Details
FRANZ FERDINAND, ARCHDUKE OF AUSTRIA (1863-1914)
Eight autograph letters in German, signed, from Vienna, Lölling, Eckartsau, Konopischt, Schloss Blnbach and n.p., 11? October 1902 - 9 August 1913 and n.d., 28pp, 8° and 4pp, 4° (one letter incomplete), to Princess [Olga] of Liechtenstein, writing of the worsening Balkan crisis. Alongside a quantity of friendly chatter, apologies, mutual enquiries and plans for meeting, Franz Ferdinand's letters reveal an emerging strand of anxiety about the disturbances in the Balkans which would ultimately lead to his assassination. His chief concerns are initially with Hungary where, in 1905, he writes that the political situation with the revolution of the aristocracy is too dreadful, fulfilling his fears of the last twenty years. In 1908 his tone is more positive, writing of the Austrian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, showing Europe once more they are a great power. In the same letter he writes warmly of his relations with Kaiser Wilhelm. The most poignant reference comes however in the last letter of the series in which he declares the second Balkan war to have closed the Balkan problem: Thank God it seems we've now finished with these Balkan swine; that riff-raff have cost us so much work, agitation and aggravation. In particular King Ferdinand [of Bulgaria] has behaved infamously (short tears to folds).
With autograph letter in French, signed by King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, 'Palais de Vrana', 15 January 1918, 3pp, 8°, to Princess [Olga] of Liechtenstein, commiserating upon the premature death of an unidentified countess.
(9)
.jpg?w=1)