Queen Victoria’s royal post box, believed to have been used at the Isle of Wight's Osborne, is going up for auction.

The 140-year-old table-top letter box, originally from the East Cowes estate, features the royal cypher ‘VR’, which stood for Victoria Regina.

The late 19th century ornate wooden box was found in a cottage in Surrey and will be sold by Hansons Auctioneers, on January 28, with an estimated value of £4,000-£6,000.

Its current owner lives in London and said it was believed to have been a Christmas present to a former Islander: "My grandfather collected amazing objects and was fascinated by antiques and collectables.

Isle of Wight County Press: The small wooden letter box is going up for auction.The small wooden letter box is going up for auction. (Image: Mark Laban/Hansons/Isle of Wight County Press.)

They added: "It’s hard to part with family heirlooms, but this royal item deserves to be seen and enjoyed."

It even had a vintage Christmas card inside.

Queen Victoria was born in 1819 and died at Osborne, on the Isle of Wight, on 22 January 1901.

Her Osborne estate is now operated by English Heritage.

Chris Kirkham, associate director of Hansons London, where the letter box will be offered at auction, said: "I was called in to assess items gathered by a keen antiques collector over a lifetime."

Isle of Wight County Press: Auction house owner Charles Hanson with the post box.Auction house owner Charles Hanson with the post box. (Image: Mark Laban/Hansons/Isle of Wight County Press.)

Chris says he understands the letter box was bought at a 1944 or 1945 sale in Carisbrooke, during which items relating to Osborne House were available.

Do you have a collectible you think may have originated from Osborne House?

The auction house's owner, Charles Hanson, said: "It’s a first class find fit for a
queen dating back to circa 1880.

"We can only imagine the tone and content of the notes the queen must have placed inside but one thing we can be certain of is that she enjoyed sending letters and cards.

"I wonder what Queen Victoria would have thought about postal costs rising from a penny in the 1800s to 95p for a first class stamp today!"