MEDIA RELEASE
May 11th, 2015
EVERY PRIME MINISTER SIGNS UP FOR IMMORTALITY
As a rule, politicians rarely stray far from the limelight. This is particularly true of Australian Prime
Ministers. So for people who collect their autographs and ephemera more generally, the chance to buy a
signed letter from Australia’s most elusive leader is not to be missed.
Mossgreen has assembled a collection of autographs and letters from every Prime Minister since Sir
Edmund Barton. While such collections have been available previously, what is tantalising rare is a signed
letter from our third Prime Minister, John Christian Watson. Not only was he the first Prime Minister from
the Australian Labor Party, he was also the first prime minister from the labour movement anywhere in the
world.
Watson served a total of three months and 21 days in office, from 27 April 1904 to 17 August 1904.
Among the collection of 27 lots is another gem. This is a letter marked ‘Secret’, written by Sir Robert
Menzies on 30 January 1950 to Australia’s Acting High Commissioner in London regarding radio
transmissions in Russian that came from Australia. Menzies was Australia’s most vocal anti-Communist
leader and our leading Cold War warrior.
“We’re not aware of any other autographs from John Watson that have been offered for public sale,” says
Charles Leski, Deputy Chairman of Mossgreen. “No collection of Australia prime ministers is complete
without him, even if his tenure was short and unspectacular.”
Lot 211 has a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 - $12,000.
at http://www.mossgreen.com.au/images/lot/1248/124871_0.jpg).
(NB:
Image
available
The lot will be offered for sale by Mossgreen in Melbourne on Tuesday, 19 May at 2.00pm.
Founded in 2004, Mossgreen is Australia’s first combined Auction House and Art Gallery - a unique business
specialising in the sale of single-owner collections at auction and the promotion of a select group of
Australian artists.
Mossgreen is now Australia’s largest multi-department auction house with annual sales of over AUD$30
million.
Renowned for its expertise and success in significant single-owner collection auctions, Mossgreen also offers
expertise and auctions in Fine Australian & International Art, Australian Indigenous Art, Asian Art, Jewellery,
Luxury Accessories, European Decorative Arts, Stamps & Coins, Sporting Memorabilia, Classic and Vintage
Cars and Collectibles.
Mossgreen Tearooms is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and high tea (8am to 5pm).
Based in Melbourne, Mossgreen also has representative offices in Sydney, Brisbane and London.
Mossgreen offers online bidding via ‘Mossgreen live™’. Visit www.mossgreen.com.au for more details.
Issued by: Harry Glenn
Antiques & Decorative Arts Department
t. 61 (0) 3 9508 8888
Nicole Kenning
Marketing & Communications Manager
t.61 (0) 3 9508 8888 / m.0424 186 377
[email protected]
[email protected]
Mossgreen Auctions Monday-Friday 10am-5pm
Mossgreen Gallery Monday-Friday 10am-5.30pm & Saturday-Sunday 10am-5pm
Mossgreen Tearooms Monday-Sunday 8am-5pm
926-930 High Street, Armadale VIC 3143
t. 03 9508 8888 | e. [email protected]
Sydney
Martyn Cook Galleries, 98 Barcom Avenue, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011
www.mossgreen.com.au
Lot 211: Letter signed by Australia’s 3rd Prime Minister [www.mossgreen.com.au]