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King Edward VIII

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,300.00 - 1,500.00 USD
King Edward VIII

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Auction Date:2016 Dec 07 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
World War I-dated ALS signed “Edward,” one page both sides, 6.5 x 8, General Headquarters, British Forces in Italy letterhead, July 4, 1918. Letter to Captain Faussett, in full: “Ever so many thanks for your kind letter & good wishes for my birthday; it was very nice of you to write!! We had quite a stiff 24 hr. battle 3 weeks ago when the Austrians attacked us tho. they did no good & we killed & captured a lot of them; these old ‘Dagoes’ gave us a few days’ anxiety on the Piave but the situation was restored & the Austrian offensive was converted into a complete failure within a week!! My visit to Rome was semi official on ‘on duty’ & it was one long string of official visits, meals, receptions, etc & I had to make a speech in a place like the Albert Hall one night & I also visited the Pope!! I stayed at the Embassy with the Rodd’s who are very nice tho. I hardly got a moment to myself or was free for sight seeing or anything else!! Viola (or rather Mrs) Erskine is charming & she gave a small dance one night I was in Rome (tho. not a word) & then they both lunched with me one day!!!! I’m afraid I shan’t get home this month tho. I have hopes of doing so in August, perhaps a fortnight’s leave!! Except for that week in Rome which was not leave I haven’t been away at all since I’ve been back in Italy these last 3 months which is very trying as its hot out here now & one just pines for leave; it’s a delightful climate & we see a lot of the sun & life tho. deadly dull & monotonous is pleasant & peaceful as compared to the W. front where they have had such a terrible 3 ½ months of it!! Oh!! This — — war how it does drag on tho. it’s going to last another 10 years, that’s what I feel about it tho. of course the Americans are going to pull us thru we should be done without them!! Please forgive such a rotten, dull & untidy scrawl but its written in the office where we are very busy & where I’m being interrupted the whole time!! My kindest regards to Mrs. Faussett & my love to David!! No news or gossip from here! Again many thanks for your kind letter & I remain ever yours.” In very good to fine condition, with punch holes and old tape residue along the left edge, affecting a few words of text.

After having trained in the Royal Navy, a 20-year-old Prince Edward was commissioned in the army’s Grenadier Guards after the outbreak of World War I. He was eager to serve on the front lines, but, as the heir to the throne, Edward was routinely denied such a jeopardizing situation. Assignments to safe positions on the Italian front vexed the prince, who purportedly queried, ‘What difference does it make if I am killed? The king has three other sons!’ His persistence sent him to France, where he served on the staff of the commander of the British Expeditionary Force. Although his front line experience was brief, Edward, to his satisfaction, was under fire several times.