Most Royal I

Royal Patent Signed by Charles III, King of Spain

This royal patent, 1783, signed by Charles III, King of Spain, includes a brief account of the career of Bernardo de Galvez in New Spain and his tenure as Deputy Governor of Spanish Louisiana during the American Revolution.

The patent granted high honors and a new addition to the heraldic coat of arms of Bernardo de Galvez for his activities in Louisiana against the British.

M.H.

Silk Stocking owned by George IV

The markings "GPR/1816" on the stocking are similar to those on other items of royal apparel in the Royal Pavilion Art Gallery and Museums at Brighton, England. The initials probably indicate George, Prince Regent, as the prince ruled for his incapacitated father, George III, from 1811-1820.

A.S.

Photograph Album of Emma Wallace

This 19th-century photograph album contains many cartes-de-visite photographs of European royalty. Cartes-de-visite were a style of photograph popular from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries. Commonly called "six penny" photographs, cartes-de-visite were inexpensive commercially published photographs on cards. 

Many were of celebrated people and places from around the world, as is the case with Ms. Wallace’s album.

M.H.

Hair from Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s Cat

A member of the Dabney family pulled these "two hairs from Her Majesty’s cat on July 24th 1873." He or she may also have been pulling the legs of the rest of us, since the hairs were obtained at the Tower of London where any pet, as a resident of government property, was, ipso facto, Her Majesty’s.

A.S.

Commission signed by Queen Victoria

A royal commission signed by Great Britain’s Queen Victoria appointing William Thomas Philippe Bernard as ensign in the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, dated 21 June 1858.

M.H.