Tebet. A Signed Photograph of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) with Accompanying Letter

An envelope, addressed to Arthur F. Bell, with a signed photograph of the 14th Dalai Lama, and accompanied by a Letter from the Dalai Lama’s Private Secretary. The air mail envelope is constructed of folded paper, and is addressed to Mr. Arthur Bell of II College Road, Wellesley, Massachusetts, 02181, USA”, with seven coloured Indian postage stamps, measuring 228 mm (w) x 102 mm (l). The photograph of Tenzin Gyatso (the 14th Dalai Lama) is signed by himself in blue pen and dated “23/4/76”, measuring 138 mm (w) x 89 mm (l). The calling card is bears the seal of Tenzin Gyatso and reads “With the Compliments of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, measuring 114 mm (w) x 171 mm (l). The accompanying letter stems from the Birla House, Dated August 5th, 1959, in response to Bell’s letter, and signed by the Private Secretary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, measuring 176 mm (w) x 112 mm (l), the photograph with a crease in it, but the grouping in otherwise near extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Dalai Lama is the title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. Following the annexation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China, during the 1959 Tibetan uprising, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso escaped to India, where he continues to live in exile while remaining the spiritual leader of Tibet. The Birla House, presently known as Temple Tree, is located in Happy Valley, Mussoorie, northern India. The Dalai Lama and his entourage stayed at the Birla House after fleeing Tibet.