King George Memorabilia Has Sold for as Much as $27,500 for a King George VI Worn Top Hat
To auction, buy, consign or sell King George memorabilia, please contact [email protected] or call (310) 440-2982.
King George Memorabilia
The price of King George memorabilia varies depending on which King George you have and what the item is. Personally owned items are worth the most money such as the King George VI worn top hat that we sold for $27,500 and autographs can be worth just above a few hundred dollars such as the King George III document signed that we sold for just over $1,000. Anyway, here are some examples of King George memorabilia that we sold with descriptions, pictures and prices. Thanks.
King George VI worn top hat. Plush silk top hat features print to the silk lining that features a Henry Heath Ltd. logo and reads, ”By Special Appointment / to His Majesty the King / Established in the reign of King George IV, 1822 / 105 to 109 Oxford St / London, W.”. Initials ”HRH” appear in gilt beneath. Accompanied by a photo of King George wearing the hat. Displayed in a mirror backed glass and wooden case upon a mahogany and cast iron stand, measuring 16” x 16” x 15”. Hat measures 5.75” in height. Wear to sweatband, else near fine. An excellent piece of King George memorabilia. Sold for $27,500.
King George VI’s Briefcase From WWII — Includes Large Lot of Wartime Photographs Within
Briefcase owned by King George VI, used by the King during World War II. Hard leather case contains green cloth lining and bears the royal monogram ”GR IV” gilt stamped above the metal clasp. Manufactured by J. Hodges & Son of Wolverhampton, case contains 9 black and white officially captioned photographs of the King visiting troops during the war. Briefcase also contains copy of ”The Royal Family in Wartime: The Illustrated Story of The Activities of the Royal Family in the Service of People and Empire”, published by Oldham’s Press: London: 1945, clothed in red boards, running 128pp. Lot also includes engraved invitation from New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia to participate in that city’s welcome to the King on 10 June 1939. Briefcase measures 17” x 11” x 3”. Largest photograph measures 8” x 11”. Invitation measures 8.25” x 5.75”. Book measures 7.25” x 10”. Light wear to the briefcase from use, overall in very good condition and visually compelling. A rare example of King George memorabilia. Sold for $18,750.
King George VI’s Personal Attache Case — With Royal Crest and ”G VI R” Mongrammed in Gold
King George VI’s personal attache case, given to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in 1949 when Fairbanks was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his service in WWII. The American actor had been assigned to the staff of Lord Mountbatten’s Commando Unit in England. Darkly-tanned leather bag features George VI’s royal cipher printed in gilt on the flap above the metal lock. George VI ascended the throne in December of 1936 following his brother’s abdication; his calm demeanor reportedly gave the English people strength and courage during WWII. Attache case measures 15.75″ across, 11″ tall and pleated sides allow it to expand to 3″ deep. Shows wear from use. In very good condition. Included is a black and white glossy press release photo of the King and Royal family at Prince William Henry’s christening. A very unique example of King George memorabilia. In very good condition, measuring 9″ x 7″ and backstamped 12 March 1942. Sold for $14,351.
Elaborate leather bound book signed by the entire Royal family in 1942. Upon the front pastedown, the King and his wife sign ”George R.I.” and ”Elizabeth R”. Under their parents’ signatures, Princesses ”Elizabeth” and ”Margaret” sign as well. Mounted beneath the autographs is a typed letter on BBC letterhead, dated 1942, telling the story of the record album, which contains 6 vinyl LP’s, produced by the BBC for a special performance at Windsor Castle on 21 April 1942 of the show, ”It’s That Man Again,” Princess Elizabeth’s favorite radio program. Record album contains all six original LP’s, although none are in playable condition and are broken in parts. The front of the leather bound book is embossed in gilt, ”Windsor Castle / 21 April 1942”. Book itself is in very good condition with a burn mark on the back cover and general wear. Autograph page is lightly discolored, though autographs themselves remain quite clear and bold, with the exception of King George’s signature which has faded slightly. A very attractive and unusual WWII memento of the British Royal family. A stellar example of King George memorabilia. Sold for $2,772.
Incredible King George II autograph letter signed to his son Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales, evicting him from St. James Palace in response to the infamous ”baby incident.” Frederick actively antagonized his royal parents throughout his adult life. Then, on 31 July 1737 his wife Augusta went into labor at the Hampton Court Palace in Middlesex, and he had her transported to St. James’s Palace in Pall Mall 15 miles away. A scandal ensued, and the exasperated King writes here, in part: ”…You know very well that you did not give the least intimation to me or the Queen that the Princess was with Child or Breeding until within less than a month of the Birth of the young Princess…you industriously concealed from the knowledge of me & the Queen every circumstance relating to that important affair, and you…hurried the Princess from Hampton Court in a condition not to be named, after having thus in Execution of your determined measures exposed both the Princess & her child to the greatest Perils…This extravagant & undutifull [sic] behaviour in so Ysential [sic] a point as the Birth of an Heir to my crown is such an Evidence of your premeditated defyance [sic] to me, & such a contempt of my authority & of the natural rights belonging to your parents…until you return to your duty, you shall not reside in my palace…it is my Pleasure that you leave St. James’s with all your Family when it can be done without prejudice or inconvenience to the Princess – I shall at present leave to the Princess the care of my Grand Daughter until a proper time calls upon me to consider of her Education…George R”. 2pp. letter on a single sheet measures 8” x 12.5”. Creasing, separation to fold intersections, and tears along lower left edge, with a chip to the bottom edge at center. Very good. Exceptional letter with historical importance to the British throne. Sold for $2,167.
King George V and Queen Consort Mary signed copy of ”The King’s Book”, published for the 25th Silver Jubilee anniversary of King George V’s monarchy. Raphael Tuck & Sons: London: 1935. The Royal couple signs upon the fly-leaf, ”George R.I. / 1910-1935” which appears above ”Mary R” elegantly signed. Contents include: George’s 1934 Christmas address that reads in part ”…I send a special greeting to the peoples of my dominions overseas. Through them the family has become a fellowship of free nations…”; mounted black & white official portrait photos of both King and Queen; and essays on each nation governed by the United Kingdom, accompanied by beautiful mounted illustrations. Bound in red leather boards, with silver coat of arms and embossed lettering. Silver edged pages and backstrip. 35pp. book measures 9.50” x 12.25”. Portraits measure 6” x 8” and illustrations measure 6” x 8.75”. Fading to front board and bumping to corners. Wear on backstrip leather with slight tear and light foxing throughout. Overall very good condition of a captivating book. An excellent example of King George memorabilia. Sold for $1,892.
George VI Signed Photo in Royal Cypher Frame — 1937 as King
King George VI signed photo dated 1937. The King signs ”George R. I. / 1937” on the border beneath an image of himself in full Naval regalia. George VI ascended the throne upon his brother’s abdication a year prior to signing. His struggle with a stammer was documented in the 2010 Best Picture ”The King’s Speech.” Some toning to mount, but signature remains dark and bold; very good condition. In official Royal black leather frame with gilt Royal cypher. Frame measures 9” x 12.75” and is in very good to near fine condition. Sold for $1,477.
George III document signed as King of the United Kingdom during the Napoleonic Wars. In large script the monarch pens ”George R” to the top margin of the first page. Datelined Court at St. James, 17 June 1807, it instructs Great Britain’s Chancellor (John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon) to authorize the Foreign Minister George Canning to sign a treaty with Prussia’s King, Frederick William III. Napoleon had defeated Frederick decisively in the Battle of Jena-Auerstadt not quite a year before this document was drafted. Document reads in part: ”…Our Full Power to Our Right Trusty and Wellbeloved Counsellor George Canning Esq, One of Our Principal Secretaries of State, empowering Him to conclude and sign with the Minister of Our Good Brother the King of Prussia, a Treaty of Friendship mutual defence and Security…” This portion of the document is written in English and runs 2pp. on a single sheet. The remaining 4pp. are a transcript of the Treaty as referenced in the letter, written in Latin. A seal is affixed to the upper left of the first page. 6pp. document on 4 leaves of card-style stationery is bound with a navy blue ribbon. Notation to verso calls the document a ”Warrant for affixing the Great Seal to W. Secretary Canning’s Full Power / June 17 1807”. Measures 7.75” x 12”. Toning and creasing, with minor separation and staining to folds around ribbon binding, else near fine. Sold for $1,109.
To auction, buy, consign or sell King George memorabilia, please contact [email protected] or call (310) 440-2982.