Sisi's sketchbook

Elisabeth ("Sisi"), Empress of Austria (1837-1898). Autograph sketchbook.

€ 28,000.00

Charming sketchbook used by the young Bavarian duchess Elisabeth, containing numerous landscapes and architectural drawings, sketches of pets as well as caricatures and portraits, especially of her sisters. Also, there is an amusing piece of doggerel ("In Lautenbach habe ich mein Strumpf verloren / Und ohne Strumpf geh ich nicht heim ..."; "In Lautenbach I lost my stocking, and lacking it, will not go home ..."), a diary entry of sorts, and a draft for a congratulatory card, "signed Elisabeth", for her younger brother Carl Theodor's name day.

The sketchbook provides a rare and often humorous glimpse of Elisabeth's childhood in Possenhofen. Her love of nature is evident in the several talented tree sketches she prepared at various places throughout Bavaria. A collector's annotation in pencil records that the book was preserved among the personal effects of Countess Camilla von Otting, who served as governess in the ducal household: "Kindliches Zeichenbuch der späteren Kaiserin Elisabeth v Oesterreich Herzogin in Bayern stammt aus dem Nachlass der Gräfin Camilla v Otting ihrer Erzieherin und Hofdame".

Binding a little rubbed, showing occasional delicate repairs. Light browning and staining, but altogether a fine survival.