Description:

King Edward VII of England
[Abergeldie Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland], October 2, 1878
Prince of Wales 1878 ALS With India Connection 2 Years After His Indian Good Will Tour
ALS

A 2pp autograph letter signed by Albert Edward (1841-1910), future King Edward VII and then the Prince of Wales, as "Albert Edward" on the second page. October 2, 1878. [Abergeldie Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.] (Abergeldie Castle was a 16th C. tower castle where Albert Edward stayed every year after 1863 to enjoy hunting, card game-playing, and socializing.) Inscribed on laid watermarked bifold stationery with "Abergeldie Castle / Ballater / Aberdeenshire. N.B." embossed letterhead. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles. The third page and the outer leaf are blank. Else near fine. 4.5" x 7." Provenance: Ex-Paul Richards, 1965.

The Prince of Wales requested a favor of letter recipient Sir Louis Mollet (1823-1890), then Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India. In the missive, Albert Edward mentions the Viceroy of India, referring to Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton (1831-1891), who served as Viceroy of India between 1876-1880.

Just two years earlier, the Prince of Wales had undertaken an extensive goodwill tour of present day India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka between November 1875 and January 1876. Albert Edward's tour of the subcontinent included 21 villages and cities including Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune, where he enjoyed his first elephant ride in a howdah. The positive diplomatic relations fostered during the Prince's visit in part resulted in a public relations coup: Queen Victoria's expanded title of "Empress of India" after January 1877. Albert Edward would inherit the honorific "Emperor of India" in 1901.

The Prince of Wales wrote in full, with original usage:

"October 2nd 1878

Dear Sir Louis Mallet,

Will you kindly send the inclosed letter [not included in this lot] to the Viceroy by the Mail that leaves on Friday next etc

Believe me,
Very sincerely yours,

Albert Edward."

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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  • Dimensions: 4.5" x 7"
  • Medium: ALS

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