LUCKNOW, INDIA, DATED 1861 AD

Details

A LETTER OF CONDOLENCE TO QUEEN VICTORIA ON THE DEATH OF PRINCE ALBERT
LUCKNOW, INDIA, DATED 1861 AD
Persian manuscript on paper, 17ll. black naskh arranged in two columns, the text reserved against gold cloudbands, above 5ll. black and gold nasta'liq with the Queen's titles flanked by two lions and below a crown and chhatri against an illuminated ground, below in smaller black nasta'liq the name of the writer, set within blue and gold borders, the blue margins illuminated with flowering scrolls, a black stamp in the lower margin, in gold and green outer rules, mounted, framed and glazed
Text panel 22 ½ x 8 ½in. (57.2 x 21.7cm.)

Provenance

Anon. sale, Christie's London, 8 October 1991, lot 120
Anon. sale, Sotheby's London, 8 May 1997, lot 213

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

This was one of many letters of condolence sent to Queen Victoria after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. An album of these letters received from Heads of State around the world is in the Royal Collection Trust (RA VIC/MAIN/M/65). This lot is written in formal poetry from on behalf of the rulers of Awadh by the Diwan (Chief Minister) Rajah Bihari Lal Bahadur. Although Queen Victoria learned Urdu in later life from her attendant Muhammad Abdul Karim, this would have been several decades after this letter was sent. A full translation of the text is available upon request.

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