print; christmas-card; postcard

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

print; christmas-card; postcard

Object Type: print; christmas-card; postcard
Museum number: 1947,1011.4.1-78
Description: Ring-binder album containing 78 Christmas and New Year cards given to Queen Mary bound in blue leather and leatherette, with gold tooling; paper label on spine inscr.: ‘1893 -1899’. Note in QM’s hand pasted inside front board of album: ‘Christmas and New Year Cards sent to Queen Mary’. Album comprises 28 unnumbered pages, with some cards stuck recto and verso on the page; pages and cards show signs of wear from handling, due to numerous ‘curiosities’; a fragile volume. Many pages headed with dates, inscr. at time of compilation. Senders’ names are often lost when cards stuck in, but many subsequently identified by QM, in purple pencil on the page, probably in 1947 when lending the albums to George Buday: see his acknowledgement of the Queen’s ‘most helpful co-operation … identifying and noting the senders of the cards in her collection’ (Buday 1954, Preface, p.v). Most of the cards are addressed to QM alone; No. 27 is a Christmas and New Year card from QM to unidentified recipient, possibly the future George V (KGV). No. 60 is addressed to KGV. The timespan corresponds to QM’s years as Duchess of York. The contents are mainly commercially produced items for Christmas and New Year, mostly English with seven from Germany, three from France and one from Italy. Many intricately decorated: embossed, punched and perforated, with ground glass or aluminium frosting, with scalloped edges and cut-away corners; high number of rococo motifs, die-cut lattice panels; some folder cards enclosing inner pages attached with silk cord or ribbon. The subject matter predominantly naturalistic, with children and pets, birds and flowers (chrysanthemums, forget-me-not, pansies, ivy, lily of the valley, violets, roses, etc.). Seven of the cards are hand painted. Addressed to QM then Duchess of York, this selection of 1890s cards with printed greetings such as ‘Health and Fortune bless thee’, ‘May heaven bless you’, and numerous religious and sentimental verses, reflect her newly solemn station. Two particularly intricate cards, Nos 3 and 27, are cased in envelopes. Cards incorporating pop-up and pull-out designs include Nos 3, 15, 21, 23, 44 and 49. Two New Year cards feature warships, No. 66 (English) and No.70 (German). Non-greetings card material in the album includes a printed booklet (No.1); a birthday dinner menu (No.38); a booklet of naval photographs (No.77). Of the 78 items nine are not Christmas season material. No. 1: Booklet, Robin Adair (trad. Irish song); cover: man and stringed instruments; title page lettered: ‘Robin / Adair / Castell Brothers / London. / Designed in England. Printed in Bavaria’; twelve pages with line blocks and six chromolithographs by ‘J.E.’; pages tied with ribbon. From Queen Alexandra to QM, inscr.: ‘For sweet May / with very best wishes / for a happy Xmas. / The first with us / 1893 […] Motherdear’; sender identified by QM on the page. Page headed ‘1893’. No. 2: Panel card, primroses and primulas, gold highlights; chromolithograph, date and sender unknown. Stuck down. No. 3: Christmas card, 3D die-cut of child in crib and guardian angel. Chromolithograph with silver and coloured frosting, publ. W. Hagelberg, Berlin; lettered ‘Christmas / blessings / be thine’, and with four-line sentiment (‘May Joy … steps attend’) by E.E. Griffin; sender unknown; undated. Ref. Buday 1954, p.185, where described as ‘a rare mechanical card’ only seen in QM’s collection; repr. Buday 1954 pl.187. June 2018: in melinex sleeve. No. 4: Notecard with green-tinted lithograph of child in C.18 dress. From the Duke of Connaught to QM, inscr.: ‘For May / from her affect: Uncle / Arthur / a Merry Christmas / a Happy new Year’; sender identified by QM on the page; undated. For related card see No.20. No. 5: Christmas card, circular rococo design, wreath and pealing bells. Chromolithograph, lettered: ‘A / joyful / Christmas’; stuck down; sender unknown. Page dated 1894. No. 6: Christmas card, Japanese style vase with pink blossom. Chromolithograph, embossed folder card lettered ‘Best Wishes’, with eight line sentiment (‘Some, with greetings … God bless you!’). From the Duchess of Teck to QM, inscr: ‘for a very / happy, / blessed Christmastide & / many joyous / returns of the / season! / from your / loving, doting / Mamma / Christmas / 1894’; sender identified by QM on the page. Page dated 1894. No. 7: Christmas card, horseshoe crossed with lily of the valley. Chromolithograph, three-fold card with shaped cover and dentilled edges, gold paint, and blue and gold frosting, lettered: ‘Good Luck and best wishes’ and with six-line sentiment (‘Filled may … forecast here!’) by ‘S.K.C.’ (Major Samuel K. Cowan); publ.: ‘S. Hildesheimer and Co. Limited / printed in Germany’. Sender unknown. Page dated 1894. No. 8: Christmas card, embossed gold and silver grasses, fern and ivy, around photograph of waterside scene. Folder card lettered ‘Best wishes’, and with eight-line sentiment (‘Ah! to day… of Christmastide’) by H.M. Whitlaw, suggesting separation at Christmas. From Duchess of Teck to PM, inscr: ‘Your loving, devoted Mother / Mary Adelaide 1894’. No. 9: Christmas card, pink chrysanthemums and bows. Chromolithograph folder card, lettered: ‘A / Happy Christmas / to you’, and with eight-line sentiment by Charlotte Murray titled: ‘The Lord bless thee / and keep thee!’, suggesting separation at Christmas. From the Duchess of Teck to QM, inscr: ‘For you, my darling / Child! from your / own loving Mother / Mary Adelaide / 1894’. Page dated 1894. No. 10: New Year card, pink roses with rococo baguettes. Chromolithograph folder card, die-cut and embossed; inside, bronze paint roses framing five-line sentiment (‘A simple wish … Year by year’). From Duchess of Teck to QM, inscr: ‘From Mamma / to her darling / Child. 1895’. Page dated 1894. No. 11: New Year card, pink blossom and horseshoe. Chromolithograph folder card lettered: ‘A happy / New Year / to you’; die-cut and embossed with metallic frosting. Sentiment by Clifton Bingham (‘I wish … endears’); sender unknown. Page dated 1894. No. 12: Watercolour drawing, fishing rod, basket, violets, ferns and corn stalks, inscr. in pencil bottom right: ?‘.H./C’; folder card with eight pages tied with silk ribbon. Third page lettered: ‘Wishing you / a very / happy Christmas’, and signed ‘Lika’; on fifth page reproduction of lakeside scene signed ‘Walter Boodle’. From Prince Henry of Battenburg; sender identified by QM on the page; undated. Fragile item: card has split down central fold, June 2018. No. 13: Christmas card, yellow chrysanthemums and rococo motifs. Chromolithograph, shaped folder card, die-cut and embossed, publ.: ‘C.W. Faulkner & Co. / Copyright No.513. / Designed in England. / Printed in Germany’; inside, printed in gold and pale green, chrysanthemums framing eight-line sentiment by Helen Marion Burnside (‘Kind thoughts …. As surely as December’), suggesting separation at Christmas. From the Duke of Teck to QM, inscr.: ‘Papa / Xmas 1894. / with heartfelt / good wishes’; sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1895. No. 14: New Year card, four heads of cherubs, yellow roses and rococo motifs. Chromolithograph, deckle edge cover (shaped, die-cut, embossed, with frosting) lettered ‘With best wishes’; inside, four pages attached by silk cord; and eight-line sentiment (‘He who hath… to the end!’) by Charlotte Murray. From the Duchess of Teck to QM, inscr.: ‘My darling / May, / for every / blessing and / very much joy / and happiness / in 1895 and many / New Years to come / her loving, / devoted Mother / Mary Adelaide / 1895’; sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1895. No. 15: Card lettered ‘Herzlichen Glückwunsch’ (‘congratulations/ sincere good wishes’), yellow and orange chrysanthemums. Chromolithograph on glossy paper; sender unknown. Album page dated 1895. No. 16: Christmas card, two birds on snowy branch, wreath of ivy. ‘C’ shaped chromolithograph folder card by unknown publisher (?Art Gem), embossed, jewelled and frosted; opening to reveal the word ‘Christmas’ in cut out lettering. From Queen Victoria to QM, inscr.: ‘To / dear / May / from / her / vy affte / Grandmama / VRI / Christmas 1894’. Sender identified by QM on the album page. Repr. Buday 1954, pls 154-5, captioned ‘“Art Gem” card of the 1890’s’. No. 17: Christmas card, bouquet of forget-me-nots, lettered: ‘A Happy / Christmas / to you’. Chromolithograph with die-cut, embossed, frosted cover, and four pages held together with silk cord; first page inscr.: ‘For / darling / May from / Harry. / 94’ over printed Shakespeare quote: ‘All good befortune you’; on second page a nine-line sentiment (‘A spring-tide vernal… journey through’) by Helen Marion Burnside. Sender identified by QM as ‘Maud Queen of Norway’. Fragile item: old repair with brown paper tape. June 2018: card has split down central fold. No. 18: Christmas card, gold horseshoe and snowy holly branches with blue-tits, lettered: ‘To Greet you’; with detachable ‘visiting card’ lettered ‘The Compliments of the Season and all Good Wishes’. Chromolithograph panel card by unknown publisher, the ‘visiting card’ inscr.: ‘Your loving Lily … [illegible date]’. Sender identified by QM as ‘Pss Frederica of Hanover’. No. 19: Christmas and New Year card, triptych design incorporating simulated visiting card, with gold-embossed date ‘1894’ and sealing wax; the central panel lettered ‘With Christmas Greetings / and best wishes / for the coming year / From’, and left unsigned; in lieu of signature a thumbnail photograph of a man, head and shoulders, civilian dress. Sender not identified. No. 20: Notecard with brown tinted lithograph of boy and girl in C.18 dress. From Duchess of Connaught to QM, inscr.: ‘With warmest good wishes / for Xmas & the New Year / 1895. / from yr. affect. Aunt / Louise Margaret.’ For related card see No. 4. No. 21: Christmas card in form of cross; Madonna and Child tondo at centre, faintly lettered ‘after Titian’. Chromolithograph panel card publ. ‘Raphael Tuck & Sons / copyright’; lettered: ‘Christmas / Joys / be thine’; sender unidentified. Album page dated 1895. No. 22: Christmas card, Christ child in manger, lettered in gold: “Unto you is born a Saviour”. Chromolithograph publ. ‘Ernest Nister London No.1530 Printed in Bavaria’; shaped and embossed folder card, with four-line sentiment (‘The Christ Child … Christmas to-night’) by Phillips Brooks. Sender unknown. Album page dated 1895. No. 23: ‘Dissolving view’ or trick card, two ‘spliced’ images: first (default) image, a small child with doll; second image, three ice skaters with dog. Images set in embossed mount lettered: ‘A Sunny, Happy / New Year / to you / dear / May your Christmas / be without a blot [see ink blots in first image] / and of what’s behind may you have a lot’ [ref. to ice skaters]; below, a ‘pull’ tab to move between the images. Publisher and sender unknown; undated. Ref. Buday 1954, p.180, pl.177. Fragile mechanism. No. 24: New Year card featuring C.18 style fan; embossed card with punched latticework and purple frosting. Chromolithograph, three-leaf folder card, with seven line sentiment by Samuel K. Cowan titled: ‘A gladsome season to you’. From the Duke of Teck to QM, inscr.: ‘Darling May, from Papa /1896’; sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1896. No. 25: New Year card designed by ‘EJA’; chromolithograph, triptych folder card; two perforated screens fold back to reveal little girl in green hat and dress holding bunch of roses, and the message ‘Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum neuen Jahre’. Sender unknown; album page dated 1896. No. 26: Three-fold card with shaped cover, three cream and three blue flowers framing printed message ‘With best / Wishes’; embossed chromolithograph. From Grand Duchess Serge of Russia to QM and PG, inscr.: ‘To dear May & Georgie / hearty loving Xmas / & New year’s wishes / from / Ella / 1895-1896’; sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1896. No. 27: Animated Christmas card, tiers of cherubs on clouds (embossed and frosted chromo scraps stuck on card strips) raised by opening the card; lettered on front: ‘Joy and / gladness attend your / Christmas hours’; inside, six-line sentiment (‘Naught, naught thy ... garden fair’). From QM, possibly to KGV, inscr.: ‘May / 1895’. Ref. Buday 1954 pp.178-79, described as a ‘rare animated card’; repr. pl.174. Item in protective envelope. No. 28: Watercolour on laid paper, Thames sailing barge in moonlight, on mount with picture frame mouldings and the word ‘Remembrance’. Artist, sender and recipient [?PG] unknown; album page dated 1896. No. 29: Hand painted Christmas card, bouquet of lilies of the valley set between inserts of pleated silk and embossed card; inside, wreaths of lily of the valley and pansies; hand lettered in gold: ‘Good Luck / Happiness / with Xmas Greetings’. Publ. Marion, 1895 [Marion & Co., London, or Marion Imp. Paris]. Sender and recipient unknown; album page dated 1896. Repr. Buday 1954 pl.39. No. 30: Christmas card, embossed floral cartouche cover lettered: ‘Health / and / Fortune / bless thee’; folder card, four pages tied with purple silk ribbon; inside, four line sentiment (‘May your Christmas … evermore’). From the Duke of Teck to QM, inscr. ‘for darling May / Papa / Xmas 1895’; sender identified by QM on the page. No. 31: Christmas card, wreath of mauve and blue pansies, lettered ‘Remembrance’ and with Shakespeare quote: “Your heart’s desires be with you”; inside folder card four-line sentiment (‘’Tis when the heart …wish to you’) by Helen Marion Burnside. From the Duchess of Connaught to QM, inscr. in ink: ‘With our warmest / good wishes from Uncle Arthur / & yr. affect. Aunt / Louise Margaret’; sender identified by QM on the page. No. 32: New Year card, shaped and embossed folder card, ‘God Bless You’ in embossed letters, green mosaic design fringed with pansies; inside a line from psalm CVII. 7 (‘He led them forth by the right way’), and a four-line sentiment (‘We journey forth … day by day’) by Charlotte Murray. Sender and recipient unknown; undated. No. 33: New Year card, embossed flowering heather and violets and ‘A happy New Year’ in foliage letters; inside folder four pages tied with string; first page with Shakespeare King John quote: ‘The yearly course that brings this day about, / Shall never see it but a holiday’, second page, four-line sentiment (‘May this and …future lot’) by M.S. Haycraft; third page, print of farmstead and sheep. From Lady Meg Grosvenor [later Duchess of Teck], inscr. ‘Your affectionate Meg’; undated. No. 34: New Year card, two boys, one shinning up telegraph pole to hand letter to flock of swallows. Engraved, coloured and embossed panel card lettered: ‘Herzlichen / Glückwunsch / zum / neuen Jahre’; sender and recipient unknown; page dated 1896. No. 35: Christmas card, poppies in rococo cartouche, lettered: ‘A happy Christmas to you’. Chromolithograph on glossy card; panel card from Louise, queen of Denmark to QM, inscr.: ‘For dear May from / Amama’; sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1896. No. 36: Panel card lettered ‘Herzlichen Glückwunsch’ (‘congratulations/ sincere good wishes’), two little girls in C.18 dress curtseying. Chromolithograph on glossy paper, sender and recipient unknown; page dated 1896. No. 37: Birthday card with roses, forget-me-nots and rococo motifs. Chromolithograph, shaped, perforated and embossed folder card, with verse by R. Browning on cover: ‘I, however far, shall yet be near / in loving wishes’; inside lettered: ‘Many happy returns of the day’, and four-line verse by Clifton Bingham (‘Bright returns...’ etc.). From the Duke of Teck to QM, inscr.: ‘Darling May, / from loving father / with all tender wishes /for God’s best blessing’. Sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1896. Card splitting at the join, June 2018. No. 38: Dinner card, Marlborough Club, 14th June 1896, to mark Sir Henry Keppel’s birthday. Inside folder card, signed photograph of Keppel in royal naval uniform and dinner menu in French. Album page dated 1896. This item probably belonged to PG. No. 39: Religious card, adoration of the Magi, lettered: ‘The three Gifts: / the Gold of Love … the Incense of Prayer’. Chromolithograph on glossy paper, publ. ‘Bouasse-Lebel & Fils & Massin, 29 rue St Sulpice Paris’; sender and recipient unknown. No. 40: Christmas card, ornate wreath with birds, horseshoes and ribbons. Chromolithograph folder card (embossed, glitter and frosting, die-cut and scallop-edged), eight pages tied with pink ribbon; cover lettered ‘Good luck / Good wishes / Happiness’; inside, line from H.W. Longfellow, ‘Happy … as if everyday thou hadst picked up a horseshoe’; and six-line sentiment by E.A. Lempriere Knight. Sender and recipient unknown; album page dated 1896. No. 41: New year card, poppies and birds, lettered ‘Good wishes’. Chromolithograph folder card embossed and die-cut, eight pages tied blue silk cord; six-line sentiment by Clifton Bingham. Publ. ‘Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd., London, Paris, New York, designed at the Studios in England and printed by the ‘Rafolith’ Plates at the Fine Art Works in Saxony. Copyright’. From the Duke of Teck to QM, inscr.: ‘dear May / with loving good / wishes for 1897 / from Papa’. No. 42: Christmas card, purple clematis flowers and frosted border, lettered ‘Good wishes’. Chromolithograph, embossed folder card; inside, four-line sentiment by Helen Marion Burnside. From QV to QM, inscr.: ‘To /dearest / May / with best / wishes from / Grandmama / VRI 1896’. Sender identified by QM on the page. No. 43: Christmas card; cardboard folder card with lancet window, die-cut lights, embossed flowers; inside, monochrome print of Madonna and Child, signed in monogram, lower left: ‘?WMB’. From Princess Beatrice (Princess Henry of Battenberg) to QM, inscr.: ‘Wishing dear May / A Happy Christmas /from her very affect.ate / aunt Beatrice. 1896’; album page dated 1896. No. 44: New year, pop-up card, little boy dressed in white and holding ice skates. Chromolithograph, embossed and frosted, lettered ‘Wishing you / a happy time. / A glad New Year … Something new for you I pray’. Sender and recipient unknown [prob. PG]; album page dated 1896. No. 45: New year card, embossed green card, hand painted roses in gold outlines; folder card, eight pages, silk cord; cover lettered: ‘Herzlichen Glückwunsch’(‘congratulations/ sincere good wishes’); inside, gold printed emblems of spring (blossom, birds), and four line sentiment in German (‘Dein Leben …allzumal!’). From Adolphus Frederick, grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz [to QM], inscr. ‘Best wishes / for the New Year / Adolphus Fredrick[sic]’. Sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1896. Card split at join, July 2018. No. 46: Black and white photograph of unidentified (?English) house, statue of Mercury in garden, mounted on card; no further details. No. 47: Photograph of Hélène Bricka by Walery, oval print on mount lettered: ‘Walery Ltd. / 164 Regent Street W. Autograph Portrait’. From Mlle. Bricka, QM’s former tutor inscr. : ‘Bonne Année / Hélène Bricka / 1897’. No. 48: Christmas card, print of view of Windsor Castle from across Thames, signed by artist lower right: ‘H. Co[…]’; lettered ‘Wishing you a Happy Christmas’. Folder card from Princess Victoria [of Wales] to QM, inscr.: ‘darling May/ Toria 1897’. Sender identified by QM on the page. No. 49: New Year panel card, publ. ‘Angus Thomas, Copyright London’, with four miniature facsimile sheets of music (Home! Sweet Home!; The Mistletoe Bough; Auld Lang Syne; Royal Country Dances); humorous printed message ‘… And may Good Fo(u)r-tunes wait you / thro’ many a joyous Year’. Ref. Buday 1954 p.166, pl.141. No. 50: Folder card, embossed ‘lace’ effect on cover, lettered ‘Best wishes’, and ‘Theres[sic] gladness in remembrance’; eight pages tied with silk ribbon, encl. photograph of ivy-clad house; lettered: ‘Hearty greetings … Snitterfield House / Stratford on Avon’. From Frank Dugdale and Lady Eva Dugdale, inscr. ‘Love & devoted good wishes / Frank & Eva / Xmas 1897’. Page dated 1897. [In 1893 (before marriage), as Lady Eva Greville, she was Lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of York; also known as ‘Little Bird Eva’.] No. 51: Hand painted greetings card, convolvulus, pansies and violets; folder card with embossed cover and six internal pages; hand lettered in gold: ‘Mes meilleurs voeux’[Best wishes]. Sender and recipient unknown; album page dated 1897. Possibly publ. Marion [Marion & Co., London /Marion Imp. Paris]; for similar card see No. 29 above. No. 52: Christmas card, embossed cover, baby in baby walker, lettered ‘With Love’; chromolithograph folder card with four-line sentiment by Helen Marion Burnside (‘Many a treasure … gay and bright’). From Louise, queen of Denmark to QM, inscr.: ‘dear May / Amama’; sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1897. No. 53: Christmas card, embossed cover with pink and purple heather and blue cord, lettered: ‘May / heaven / bless you’; chromolithograph folder card with four-line sentiment by Helen Marion Burnside (‘May Christmas … day by day’). From Lady Katty Coke to QM, inscr.: ‘my fond wish Katty’. Album page dated 1897. [in 1897 Katty made Lady-in-waiting to Duchess of York] No. 54: New Year card, branches of pink blossom; chromolithograph, embossed folder card, die-cut flowers and the word ‘Greetings’; inside, four-line sentiment by William Henry Seale. Sender and recipient unknown; album page dated 1897. No. 55: Hand painted card, purple pansies on celluloid, with quote by [?Ernest] Legouvé: ‘Une / Pensée suffit / au Coeur / qui sait Aimer / Legouvé’ [a single thought/pansy suffices the loving heart]. Dated 1897 on reverse. Sender and recipient unknown [H. Bricka to QM?]. No. 56: Hand painted folder card, bouquets of forget-me-nots and violets, hand lettered in gold: ‘Tous les souhaits’[All good wishes]; embossed gilt corners, one folded back. Sender and recipient unknown; undated. Possibly publ. Marion [Marion & Co., London /Marion Imp. Paris]; for similar cards see Nos 29 and 51. No. 57: Christmas card, two angels, one with armful of flowers; embossed stylised flowers at left. Chromolithograph folder card lettered ‘Glad Greetings’; inside a four-line sentiment by Helen Marion Burnside. From Lady Katty Coke to QM, inscr.: ‘My loving wishes Katty’. Undated. No. 58: Black and white print of drawing of orchids signed ‘Marie’; embossed gold crown top left corner; publ. A. Giese. From the artist, Princess Marie d’Orléans, to QM and PG, inscr. on reverse: ‘29 / A very happy New/ Year to dear Georgie / and dear May / from Marie’; undated. Sender identified by QM on the page. No. 59: Christmas card, child dressed as Pierrot playing mandolin, lettered ‘Greetings’. Folder card, same publisher as No.60; four-line sentiment by Helen Marion Burnside. Inscr.: ‘From / Christian Victor of Schl Holstein’. Album page dated 1898. No. 60: Greetings card, child in C.18 dress playing drums, lettered ‘Mes meilleurs / Voeux’; folder card, same publisher as No.59. From duke of Connaught to PG, inscr.: ‘A very / Merry Christmas / &/ a happy / New year/ to / Georgy / from / his very / affect. / Uncle Arthur / Christmas / 1898’; sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1898. No. 61: New year card, pink primulas, lettered ‘Herzlichen / Glückwunsch / zum Neuen Jahre’. Embossed folder card from Grd Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to QM, inscr.: ‘From your loving / Aunt Augusta C. / for 1899 who wishes / you every happiness’. Sender identified by QM on the page; page dated 1898. No. 62: Christmas card in style of illuminated manuscript, three kneeling angels and Florentine red lily, lettered: ‘Gli angioli del Gozzoli / vi portino i miei auguri’. Glossy panel card, chromolithograph with powdered gold; detail from Benozzo Gozzoli, Procession of Magi, Palazzo Medici Ricardi, Florence. No. 63: Print of young woman at window and soldier on horseback, C.18 costumes; hand coloured vignette. Page dated 1898; no further details. No. 64: Christmas card, yellow chrysanthemums, panel card lettered ‘Peace and Goodwill / Christmas 1898’. Page dated 1898; no further details. No. 65: ‘Envelope’ folder card lettered ‘Hearty Greeting’ enclosing photograph of Cumberland Lodge. From Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein to QM and PG, inscr.: ‘Wishing dear May / & Georgie a very / happy Christmas / & New Year & every / blessing from Aunt Helena /1898-1899’. Sender identified by QM on the page. No. 66: New year card, mounted photograph of two war ships, half hidden photographer stamp ‘A.E. Be…/ West Cowes’ on reverse. From marquess and marchioness of Lorne, inscr: ‘A very Happy New Year to / you from Louise and Lorne’. The main ship almost certainly HMS Ocean, a battleship launched in Devonport and christened by marchioness of Lorne in 1898. No. 67: Postcard lettered ‘château d’Azay-le-Rideau. - Façade principale. - ND Phot.[Neurdein & Cie., Paris]’ From marquess of Lorne inscr.: ‘A very happy Christmas / from your affectionate / Lorne’; sender identified by QM on the page. No. 68: Card with small photograph of Sorgenfri Palace, Denmark. From Prince Christian and Princess Alexandrine (‘Adini’) of Denmark to KGV and QM, inscr.: ‘1898 / Wishing you and /May a happy Xmas & / bright New Year / Adini & Christian’; senders identified by QM on the page. Sorgenfri was given to the couple on marriage in 1898. No. 69: Print of young woman holding tray of roses; hand coloured vignette. From Gd Duchess Serge of Russia, inscr.: ‘God bless you /darling May / & bring peace to /your dear ?home / in the new year & / your dear ones happily /back again. / Your loving Ella / 1899-1900’. Sender identified by QM on the page. No. 70: Postcard of German cruiser in Bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius smoking in background. Chromolithograph of watercolour by ‘?.... B’ (illegible signature lower left), publ. Meissner & Buch, Leipzig; lettered at lower right: ‘S.M. Kreuzer “Gefion” / Bai von Neapel’; at left: ‘Meissner & Buch, Leipzig. Marinepostkarten, serie 1000. Gesetzl. geschutzt.’ From Emperor William II, inscr.: ‘With every good wish for 1900 / from / Willy’; sender identified by QM on the page. Gefion was launched 1893, commissioned 1895. No. 71: Black and white plate of sketch by Scott Rankin, rustic bridge and cottage; panel card, gilt-lettered ‘Joyful Greetings’, with publisher’s blindstamp ‘Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd. / Publishers to the Queen’. No further details. No.72: Christmas card, two angels and Christ child in manger. Panel card, chromolithograph lettered: ‘Christmas Blessings be yours’. From Princess Henry of Battenburg to QM, inscr.: ‘dear May, from yr. very affectionate aunt Beatrice’. Page dated 1899. No. 73: New Year card, bicycle named ‘Speedwell’ and pink blossom. Chromolithograph, embossed lift-up card with flaps and perforations, lettered ‘New Year greetings with every good wish’. Page dated 1899. No. 74: Christmas card, bust of young woman, reproduction of sketch signed ‘N. Prescott-Davies’ (Norman Prescott-Davies). Panel card, the mount gilt-lettered ‘Wishing you a Merry Christmas’. Page dated 1899. No. 75: Christmas card, bough with blue flowers, lettered: ‘God be with you’. Eight page folder card tied with silk cord, the cover embossed and perforated, with pink and silver glitter; Isiah xxx.15 quotation, and sentiment by Charlotte Murray on inner pages; lettered at back: ‘Artist Ser. / Trademark / Publishers to Her Majesty the Queen / Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd, London, Paris, New York. / Designed at the Studios in England and printed at the Fine Art Works in Saxony. Copyright’. From princess Victoria of Wales to QM, inscr.: ‘Toria. God bless you’. Album page dated 1899. No. 76: Christmas card, swallow, blue cornflowers and yellow corn marigolds. Eight page folder card with purple ribbon, the cover embossed and lettered: ‘With the Compliments of the Season’. Inner pages include plate of C.18 scene; and dedication to KGV and QM from Princess Victoria and Prince Louis of Battenberg: ‘to dear Georgie & May /from Victoria & /Louis’. Page dated 1899. No. 77: Booklet tied with red ribbon inscr. on cover: ‘With humble duty / Nov. 1899. B.’, enclosing four photographs: (1) four men in uniform; (2) medieval-style castle (possibly Isle of Wight); (3) formal garden and shipping channel; (4) view across garden, battleships. Album page dated 1899. No. 78: New Year card, embossed and coloured violets and gold cord, lettered ‘Herzlichen Glückwunsch’(‘congratulations/ sincere good wishes’). Folder card from Grd Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to QM, inscr. ‘Every good wish / for you, dearly / loved May, from / your most affectionate / Aunt / Augusta Caroline / for the new Century / 1900’. Page dated 1899. Chiefly chromolithographs, but some hand-painted examples
Producer name: Published by: Castell Brothers (1947,1011.4.1); Published by: C. W. Faulkner & Co (1947,1011.4.13); Published by: W Hagelberg (1947,1011.4.3); Published by: S Hildesheimer & Co Ltd (1947,1011.4.7); Published by: A Marion, Son & Co (1947,1011.4.29, 1947,1011.4.51 and 1947,1011.4.56); Published by: Meissner & Buch (1947,1011.4.70); Published by: Neurdein et cie (1947,1011.4.67); Published by: Ernest Nister (1947,1011.4.22); Published by: Raphael Tuck & Sons; After: Benozzo Gozzoli (1947,1011.4.62); After: Princess Marie d'Orléans (1947,1011.4.58); After: Norman Prescott Davies (1947,1011.4.74); After: Andrew Scott Rankin (1947,1011.4.71); After: Titian (1947,1011.4.21); Photographed by: Walery (1947,1011.4.47)
School/style: German; British
Production date: 1899 (c.)
Materials
Technique: chromolithograph; hand-coloured
Dimensions: Height: 305 millimetres (album); Width: 290 millimetres; Depth: 50 millimetres
Curator's comments: Senders' names, which are not always visible, have been identified by QM's notes on the album page and signatures. For a number of cards, stuck down and lacking QM's notes, the identities remain unknown. NB: Pencilled sub-numbers diverge from BM stamped numbers at No.70: observe stamped numbers only. References to Buday are to G. Buday, The History of the Christmas Card, London, 1954.
Location: Not on display
Associated names: Associated with: Alexandra, Queen of Edward VII (sender: 1947,1011.4.1); Associated with: Mary, Queen of George V (sender: 1947,1011.4.27); Associated with: Princess Mary of Cambridge (sender: 1947,1011.4.6, 1947,1011.4.8, 1947,1011.4.9, 1947,1011.4.10 and 1947,1011.4.14); Associated with: Prince Henry of Battenberg (sender: 1947,1011.4.12); Associated with: Francis, Duke of Teck (sender: 1947,1011.4.13, 1947,1011.4.24, 1947,1011.4.30, 1947,1011.4.37 and 1947,1011.4.41); Associated with: Queen Victoria (sender: 1947,1011.4.16 and 1947,1011.4.42); Associated with: Princess Maud of Wales (sender: 1947,1011.4.17); Associated with: Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn (sender: 1947,1011.4.1 and 1947,1011.4.31); Associated with: Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia (sender: 1947,1011.4.26 and 1947,1011.4.69); Associated with: Louise of Sweden (sender: 1947,1011.4.35 and 1947,1011.4.52); Associated with: Sir Henry Kepppel (sender: 1947,1011.4.38); Associated with: Princess Beatrice (sender: 1947,1011.4.43 and 1947,1011.4.72); Associated with: Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (sender: 1947,1011.4.45); Associated with: Hélène Bricka (sender: 1947,1011.4.47); Associated with: Princess Victoria of Wales (sender: 1947,1011.4.48 and 1947,1011.4.75); Associated with: Lady Eva Dugdale (sender: 1947,1011.4.50); Associated with: Frank Dugdale (sender: 1947,1011.4.50); Associated with: Coke, Katherine (sender: 1947,1011.4.53 and 1947,1011.4.57); Associated with: Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Hollstein (sender: 1947,1011.4.59); Associated with: Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (sender: 1947,1011.4.4 and 1947,1011.4.60); Associated with: Princess Helena Augusta Victoria (sender: 1947,1011.4.65); Associated with: Christian X, King of Denmark (sender: 1947,1011.4.68); Associated with: Queen Alexandrine (sender: 1947,1011.4.68); Associated with: Princess Augusta, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (sender: 1947,1011.4.61 and 1947,1011.4.78); Associated with: Victoria Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven (sender: 1947,1011.4.76); Associated with: Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquis of Milford Haven (sender: 1947,1011.4.76); Associated with: Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia (sender: 1947,1011.4.70); Associated with: Frederica of Hanover (sender: 1947,1011.4.18); Associated with: Margaret, Marchioness of Cambridge (sender: 1947,1011.4.33); Associated with: Princess Marie d'Orléans (sender: 1947,1011.4.58); Associated with: John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll (sender: 1947,1011.4.66 and 1947,1011.4.67); Associated with: Robert Browning (lines of verse on card (1947,1011.4.37)); Associated with: Helen Marion Burnside (verses on cards: 1947,1011.4.13, 1947,1011.4.17, 1947,1011.4.31, 1947,1011.4.42, 1947,1011.4.52, 1947,1011.4.53 and 1947,1011.4.57); Associated with: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (line of greeting on card, 1947,1011.4.40); Associated with: William Shakespeare (lines quoted on cards, 1947,1011.4.17, 1947,1011.4.31 and 1947,1011.4.33)
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1947
Department: Prints and Drawings
Registration number: 1947,1011.4.1-78

Free entry

Opening hours