of the Spanish Hapsburgs. In 1700, Charles appointed Philip, Duc d'Anjou, the grandson of Louis XIV of France, as his successor, thus bequeathing the Spanish Empire to the House of Bourbon. After Charles II died on November 1st, Louis XIV proclaimed his grandson King of Spain as Philip V and then invaded he Spanish Netherlands. An anti-French alliance was formed by England (soon to be Great Britain), the Dutch Republic, and Leopold, the Holy Roman Emperor. They were later joined by Prussia, Hanover, and other German states as well as Portugal. These forces, then, clashed in various geographical theatres over the next decade.

Waging an international war proved expensive. Along with the Act mentioned below which authorized the collection of duties on shipping tonnage, English King William III also imposed duties on consumer products (like alcohol, stationery and paper goods, glass and earthenware, etc.). The king also collected taxes on baptisms, burials, and marriages, and there was even an onerous tariff reserved exclusively for "bachelors and widowers"!

Richard, 4th Earl of Rivers and Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh (1641-1712), the two people mentioned in this document, were important administrative and military figures of the era. Ranelagh worked closely with the English Treasury as Vice Treasurer of Ireland, eventually serving as Paymaster General of the English Army before he was disgraced in 1703 for embezzlement. Rivers was appointed Major General in 1698 and served under John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the English armies in 1712.

In part:

"Received by me Ricth Earle Rivers asi of Ricth Earle Ranelagh By Virtue of 1 Order bearing Date the -- Day of -- of Mr Palmes One of the Four Tellers of His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, the Sum of one hundred Twenty five pounds ------ in full of all former Directions of the said Order, and for due at Michaelmas - last past, of -Hundred [] Pounds, by [] paid into the said Receipt of Exchequer, the day of the Date of the said Order, upon an Act of Parliament, (Entitled, An Act for Granting to Their Majesties certain Rates and Duties on tunnage & for securing certain Recompences and Advantages in the said Act mentioned, to such Persons as shall voluntarily advance the Sum of 15 Hundred Thousand Pounds towards carrying on a Vigorous War against France;)…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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January 6, 2021 10:30 AM EST
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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000