GEORGE V & MARY OF TECK: GEORGE V (1865-1936) King of the United Kingdom 1910-36 & MARY OF TECK (186

GEORGE V & MARY OF TECK: GEORGE V (1865-1936) King of the United Kingdom 1910-36 & MARY OF TECK (186

GEORGE V & MARY OF TECK: GEORGE V (1865-1936) King of the United Kingdom 1910-36 & MARY OF TECK (1867-1953) Queen Consort of the United Kingdom 1910-36, wife of King George V. A fine pair of dark fountain pen ink signatures by both the Prince ('George P, Prince de Galles') and Princess of Wales ('Victoria Mary, Princesse de Galles') on an 8vo page removed from an album, both adding the same place and date, Athens, 23^rd April 1906, in their hands beneath their signatures. Autographs of the future King and his consort in which they incorporate their titles are scarce and desirable. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

 

The present signatures are dated shortly after the conclusion of the Prince and Princess of Wales's tour of British India (November 1905 - March 1906) where the future King was disgusted by racial discrimination and campaigned for greater involvement of Indians in the government of the country.

 

Provenance: The present page was removed from the personal album of Baron Robert Stuker (1863-1940) Swiss historian, interpreter, diplomat and educator, a language specialist who was appointed tutor at the Greek Royal Court under King George I. Stuker was later appointed as Royal Chamberlain, Court Librarian and Personal Secretary to the King. Stuker accompanied members of the Greek Royal family on trips, took on sensitive diplomatic missions and became the King's advisor. Following his service with the Greek Royal family, Pope Pius XI appointed the Reformed Protestant Stuker as master of ceremonies and interpreter at the Vatican in 1924, posts he was to hold until 1935. In later years the album was added to whilst in the custody of Jurg Stuker (1914-1988) Swiss antiquarian bookseller and founder of the Stuker auction house in Bern, stepson of Robert Stuker.