Great Britain – Signed Letter King George V 1893 Stamp Collection

Fine handwritten and signed ALS from the Duke of Kent later King George V on embossed York Cottage letterhead, dated November 28th 1893 addressed to Sir Francis de Winton:

“My dear de Winton
Thanks for yr two letters of 25th & 27th. Have spoken to Stratton & I quite approve of your suggestion, he will be the head man down here & live in little cottage with his wife, but will remain a groom, young Osborne will be under him as coachman & may drive the Duchess. Stratton will look after my riding horses as before. Have looked through the stamps you sent me I am returning them to you now, I shall certainly buy it for £21 as there are 5 stamps in it alone worth nearly £17 which I want, so you can send Tilkard the cheque & I will pay you later. I must say that £900 a very large balance from Navy present to be given to charities, I am sure the subscribers if they know what is to be done with their money, would not have given anything at all. ‘Victoria’ fund has more than enough already. They evidently forget that I have a wife at all, a present for her would have been much more appropriate & would have pleased the subscribers I know, & they could have had some show for their money, say an anchor brooch in diamonds & rubies would have been very handsome. But of course it is not for me to make a suggestion. At the same time I think it very mean & shabby of the Committee. £900 means at least 2000 subscribers who when they gave their mopey thought that it was for a present for me, when in reality, it was for the Victoria fund which they have already subscribed for elsewhere. I went twice to the dairy yesterday, it looks so nice & clean, our butter & cream in excellent. Believe me yr sincere friend George”