Autograph signed envelope by Otto Von Bismarck to the German Emperor

BISMARCK, Otto von (1815–1898). Autograph signature on a large official envelope addressed to “Seiner Majestät” [His Majesty].  
 
Large envelope, 290 × 310 mm, addressed by Bismarck to “Seiner Majestät”, with his bold autograph signature in ink at lower left; original red wax seal with crowned device intact. Old folds and handling creases; minor spotting; seal largely complete. Very good overall.
 
Official forwarding envelope signed by Bismarck in his capacity as Minister-President of Prussia and, from 1871, Chancellor of the German Empire. Large envelopes of this type were used to transmit state papers and memoranda to the sovereign. The form of address, “Seiner Majestät”, without further territorial designation, would in normal administrative practice refer to the reigning German Emperor, almost certainly either Wilhelm I (r. 1861–1888 as King of Prussia; German Emperor from 1871) or Wilhelm II (r. 1888–1918).
 
Otto von Bismarck, architect of German unification and dominant figure in European diplomacy in the later nineteenth century. Signed official envelopes, especially in large format and retaining their wax seals, to the German Emperor from von Bismarck are decidedly uncommon.