When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
1829 Bavarian Diplomatic Letter to Viscount Melville – Dockyard Visit Request Baron de Cetto – Chevalier Balizand (Unidentified) With Admiralty Instructions & Docketing
A neatly written diplomatic letter from the Bavarian Minister in London, Baron de Cetto, addressed to Lord Viscount Melville, First Lord of the Admiralty. Dated 11 Grosvenor Street, 19 August 1829, the Minister requests permission for Chevalier Balizand, described as a Colonel in the Bavarian Army, to visit the Royal Dockyards at Portsmouth and Plymouth.
Balizand remains unidentified in Bavarian officer lists of the period, suggesting a foreign or French‑origin officer travelling under Bavarian auspices. The letter is a contemporary Admiralty copy, as indicated by the clerical docketing.
Admiralty annotations: On the second page appears an ink instruction: “Give the necessary directions”, initialled F C and dated 24 August — a typical internal Admiralty order authorising the issue of passes or instructions to dockyard officers.
Reverse docket: “Baron de Cetto. 19 Aug 1829. Permission to a Foreigner to visit the Dockyards.” A standard Admiralty filing summary naming sender, date, and subject.
A strong example of Bavarian–British diplomatic interaction, illustrating the controlled nature of foreign access to Royal Dockyards in the late as photos. All items can be returned for a full refund if found to be not as described. Complete with a digital .jpg (as attached) Certificate of Authenticity & Provenance.
Jean (Johann) de Cetto (1790 – 1853), Bavarian Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of St James’s.
Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, (1771–1851)British statesman and First Lord of the Admiralty, overseeing naval administration under George IV and William IV.
PROVENANCE:
One of c.2,500+ items once from the collection or dealer stock of Winifred A Myers (Autographs) Ltd, St Martins Lane, London, evidenced by the quantity of Myers pre-printed envelopes and paper folders and the general ‘presentation’ of the items, many having Myers identification notes in pencil.
Winifred Alice Myers (1909 - 1985) served as ABA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc) president, 1950-1952. See the ABA website for an extended article on Myers. Myers left her business, in 1985, to Ruth Shepherd, who traded from home until 2004.
Combined Postage
UK Based Customers:
- I can usually combine UK postage, depending on weight and size, usually 50p for each subsequent purchase, on top of highest first post cost. Please ask if in doubt.
Overseas Customers:
- I Cannot combine postage on overseas items, as Global Shipping rules don\'t usually allow it.
ShippingInformation
- I will only post to addresses registered on .
UK Based Customers:
- I aim to post items within 4 working days of payment being confirmed by .
- I usually pack and post twice a week, so, depending on when payment is received, I may post same day, or, latest 4 working days later.
Overseas Customers:
- I will only post outside of the UK if the global shippingprogramme is available on the listing. This service does not offer combinedpostage.
Returns
UK Based Customers:
- Items can be returned if found not to be as described.
Overseas Customers:
- No returns are accepted from overseas customers. If in doubt, please do not purchase. Sorry!
Thanks for looking!
