Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3057 7-8 Sep 2017
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Great Britain
Queen Victoria State Letter Signed in Mourning with Accompanying Medals, A fascinating state letter, signed by the Queen to approve, "Charles D. Cleveland as Consul for the United States" at Cardiff. While documents such as these are encountered with some regularity, especially for Victoria given the tenure of her reign, it's the circumstances under which the present signature was placed that makes it truly exceptional. Issued on December 28, 1861, exactly two weeks after the death of Prince Albert, this confirmation piece was signed during one of the most defining moments of Victoria's life, when her grief must have been unbearable. As was tradition for all British correspondences after a family death, the document is trimmed in black. Its purpose, to immediately alert the receiver of bad news, is certainly morbid, and was undeniably effective. Through an exhaustive search, we've encountered no other signed document from Victoria issued so soon after her bereavement, imparting a uniquely intimate feel to the present letter. Accompanying the letter are two medals struck in white metal, depicting both Queen Victoria and her dearly departed Prince Albert. Each item shows light handling, with the letter showing a quartered fold as would be typical, bright paper and very bold ink. A small internal split along the fold intersection has no influence on the eye appeal.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1500-3000 USD
Queen Victoria State Letter Signed in Mourning with Accompanying Medals, A fascinating state letter, signed by the Queen to approve, "Charles D. Cleveland as Consul for the United States" at Cardiff. While documents such as these are encountered with some regularity, especially for Victoria given the tenure of her reign, it's the circumstances under which the present signature was placed that makes it truly exceptional. Issued on December 28, 1861, exactly two weeks after the death of Prince Albert, this confirmation piece was signed during one of the most defining moments of Victoria's life, when her grief must have been unbearable. As was tradition for all British correspondences after a family death, the document is trimmed in black. Its purpose, to immediately alert the receiver of bad news, is certainly morbid, and was undeniably effective. Through an exhaustive search, we've encountered no other signed document from Victoria issued so soon after her bereavement, imparting a uniquely intimate feel to the present letter. Accompanying the letter are two medals struck in white metal, depicting both Queen Victoria and her dearly departed Prince Albert. Each item shows light handling, with the letter showing a quartered fold as would be typical, bright paper and very bold ink. A small internal split along the fold intersection has no influence on the eye appeal.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1500-3000 USD