An important royal autograph envelope dating from 1859, addressed in the hand of Victoria, Princess Royal (1840–1901), eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, shortly after her marriage to Prince Frederick William of Prussia, later Emperor Frederick III. Sent from Berlin to London, the envelope is addressed to: Sir James Clark, Bart. Brook Street Grosvenor Square London. The recipient, Sir James Clark, 1st Baronet (1788–1870), was a prominent royal physician who served Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, giving the correspondence a particularly close connection with Victoria's British family and former court. The front retains contemporary postal markings, including a Berlin postmark, documenting its journey from Prussia to Britain. The reverse is particularly attractive, retaining a large red royal wax seal, impressed with a crown and intertwined monogram. The seal remains striking and clearly defined and considerably enhances the royal character of the envelope. also retained on the reverse, a red London arrival postmark. At the time this envelope was sent Victoria was still at a very early stage of her life in Prussia. She had married Prince Frederick William in January 1858 and moved to Berlin, making this 1859 envelope an appealing document of her continuing personal connections with figures associated with the British Royal Household shortly after leaving Britain. Victoria later became German Empress and Queen of Prussia, wife of Emperor Frederick III and mother of Kaiser Wilhelm II, and following her husband's death became widely known as Empress Frederick – Kaiserin Friedrich. A particularly appealing piece of royal and postal history combining the autograph addressing of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, a recipient intimately connected with the British Royal Household, an impressive royal wax seal, Berlin–London postal markings, and an early date shortly after Victoria's marriage and move to Prussia.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art