Victoria, Queen

Queen Victoria, 15 autograph letters signed, discussing family matters, 53 pages, 1843-1871; Prince Albert, 7 autograph letters signed, mostly on family affairs but also on European events, referring to the Battle of Magenta during the Italian War of 1859 and the attitude of the British government under Palmerston ("...Ich möchte aus der Haut fahren Magenta daß wir nach heute morgen nach Wiener Nachricht[en] als möglicher Weise gerettet wähnten wird von Paris und Turin als von Euch gänzlich verloren angezeigt! Dabei haben wir heute das neue Parlament eröffnet D. Palmerston hat gestern seine Sympathien für Frankreich erklärt und fängt heute Abend die Schlacht an die das Ministerium stürzen und ihn ans Ruder bringen soll!..."), 29 pages, 1842-61; their children Princesses Alice, 3 letters, and Helena, 1 letter; Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 6 letters; Leopold I, King of the Belgians, 5 letters; Ferdinand II, King of Portugal, 3 letters; and others, including letters concerning employment in the service of the Mensdorff-Pouilly family; many of the letters with envelopes, the collection also including 7 empty envelopes, 1840s-70s

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Alphons, Comte de Mensdorff-Pouilly (1810-1894) was Queen Victoria's first cousin; his mother, Princess Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, was the sister of Queen Victoria's mother, Princess Victoria, later the Duchess of Kent. In 1842 Queen Victoria described Alphons and his three siblings as "out and out the nicest cousins we have" in a letter to their uncle, Leopold, King of the Belgians. They were also first cousins of Prince Albert.