[VICTORIA]: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. A rare collection of Queen Victoria’s intimate apparel, comprising a large white linen short sleeved Nightdress with a fine machine lace patterned border to the collar and sleeves, with embroidered Royal crown and initials VR; a cream linen Chemise, also with a machine lace patterned frill at the neckline and sleeves and with embroidered Royal crown, initials VR and size number 24 beneath; a pair of white linen Bloomers with embroidered Royal crown, initials VR and size number 36; a fine pair of black silk Stockings with white tips, and with embroidered Royal crown and the initials VR beneath; and a white lace pocket Handkerchief featuring two different attractive patterned borders and the Royal crown and initials VR embroidered in one corner. Accompanied by two autograph notes, unsigned (although most likely in the hand of Mrs. John Nicholas Price Wood, Lt. Col., wife of the High Sherriff of Shropshire in 1943), each on different correspondence cards from Henley Hall, Ludlow, n.d. (c.1936), the first stating, in full, ‘Underlinen & stockings worn by Her Majesty Queen Victoria’ and the second stating, in full, ‘This Pocket Handkerchief belonged to Her Majesty Queen Victoria & was given to Elma Wood by Her Highness Princess Helena Victoria, grand daughter of Queen Victoria’, (also included is a Registered envelope, evidently originally containing the handkerchief, hand addressed by Princess Helena Victoria to Mrs. Price Wood at Henley Hall, Ludlow, post marked 8th July 1936, and signed H.V. by the Princess with her initials in the lower left corner, some small tears and age wear), and further including a third autograph note, unsigned, in an unidentified hand, n.p., n.d., stating, in full, ‘Night Gown worn by her late Majesty Queen Victoria the year she died January 1901’. Some pinholes, evidently where the notes were originally attached to the garments. All of the clothing and notes of provenance are contained in a handsome red leather despatch box with the gilt stamped name of Sir Albert K. Rollit L.L.D. to the lid, the brass handle with a brown oblong 12mo luggage label tied to it, with the printed address of Mrs. Price Wood, Henley Hall, Ludlow, Salop, annotated in ink (presumably in the hand of Mrs. John Nicholas Price Wood once more) in part ‘This Box contains H.M. Victoria’s under clothes worn during the year of her death, Night dress, stockings, chemise….& drawers, Handkerchief. The Handkerchief was given me by H R Highness Princess Helena Victoria grand daughter of Queen Victoria’. A rare collection with good provenance. Some light age wear, generally VG, Sml Qty.

Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein (1870-1948) Granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

Sir Albert Kaye Rollit (1842-1922) British Politician, Lawyer & Businessman, Consul-General for Romania 1911-22.

A single pair of Queen Victoria’s bloomers sold at an English auction for £10,500 in July 2015.