Diana, Princess of Wales

Our sale of Autographs on March 21 features an extraordinary run of material by Diana, Princess of Wales. The assortment includes a number of autograph letters signed to her friend, Elizabeth Tilberis, the editor of British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Additional items signed and inscribed by the late royal include a selection of Christmas cards featuring photographs of the family.

“Dearest Liz,”

The correspondence sheds light on the growing warmth and friendship between Tilberis and Diana, whose notes to the editor are filled with thanks and tidbits about the goings-on in Lady Di’s life.

“From, Diana. X”

The group of six letters comes from the late-1980s to early-1990s and discusses a number of topics, including Diana’s cover of the December 1991 issue of British Vogue, as well as Tilberis’s move to Harper’s Bazaar and the United States.

“Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year”

A run of holiday cards illustrating the royal family’s changing lives throughout the years also feature in the sale. Each of the cards is signed by Diana and include photographs of the family (Diana, Charles, William and Harry), ranging from 1992-95.

Swann Autographs specialist, Marco Tomaschett, noted:

“It is rare to see so many inscriptions by Princess Diana come to market. Her untimely and tragic death limited the number of autographs available, and seldom do we see her material come to auction at all.”

Additional lots relating to the British Monarchy include a photograph signed by Queen Elizabeth II and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh from 1976, and an 1884 autograph letter signed by Queen Victoria to Alfred, Lord Tennyson expressing her sorrows over the death of her son, Leopold.

For more in our March 21 sale, browse the full catalogue or download the Swann Galleries app.