TIMOTHY SAMMONS LTD FINE ART AGENTS - The Pencarrow Manuscript Collection

SALES

The Pencarrow Manuscript Collection

The Pencarrow Autograph Collection, which was sold through Timothy Sammons Fine Art Agents at auction, was formed in the late 19th Century by Mary Ford, nee Molesworth. The collection included letters, manuscripts and family papers relating to the Molesworth family and in particular to Ford's beloved brother, Sir William Molesworth Bt., the politician. In addition to many new and unpublished items, the collection contained items of international significance.

The Beethoven Manuscript

One of the most remarkable treasures of the Pencarrow Autograph Collection was an unknown and undocumented movement for a string quartet in B minor, marked 'Allegretto', composed in Vienna for Richard Ford, husband of Mary Ford, on 28 November 1817. It is a complete work of some twenty-three bars with some alterations and deletions, signed with the attestation 'This quartette was composed for me in my presence by Ludwig v. Beethoven at Vienna Friday 28th November 1817 Richard Ford.' This unknown manuscript attracted much international interest and sold for £166,500 (US$267,199) including the Buyer's Premium.

The Lincoln Proclamation

This belongs to a group of items relating to America and its Civil War. It is a highly important autograph manuscript, signed in the text, of an unpublished and undocumented proclamation by Abraham Lincoln retaining to the President for the right to grant amnesty to Confederate prisoners. This extraordinary document sold for £100,500 (US$161,282) including the Buyer's Premium.