Archduke of Austria (born 1863) and heir to the Austrian throne from 1896. Though it was never expected that Franz would succeed to the throne, the suicide of his cousin, Crown Prince Rudolf, placed Franz’s father, Archduke Karl Ludwig, first in the line of succession. Days later, however, Karl Ludwig renounced his right to succession, clearing the way for Franz to eventually become ruler of Austria. On June 28, 1914, Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were riding in an open car through Sarajevo, Bosnia when Nedeljko Cabrinovic, a member of the Serbian secret society Black Hand, threw a bomb at their car. Shaken but unharmed, the Archduke insisted on maintaining his schedule, including a speech and a trip to the hospital to visit those who had been injured in the attack. During a wrong turn en route to the hospital, the car was spotted by an associate of Cabrinovic’s, Gavrilo Princip, who opened fire with a semi-automatic pistol. Both the Archduke and his wife were struck and died shortly thereafter. The attack strained Austro-Serbian relations to the breaking point, and the assassination is usually cited as the immediate impetus for the outbreak of World War I a month later. Superb matte-finish 6 x 8.25 photo on its original elaborate multi-tiered 11.5 x 14.25 mount bearing an affixed brass or gilt crown above the image, boldly signed in ink on the mount and dated “1 Janvier 1912.” Housed in a handsome period (probably original) oak frame with decorative gilt liner to an overall size of 17.5 x 20. In very fine, bright, condition. Scarce and most impressive! Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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