Germany, Imperial. An Autographed Portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm II Given to Dr.Goodwin

Obverse illustrating Kaiser Wilhelm II in his dress uniform, seated, in a studio setting, wearing various Prussian orders and medals, the Kaiser's signature and the date "1911" inscribed in pencil in the white space below the portrait, printed in four-colour inks on a white paper stock, mounted to a thick piece of cardboard, reverse with a note glued in place, inscribed in handwritten black ink to Dr. Albert F. Goodwin, "Albert -- / I bought this in Berlin -- / The Kaiser autographed it and gave it to one of his household servants. / C.", with an additional inscription below in handwritten blue ink "From Charles F. O'Malley / Shadow Lawn Colonise New Jersey / Dec 1955" with Dr. Goodwin's signature, stamped in red ink "A.F. GOODWIN, M.D. / 31 KINGSBORO AVE. / GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y.", measuring 233 mm (w) x 374 mm (h), extremely fine.

Footnote: Wilhelm II (January 27, 1859 - June 4, 1941) was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, reigning from June 15, 1888 until his abdication on November 9, 1918. He was the eldest grandchild of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe, most notably, King George V of the United Kingdom and Emperor Nicholas II of Russia. Acceding to the throne in 1888, he dismissed the chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, in 1890. He also launched Germany on a bellicose ""New Course"" in foreign affairs that culminated in his support for Austria-Hungary in the crisis of July 1914 that led in a matter of days to the First World War. Bombastic and impetuous, he sometimes made tactless pronouncements on sensitive topics without consulting his ministers, behaviors culminating in a disastrous Daily Telegraph interview in 1908 that cost him most of his influence. His leading generals, Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff, dictated policy during the First World War with little regard for the civilian government. An ineffective war-time leader, he lost the support of the army, abdicated in November 1918, and fled to exile in the Netherlands.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.