An exceptionally interesting registered historical cover sent from Baden-Baden on 1 April 1880 by Sir Henry Ponsonby (1825–1895), Private Secretary to Queen Victoria, to Montagu Corry (1838–1903), Benjamin Disraeli’s private secretary and close confidant, at 10 Downing Street, London. The cover was dispatched during the 1880 British General Election, at a critical moment in Disraeli’s political career. Disraeli had called the election in March 1880, and by 31 March the Conservatives had suffered significant losses in the county contests, making the prospect of the government’s defeat increasingly apparent. Queen Victoria was then staying at Baden-Baden and was receiving news of the political developments. The cover was sent by the Queen’s Private Secretary to Montagu Corry, one of Disraeli’s closest and most trusted associates. The reverse retains Sir Henry Ponsonby’s original black wax seal, bearing a crown and monogram. The front bears two German postage stamps, a “Baden – Eingeschrieben No. 751” registered-mail label, Baden-Baden cancellations and a London registered-mail receiving mark. The reverse bears London arrival markings dated 3 April 1880. According to the historical documentation accompanying the item, the correspondence may have concerned Queen Victoria’s distress at the prospect of Disraeli’s defeat and/or possible arrangements concerning the return of his Seals of Office. As the original contents are no longer present, this interpretation cannot be confirmed and should be regarded as historical conjecture. A fascinating historical postal item directly linking Queen Victoria’s household, Benjamin Disraeli and Montagu Corry at the height of the election that brought Disraeli’s final premiership to an end.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art