An attractive royal mourning envelope, entirely addressed in the hand of Queen Victoria (1819–1901) and signed by her with her royal designation “The Queen, ” to The Hon. Mrs. Katherine Bruce, a trusted member of the Queen’s close Royal Household. On the front, Queen Victoria writes: “The Hon: Mrs Bruce St James’s Palace” At the lower left, the Queen has written in her own hand her royal designation/signature: “The Queen.” The recipient, Katherine Bruce, is the same member of the Royal Household represented by another remarkable letter in this collection (Lot 139). In that highly personal letter, Victoria addresses her familiarly as “Dear Katherine, ” asks her to copy “this very confidential letter, ” and closes affectionately: “Ever yours affectionately – V.” The association of these two pieces provides a particularly revealing insight into the trust, familiarity and personal relationship between Queen Victoria and Katherine Bruce. The envelope is addressed to Bruce at St. James’s Palace, one of the principal centres of the British Royal Court. It is a distinctive Royal Mourning Cover, with a broad black mourning border on the front and substantial black mourning bands forming a large X across the reverse. At the centre of the reverse survives an impressive original black royal wax seal, bearing the Royal Arms. The large and visually striking seal gives the piece an especially strong royal character. Of particular autograph interest, the envelope is significant not merely because it was addressed by Queen Victoria herself, but because the Queen also signed/identified it in her own hand with her royal title “The Queen.” An intimate and visually impressive piece of Victorian royal history combining Queen Victoria’s autograph handwriting, her “The Queen” royal-title signature, Katherine Bruce as a trusted member of her household, St. James’s Palace, royal mourning stationery and an original black royal wax seal.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art