BISMARCK OTTO VON: (1815-1898) Prussian Statesman.

L.S., v Bismarck, one page, 4to, Friedrichsruh, 4th April 1891, to 'Your Excellency', in German. Bismarck sends thanks to his correspondent, as their 'friendly greeting for my birthday put me especially in mind of the longstanding ties between us, and I pray you to accept in return the expression of my most heartfelt thanks.' With blank integral leaf. Some very slight, minor creasing, otherwise VGThe conservative Prussian statesman and first Chancellor of Germany, Bismarck dominated German and European affairs from the 1860s until 1890, the year before the present letter was signed. During the 1860s he engineered a series of wars which unified the German states, significantly and deliberately excluding Austria, and led to a powerful German Empire under Prussian leadership. With that accomplished by 1871 he skilfully used the balance of power diplomacy to maintain Germany's position in a Europe which, despite many disputes and war scares, remained at peace. Bismarck became a hero to German nationalists.