Thursday 6 April 2023

History for sale

The Grauniad [sic.] has news of the impending auction of an important historical document, a copy of the declaration of Breda, 1660. In the declaration the putative Charles II accepted conditions on his assumption of the crown.

Not as important as the 1688 settlement maybe, but an important step nonetheless. And one that ended two decades of war.

Yours for an estimated price of a 3 bedroom house in an unfashionable London suburb. I hope it ends up somewhere other than a billionaire’s collection.

https://amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/06/document-that-made-charles-ii-king-to-be-auctioned-for-600k 

4 comments:

  1. I’m reminded of the early Genesis song “ Selling England by the pound” sadly.
    Alan Tradgardland

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    Replies
    1. Indeed. Fortunately one copy is in public ownership. If not a British one, then maybe an American or other 5i institution could buy it as part of THEIR deeper constitutional history.
      Chris.

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  2. Sure I commented earlier but it does not seem to have published. The estimated cost seems pretty reasonable, given what the document is. Should not be beyond some institution to snap it up, I would have thought.

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