Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850). Twice-signed note,

addressed to "Mr. [John] Smith", New Bond Street" (London) and dated 15 May 1835, bifolium with on the front the note and on the back the aforementioned address (both signed), 18 x 11.2 cm. (folded for posting), inserted in wrapper with old auction strip pasted to the front.

Short note on the sending of a "Ruysdael". It is known that Peel possessed a valuable collection of old masters (incl. Ruysdael), also known is a copy by John Constable of a Ruysdael from the Peel collection. A catalogue raisonné exists of Dutch, Flemish and French paintings listing where many of these works were in private possession, published by art dealer John Smith on New Bond Street precisely in the year 1835. This work is available online, so it can be traced which Ruysdael(s) in that year was or were in the possession of John Peel, and possibly which work this note concerns. Robert Peel was prime minister of the United Kingdom from December 1834 to April 1835, and then again from June 1841 to 29 June 1846. He reformed the organisation of the Metropolitan Police, and for this he is still remembered: the unofficial term for a British policeman (especially in London) is a bobbie, the nickname for Robert. The older term, peelers, was also derived from his name.