IMPOSTOR

[Regency royal imposter: ?Princess Olive of Cumberland?, title claimed by Olivia Serres.] Manuscript ?Copy Letter to the King from the Princess Olive?, a lengthy appeal to William IV, complaining of 'desertion and neglect', ending with a petition.

Author: 
Regency royal imposter: ?Princess Olive of Cumberland?, title claimed by Olivia Serres (1772-1834) [King William IV; Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland]
Publication details: 
Petition dated from London, February 1833.
£420.00

Despite a recent book by Miles Macnair supporting Serre's claims, the case for her imposture is overwhelming, as her entry in the Oxford DNB demonstrates. See also the various reports of the matter (for example Ryves v. Duke of Wellington, Law Times, 31 October 1846). 23pp., foolscap 8vo. On six loose bifoliums of laid paper with 1833 Britannia watermark of Gilling & Alllford. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper. Folded into the customary packet, and docketed on reverse of last leaf 'Copy Letter to the King from the Princess Olive'.

[William J. Thoms; Princess Olive] Autograph Letter Signed William J. Thoms to Doyne Bell, antiquarian, sometime employee in the Royal Household, about Princess Olive, the impostor.

Author: 
William J. Thoms [William John Thoms (1803 -1885), writer credited with coining the term folklore in 1846. Thoms's investigation of folklore & myth led to a later career debunking longevity myths]
Publication details: 
40 St George's Square, SW, 19 Jan. 1877.
£56.00

Three pages, bifolium, black-bordered, good condition. Text: Do you know a Mr Tobin who is writing a Life of the Duke of Kent. | I have here a cool & curious Letter asking me to lend him my 'two volumes of Mm Serres Memoirs of HRH' & speaks of the value of her views upon the matter [as?] 'that lady was versed in the history of that period' [phrase underlined].

[Olivia Serres; artist and impostor] Subscription of Autograph Letter Signed to "Your Royal Highness" [George IV?].

Author: 
[ Olivia Serres (1772–1834), known as Olive, was a British painter and writer, born at Warwick. Also known as an English impostor, who claimed the title of Princess Olive of Cumberland.
Publication details: 
No place or date present.
£220.00

Subscription of Autograph Letter, 18 x 7cm, on backing of part of an album page, good conditipon. Text: "request I presumed to make - of being allowed the Honor of styling Myself - Landscape Painter [phrase undelined] to your Royal Highness [underlined] | most respetfully I remain | Sir Your Royal Highness | obed[ient] ser[van]t | Olivia Wilmot Serres".

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