Royalty K - N
Leopold II., King (1835-1909)
Rare autograph letter signed
King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. Born in Brussels as the second but eldest surviving son of Leopold I. and Louise of Orléans. He succeeded his father to the Belgian throne in 1865 and reigned until his death, the longest reign of any Belgian monarch. Leopold was the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free State. Leopold's administration of the Congo was characterized by murder, torture and notorious systematic brutality. Autograph letter signed “Leopold”. 4 pages, 4.5 x 7.0 inch, bifolium, Château de Laeken, 1880 June 1. Addressed to: „Cher cousin, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Ernest II. (Ernst August Karl Johann Leopold Alexander Eduard, 1818-1893). A fine handwritten letter regarding a wish of Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria. In French, in parts: “L’Archiduc Rodolphe Prince Impérial d’Autriche Hongrie désire très vivement…pour…Mr Karl Bohuslawek la petite croix en argent de chevalier de l’ordre de Famille. J’ai promis de vous faire part du vœu de mon futur gendre…” Translated: “The Archduke Rudolph, Prince Imperial of Austria Hungary, wishes the little cross in silver of knight of the order of Family for ... Mr. Karl Bohuslawek. I promised to share with you the wish of my future son-in-law…”. The original mailing envelope with a fine black wax seal is included. Mailing folds, else fine condition. Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria (1858-1889), was the only son and third child of Emperor Franz Joseph I. and Elisabeth of Bavaria. He was heir apparent to the throne of Austria-Hungary from birth. In 1889, he died in a suicide pact with his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, at the Mayerling hunting lodge.
Price: $ 1,680 / € 1.400
Ludwig II., King (1845-1886)
Early document signed by the Fairy tale King (Neuschwanstein)
Ludwig II. was King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death. He is sometimes called the Swan King and “der Märchenkönig” - the Fairy tale King. He also held the titles of Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Duke of Franconia, and Duke in Swabia. He succeeded to the throne aged only 18 and is famous for the construction of two lavish palaces and the fantastic Neuschwanstein Castle. Partly printed document signed “Ludwig”. 1p., bifolium, 8.25 x 13.5 inch, fine paper seal, Schloß Berg (Berg Castle), 1866 May 20. Patent for Martin Vay as Oberlieutenant. Signed in dark black ink by Ludwig and countersigned by minister of war Eduard von Lutz (1810-1893). Handling wear, mounting residue on verso of the blank second page of the bifolium, else good condition and with a fine signature. Ludwig used Berg castle as his summer residence, moving here regularly every year on 11 May and performing the business of state from it.
Price: $ 1,800 / € 1.500
Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)
Rare Document Signed
Last queen of France before the French Revolution whose public execution by guillotine, along with that of her husband, was the most grisly, visible, and powerful symbol of the political aims of the French Revolution. She was born an Archduchess of Austria, and was the penultimate child and youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. Highly desirable Document Signed “payez Marie Antoinette". 1 page, 9.25 x 14.5 inch, Versailles, 1788 April 1. As always the first "Marie Antoinette" at the end of the text was written by a secretary. Instructions to her general treasurer, Marc Antoine François Marie Randon de La Tour, to pay out a total of 270 livres from her budget “pour l’Entretennement et nourriture de plusieurs de nos officiers pendant la présente année” an 18 “grands Valets de pied qui ont servi pres de nous pendant le Q[uarti]er de Janvier, Février et Mars”. Boldly signed at the conclusion by Marie Antoinette and countersigned by her secretary Nicolas-Joseph Beaugeard. In 1793, Beaugeard was a conspirator in the failed plot to rescue King Louis XIV. from execution. Mailing folds, minor blemishes expertly repaired, else good condition.
Price: $ 14,400 / € 12.000
Mary II., Queen (1662-1694)
Rare signature AS QUEEN
Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland who co-reigned with her husband, William III. & II, from 1689 until her death in 1694. Mary's death from smallpox at the age of 32 left William as sole ruler until his death in 1702, when he was succeeded by Mary's sister, Anne. Rare ink signature as queen "Marie R:”. On an off-white 7.0 x 2.0 inch sheet clipped from the top of a manuscript document. Affixed to a slightly larger sheet. In very good to fine condition. Mary, a Protestant, came to the throne following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of her Roman Catholic father, James II. Rare signature.
Price: $ 1,490 / € 1.250
Maximilian I., Joseph, King (1756-1825)
Rare and fine content autograph letter signed
Duke of Zweibrücken from 1795 to 1799, prince-elector of Bavaria (as Maximilian IV. Joseph) from 1799 to 1806, then King of Bavaria (as Maximilian I. Joseph) from 1806 to 1825. Rare autograph letter signed “Max-Joseph”. 1p., bifolium, 6.5 x 8.25 inch, Baden, 1815 July 6. Only about four weeks after the end of the vienna congress on June 9th, 1815. An untranslated letter in French, to an unknown recipient “J’ai recu votre letter en date de …”. The Kings mentions in this letter Lord Wellington (Arthur Wellesley, 1769-1852, 1. Duke of Wellington) and Napoleon. On June 18, 1815 (only about 3 weeks before this letter), Wellington defeated Napoleon decisively at the Battle of Waterloo. Minor handling wear, else fine condition. Surely one of the finest Maximilian I. autographs you can hope to find.
Price: $ 1,140 / € 950
Medici, Catherine de (1519-1589)
Wonderful letter signed
Italian noblewoman who was Queen of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II. As the mother of three sons who became kings of France during her lifetime she had extensive influence in the political life of France. For a time she ruled France as its regent. Rare Letter signed “Caterine”. 1p., 8.75 x 14.0 inch, Paris 1571 March 19. Addressed on verso to “Madame de Fourquevaux, l’une de mes dames ordinaries”. Countersigned by Chantereau. From afar she watches over her granddaughters. In French: “…j’ay receu la lettre que vous m’avez escrite…par laquelle j’ay esté bien aise d’entendre l’estat et bonne disposition de mesdames les infantes mes filles, et m’avez faict grand plaisir de les avoir veues et visiter et de m’escrire de leurs nouvelles, vous priant de les voir le plus souvent…pour me mander lestat dela sante et bonne disposition et leur dire de ma part que si elles ont affaire de quelques chose que ce soit, elles ne sadressent a autre qua moy, affin que…je leur enoye ce que leur fera besoing …”. Mailing folds, handling wear, uneven edges, else good condition.
Price: $ 2,340 / € 1.950