Gladstone collection to go up for auction

TO REACH his childhood home, which was later in life a favourite retreat from the cut and thrust of Victorian politics, Prime Minister William Gladstone, would often walk more than 15 miles from the nearest railway station.

Now a number of artefacts owned by the former Liberal Party leader are set to fetch more than 1 million when the contents of Fasque House are auctioned off later this year.

The Georgian mansion in Kincardine, bought by his father Sir John Gladstone in 1826, was sold last year by the Gladstone family for an undisclosed sum. The house now plays host to a small collection of the former prime minister's possessions.

The "Grand Old Man" of 19th century politics, who served four terms in office under Queen Victoria, spent his formative years in the house. While he was at Oxford, he compiled a near-definitive collection of classics of the age for its library.

Throughout his life, Gladstone continued to visit the family home as often as he could, often walking over from Banchory station. A room in one of the turrets at Fasque was devoted to the political and intellectual pursuits of the "Father of Irish Home Rule".

The selection of "Gladstoniana" being offered for sale by auctioneers Christie's in London on 7 May includes a document granting Gladstone the freedom of the city of Perth, a commemorative oak wheelbarrow and shovel, presented by the chairman and directors of Wirral Railways, a marble bust of the politician, and a selection of the leather Gladstone bags which became his trademark.

The most valuable items, however, come from the Gladstone family's collection, built up at Fasque over almost two centuries.

They include a handwritten letter from the poet Robert Burns to David Blair, a gunsmith from Birmingham, which is expected to realise between 8,000 and 12,000.

The letter, written on 23 January, 1789, shortly after the poet had moved from Edinburgh to the village of Ellisland, near Dumfries, includes 57 handwritten lines of his poem Written in Friars Carse Hermitage, originally composed in 1788, together with a poetic meditation on human life.

Also being auctioned are an impressive selection of sculptures, including a marble figure of a seated girl, attributed to Italian artist Lorenzo Bartolini, which is estimated to fetch between 30,000 and 50,000.

A spokesman for the auctioneers said: "The historic contents of the house to be offered at Christie's include over 250 lots of furniture, old master pictures, antiquities, sculpture and Asian works of art, much of which has been in the house since 1830.

"WE Gladstone spent a considerable amount of his time at Fasque, adding a variety of objects to the family's collection during his visits, many of which survive and will be offered at the sale."

And the spokesman added: "Individual estimates range from 250 to 40,000 and the sale is expected to realise in excess of 1 million."