Description:

Cousins at War! Kaiser Wilhelm Signed Appointment & King Albert I of Belgium ALS

A group of two signed items by notable WWI figures, Kaiser Wilhelm II and King Albert I of Belgium. The first is a 1912 Imperial Promotion of German Officer Axel von Petersdorff. 3pp of a bifolium, measuring 8.5" x 14.25", Berlin, dated February 20, 1912. Signed "Wilhelm" in German as King of Prussia. The document promotes von Petersdorff to Lieutenant Colonel. An embossed three-inch diameter seal is present at the left of the Kaiser's bold signature. Flattened folds and lightly toned edges. Faint areas of ink transference on internal pages. Minor soiling on the fourth blank page. Large and bold signature by Wilhelm.

The second item is an Autograph Letter Signed by King Albert I of Belgium. 1p, measuring 5.25" x 6.875", Brussels, dated June 29, 1919. Signed "Albert", the letter congratulates the members of the Howard Savings Institute on their work and sends his regards, writing "…I send to all the members my sympathetic message and my deep admiration for the gallantry and heroism displayed by the American soldiers." Written on personal stationery, mounted and framed along with an identification card to the overall size of 9" x 15.25". The letter has flattened mail folds and a large, bold signature.

Wilhelm was the eldest son of Kaiser Frederick III and Princess Victoria (Queen Victoria's eldest daughter). The document was signed just two years prior to the outbreak of the First World War. Many believe that the Kaiser's tactless public statements and erratic foreign policy greatly antagonized the international community and are
one of the underlying causes for WWI.

King Albert I of Belgium ascended to the throne on December 23, 1909, and was a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm. At the start of WWI, Albert refused Germany's request to grant German troops safe passage through Belgium in order to attack France. His denial led to a German invasion, which in turn brought Britain into the war. King Albert would go on to lead his Belgian troops through numerous battles, on the front lines, and in the trenches. At the end of the war, he led the final offensive at the Fifth Battle of Ypres. Tragically, Albert died in a mountaineering accident in 1934 at the age of 58.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

January 6, 2022 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000