Bidspirit 拍卖 | Prince Leopold, Son of Queen

Prince Leopold, Son of Queen Victoria – Early Autograph Letter Signed at the Age of 13 – Windsor, 1866 – with Original Envelope, Additional Signature and Wax Seal - An early Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (1853–1884), youngest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Dated 8 April 1866, when Leopold was only 13 years old. The letter is addressed to Miss Hildyard (“Tilla”), governess and educator to members of the Royal Family, with whom the young Prince maintained a personal correspondence. Leopold thanks “Dear Tilla” for a present she had sent him, writing that he liked it very much. He relates that he had received many very nice presents the previous day and refers to a visit which he found exceedingly tiresome and which lasted until after ten o'clock at night. He also enquires after an acquaintance and asks Hildyard to convey his kind regards. The letter concludes warmly and is signed in his own hand: “Good-bye dear Tilla, I remain ever yrs sincerely, Leopold.” Accompanied by the original envelope, addressed to Miss Hildyard, St. Katherine’s, Regent’s Park, London, retaining its Penny Red postage stamp and Windsor postal cancellation. Of particular interest, the lower left corner of the envelope bears an additional handwritten “Leopold” signature, giving the item two examples of the Prince's signature – one in the letter and another on the original envelope. The reverse retains the original red wax seal, together with a crowned royal device. 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 Prince Leopold. Each page measures approximately 17.9 × 11.5 cm. Accompanied by the original envelope, additionally signed by Prince Leopold and retaining its original wax seal, measuring approximately 12.2 × 7.2 cm.