An attractive autograph royal mourning envelope by Queen Victoria (1819–1901), addressed to the prominent British Conservative statesman Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook (1814–1906). The Queen has addressed the front in her own hand: “The Earl of Cranbrook G.C.S.I. G.C.B.” and at the lower left has written: “The Queen.” Queen Victoria thus identifies/signs the envelope with her royal title rather than her personal name, an important autograph and royal feature of the piece. The envelope is distinguished by a broad black mourning border, with the black mourning bands continuing across the closing flaps on the reverse in an X-shaped arrangement. At the centre of the reverse is a particularly impressive large and substantially intact black royal wax seal, clearly impressed with the Royal Arms surmounted by the Crown. The quality and preservation of the heraldic impression are especially noteworthy. The recipient, Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook, was a leading Conservative statesman of the Victorian period. His senior offices included Home Secretary, Secretary of State for War, Secretary of State for India and Lord President of the Council, serving under Benjamin Disraeli and Lord Salisbury. The post-nominal letters G.C.S.I. and G.C.B. appearing after his name denote his senior British orders of chivalry. An impressive piece of Victorian royal ephemera combining Queen Victoria's autograph addressing, her royal-title signature “The Queen, ” a major Victorian statesman as recipient, black mourning format and an exceptionally well-preserved black royal wax seal.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art