An attractive ALS (Autograph Letter Signed) by Princess Helena (1846–1923), daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, written from Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, on 29 January 1909, together with its original mailing envelope. Written in English in Princess Helena's hand on Cumberland Lodge stationery, headed with a royal crown and: “CUMBERLAND LODGE, WINDSOR” together with the residence's contemporary telegraph and telephone details. The letter is addressed: “Dear Dr. Champneys” Helena thanks the recipient for his letter and specifically for privately communicating to her the decision reached by a Sub-Committee: “I am much obliged for your letter & for your conveying to me thus privately the decision arrived at by the Sub-Committee.” The letter concludes with her autograph signature: “Helena.” "The recipient is Dr Francis Henry Champneys (1848–1930), later Sir Francis Champneys, the distinguished British obstetric physician and Chairman of the Central Midwives Board. Champneys played a major role in the regulation of midwifery in Britain and is documented in connection with Princess Helena in activities relating to midwives. In this context, the Sub-Committee whose decision he privately communicated to the Princess was likely connected with medical, nursing or midwifery affairs, although the precise identity of the committee has not yet been established." Accompanying the letter is its original mailing envelope, addressed to J. Champneys Esq., M.D., 42 Upper Brook St., London W., retaining its British postage stamp and contemporary postal cancellation. An old identification “Princess Christian” appears at the top, while the reverse bears a black royal crown on the closing flap. Following her marriage to Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein in 1866, Princess Helena was also widely known as Princess Christian. She was particularly active throughout her life in charitable, medical and nursing organisations. An appealing and complete piece of royal correspondence combining the original handwriting and signature of Queen Victoria's daughter, Cumberland Lodge stationery, content concerning a privately communicated committee decision, and the original postal envelope retaining its stamp, postmark and royal crown. The original envelope retains a red British 1 Penny King Edward VII postage stamp, affixed upside down, with a contemporary 1909 postal cancellation. Letter dimensions: 17.7 × 13.4 cm. Original envelope dimensions: 14 × 9.5 cm.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art