Royalty T - Z
Theresa, Maria (1717-1780)
Autograph note signed
The only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions, ruling from 1740 until her death in 1780. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands, and Parma. By marriage, she was Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Holy Roman Empress. Autograph note signed with initials. 2 pages, recto and verso, 4.5 x 7.5 inch sheet of paper, n.p. (Vienna), n.d. (1764). To the Hungarian court chancellor, Count Franz Esterházy (1715-1785), about a work published by the Hungarian historian Adam Franz Kollár von Keresztén, who later became director of the Vienna court library - probably the "Casparis Ursini Velii de bello Pannonico libri decem" (Vienna 1762), in which the succession to the throne of the House of Habsburg in Hungary is dealt with. In German, in full: „ich glaube mit disen zettul eine grosse langmuth und mässigung zu bezeigen allein je grösser selbe ist desto weniger will sie längers mehr fortsetzen dan entlich wurde es eine schwachheit. daraus wan er nicht glaubt das meine besondere gnad erkennt wird und nichts mehr, weder von dem buch geredet noch von mir begert werde, und mit mehrers eyffer und erkantlichkeit in denen lands sachen mir an die Hand gegangen werde, so verbiette ich ihme einen usage davon zu machen. die geistlichkkeit solle jetzt ihren eyffer bezeigen dan sie allein alles verdorben und sollen die schartten auswetzen die sie in mein herzen bilig verursacht.“ Horizontal fold, slightly discolored, else fine condition. Adam Franz Kollár de Keresztén (1718-1783) was a jurist, Imperial-Royal Court Councillor and Chief Imperial-Royal Librarian, a member of Natio Hungarica in the Kingdom of Hungary, a historian, ethnologist, an influential advocate of Empress Maria Theresa's Enlightened and centralist policies. His advancement of Maria Theresa's status in the Kingdom of Hungary as its apostolic ruler in 1772 was used as an argument in support of the subsequent Habsburg annexations of Galicia and Dalmatia. Kollár is also credited with coining the term ethnology and providing its first definition in 1783.
Price: $ 990 / € 900
Victoria, Queen (1819-1901)
Autograph letter signed (written in German)
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. Autograph letter signed “Victoria RI”. 2 pages, bifolium, black bordered mourning stationery, 4.5 x 7.0 inch, Balmoral Castle, 1890 June 16. To Princess Louise Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (1866-1952), wife of Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia. In German, in full: „Ich schicke Dir hierbei mein Tauf-Geschenk für mein liebes Path(en)kind und bedauere sehr daß es nicht fertig war zur Zeit der Taufe. Mit den freundlichsten Grüßen an Fritz Leopold und den besten Wünschen für Deine Notharsachen und das Gedeihen der lieben Kleinen (Viktoria Margarete Elisabeth Marie Ulrike 1890–1923) verbleibe ich, Deine getreue Großtante“. Translated: “I am sending you my baptism gift for my dear godchild and I am very sorry that it was not ready at the time of the baptism. With kindest regards to Fritz Leopold and best wishes for your notary affairs and the prosperity of the dear little ones (Viktoria Margarete Elisabeth Marie Ulrike 1890–1923), I remain, your faithful great-aunt”. Mailing fold, else fine condition. Only the second letter written in German that I can offer.
Price: $ 1,760 / € 1.600
Wilhelm I., King (1797-1888)
Autograph letter signed re: visit of Queen Victoria at Garrison Church Potsdam
King of Prussia from 1861 and first Emperor of Germany from 1871 until his death in 1888. Fine content autograph letter signed. 3 pages, bifolium, 5.25 x 8.5 inch, Schloss (Castle) Babelsberg, 1858 August 15. As Prince Regent to Pastor Emil Hering the minister of the Garrison Church in Potsdam. The Emperor informs his correspondent that the Queen of England will be attending the services at the Garrison Church today and continues to provide instructions to the Pastor. In German, in full: “Die Königin von England wird heute am Gottesdienst in der Garnison Kirche teilnehmen. Derselbe nimmt seinen ganz gewöhnlichen vorschriftsmäßigen Verlauf ebenso die Predigt. Nur ein Lithurgisches Gebeth ist nach dem Gebeth für unsere Königin, ungefähr folgendes Gebeth für die Königin von England einzuschieben, daß vor dem Gebeth für mich: ‚Seegne die erhabene Königin von England + Ihren Gemahl, die du gnädigst hergeführt hast + die wir in unserer Mitte sehen. Seegne die schöne und beglückende Familienvereinigung beider Königshäuser die du uns in diesen Tagen sichtlich vorführst, jetzt und in aller Zukunft‘“. An den Geistlichen welcher heute den Gottesdienst in der Garnisonskirche abhält.“ Translated: “The Queen of England will attend the Services at the Garrison Church today. These services take their ordinary course in due form, also does the sermon, only the Litany Prayers after the Prayer for the Queen there is to be inserted a prayer in about the following form for the Queen of England, and that before the prayer for me. ‘Bless the illustrious Queen of England and her Prince-Consort, whom You have led to us in Your Grace and who are now present amidst us. Bless the beautiful and happiness-giving family union of both the Royal Houses, which you have shown to us, now and in all the future’''. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by the Emperor. Also including an autograph letter signed by Pastor E. Hering. 2 pages, 5.0 x 8.0 inch, New York, 1891 December 10. To C. F. Gunther in Chicago, discussing the sale of the letter by Wilhelm I. and stating, in part: “I am willing to sell it at a reasonable price. What such price is, is a little difficult to state. You are right: the Emperor wrote in his long life many letters. But my letter is of another character; it is not a private one, but official, written by him as Highest Bishop of the Prussian State Church; therefore a proof of his consciousness of this dignity and power, because only the Evangelical Oberkirchenrath has the right to change the official Liturgy; second: my letter is a valuable proof for his tender and fine regard for the Queen of England, third: a proof of his piety, which moved him to implore our Lord for his blessings for that most important marriage, and implore openly in the Holy Service of the congregation…. These remarks, I suppose, will be valuable for your sale of the letter, and I would never sell it, but for my bitter want of help, as my mission work here gives me a trifling of income.” The integral leaf bears Hering's autograph statement of provenance, signed alongside a circular blind embossed seal, and stating, in part: “I was at that time Assistant Preacher at the Imperial Court Chapel in Potsdam and had to preach Sunday, August 15th 1858, wherefore I received the letter directly from the Prince Regent by a mounted livery servant...The genuineness of the above letter of William I cannot therefore be called into question”. Some light overall age wear, minor staining, and a few slight traces of former mounting, else good condition. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited their eldest daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal, in Germany in August 1858. It was the first time Queen Victoria had seen her daughter since her wedding and subsequent move to Germany earlier that year. The Queen and Prince Consort stayed with the pregnant Princess Royal at Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam until 28th August when they left for Cologne.
Price: $ 1,540 / € 1.400
Wilhelm II., Emperor (1859-1941)
Autograph telegram signed to Empress Augusta Victoria
The last German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia from 1888 to 1918. Autograph telegram signed “Wilhelm”. 1 page, 8.75 x 11.0 inch, Christiania, on board of the Hohenzollern, 1899 July 14. Addressed to his wife Augusta Viktoria (1858-1921). On a printed form “Telegraphie des Deutschen Reiches”. In pencil, in German, in full: “Kaiserin u Königin/ Tyskland Berchtesgaden / Von Herzen Glückwunsch zum heutigen Tage. Hier tropische Hitze. Haben gestern Nacht wegen Hitze Spaziergang gemacht bis ½ 12. bei Tageshelle. Dann an Deck bis 3 Uhr gesessen. Heute 29° Wärme. Bootsregatta zu Ehren von Adalbert. Jetzt scheint ein Gewitter aufzuziehen. Kaiserin Eugenie soll gestern auf Englischer Yacht, die wir noch sahen, hier gewesen sein. Haben leider keinen Besuch machen können; da schon heute früh fort. Alle wohl. Viele Grüße.“ Handling wear, else good condition. Prince Adalbert, the third son of the imperial couple, celebrated his 15th birthday that day. Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III., went to England in 1870, where she lived as Countess of Pierrefonds. Hohenzollern (German: Seiner Majestät Yacht Hohenzollern) was the name of several yachts used by the German Emperors between 1878 and 1918, named after their House of Hohenzollern.
Price: $ 1,320 / € 1.200
Wilhelm II., Emperor (1859-1941)
Impressive oversize signed photograph
The last German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia from 1888 to 1918. Signed photograph “Wilhelm I.R. Weihnacht 1927”. 10.0 x 13.5 inch, Dorn (barely visible below Wilhelm’s handwriting), signed in blue colored pencil. Impressive half-length portrait in uniform. Handling wear, slightly trimmed, else good condition.
Price: $ 880 / € 800