Bidspirit 拍卖 | Queen Victoria (1819–1901) – Autograph

Queen Victoria (1819–1901) – Autograph Royal Mourning Envelope to Lord Ronald Gower, Signed in Her Hand with Her Royal Title “The Queen” – Franked with a One Penny Stamp Bearing the Queen’s Own Portrait and Sent Through the Post, with Black Royal Wax Seal – 1898 - An exceptional autograph royal mourning envelope by Queen Victoria (1819–1901), addressed in her own hand to Lord Ronald Charles Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1845–1916), British sculptor, writer, art collector and aristocrat. The Queen addresses the front: “The Lord Ronald Gower 27 Trebovir Road London S.W.” The identification of the recipient is independently confirmed by the address: Lord Ronald Gower is documented as having resided at 27 Trebovir Road, London, between 1893 and 1899. The National Portrait Gallery records the address as his residence during this period. At the lower left Queen Victoria has written: “The Queen” thus signing/identifying the envelope in her own hand by her royal title, an important autograph feature of the piece. The envelope is a distinctive royal mourning cover, with broad black mourning bands. The reverse retains a substantial black royal wax seal, impressed with the Royal Arms. Of particular philatelic and visual interest, the envelope was actually sent through the postal system and is franked with a British One Penny lilac postage stamp bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria herself, with postal cancellation. The result is an especially appealing association: an envelope personally addressed and signed by Queen Victoria, bearing a postage stamp displaying the Queen’s own portrait. Lord Ronald Gower was a notable figure in late Victorian artistic and social circles and served as a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. Contemporary evidence from 1898 independently confirms his use of the 27 Trebovir Road address. An exceptional piece of Victorian royal and postal history combining Queen Victoria’s autograph addressing, her “The Queen” royal-title signature, an identifiable and distinguished recipient, mourning stationery, a black royal wax seal, a postage stamp bearing the Queen’s own portrait, and genuine postal use in 1898.