A 50-year-old document that marked Margaret Thatcher’s rise to power was recently discovered in a garage in Somerset, England, and is set to be auctioned in 2026. The letter, which dates back to February 11, 1975, contains Thatcher’s signature agreeing to run for the Conservative Party leadership. This historic paper is part of a collection that will be auctioned by Duke’s of Dorchester on January 29, 2026, with an estimated value of up to £100,000.
The letter was uncovered in a cardboard box belonging to Sir Edward du Cann, a member of the Conservative Party, and is part of a larger collection that includes notes and records from the leadership election. The document, titled