King Paul Greece Signed Royal Photo Autograph Greek Royalty Photograph Document

Description: LOT-P106. For your consideration is an exceedingly rare and historically important original c.1947 royal presentation photograph post card, hand-signed by HM King Paul of Greece. Royal document measures approximately 3.5" x 5.5". Post card is original. Royal signature is manuscript hand-signed in fountain pen ink. Condition is excellent. Museum quality. Guaranteed authentic. Paul (Greek: , Pvlos; 14 December 1901 6 March 1964) was King of Greece from 1 April 1947 until his death in 1964. He was succeeded by his son, Constantine II. Paul returned to Greece in 1946. He succeeded to the throne in 1947, upon the death of his childless elder brother, King George II, during the Greek Civil War (between Greek Communists and the non-communist Greek government). In 1947 he was unable to attend the wedding of his first cousin, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to the future Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom as he was suffering from typhoid fever. By 1949 the Civil War was effectively over, with the Communist insurgents ceasing the majority of their operations, and the task of rebuilding the shattered north of the country began. In the 1950s Greece recovered economically, and diplomatic and trade links were strengthened by Pauls state visits abroad. He became the first Greek Monarch to visit a Turkish Head of State. However, links with Britain became strained over Cyprus, where the majority Greek population favored union with Greece, which Britain, as the colonial power, would not endorse. Eventually, Cyprus became an independent state in 1960. In December 1959, Prince Maximillian of Bavaria presented King Otto's coronation regalia to Paul. It had been almost a century since they were last in Greece. Meanwhile, republican sentiment was growing in Greece. Both Paul and Frederica attracted criticism for their interference in politics, frequent foreign travels, and the cost of maintaining the Royal Family. Paul responded by economizing and donated his private estate at Polidendri to the State. In 1959, he had an operation for a cataract, and in 1963 an emergency operation for appendicitis. In late February 1964, he underwent a further operation for stomach cancer, and about a week later on 6 March 1964, King Paul I died in Athens. He was succeeded by his son, Constantine II.

Price: 619.96 USD

Location: Sparrows Point, Maryland

End Time: 2025-01-25T22:32:56.000Z

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