Bidspirit 拍卖 | Prince Leopold, Son of Queen

Prince Leopold, Son of Queen Victoria – Autograph Letter Signed Concerning His Engagement to Princess Helena – Sandringham, 1881 – with Original Envelope and Wax Seal - An Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (1853–1884), youngest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Written at Sandringham Palace on Sunday, 11 December 1881. Addressed to Miss Hildyard (“Tilla”), governess and educator to members of the Royal Family. In this warm and personal letter, Leopold thanks Hildyard for her good wishes upon his engagement to Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont, whom he married in 1882. Leopold writes: “Pray accept my warmest thanks for your very kind letter of good wishes on my engagement to be married.” He further tells Hildyard that he knows she will rejoice in his happiness and offers to send her a photograph of his bride: “I know you would rejoice at my happiness; & you must let me send you a photograph of my dear bride.” Leopold also writes that William Brown is to receive the next vacancy at the British Museum, adding that he had sat for three hours on the committee the previous day. The letter concludes warmly and is signed in his own hand: “Good-bye, dear Tilla, Yours affectionately, Leopold.” Accompanied by the original envelope, addressed to Miss Hildyard, St. Katherine’s, Regent’s Park, London, retaining its postage stamp and December 1881 postal markings. The reverse retains the original red wax seal. A faint old pencil identification, apparently added by a previous collector or owner, appears on the front. 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 18.9 × 12.3 cm. Accompanied by the original envelope retaining its wax seal, measuring approximately 13.5 × 8 cm.