Search Results: Books by margaret thatcher

1984. Exceptional letter signed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to Nobel Prize-winning economist Friedrich von Hayek. One page, on Thatcher's official 10 Downing Street letterhead and dated May 22nd 1984, the letter reads, "Dear Professor Hayek," I have it in mind on the occasion of the forthcoming list of Birthday Honours to submit your name to The Queen with a recommendation that Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to approve that you be appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. I should be glad to know if this would be agreeable to you. I shall take no steps until I have your reply. "Yours sincerely, Margaret Thatcher." Accompanied by a large original black and white photograph of Hayek taken at the honorary appointment at Buckingham Palace in which, he was in fact, awarded the Companion of Honour Medal by Queen Elizabeth II. In fine condition. Matted and framed, the entire piece measures 24.5 inches by 19 inches. An exceptional piece of history.

Unpublished. 1972-2003. A large collection composed of manuscript and typed letters, many in original envelopes, photographs, albums, menus and other printed and manuscript ephemera relating to the political careers of Sir Fergus and Lady Joyce Montgomery. Also present are several other objects, including two pieces of ceramic. For a list of the principal contents please see below. Beyond a few minor expected issues such as roughly opened envelopes and the odd crease or tear, the condition of the archive is largely very good, with most of the letters and other paper items clean and bright. There is a little fading to some of the letters/photographs that have been framed and glazed, but otherwise the collection is in excellent order. An extensive archive providing a fascinating insight into Margaret Thatcher's hugely influential political career, as well as the fortunes of the Conservative Party more broadly, as shown through the letters of a loyal friend and colleague who was close to the… Read More

From Margaret Thatcher's estate Margaret Thatcher's own copy of the official cabinet photograph taken January 1985, signed by herself and every other member of the cabinet. The photograph was kept by Thatcher until her death in 2013, and here appears on the market for the first time after acquisition directly from her estate. 1985 was a strong year for Thatcher, with her authority barely contestable; the miners' strike was finally defeated in March, and the Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed in November. The photograph consequently offers a snapshot of Thatcher at her apogee, with a cabinet in her own image, near-unanimously loyal and united, with the few remaining dissenters doing little to undermine her position. Colour photograph with white mount, printed at head. Presented in a black wooden frame with conservation acrylic glazing. Image size: 30 x 38 cm, frame size 48 x 56 cm. Posthumous Margaret Thatcher printed library label pasted on reverse. Frame a little scuffed, small patch of dust inbetween… Read More

May 1989. From Margaret Thatcher's estate A painting of Chequers, the prime minister's country retreat, executed by one of Margaret Thatcher's chief lieutenants, the staunch Thatcherite Nicholas Ridley, and presented to her by the cabinet to mark her tenth anniversary as prime minister. Thatcher adored Chequers, later writing in her memoirs that 'I do not think anyone has stayed long at Chequers without falling in love with it' (Downing Street Years, p. 36). Ridley was chosen as the painter due to his well-regarded artistic abilities, being a keen amateur artist throughout his life, with his works displayed at the annual display of MP's artistic efforts in the House of Commons. The painting, a fitting present for the longest serving prime minister of the 20th century, was among Thatcher's personal effects in her Chester Square home following her death, and was subsequently acquired directly from her estate. The career of Nicholas Ridley was intertwined with, and central to, the entire Thatcherite… Read More

The kimono of the Iron Lady A kimono owned by Margaret Thatcher, found among her possessions in her home in Chester Square following her death, and subsequently acquired directly from her estate. It is unknown whether Thatcher purchased the kimono directly or was given it as a gift, but she probably acquired it during her visit to Japan in early September 1991, where she made three public speeches. It would have been an important acquisition, with high-quality handmade kimonos fetching thousands of pounds both at the time and since. The kimono was manufactured by a team of craftsmen for the Chiho (Shinsei) Company, in the hand-painted Kyo-Yuzen style. Light-blue floral-patterned silk kimono, encased in white paper with Japanese calligraphic lettering. Housed in large cardboard box imprinted with Japanese lettering, with a warehouse sticker from storage following Thatcher's death. In superb condition.

The kimono of the Iron Lady A kimono owned by Margaret Thatcher, found among her possessions in her home in Chester Square following her death, and subsequently acquired directly from her estate. It is unknown whether Thatcher purchased the kimono directly or was given in it as a gift, but she probably acquired it during her visit to Japan in early September 1991, where she made three public speeches. It would have been an important acquisition, with high-quality kimonos fetching thousands of pounds both at the time and since. The kimono is handmade, using the Kaga-Yuzen style of dyeing silk. A label on the sleeve reveals the Kimono was purchased from the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi department store in 1991. The kimono is believed to have been made by Hata Tokio. An accompanying printed inscription on white card mount provides the description in Japanese, which can be loosely translated as the following: "Heart. Three outstanding craftsmen, who have been involved in the dyeing art for around 50 years, have… Read More

Rare colored engraving signed by 8 former British Prime Ministers including Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. One page, a fine colored engraving of the New Houses of Parliament signed on the mount by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, James Callaghan, David Cameron, Edward Heath, John Major, Theresa May, and Margaret Thatcher. In fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 15 inches by 12.25 inches.

[Beijing:] , September 1986. Conservatism with Chinese characteristics An imposing hanging scroll brushed by General Zhang Aiping, China's Minister of Defence, and presented to Margaret Thatcher during his visit to Downing Street on 22 September 1986. A veteran of the Chinese revolution who worked closely with Mao, Zhang (1910-2003) was appointed to the defence ministry by Deng Xiaoping in November 1982 and oversaw the modernization of the Chinese armed forces. His calligraphy translates one of Thatcher's favourite childhood quatrains: "It's easy to be a starter but you are a sticker too, it's easy enough to begin a job, it's harder to see it through". A short article about Zhang's visit, beneath a photograph of him presenting Thatcher with the scroll, was featured in The Times the following day. Following the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, Zhang's visit was one of a number of official engagements cementing closer ties between the two countries. Premier Zhao Ziyang visited… Read More

1986. From Margaret Thatcher's estate From the estate of Margaret Thatcher, with a printed label on the reverse reading "This print was presented to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, FRS, MP, to commemorate her visit to the Renal Unit on 1st October, 1986. It shows the original building of the Royal Sussex County Hospital which was designed by the architect, Sir Charles Barry, who later designed the new Houses of Parliament after the great fire of 1834. The victims of the bomb explosion at the Grand Hotel on October 12th, 1984 during the Conservative Party Conference were brought to and treated at this hospital". The print is a replica of an aquatint published by John Bruce in his History of Brighton, 1834. This was a poignant gift: Thatcher had visited the hospital on 13 October 1984 to meet the victims of the bombing, a failed assassination attempt on her which killed five individuals, including a Conservative MP. Her return almost exactly two years later was to open the new… Read More

Beijing: August, 1987. Conservatism with Chinese characteristics A portrait of Thatcher, titled "The World's Woman of Steel", presented to the Prime Minister by Lin Hanxiong, the Chinese Minister of Construction, during his visit to the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. The artist, Xue Linxing (b.1951), made a similar gift for George H. W. Bush. Despite being a nephew of Lin Biao, Mao's fallen number two, Lin (b. 1929) carved out a political career under Deng Xiaoping, which culminated in a three-year ministerial appointment from 1988 to 1991. Watercolour painting with calligraphic ink inscription on 124 x 65 cm sheet, mounted as 225 x 75 cm hanging scroll with decorative blue paper, manuscript title label on verso. Housed in original card storage box, lid with contemporary manuscript title. Scroll in fine condition with couple of small stains, box lid with several splits.

London: Harper Collins,, 1993. Signed by the Iron Lady Signed limited edition, number 16 of 250 copies signed by Margaret Thatcher on the title page. The Downing Street Years was the first volume of Thatcher's autobiography, covering her years as prime minister. Octavo. Original blue morocco, spine lettered in gilt, blue endpapers, gilt edges, blue silk page marker. Housed in the original blue cloth slipcase. A fine copy.

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10 Downing Street is the official residence of the post of the First Lord of the Treasury, which for most of the 1700 and 1800's and continuously since 1905 is a position that has been held by the Prime Minister. It has, therefore, become the location of the United Kingdom's headquarters, containing both office, living, and entertaining space for government officials. The house contains over 100 rooms and was the combination of three houses put together. It's proximity to Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster made it an ideal location out of which to live and work. Margaret Thatcher said that Number 10 had become "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage".

[Original photograph archive]., 1957-2008.. An original photographic archive compiled by Betty Boothroyd. Comprising: Eighteen personal photograph albums:- An album documenting Boothroyd's varied personal and official travels and engagements, including images of Boothroyd with Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (3), David Hockney, Boris Yeltsin, and Bill Clinton (signed by Clinton in black ink: "To the Right Honourable / Betty Boothroyd, MP / with best wishes / Bill Clinton / 29. Sept. 1993"), as well as several official parliamentary photographs of Boothroyd, her inauguration as Chancellor of the Open University, visits to Kuala Lumpur, Morocco, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Egypt, Australia, Thailand, Cyprus, Trinidad, and Russia, 1993-1997, with scattered manuscript captions. Large oblong folio (51 x 31cm). Red and purple paper-covered boards. Containing 276 colour photographs (measuring between 25 x 20 and 6 x 6cm, the great majority large format) affixed to the pages, with… Read More

[1980s]. From Thatcher's estate An original artwork by the British cartoonist Michael Cummings, depicting Margaret Thatcher in the style of the famous First World War Lord Kitchener poster; the artwork was apparently presented to Margaret Thatcher, and is acquired directly from her estate. Cummings (1919-1997) started his career drawing cartoons for the left-wing Tribune in the late 1930s, edited by Michael Foot. From 1958 he began regular work for the Sunday Express, and alternated with Giles on the Daily Express. By the 1960s he was a constant opponent of the Labour Party. He was a supporter of Thatcher throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In turn, he wrote, "Mrs Thatcher probably approved of me because she asked me for a couple of originals" (cited by The Oldie, 26 April 2019). He continued producing work into the 1990s, and claimed to be the only political cartoonist to have drawn every British prime minister from Churchill to Tony Blair (ODNB). It is unknown whether the portrait was ever published. A… Read More

1975. Thatcher handbags Heath and Wilson The original artwork of Franklin's cartoon, which featured in The Sun on 6 October 1975, presented by the artist to Margaret Thatcher, inscribed at foot "Best wishes Stanley Franklin", and since acquired directly from her estate. Published in the week leading up to the 1975 Conservative Party conference, Thatcher's first as Conservative leader, the cartoon depicts Thatcher, in high heels with legs on display, swiping with her famous handbag, knocking the teeth out of her predecessor Ted Heath, who wears a sailing outfit, and breaking the trademark pipe of Harold Wilson, then prime minister and leader of the Labour Party. In the background she is cheered by female fans, while at her feet children share a milk bottle, presumably a nod to her famous withdrawal of free school milk. She stands on various cans of baked beans and dried milk, possibly referring to her comments the previous year that she stockpiled tinned food, leading to a controversy over hoarding.… Read More

London: Harper Collins,, 1995. Inscribed to the wordsmith who set the tone of the Thatcher years First edition, first impression, presentation copy to a core figure in the Thatcher phenomenon: her speech writer and guru Ronald Millar, inscribed by the author on the title page, "To Ronnie with warm regards Margaret". Millar wrote some of Thatcher's most iconic lines, including her quoting of St Francis of Assisi on her arrival in Downing Street and "the lady's not for turning". Millar (1919-1998) was a screenwriter, playwright, actor, and dramatist, well-attuned to the power of words and their presentation in speech. He had already worked as a speech writer for Ted Heath when, in 1975, Thatcher, newly elected as the leader of the Conservative Party, hired him. For the rest of Thatcher's 15 years as Conservative leader and prime minister, Millar helped her not just with the drafting of her speeches but also by coaching her voice and advising on her dress. Thatcher records in this book how speech… Read More

HarperCollins. First editions all published by Harper Collins between 1993 and 2002. This is a near fine set consisting of 1. The Downing Street Years (1993) - double signed by both Margaret and Dennis Thatcher without dedication. The spine of the wrapper is faded a shade. There is a flyer where presumably the previous owner obtained the signatures. 2. The Path to Power (1995) - double signed by both Margaret and Dennis Thatcher inscribed to a previous owner. 3. The Collected Speeches (1997) signed by Margaret Thatcher without dedication. A difficult title to find signed. 4. Statecraft (2002) signed by Margaret Thatcher without dedication. A super set with little wear at all. All four volumes are signed and two are signed by both Margaret and Dennis Thatcher.  . Near Fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 1st Printing. 1993.

16 June to 6 September 1983. From one prime minister to another Margaret Thatcher, as prime minister, corresponds with her predecessor Harold Wilson, over his concerns for the change in his provision of an official car, and for his security, as his Special Branch protection requirements are downgraded. In February 1975, Wilson introduced the allowance for former prime ministers to use the Government Car Service for journeys in and around London, a decision emphasising the status and dignity of the prime minister's role. Official engagements and parliamentary business were free, and other business was charged at a mileage rate. In 1983 Wilson's security classification was downgraded. The letters demonstrate his concern over this security reduction in the run up to the 1983 election, where Wilson had engagements, and as he feared this would restrict his use of the official car. Implicit in the letters is Wilson's worry that his status as a former prime minister was diminishing, given that his 1975 car… Read More

London: HarperCollins, 1993-2002. A set of four UK first edition, first printings ALL signed by the Iron lady, Margaret Thatcher. All four are in near fine to fine condition in like wrappers which are all unclipped. The set consists:'The Downing Street Years' (comes complete with Literary Dinner flyer for the signing of the book) published by Harper Collins in 1993; The Path To Power' published by Harper Collins in 1995; The Collected Speeches' published by Harper Collins in 1997 and Statecraft' published by Harper Collins in 2002. The edition of The Collected Speeches' rarely appears signed. The US first edition readily appears signed, but the UK edition is very scarce indeed signed. All contained in a custom-made slipcase.