1902 Prince Henry of Prussia .925 Silver Gilt "Invitation Card" Kansas City USA

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1902 Prince Henry of Prussia .925 Silver Gilt "Invitation Card" Kansas City USA:
$13500.00

Prince Henry of Prussia: Sterling Silver .925 Gilt "Invitation Card" from the German-American Citizens' Union of Kansas City on the occasion of his state visit in 1902
Large, gilt solid silver rectangular plaque with a very fine engraving: American imperial eagle and the city coat of arms of Kansas City, Mon January 21 - 1902, below which is the finely engraved text: "To His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Prussia - The German-American Citizens' Union of this City together with The Commercial Club extends you a most cordial invitation to become our guest at Kansas City upon the occasion of your visit to the United States of America. Yours very respectfully" with the four facsimile signatures of the chairmen of the two associations. Made of 925 silver, weight 930 grams, 13 x 20 x 0.5 cm. On the reverse: "Jaccard Jewelry, Co. Kansas City Mo. U.S.A." Complete in its original presentation leather covered hard case, covered in dark leather and with gold lettering: "Invitation to H.R.H. "Prince Henry of Prussia to Visit Kansas City, MO, 1902." Lined inside with dark blue velvet and silk.
The invitation card and case show slight signs of age and scratches;. Also included are a couple of original documents from 1902 - representing the trip of Henry of Prussia in the USA, two original postcards in Imperial Navy uniform.
Henry of Prussia (born August 14, 1862, in Potsdam; died April 20, 1929, in Hemmelmark).
Albert Wilhelm Heinrich of Prussia was a son of the future Emperor Frederick III and grandson of Emperor William I. His mother, Empress Victoria, was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. Henry was the younger brother of Emperor William II.
From February 22 to March 11, 1902, Emperor William II sent his brother, Prince Henry, on a diplomatic goodwill tour of the USA, during which he traveled 4,000 miles in 18 days by special train, visiting 25 cities on the East Coast and in the Midwest, and participating in numerous parades and He captivated the American public as a liberal and democratic aristocrat. Due to his packed schedule, he could only stay in a few cities for more than four hours, including New York, where he attended the christening of his brother's new yacht, Meteor III, by Alice Roosevelt on February 25; Cambridge for the presentation of numerous German sculptures and statues as a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Germanic Museum (now in the Busch-Reisinger Museum); and to receive an honorary doctorate from Harvard University. He also spent more time in Washington, Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia. A highly significant American gift from the Prussian ruling house.
In 1902, the White House welcomed Prince Heinrich "Henry" of Prussia with extraordinary splendor. Prince Henry visited America on behalf of his brother, German Emperor and King of Prussia Wilhelm II; the prince arrived on February 23, 1902 in New York City, and traveled to Washington, D.C. the next morning to meet with President Theodore Roosevelt.To celebrate America's illustrious royal guest, the White House hosted an elaborate dinner in the East Room. Elegantly decorated in red, white, and blue florals, Prince Henry, the Roosevelts, and eighty-five distinguished guests dined on "a ten-course menu including oysters on the half-shell, consommé, roast duck, beef fillet, capon, asparagus with sauce mousseline, and ice cream with melted cherries."During the remainder of his American tour, Prince Henry and the Roosevelt family traveled to New York City for the christening of Kaiser Wilhelm II's imperial yacht, Meteor; He also laid a wreath at George Washington's tomb at Mount Vernon and attended a memorial service for William McKinley on Capitol Hill. Before returning to Europe, Prince Henry also toured Annapolis, Maryland, and traveled the American South and West by train.The Prussian prince enjoyed his visit to America very much. The Washington Post reported: "Prince Henry was particularly impressed with the very sympathetic reception he received from President Roosevelt... which gave the most genuine assurance of sincerity and good will. He was gratified, too, with the kind reception given him by the American public, as shown during his drives to the White House, the embassy, and the Capitol." Meanwhile, President Roosevelt, ever the outdoorsman, complained: "I wish to heaven they would let me see the Prince in my own way, that is by taking him out to ride or walk."