An envelope written by Dom Pedro II, with the imperial seal, to a European first cousin.
Envelope from Dom Pedro II to the Duke of Parma and Placenza.
No information about the location and date.
In Portuguese.
15.7 cm x 13 cm.
Good condition of conservation.
One-of-a-kind.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Parma and Placentia, my dear Cousin and Brother.
The Duke of Parma and Piacenza, the recipient of this letter from Dom Pedro II, was named Roberto Carlos Luís Maria de Bourbon-Parma. He was born and died in Italy (1848-1907) and was the last sovereign of the extinct Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, marking the end of the Bourbon-Parma dynasty.
Despite losing his throne and having his father murdered when he was only six years old, the Duke lived a comfortable life, residing in the family's various Austrian and Italian properties. He even inherited Chambord Castle in 1883 from his uncle Henry, the most renowned and visited castle in France after the Palace of Versailles.
This fortune also allowed him to attract the attention of European princesses. He married a cousin, Maria Pia, daughter of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria. They had twelve children, half of whom had intellectual disabilities, a consequence of consanguinity. After the death of Maria Pia, Robert married a second time to Maria Antonia of Portugal, daughter of the deposed King Miguel I of Portugal. Twelve more children were born from this union!
But what was his relationship with Dom Pedro II? To simplify, the Duke was a son-in-law of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies, who was both a cousin of Dom Pedro II (through their mothers) and his brother-in-law through Empress Teresa Cristina, Ferdinand's sister and Dom Pedro II's wife.
Besides this recipient with an unusual destiny, I found it interesting that this envelope, found in France, had its imperial wax seal intact, even though the letter was opened from the top. It is unknown where the letter ended up, nor its contents. It was probably a congratulatory message for the birth of a child (24 opportunities!), Christmas, or similar events that helped maintain the connection despite the distance. These details and, of course, the Emperor's handwritten signature, will enthrall the growing number of collectors interested in the Brazilian royal family.
