RARE "International Court of Justice" Percy Spender Hand Signed Card COA For Sale

Sir Percy Claude Spender KCVO KBEQC (5 October 1897– 3 May 1985),was an Australian politician, diplomat and judge. He served in the House of Representativesfrom 1937 to 1951, including as a cabinet minister under RobertMenzies and Arthur Fadden. He was later Ambassador to the United States(1951–1958) and a member of the International Court of Justice(1958–1967), including as president of the court from 1964 to 1967. Spender wasborn on 5 October 1897 in Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales. Hewas the fifth of six children born to Mary (néeMurray)and Frank Henry Spender; his father was a locksmith originally from SouthAustralia. Spender's mother died in 1902 and his father remarried,giving him a stepsister and later two half-siblings. He began his education atDarlinghurst Public School, and later attended Fort Street High School. After failing hismatriculationexam, he found work as a clerk with the Sydney CityCouncil. Spender eventually passed the entrance exam to the University of Sydney, where he graduated Bachelor ofArts in 1918. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forcein September 1918, but did not see active service before the war ended a fewmonths later. Spender subsequently completed a Bachelor ofLaws, graduating in 1922 with first-class honours and the UniversityMedal in law. He was admitted to the bar in 1923 and made a King'sCounsel in 1935. Spender entered politics at the 1937 election when he waselected to the House of Representativesas member for Warringah. He ran as an "independent UAP" candidate, unexpectedlydefeating the sitting member, Sir ArchdaleParkhill. On 20 October 1938, Spender announced that he would jointhe UAP, but that he would "continue to stand for independent expressionof thought and action and against the principle of preselectionof candidates".