Collection of autographs, letters and signatures

The collection contains: (i) cuttings from documents with autographs, early 16th century to the 19th century (with several complete items for Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia, late 18th century), pasted onto large sheets; a privy seal writ, 7 August 1515; and a Turkish document of the late 18th or early 19th century (ii) approximately 100 letters, generally for the period 1800-50, but with some earlier items, addressed to members of the peerage and politicians, especially the Ponsonby family, in particular to John William Ponsonby, fourth Earl of Bessborough (1781-1847), mainly c.1840; and to Sir George Harrison (assistant secretary to the Treasury 1822) (iii) peers proxies, 1811-17 and (iv) correspondence from artists, several addressed to Edward Hawkins of the British Museum, 1830s and 1840s.

A collection of autographs and letters made by Thomas Naghten, of Blighmont, Southampton, and his brother, Charles Naghten.

The Special Collections Division is available for anyone to use, regardless of whether you are attached to an academic institution. Access to the Archives and Manuscripts and Rare Books reading room, however, is by prior appointment to access the manuscript material. See our website for more details.