Very rare early printing of King George III's first response to the Declaration of Independence, "His Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech to Both Houses of Parliament, on Thursday, October 31, 1776," one page both sides, 6.5 x 11, printed in London by Charles Eyre and William Strahan, Printers to the King’s most Excellent Majesty, 1776. In part: "My Colonies in North America…have now openly renounced all Allegiance to the Crown, and all political Connection with this Country…My Desire is to restore to them the Blessings of Law and Liberty, equally enjoyed by every British Subject, which they have fatally and desperately exchanged for all the Calamities of War, and the arbitrary Tyranny of their Chiefs." Beautifully double-matted and framed with an engraved portrait of the king to an overall size of 21.25 x 18.25, with a glass backing for viewing the reverse. In very good condition, with moderate overall staining, and old tape along the left edge.
