Description:

Wilhelm I, King of Prussia
Berlin, Prussia, April 27, 1829
Kaiser Wilhelm I Rare Personal 3pp Handwritten Signed Letter
ALS

Wilhelm I (1797-1888). King of Prussia from 1861 and German Emperor from 1871. A rare and remarkable autograph letter signed, "Wilhelm," with his elaborate flourish, in German, 3pp, on bifold gilt-edged stationery measuring 5" x 8.5", Berlin, April 27, 1829. Untranslated. Expected folds and light creases. Lightly toned. Prior collector's pencil notations to an otherwise blank final page, with evidence of previous mounting at same. Tiny separation at fold intersection, with a small area of loss at lower third page, neither of which affects the text. Overall, in near fine condition and very scarce. Ex-Paul Richards, 1982.

Wilhelm I pens a letter of personal congratulations on the marriage of a friend at court, made even more interesting by the fact that he was also married that year. In part: "If I have to send my heartfelt congratulations to your family and especially Miss Pauline, on the occasion of the fortunate event which fate has decided for your daughter, my house...has to go into mourning. With as much pleasure as I welcomed Miss Pauline to our court, it is with as much pleasure I see her go to her real destiny and thus I must sever the ties which bind her to the Princess Augusta. However, I was glad to see...that Miss Pauline will continue her position with the Princess..."

Wilhelm I married Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1811-1890) in 1829. She became the first German Empress when Wilhelm I was proclaimed German Emperor in 1871. Their marriage, while not initially a love match, was a union of political significance. Augusta was known for her progressive views and intellectual pursuits, which contrasted with her husband's more conservative and military-focused demeanor.

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!

  • Dimensions: 5" x 8.5"
  • Medium: ALS

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.

August 27, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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