Fans of Europe's imperial past will be looking forward to the annual auction of memorabilia from the old ruling houses of Austria and other countries. At the upcoming Dorotheum auction in Vienna on 30th October 2017, interest will focus mainly on Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and his wife Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
 
Among the emperor's personal possessions was a pair of pince-nez he wore until the day of his death (€ 2,500 – 3,000) coming from the estate of the renowned military painter Alexander Pock. The type-written documentation reads: "The last pair of glasses of His Majesty Emperor Franz Joseph I, worn until the day of his death in November 1916“ (€ 2,500 – 3,000). [FS1] The auction also includes one of his spurs (€ 600 – 1,000), his riding crop, his gun bag, and a cigar tip with the sealed calling card of personal valet Eugen Ketterl including, as appropriate for such a marketing natural, an autograph certificate of authenticity (€ 600 – 900).
 
Emperor Franz Joseph shared his passion for equestrian sports with his wife Empress Elisabeth of Austria and so the auction features one of her riding crops (€ 2,000 – 4,000 with a riding crop  belonging to  Emperor Franz Joseph) and a pair of white deerskin gloves (€ 3,000 – 5,000). It also presents an autograph letter from the empress, written in Hungarian, dating to 1890 and addressed to her favourite daughter Marie Valerie, as well as a gift brooch in the form of pine branch, a Christmas present from Elisabeth to her favourite daughter (€ 3,000 – 5,000).

AUCTION IMPERIAL COURT MEMORABILIA AND HISTORICAL OBJECTS
Auction date: Monday, 30th October 2017, 2 pm
Viewing: from 21st October 2017
Venue: Palais Dorotheum, Vienna 1, Dorotheergasse 17
Specialist: Dr. Georg Ludwigstorff, Tel. +43-1-515-60-363, georg.ludwigstorff@dorotheum.at