Historic Hand-Written Note by Sir Winston Churchill to Be Auctioned in Gloucestershire

A unique collection of autographs from prominent historical figures, including Sir Winston Churchill and King Edward VII, is set to be auctioned today in Gloucestershire. The sale, held at the Wotton Auction Rooms in Wotton-under-Edge, features 35 lots of clipped ink signatures from key political and social leaders.

Among the highlights is a hand-written Christmas message signed by Churchill himself on December 22, 1908. This note, penned the same year Churchill became the youngest Cabinet minister in over four decades, reads: “Wishing you a happy Christmas, I remain yours very sincerely.” This exceptional piece is anticipated to fetch between £300 and £500.

The collection also includes autographs from Clementine Ogilvy Spencer-Churchill, Winston Churchill’s wife, and Sir Austen Chamberlain, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and half-brother to Neville Chamberlain, a former Prime Minister. Another significant autograph is that of Emmeline Pankhurst, the pioneering leader of the British suffragette movement, whose signature is similarly valued at £300-£500.

Compiled by Thomas Benjamin Ford MBE, a Foreign Office secretary who served during a transformative era in British history, these autographs have been preserved as treasured mementoes from pivotal moments. Auctioneer Joseph Trinder described the archive as “a fascinating collection that captures a remarkable range of personalities from one of the most important periods in modern history.”

He added, “The provenance of this archive is extraordinary, safeguarding the signatures of those who shaped the Edwardian age and the First World War. The inclusion of figures such as Churchill, Pankhurst, and King Edward VII underscores the collection’s historical significance.”

This auction presents an exceptional opportunity for collectors and historians alike to own tangible links to key figures who influenced modern Britain. The autograph lots will be offered during the Summer Quarterly Fine & Curated Sale starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30.