1926 Margaret, Marchioness of Crewe Signed Envelope with Secretary’s Letter Declining a Request for the Queen’s Autograph -  Rothschild Heiress and Pioneering Woman Magistrate

On offer is a 1926 autograph of Margaret Crewe-Milnes, Marchioness of Crewe (1881–1967), daughter of Prime Minister Lord Rosebery and Hannah de Rothschild, accompanied by a typed letter signed in ink by her private secretary, Ida Corbett. The two-piece group comprises Lady Crewe’s signature on an envelope measuring approximately 4.75 × 3.75 inches and Corbett’s letter dated July 1, 1926, explaining the circumstances in which the autograph was supplied.

The he letter acknowledges a man's autograph request and conveys a polite refusal to approach the Queen on the collector’s behalf:

“I am desired by the Marchioness if [sic] Crewe to send you her autograph... [she] regrets that is not possible for her to ask the Queen for her autograph”.

The letter is signed in ink “I. Corbett,” with the designation “Secretary.” Lady Crewe’s autograph appears on the envelope; the accompanying letter bears Corbett’s signature.

The reference to the Queen is particularly engaging in light of Lady Crewe’s public work. During the First World War, she chaired the Central Committee on Women’s Employment, which administered schemes financed by Queen Mary’s Work for Women Fund. This was therefore an autograph request directed to someone with an established connection to the Queen through wartime service. The correspondence offers a small but revealing glimpse of the requests received by prominent women and the role of their secretaries in managing them.

The letter is typed on a single thin sheet bearing a blind-embossed stationer’s mark reading “[H]enningham and Hollis / Royal Bank Note / Mount St London.” Henningham & Hollis were London printers and stationers based in Mount Street.

An appealing paired survival for collectors of women’s history, British political society, Rothschild family associations, and the history of autograph collecting.

Condition

The envelope has wrinkling along the left side, including a crease passing through the “M” in Margaret, together with age toning and some staining. It remains sealed, with a slight slit along the top crease, and has not been fully opened; it appears to contain nothing. Otherwise in good condition. The letter is in good condition, with a small fold at the left margin, toning, and minor surface imperfections on the reverse. Please review photographs carefully for exact condition.

Biographical Notes

Margaret Etienne Hannah “Peggy” Crewe-Milnes, Marchioness of Crewe (1881–1967) was born Lady Margaret Primrose at The Durdans, Epsom, on January 1, 1881. Her father, Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, served as British prime minister in 1894–1895; her mother, Hannah de Rothschild, was the only daughter of Baron Mayer de Rothschild. Margaret married Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, Earl of Crewe, at Westminster Abbey on April 20, 1899, becoming Marchioness of Crewe when he was elevated to that title in 1911.

A prominent Liberal political hostess, she also pursued substantial public service. In 1914 she became chair of the Central Committee on Women’s Employment, helping organize paid work for women whose livelihoods had been disrupted by war. She continued her involvement in women’s employment and training after the conflict. Among the earliest women appointed to the magistracy following the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act of 1919, she also chaired the advisory committee concerned with recommending women for appointment as justices of the peace.

The present items date from her husband’s service as British ambassador to France, a position he held from 1922 to 1928. The couple purchased West Horsley Place in Surrey in 1931. During the Second World War, Lady Crewe helped establish the French in Great Britain Fund, supporting French people displaced by the conflict. Her service was recognized with appointment as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1946. She died on March 13, 1967.

Ida Corbett, identified in genealogical research as Ida Waveney Corbett (1875–1940). Ida served as a private secretary in the Crewe household. This letter directly documents her work for the Marchioness in 1926. Trinity College, Cambridge, independently identifies Ida Corbett as secretary to the 1st Marquess of Crewe. Census data identifies her as private secretary to the Marchioness, and preserves correspondence under her name. Her role placed her within the administrative workings of a household closely connected with British political, diplomatic, and social life.