Queen Victoria’s Royal post box with a festive card inside – which she used at Osborne House in East Cowes – has been found and is now being auctioned.
The 140-year-old table letter box shows how much she valued sending mail, according to Hansons Auctioneers.
The late 19th-century curved wooden box, which features her Royal cypher ‘VR’ (Victoria Regina) was found in a Surrey cottage crammed with unusual antiques. It’s now set for auction on 28th January with an estimate of £4,000-£6,000.
Charles Hanson, the owner of Hansons Auctioneers, says:
“It’s a first class find fit for a queen dating back to circa 1880. We can only imagine the tone and content of the notes the queen must have placed inside, but one thing we can be certain of is that she enjoyed sending letters and cards.
“Most people still do, but postal strikes, high stamp prices and the cost-of-living crisis have curbed that simple pleasure. I wonder what Queen Victoria would have thought about postal costs rising from a penny in the 1800s to 95p for a first class stamp today. Her profile featured on the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp issued in 1840.
“My family received hardly any Christmas cards compared to previous years, and many people I know say the same. That’s such a shame. Christmas is often the only time we hear from old friends or family far away. It’s a festive tradition that’s delivered joy for generations. Costs appear to be crushing this annual gesture of goodwill.
“I was reminded of this when we discovered the letter box because the seller found a vintage Christmas card inside. The price of a couple of stamps could buy a pack of cards today. With soaring inflation and winter fuel bills to contend with, it’s not surprising some people didn’t send many, or any.”
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Chris Kirkham, associate director of Hansons London, where the letterbox will be offered at auction, has said:
“I discovered it during a routine home visit at a cottage in Surrey. I was called in to assess items gathered by a keen antiques collector over a lifetime.
“It was purchased decades ago by the seller’s grandfather. He lived on the Isle of Wight. We understand he acquired it at a Carisbrooke sale which offered items relating to Osborne House in 1944 or 1945.
“The Isle of Wight is home to Carisbrooke Castle Museum. It was founded in 1898 by Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter. The Princess died in 1944 and a sale of items took place around that time.”
The seller, from London, says:
“My grandfather collected amazing objects over the course of his life. He was fascinated by antiques and collectables. We think the post box may have been given as a festive gift as we found a Christmas card inside. It’s hard to part with family heirlooms but this royal item deserves to be seen and enjoyed.”
Queen Victoria’s letter box will be offered by Hansons London on 28th January. Catalogues for the auction can be found at www.hansonslive.co.uk or www.the-saleroom.com.
Should go back to osbourne house no doubt it will
Intresting artical IE.
Just a shame that you feel the need to constantly slag Royal Mail off.
I sent a card from the Island to Aberdeenshire, it arrived the next day.
Good value for money imo, 95p.
I wonder what 1p 200 years ago would be worth in todays climate ?
Answers on a post card please.
Royal Mail who shouldn’t be called that as they are privately owned,are money grabbing overpaid and lazy.
Definitely belongs at Osborne House.
Greed, it should be at Osbourne House.
Surely this is a toy from the Swiss Cottage?
Great news. I’ve got 5 more orders to produce the same post box. The one in question I did back in the 50s. My late grandfather helped me make it. He really was a craftsman. I learnt such a lot from him. I hope it sells for a huge amount. That way I can increase the sale price on my others so everyone gets a slice of the cake. Happy days.