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Auction: 324 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1255

It is the stuff that dreams, and Hollywood movies are made of, but in this instance the main characters in the story are real: King Farouk of Egypt, Queen Nazli Fuad(Farouk's mother), and King Farouk's sisters Fawzia, Faiza, Faika and Fathia.
The plot is extraordinary. Fathia, King Farouk's youngest sister, falls in love with Riad Ghali, a commoner, and a Copt. King Farouk strenuously objects to the idea of his sister marrying outside of the Muslim faith. The Queen Mother, Nazli, champions her daughter's right to marry anyone she loves, and on May 11th, 1950, with her blessing, a Catholic wedding ceremony takes place in San Francisco. King Farouk, outraged by this behavior, for all intents and purposes excommunicates his mother and sister, depriving them of their Royal titles and properties.
The mother and sister remain in America and live a lifestyle that is far removed from the glitter and glamour they had previously enjoyed in Egypt. They rely on Fathia's husband to pay the bills, but his business ventures fail, and he begins to drink heavily.
Fathia divorces him in 1973. Two years later President Anwar Sadat grants Fathia and Queen Nazli permission to return to Egypt. Just before she is scheduled to leave, Fathia pays a visit to her ex-husband, Riad. An argument ensues, six shots are fired and Fathia falls to the ground, fatally wounded.
Many years later a storage locker containing mostly letters, documents and photographs is auctioned off. The winning bidder notices an envelope addressed to "Her Majesty Queen Mother Nazli of Egypt," with a Beverly Hills address. He quickly realizes that what he purchased at auction was a time capsule of letters, cards, documents and photographs relating to the Egyptian Royal family members who lived in America. There were intimate personal letters and cards written by the Queen to her daughter Fathia and her children. There are pages of recipes and prayers written by the Queen. There are hundreds of letters written to the Queen from members of her family and from people around the world. Many of these letters bear the Queen's personal notations written on the envelopes in pencil). Included are letters and cards to the Queen from celebrities, and from the Royal Princesses Fawzia, Faiza, and Faika. There are letters from Fathia and her children; letters and cards from Riad Ghali to Fathia, the woman he clearly loved, but tragically murdered - a virtual treasure trove reflecting the thoughts, feelings and opinions of the members of the Egyptian Royal Family in exile.
Here are a few highlights:
An Autographed Letter signed by Faika, Princess of Egypt, sister of King Farouk. 9 written pages, 8VO. To "Mumsie" (Queen Nazli). Written on board "La Marseillaise." June 29, 1956. This letter contains comments on the political situation in Egypt, and it highlights the difficulties of communicating with former Royal Family members in America. "Wuzzy (Princess Fawzia) came to say goodbye…and she gave me a letter to post to you. (The letter is described below)…It is wonderful to be able to breath [SIC] free air and speak out loud - We have almost forgotten how to, in Egypt. It is like living in a Police state. We are resembling more and more Yugoslavia and other leftist countries. Everyone sees it coming and no one can do anything about it. It is like a ball rolling downhill. You can run after it but never catch it." Signed Faika. (Princess Faika married a commoner in a civil ceremony in San Francisco in 1950, but she returned to Egypt and retained her Royal title and properties.)
An Autographed Letter Signed by Fawzia, Princess of Egypt, sister of King Farouk, former Queen of Iran. Alexandria, Egypt. To "Mumsie" (Queen Nazli). June 27, 1956., 8 written pages, 8VO in green ink on green paper. To be hand-delivered by Fawzia's sister, Faika (see the letter above). "…How I would love to see you all again; dearest Mumsie even if I do not write often, do not think that I have forgotten you; I think of you all the time, and love you very much, and miss you very much; and I pray that the day will come, when we can be together again; I would so love you to see my children…"
An Autographed Letter Signed by Faiza, Princess of Egypt, sister of King Farouk. Undated, but from the letter's content, after Farouk's reign ended. Zohria, Guezireh, Egypt. 8 written pages, 8VO. To "Mumsie" (Queen Nazli). "Mumsie Darling, At last a chance to send you a letter with Nini. You can't imagine how impossible it was when Farouk was here, how he spied on us making our lives a misery. Even when we traveled to Europe, he always sent a detective with us…Perhaps we will be able to come and see you, how I long to After all these years!, but with Farouk it was out of the question. I'll never forget how I pleaded with him to let me come and stay with you when you were so ill…but it was useless, he could be so hard-hearted. However all that is over now and past history and he has gone. Signed "Faiza."
An Undated, handwritten Note Signed by Nazli, Queen of Egypt. On her personal note stationery. 8VO. To Riad Ghali. "Very happy returns of the day my dear Riad. Let us hope next year…will make you a still prouder father and everything all right with the grace of god. Yrs very truly and affectionately, Nazli." Written in happier times. Riad later murdered Princess Fathia.
Three 8 ½" x 11" Letters Handwritten in green ink and Signed by Nazli, Queen of Egypt. Undated. To Riad Ghali. The Queen notes that Ghali is depressed, and she urges him to read "…a beautiful message He sent me one day when in the middle of my awful despair - and suffering for you." Two additional pages, entirely in the Queen's hand are included; one entitled "Meditation," and the other "Dedication" are included.
Nazli. Queen of Egypt. Numerous pages of recipes and religious writings entirely in the Queen's hand.
Nazli. Queen of Egypt. April 17, 1972. Six handwritten pages, 8VO. From "MRS. NAZLI FOUAD" to Ranya Ghali, her granddaughter. Numerous other cards and letters to Ranya from the Queen.
Sixteen Original Polaroid Photographs, and Three Larger Prints of Queen Nazli's jewelry. Her Royal titles and properties were taken from her, but she was allowed to leave Egypt with her jewels (recently sold at auction for $4,282,000). Also included are original photographs and prints including a 9 ¼" x 11 ½" color print of Queen Nazli with several jewels added, hand-painted. A 4 x 3 ¼ color photograph of Queen Nazli, Princess Fathia, and an unidentified woman, and numerous other photographs with the Queen's image. Original photographs of Faika and child with a three line sentiment, hand-written to Nazli, and dozens of other family photographs.
Dozens of letters from Fathia to the Queen.
Christmas, Anniversary and Valentine's Day cards from Riad Ghali to Fathia that up to a critical point, seem to document a close, loving relationship, then, in a passionate letter from Fathia to Riad, she confronts him with his drinking and urges him to seek psychiatric help. There are bills, checks and tax documents relating to the Ghalis in Beverly Hills.
These are just a few examples selected from hundreds of cards, letters and photographs relating to the Egyptian Royal family. The large number of items in this grouping suggest that significant surprises may come to light as the winning bidder carefully organizes and researches this unusual find.

Sold for
$32,500