Autograph Note Signed / Autograph Letter Signed

Sir John was a Scots-Quebecer politician who held a wide array of influential high-level Canadian positions and later lesser positions in Britain; he was named 1st Baronet Rose in 1872. His son Sir Charles was also a politician, but is better known as a competitive yachtsman, horse breeder and businessman and was supposedly one of the models for "Toad" of Toad Hall in Kenneth Grahame's classic 1908 children's novel "Wind in the Willows"; he too was named 1st Baronet in 1909. ANS from John Rose, 1p (lettersheet), 4" X 6", Guildford, England, 1882 September 16. Addressed to New York banker John Barker. Very good. On imprinted "Loseley Park, / Guildford" letterhead, Sir John "send[s] you with much pleasure a copy of the only Photograph of myself which I have: I wish it had been better...." Boldly penned in brown ink. ALS from Charles Day Rose, 2pp (lettersheet), 4" X 6", London, England, 1895 October 26. Likewise addressed to banker John Barker. Good only. While attractive, this letter was somehow sliced horizontally in half, though neatly, discreetly and archivally reunited. Sir Charles thanks his banker "for the trouble you have taken in executing my small commissions," but more importantly remarks: "You will see that I have decided to withdraw my challenge for the Cup, in view of the strong feeling that exists amongst the public and my own friends especially, including Lord Dunraven, who feels that it is likely to be construed as an act of hostility against himself...." Lord Dunraven (Windham Wyndham-Quin, 1841-1926) was owner and co-owner of the 1893 and 1895 America's Cup-winning yachts, so apparently took umbrage at his friend's temptation to enter that famed competition. Despite slice, quite nice in appearance, with his imprinted "Bartholomew Lane, E.C." address.