Saxony King Frederick Augustus I Signed Royal Letter to King Ferdinand I Sicily

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Saxony King Frederick Augustus I Signed Royal Letter to King Ferdinand I Sicily:
$1083.71

For your consideration is an exceptionally rare and historically significant royal autograph letter entirely written and hand-signed by King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony, who also held the titles of Duke of Warsaw and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Dated October 28, 1817, and composed at the Royal Court of Dresden, this magnificent Latin manuscript is addressed to His Majesty King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, expressing the Saxon monarch’s formal congratulations upon the marriage of Prince Ferdinand of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (later King Ferdinand II) and Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria, daughter of Emperor Francis II. This document is written entirely in the King’s own hand, rather than by a royal scribe, which elevates it far beyond an ordinary chancery issue—making it an exceedingly rare royal holograph of one of Europe’s most prominent post-Napoleonic rulers.

Executed in bold, fluid iron-gall ink on fine watermarked laid paper, the manuscript is a masterpiece of royal calligraphy, reflecting Frederick Augustus’s elegant and deliberate script. The King begins with the Latin titulary “Fridericus Augustus, Dei Gratia Rex Saxoniae” (“Frederick Augustus, by the Grace of God, King of Saxony”) and proceeds to express his heartfelt joy at the dynastic union of the Bourbon and Habsburg royal houses. In his own words, the King congratulates Ferdinand I and conveys his blessings for the newlyweds, affirming that this alliance will fortify the long-standing bonds of friendship between their families and realms. He closes with a solemn invocation of divine grace upon the Royal House of the Two Sicilies, concluding with the salutation “Frater et Consanguineus Fidelissimus” (“Your Faithful Brother and Cousin”).

The entire body of the text, including the salutation, closing, and date line, is autograph, written personally by Frederick Augustus I—a remarkable rarity in royal correspondence, as monarchs typically dictated such letters to court secretaries. Beneath his carefully penned signature, “Fridericus e Augustus,” appears the countersignature of Count Detlev von Einsiedel (Comes ab Einsiedel), Minister of the Royal Household and Cabinet Secretary, confirming that this royal letter was duly recorded and transmitted through the official Saxon chancery.

Affixed beneath a folded flap on the verso is the large blind-embossed royal seal of Saxony, displaying the crowned royal coat of arms encircled by the inscription FRIDERICUS AUGUSTUS D.G. REX SAXONIAE. The seal remains crisply struck and perfectly preserved, representing the authority of the Saxon monarchy during its restoration following the Congress of Vienna. The use of a personal holograph letter bearing both the King’s own handwriting and his official seal underscores the exceptional ceremonial and diplomatic weight of this document, which was likely hand-delivered or transmitted via royal courier to Naples in late 1817.

Measuring approximately 16.0 by 13.0 inches, the letter is preserved in fine original condition, with subtle toning and light folds consistent with official dispatch. The laid paper retains its original watermark, and the ink remains rich and unfaded. Every element—from the fine curvature of the King’s script to the seal’s heraldic precision—attests to its authenticity and historical gravity.

A full English translation confirms that the letter is a royal congratulatory message, celebrating the dynastic marriage that united the Houses of Wettin, Bourbon, and Habsburg, emblematic of the renewed European alliances following Napoleon’s defeat. This elegant holograph document stands as a tangible symbol of early 19th-century monarchic diplomacy, composed and signed entirely by the King himself—a distinction that renders it among the most significant Saxon royal manuscripts of the period.

This one-of-a-kind, museum-quality artifact represents not only an intimate expression of royal kinship but also an artistic and diplomatic triumph of the restored monarchies of Europe. Its preservation, authenticity, and provenance mark it as an invaluable treasure for collectors of royal autographs, European diplomatic history, and Napoleonic-era manuscripts. Provenance: The HADA Collection.