Lot 266

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Description:

Queen Victoria Signed Military Appointment, Gorgeously Presented

A military document signed by Victoria I (1819-1901) as "Victoria Rg" (Regina) at upper right. Signed at the Court of St. James's on April 26, 1858. Also countersigned by Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 2nd Baronet (1806-1863), Secretary of State for War, as "G C Lewis" at lower right; and by Sir Edward Lugard (1810-1898), Undersecretary of State for War, as "-dward Lugard" at lower left. The partly printed and partly handwritten document on paper bears Victoria's pale blue embossed royal seal just beneath her signature, and also a dark blue embossed revenue stamp for one pound, ten shillings. The royal seal partly obscures the "o" of "Victoria," but otherwise the royal signature is large and elegant, measuring 2.5" x 1.25" alone. The document is displayed to the right of a large reproduction of Queen Victoria's famous portrait in her coronation robes after the original by Sir George Hayter. Expected light folds and scattered foxing, else near fine. The sight size of the document is 13.375" x 9.25" while the overall framed size is 29.5" x 16.625" x .875."

Queen Victoria, then nearly 20 years into her reign, appointed Charles Enys (1840-1891) to the rank of ensign in the 20th Regiment of Foot in the spring of 1858. Enys thus narrowly avoided the Crimean War, in which his regiment had fought at the Battles of Alma and Inkerman.

"Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith &c. To Our Trusty and well beloved Charles Enys, Gentleman Greeting We do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be Ensign in Our Twentieth Regiment of Foot…"

Charles Enys was from a prominent Cornwall family. He enlisted in the army after graduating from Harrow, and, as we can see, was appointed an ensign. After serving in India, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1860. He resigned his commission in 1863 and immigrated to New Zealand to become a sheep farmer the following year.

One of Great Britain’s longest ruling monarchs, Victoria I oversaw an industrializing England and an expanding overseas empire including India after 1876. She, along with her nine children, would dominate European politics (and royal households) throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

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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November 11, 2020 10:30 AM EST
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