[23] These three most interesting autograph notes are also to be seen in the Royal United Service Museum. Before concluding these notes we may give some general hints. Preserve all facsimile signatures which are to be found; they are useful for purposes of comparison when doubtful originals come along. The signature should never be cut from a document; the whole sheets should be preserved. An original letter ought not to be pasted on to the album. It is far better to fix it in position by slipping it under "ears" or bands of paper pasted to the pages. To restore a faded signature, dab it carefully with a solution of hot tincture of gall containing a trace of dissolved potassium chlorate. When dry, dab it with a pad moistened in ordinary lime water. The process is simple, but it is well to experiment on a useless specimen before treating valuable ones. Valuable documents which are torn and perhaps crumbling may be prevented from deteriorating further by sandwiching between two sheets of glass, and binding with passe-partout edging. In deciding whether a document is genuine or not, the composition of the ink and the texture of the paper should be taken into consideration. Forgers find great difficulty in matching papers made more than fifty years ago. Great care should be used to discriminate between the autographs of people possessing similar names (e.g. Kitchener, the writer on cookery matters, must not be confounded with Kitchener, the soldier). [Illustration: William of Orange. Duke of Wellington. General Wolfe. Earl Roberts. King Albert of Belgium. General Sir Ralph Abercromby. George Washington. SOME AUTOGRAPHS OF NOTED SOLDIERS.] * * * * * Lastly, it may be useful to give a list of some of the prices realized by military and allied autographs at public sales, etc., in order that the collector may gain some rough idea of the value of his treasures. (A.L.S. means Autograph letter, signed; D.S. means Document, signed; L.S. means Letter, the signature only of which is in the handwriting of the celebrity.) _Abercromby, Sir Ralph._--British general; killed in Egypt, 1801. D.S., 8s. 6d. A.L.S., with portrait attached, £2. _Allen, Capt. Wm._--Of the Niger Expedition. A.L.S., 2s. _Alva, Ferd. Alvarez, Duke of._--Spanish General; oppressed the Netherlands; executed the Counts Egmont and Horn. L.S., two guineas. _Amalfi, Duke of._--Imperial marshal commander-in-chief after Wallenstein. Died, 1656. L.S., 14s. _Anne, Queen._--D.S., a Privy Council Letter; signed also by Buckingham, Schomberg, and nine other peers, 10s. 6d. _Auchmuty, Sir Samuel._--English general; died, 1822. D.S., 4s. _Barkstead, Colonel John._--Cromwell's Governor of the Tower, executed 1662. D.S., 10s. 6d. _Barrington, Viscount._--Secretary of War; died, 1793. A.L.S., 3s. 6d. _Beaver, P. Capt._--With Nelson at Trafalgar. A.L.S., 5s. 6d.