BARON GEORGE RALPH ABERCROMBY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/15/1885 - HFSID 142905

BARON (GEORGE RALPH) ABERNATHY
The husband of Queen Victoria's Lady of the Bedchamber writes from the Queen's estate.
Autograph Letter signed: "Abercromby", 1p, 4¾x7¼, affixed to 5x9½ sheet, to which two clippings are also attached. Osborne, 1885 January 15. On black-bordered mourning paper to "Gentlemen". In full: "I enclose a cheque in payment of yhour account & take this opportunity of again saying how much pleased I am with the quality of your silks. I remain gentlemen, yours faithfully". Affixed on mounting sheet above letter are two clippings, one describing, the other illustrating, Osborne House. George Ralph Abernathy (1838-1917) inherited from his father the title of Baron in 1852. As the Fourth Baron, he married Lady Julia Janet Georgiana Duncan in 1852. Baron Abernathy, a Justice of the Peace, seems to have left no major mark on history, but Lady Abercromby was a close friend and confidante of Queen Victoria, holding the post of Lady of the Bedchamber from 1874 to 1885 (the year of this letter). Osborne was a mansion on the Isle of Wight built for Queen Victoria, one of her favorite residences. King Edward VII presented the house and estate to the nation, after which it served as an officer's convalescent home and a naval college (1903-1921). Today Osborne House is a popular destination for public tours. Queen Victoria mourned her consort, Prince Albert (d. 1862) for the rest of her life, hence the black-bordered stationery. Baron and Lady Abernathy had no children; the title passed to his brother (a noted archaelogist) in 1917 and was extinguished after his death. Slightly soiled. Slightly rippled from mounting adhesive. Otherwise, fine condition.