GEORGE V & Sir Winston Churchill
Document signed at the head by George V and at the end by Sir Winston Churchill, 1½ pages folio, the text printed, St James's, 13 November 1921. A 'dormant commission' for John Houston Sinclair (1871-1961) to act as High Commissioner for the Zanzibar Protectorate.
An attractive document, with embossed seal and integral blank leaf, signed at the foot by Churchill as colonial secretary (a fine example of what became known as the 'wilderness years signature').

'... WHEREAS by Our Order in Council bearing date the Twenty-first day of January 1914, and known as the Zanzibar Order in Council, 1914, it is provided that during a vacancy in the office of the High Commisssioner for Our Zanzibar Protectorate, or in case of his absence or incapacity by reason of illness or otherwise, the powers of the High Commissioner shall be vested in such person as We may appoint under Our Sign Manual and Signet or through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State: / Now know you that We do by this Our Commission ... appoint you, the said John Houston Sincliar, in any such event ...'

Together with a group of photographs of Sinclair.
[No: 21839]