QUEEN VICTORIA (GREAT BRITAIN) - AUTOGRAPH - HFSID 176569

QUEEN VICTORIA
Signing as "The Queen" on a clipped fragment from a letter
Signature: "The/Queen" in brown ink. 3¼x2 segment of her black-bordered mourning paper. Despite the impressive size of his own family, with the death of King George III, the crown passed through his children in quick succession, first to his eldest son George IV (1820-1830), than to his third son William IV (1830-1837), and eventually to one of his more unlikely heirs, his granddaughter by his fourth son, Princess Victoria. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and the Empress of India (1819-1901) ascended the throne at the young age of 18, beginning the longest reign in British history and ruling over a time soon to be known as the Victorian Era. This time period was remembered for its industrial, cultural, political, scientific and military change within the United Kingdom with massive growth of the British Empire. More of a national icon rather than a direct political power, Victoria's name was synonymous with strict standards of personal morality. Her great affection for her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, remains a renowned love story in her history; they had nine children together, all married into royal and noble families across the continent, tying them together and earning her the nickname "Grandmother of Europe". Her reign lasted sixty-three years and seven months, and with her death so ended the House of Hanover in the British monarchy, and her legacy of her detailed correspondence and journals have displayed her previously unknown political straight-talking which was emotional, obstinate, and honest. Fold in center. Surface creases. Edges and corners slightly worn. Lightly toned. Slightly soiled and stained. Irregularly cut. Ink note (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.