NORTHCOTE, Stafford H. — Autograph Letter Signed to the painter William Powell Frith.
Letter on wove paper, recto and verso, 15,5 x 9,8 cm. 16 lines. Dated 'Dec. 9. 1881'. Folded twice, but only vaguely. Trace of glue on recto (no text missing). About sitting for a portrait by Frith: 'I am pretty fully engaged up to the middle of January at all events'. Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh (1818-1887) was Member of Parliament for North Devon at this time, after six years of being Minister of Finance. He would end his career as Foreign Secretary (1886-1887).