The Principal Contents of Corby Castle, Cumbria
Victoria, Queen of England, 1819-1901.
Auction Closed
November 19, 05:30 PM GMT
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
The archive of James Forbes, Queen Victoria's Commissioner at Balmoral Castle between 1896 and 1901, comprising:
i. Letters and ephemera:
a) Queen Victoria. Series of more than 20 autograph letters and a Christmas card, to James Forbes, mostly signed (“VRI”) and a few written in the third person, chiefly discussing the management of Balmoral and court life (“…Please see that the Munshi Abdul Karim's wishes respecting a little improvement in the Kitchen sh[oul]d be carried out….”) and including warm and heartfelt references to family members (“…I am much interested to hear that... two of Mrs Forbes's Brothers have volunteered for S. Africa. The way in wh[ich] everyone comes forward is wonderful & most gratifying and g[rea]tly to be admired & is most gratifying to me…"), with a small number of incomplete letters and empty envelopes, c.80 pages, 8vo, headed mourning stationery of Balmoral, Osborne, Windsor Castle, and the Excelsior Hotel Regina, Ciminez, 13 May 1897 to 6 July 1900 (where dated)
b) Queen Victoria. Other documents and letters: a watercolour calendar illustrated with portraits of the Forbes's three children, inscribed by Victoria to Mrs Forbes 1898; certificate of baptism for Albert Victor, son of James and Barbra Forbes, signed by Victoria as witness, 19 June 1898; letter signed by Queen Victoria, to Aberdeen University, ordering the amendment of the Balmoral Bursaries to make them accessible to both sexes, 29 October 1897; a letter of request by Forbes to the Queen relating to a Balmoral Bursary, superscribed “App[roved] VRI”, June 1900; also telegrams
c) Visitors’ Book. Visitors’ book of Craig Gowan House on the Balmoral estate, with signatures including Queen Victoria (19 June 1900), Edward VII (twice, once as Prince of Wales), Queen Alexandra, the future Edward VIII and George VI as young children (twice), other royals, courtiers, ministers and aristocrats, 16 pages, plus blanks, large 4to, 1900-1913
d) Photographs. Photograph of the future George V signed (“George”) and dated 1893; with six other photographs
e) Royal family. Printed royal ephemera including invitations, menus, and programmes, c.14 items, 1893-1901; correspondence relating to James Forbes and the royal family, 1890s-1900s; a small quantity of later material relating to the Forbes family and the Royal family, 20th century
the collection contained in a handsome red morocco official dispatch case stamped with the royal monograph in gold, fitted inside with stamp box and ink wells, and with gilt brass lock and carrying handle, 430 x 310 x 150 mm.
ii. Grant of the Dignity of a Member of the fifth class of the Royal Victorian Order to James Forbes Esquire, double sided manuscript certificate, ink on paper, signed 'Edward R', framed and glazed, 305 x 195mm., February 1901
iii. Joseph Edgar Boehm (British, 1834-1890) 'John Brown 1896', a bronze, head and shoulders, bust on a wooden plinth, signed 'sculp J.B.', 180mm. high (including plinth)
iv. A silver christening mug, by Holland, Aldwinckle & Slater, London 1895, on domed stepped foot, the upper rim with embossed band of stylised scrolling foliate and shell pattern, the upper scroll of the acanthus capped scrolling handle formed as a mythical beast head, the side of the plain body engraved with inscription, with gilt interior, height to top of handle 120mm., weight 10oz., the presentation inscription reads: From Victoria R.J., June 1898
v. A heart shaped silver and tortoiseshell box, by J Batson & Son, London 1897, the tortoiseshell body framed with silver, the interior lip with presentation inscription, the lid with coin inset, (with damages), height 42mm., The inscription reads: To Mrs Forbes From Duke of York, April, 1899, The coin: With the bust of Queen Victoria facing left, the reverse with crowned lion rampart and Royal coat of arms, with legend 'Jubilee Of The Reign 1837-1897'
vi. A small collection of medals, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E., 1st type, Civil Division on a bow for a Lady, in Garrard case of issue; with a Diamond Jubilee Medal for 1897 and miniature, British Red Cross Medal, and minor prize medal
Please note that this lot will not be on public view in our New Bond Street galleries for the auction exhibition, but we would be more than happy to arrange a viewing by appointment at New Bond Street. To enquire, please contact cameron.dileo@sothebys.com
Bonhams, The Scottish Sale Antiques and Interiors, 21 August 2013, lot 360.
A fine collection relating to life at Balmoral, Queen Victoria’s much-loved residence in the Scottish Highlands, from the collection of James Forbes, commissioner of the estate. Forbes (d.1919) had been employed at Drumlanrig Castle as assistant chamberlain to the Duke of Buccleuch before being employed to manage the Balmoral estate in 1896. He continued in service for a short period after the death of Victoria and was subsequently employed as factor to the Duke of Atholl’s estate in Perthshire and then as factor on the estate of Islay.
The letters show the Queen’s continued close attendance to life at Balmoral, and her close concern for household, tenants and neighbours. She continued her regular trips to the estate in her final years despite her own declining health and faculties, making her final visit in the autumn of 1900, some three months before her death. Her letters contain a number of references to Rev. Ramsey Sibbald (1869-1950), who was to have a long career as a royal chaplain but at this point was newly installed as minister at Crathie Kirk, where the royal family worship when in residence at Balmoral. Sibbald’s early tenure had evidently brought some controversy so the Queen counsels Forbes to treat the minister with care (“…be very careful to be exact & very discreet & keep out of rows (like the choir trouble) or writing in any of the papers wh. was one of Mr Sibald's accusations last year. But I fear Mr S. is of a vindictive spirit & I rather fear, not very exact himself…”). In contrast, she is notably less concerned about diplomatic niceties when it comes to an unwelcome aristocratic guest: “I have never invited the Duke of Atholl to come over with his men and I think it wd. be better not to do so this year. It w[oul]d entail the encampment of his men in our grounds wh[ich] w[oul]d be inconvenient." These letters also show Victoria responding to bereavement with characteristic intense emotional sympathy. On hearing that William Brown, brother of her beloved ghillie John Brown, had been widowed she writes:
"The death of dear excellent Mrs Wm Brown whom I was so very fond of and with whom I had been so intimate is real grief to me & I dare not think of how dreadfully I shall miss her. Her loss is really irreparable... Poor William I do pity so much for he is so helpless & dear Lizzie was everything in the world to him. I am so grieved to hear he is far from well & very glad John is staying. Perhaps you cd help in arranging things... I have telegraphed to you about the safe for good William Brown. The letters there I had put together for the family to keep".
THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF A TRUSTED ROYAL SERVANT PROVIDING AN EXCEPTIONAL INSIGHT INTO QUEEN VICTORIA AND HER BELOVED BALMORAL.
Forbes's outgoing letters to Queen Victoria are in the Royal Archives, where copies of these letters have been deposited.
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