Sir Philip Sidney | Document signed, letter of credit, 26 July 1574

Sir Philip Sidney

Document signed ("Filippo Sideney")

Letter of credit for 400 ducats received from Tommaso Galbani of Venice, to be repaid in London to the Italian merchant Acerbo Vellutelli, 1 page, oblong 4to (172 x 235mm), 26 July 1574, docketed on the verso, with later a pencil note by William Upcott (1779-1845), in a blue collector's box and morocco-backed slipcase, spotting

A DOCUMENT SIGNED BY THE GREATEST OF THE ELIZABETHAN COURTIER POETS. The young Philip Sidney had an extended stay in Venice from late 1573 to late summer 1574 in the company of Philip Ludwig, Count of Hanau. Whilst in Venice he befriended poets, had his portrait painted by Veronese, and spent time at the university in nearby Padua. This banker's draft was evidently drawn up shortly before he left Venice. From Italy he travelled on to Vienna and Poland, finally landing back in England on 31 May 1575.

AN EXCEPTIONAL RARITY: WE HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY AUTOGRAPH MATERIAL BY SIDNEY HAVING APPEARED AT AUCTION SINCE THIS DOCUMENT WAS LAST SOLD IN 1980.

PROVENANCE:

Arthur A. Houghton, Jr. (monogram bookplate on box); his sale, Christie's, London, 11-12 June 1980, lot 428