Description:

Queen Victoria I of England
[Balmoral Castle, Abderdeenshire, Scotland], September 8, 1890
Queen Victoria ALS Consoling Fellow Widow: "pray God to give you peace + strength to bear this heavy blow"
ALS

A 4pp autograph letter signed by Queen Victoria I of England (1819-1901) as "Victoria RI" [Regina Imperatrix] at the fourth page top. September 8, 1890. [Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.] On laid watermarked bifold stationery with a thick mourning border, and with black-embossed "Balmoral Castle" letterhead. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, some well-creased, and a few light isolated spots touching the second page. Else near fine. 4.5" x 7."

Queen Victoria wrote this condolence note to Blanche Adeliza Fitzroy, Lady Rosslyn (1839-1933), whose husband, Francis Robert St. Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn (1833-1890) had died at age 57 on September 6, 1890 after a long illness. Lord Rosslyn's death notices appeared in the British papers on September 8th, the date of Victoria's letter, though the Queen might have found out sooner through other channels. Lord Rosslyn died at Dysart House in Fife, Scotland, which was only about 80 miles south of Balmoral Castle.

The Queen's letter shows a deep empathy, well beyond the usual comforting platitudes. This of course should be expected, for, who would know more about the agony of marital loss than Victoria? After the sudden death of her beloved husband, the Prince Consort Albert, at age 42 in 1861, Victoria lived in perpetual mourning and later created a veritable cult of widowhood. Queen Victoria laments the deceased man, noting his kindness and loyalty, and also remembering Lord Rosslyn's 1887 Jubilee poem tribute. But the Queen reserves most of her kindly pity - an almost sublime commiseration - for the widow.

Queen Victoria wrote in part, with original usage:

"Sept: 8. 1890

Dear Lady Rosslyn,

Your touching telegram reached me yesterday + I would wish to express how very truly + deeply I feel for you + pray God to give you peace + strength to bear this heavy blow - + this irreplaceable loss! You must be terribly worn by these many months of anxious watching + of hope + fear! But this very watching, for now (I think) … must leave a terrible blank. It is I think so dreadful to feel how one can do no more the dear one is beyond our reach; but then we feel also that he is where there is no suffering, no sorrow, no tears & surely is conscious still of our affection + devotion!

I shall ever remember how kind + loyal he was + value the beautiful Poems he wrote -

It was very shortly after the beautiful one for my Jubilee that he began to feel ill. -

My daughter + Henry wish to offer their sincere expressions of condolence to you + asking you [to] convey the same to your children from me, pray believe me always,

Yours affly

Victoria RI."

Lord Rosslyn's poem celebrating Queen Victoria's Jubilee was entitled "Love that lasts forever." The poem, comprised of 33 rhyming stanzas, praises Victoria's leadership and rhapsodizes about the British Empire. Stanza III strikes an early triumphant chord: "I join it now / To Thine, Victoria! Thou hast seen / With clear eyes, how / To win it: blessed hast thou been / With Love, as Mother, Wife, and Queen." Queen Victoria liked Lord Rosslyn's poem so much that she directed it be published by Royal Command in March 1887.

In addition to his poetry, Lord Rosslyn was also known as a horse-racing breeder, equestrian cup winner, and yachtsman. Educated at Eton and Oxford, and a Conservative politician, he was active in the Freemasons of Scotland and held honorary military rank. In 1878, Lord Rosslyn had served as Ambassador Extraordinary to Madrid to attend a royal Spanish wedding. From 1886 until his death, Lord Rosslyn served as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-At-Arms.

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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