Just In! Which Aristo Claims To Have Had An Affair With Earl of Snowdon?

How we love a scandal!

Which aristo claims to have had an affair with the Earl of Snowdon a year before his marriage to Princess Margaret?

Just in! Inside the Earl of Devon's Financial Woes

As previously stated, the Earl of Devon is set to sell some of the "family silver" in order to pay for repairs at Powderham Castle. The Earl has been in the news because of his refusal to allow civil unions at his ancestral seat, which prompted the local council to pull the castle's marriage license.

The Aristo News has just learned that Lord Devon sold THE COURTENAY COMPENDIUM through Sotheby's for the price of ₤937,250 on December 3, 2008. A description of the item which is a collection of English and Far-Eastern accounts that includes Marco Polo's Description of the World has been in the Earl's family since 1536.

More recently, on June 10, 2009, Lord Devon sold a copy of Dante Alighieri's LE TERZE RIME for a meager ₤1,500 through Sotheby's.

In less than a year, Lord Devon has raised ₤938,750 through the sale of priceless manuscripts. With the pending Sotheby's sale, maybe this money is solely for repairs. Or, have there been financial woes for the Earl for some time and now they're just coming to light?

One of the lots up for sale at the July 14, 2009 Sotheby's sale is VINDICATION OF CHARACTER AND CONDUCT by Sir William Waller. This document recounts the English Civil War and came into the family through the marriage of Sir William's daughter, Margaret, to Sir William Courtenay. This document is valued between ₤10,000-₤15,000. Click here to see the item.

As always, we'll keep you posted as this story develops.

To see the items previously sold through Sotheby's click here and here.

Financial Woes for Earl of Devon?

According to The Daily Telegraph , the Earl of Devon is "selling the family silver"? Why? Due to his refusal to host gay weddings at the family seat, Powderham Castle, the castle's marriage license was revoked. The current Earl of Devon, Lord Devon, insists gay weddings are against his Christian beliefs.

A sale of priceless books and manuscripts is scheduled for July 14, 2009. However, Lord Devon insists the sale has nothing to do with the loss of his castle's marriage license, but to raise money for repair works on the castle.

We'll keep you posted on this story.

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