Description:

King Edward VII of England
[Marlborough House, London, England], "Thursday Evening"
Future King Edward VII Envisions Son's Future In Steam Engine Age - Remarkable ALS
ALS
A 3pp autograph letter signed by the future King Edward VII (1841-1910), then Prince of Wales, as "Albert Edward" towards the bottom of the third page. N.d. but most likely ca. 1860s. N.p. Inscribed on watermarked laid stationery with "Marlborough House / Pall Mall S.W." green embossed letterhead. A slightly sheared left edge suggests the paper was once bifold. Expected wear including flattened paper folds and a few extra wrinkles. Isolated grubbiness and discolored spots on the first page. A small closed tear on the third page not affecting any text. Else very good to near fine. 3.625" x 5.375."

The Prince of Wales wrote this remarkably thoughtful thank-you note to an unidentified British titled duke. The lack of a definite date makes it impossible to determine which of the prince's three sons he was discussing in the letter. However, the proud paternal reference to "our little boy" suggests it was probably Edward's firstborn, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (1864-1892), called "Eddy."

In full:

"Thursday Evening

My dear Duke,

Many thanks for the little steam engine you were kind enough to send here today - I hope our little boy, may learn the use of it at an early age - as when we are all dead + gone + he is an old man, he will doubtless see it turned to every imaginable use, which we never should never have dreamt of -

Hoping that the Duchess was not the worse for going out on Tuesday evening

I remain,

yrs most sincerely

Albert Edward."

The Prince of Wales addresses the eventuality of his own death - even when considered as a rhetorical exercise - with shocking candor. He speculates about what the world will look like when his young son "is an old man." The prince's prediction about the radical changes that the late 19th and 20th centuries would produce, especially in the areas of transportation and industry, came true, as we know. If the prince was referring to Eddy's long life, however, then sadly, he was mistaken. Eddy died of pneumonia at age 28 in 1892, nearly two decades before his father's death.

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.

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