Lot 339

Prince of Wales Signed French Telegram Addressed to Queen Victoria Re: Yacht Race Win!

Previous image preload Next image preload

Prince of Wales Signed French Telegram Addressed to Queen Victoria Re: Yacht Race Win!

Estimate: $300 - $400

Starting Bid: $100

(0 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Edward VII King of England
Cannes, France, n.d. but ca. 1890s
Prince of Wales Signed French Telegram Addressed to Queen Victoria Re: Yacht Race Win!
ALS

A French-language telegram form signed and inscribed by the future Edward VII (1841-1910), then Prince of Wales, as: "The Queen Windsor Castle / Many thanks for kind wishes / Splendid weather Britannia / Won her race Sunday / Albert Edward." N.d. but probably ca. 1893-1897, when the Britannia secured many prizes. Cannes, France. Except for the Prince's message, the printed telegram form does not appear to be complete, notably lacked the transmission information at upper right. Hand-stamped "Cannes" in blue ink near the top. Laid down on a stock mount of the same size. Evenly toned. 10.5" x 5.5."

Albert Edward dutifully thanked his mother, Queen Victoria I, for sending her good wishes prior to a yacht race taking place in the French Riviera. The Prince of Wales had been a member and sponsor of various yacht clubs since his early adulthood. Already a member of the Isle of Wight-based Royal Yacht Squadron, the Prince of Wales became a Commodore of the club in 1882, and later an Admiral. The prince's enthusiasm for yacht-racing nicely dovetailed with his other sophisticated forms of recreation: hunting, gambling, socializing, traveling, and being an overall trend-setting bon vivant.

Albert Edward had had a succession of yacht-racing schooners and cutters in the 1870s and 1880s, but the Britannia, launched in April 1893, was a definite upgrade. The vessel was a Scottish-designed British Big-class gaft-rigged cutter that the Prince of Wales commissioned in 1892 from ship architect George Lennox Watson. From 1893-1897, Albert Edward's Britannia became one of the winningest yachts in the world, seizing numerous cup and regatta titles. 1895 was Britannia's most successful season, with 40 first and other prizes resulting from 50 meets. After becoming king in 1901, Edward VII used Britannia exclusively for cruising, not racing, but his son, the future George V, would revive the tradition.

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: 10.5" x 5.5"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, 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.

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