Bidspirit 拍卖 | Princess Beatrice, Daughter of Queen

Princess Beatrice, Daughter of Queen Victoria – Important Autograph Mourning Letter on the Death of Her Sister Princess Alice – Windsor Castle, 17 December 1878 – with Original Mourning Envelope - An important Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Princess Beatrice (1857–1944), youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Written at Windsor Castle on 17 December 1878, only three days after the death of her sister, Princess Alice (1843–1878), Grand Duchess of Hesse, who died on 14 December 1878. The letter is addressed to Miss Hildyard (“Tilla”), governess and educator to members of the Royal Family. A deeply personal and emotional mourning letter in which Beatrice thanks Hildyard for her letter of condolence and sympathy following the family's loss. Struggling to comprehend her sister's sudden death, Beatrice writes: “Dear, dear Alice, I can even now hardly believe that she is really taken from us!” Beatrice refers to the suffering endured by Alice and the profound shock experienced by the family, finding consolation in the thought that her sister is now at rest. She thanks Hildyard warmly for her sympathy and also refers to the health of her mother, Queen Victoria, noting that it had not suffered from the shock although her distress was great. The letter concludes affectionately and is signed in Beatrice's own hand: “Yours very affectionately, Beatrice.” Accompanied by the original envelope, addressed to Miss Hildyard in London and retaining its postage stamp and Windsor postmark dated 17 December 1878. Particularly notable is the broad black mourning border, while the reverse bears a crown and “Windsor Castle” device. Faint old pencil identification notes, apparently added by a previous collector or owner, appear on the envelope and refer to Beatrice and the death of her sister Alice. Provenance: From a documented historic collection of 22 original letters by members of Queen Victoria's family, addressed to Miss Hildyard, governess to the Royal Family. The collection was sold in 1947 by Elkin Mathews Ltd., London, to Dr. L. O. Meredith of Cambridge, Maryland, USA. The letter consists of a folded sheet forming 4 pages, 3 of which are handwritten by Princess Beatrice. Each page measures approximately 18.8 × 12 cm. Accompanied by the original mourning envelope, measuring approximately 12.7 × 8.4 cm.