A scrapbook kept by Fred Archer's sister Emily Coleman, pasted with numerous letters and telegrams to Archer including a fateful telegram from the Duchess of Montrose to Archer dated 22nd October 1886 reading: MY HORSE RUNS IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE, I COUNT ON YOU TO RIDE IT, MONTROSE , other correspondents including Lord Falmouth, the Duke of Beaufort, the Earl of Bradford, Hugh Boscawen, John Willoughby, G. Paget, Elizabeth Hastings, the Duke of Westminster, the Duke of Portland, Lord Rosebery, Lord Londonderry, the Duke of St Albans, examples relating to his marriage to Nellie Dawson in 1883 and her death in childbirth the following year, also including press cuttings, photographs & other incidentals such as hotel bills, liner passenger lists etc.; sold with three letters and a photocopied fourth letter relating to the provenance of this lot (5) The telegram from the Duchess of Montrose is significant as his efforts to waste to the required riding weight for her Cambridgeshire entry St. Mirrin imparted considerable strain on his body. In the event he put up 1lb. overweight and was beaten a short-head. As a total professional Archer blamed himself badly for the narrow defeat and became depressed. His condition deteriorated suddenly and markedly during the course of the following week. In a state of delirium he shot himself in the presence of his beloved sister Emily Coleman. Exhibited: Fred Archer, Sporting Hero, 1857-1886, Pittville Pump Room Museum, Cheltenham, 1st November 1986 to 24th January 1987, Cat. No. 52
£2,000 - £3,000
A scrapbook kept by Fred Archer's sister Emily Coleman, pasted with numerous letters and telegrams to Archer including a fateful telegram from the Duchess of Montrose to Archer dated 22nd October 1886 reading: MY HORSE RUNS IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE, I COUNT ON YOU TO RIDE IT, MONTROSE , other correspondents including Lord Falmouth, the Duke of Beaufort, the Earl of Bradford, Hugh Boscawen, John Willoughby, G. Paget, Elizabeth Hastings, the Duke of Westminster, the Duke of Portland, Lord Rosebery, Lord Londonderry, the Duke of St Albans, examples relating to his marriage to Nellie Dawson in 1883 and her death in childbirth the following year, also including press cuttings, photographs & other incidentals such as hotel bills, liner passenger lists etc.; sold with three letters and a photocopied fourth letter relating to the provenance of this lot (5) The telegram from the Duchess of Montrose is significant as his efforts to waste to the required riding weight for her Cambridgeshire entry St. Mirrin imparted considerable strain on his body. In the event he put up 1lb. overweight and was beaten a short-head. As a total professional Archer blamed himself badly for the narrow defeat and became depressed. His condition deteriorated suddenly and markedly during the course of the following week. In a state of delirium he shot himself in the presence of his beloved sister Emily Coleman. Exhibited: Fred Archer, Sporting Hero, 1857-1886, Pittville Pump Room Museum, Cheltenham, 1st November 1986 to 24th January 1987, Cat. No. 52