VICTORIA, (1819-1901). Queen of Great Britain and Ireland.
Superb Photograph of Queen Victoria, signed by her "Victoria R I 1893" on a light portion at the top left corner.
c. 11 1/2 x 7 ins. By Hughes & Mullins of the Isle of Wight, laid down on the original mount. Glazed, and set into a modern dark green
A splendid formal portrait. The seated Queen, wearing a diamond diadem and white lace and holding a fan, faces slightly to the left, the very personification of majesty. Round her neck are the celebrated Crown diamonds, a superb necklace of 28 brilliant collets made for Queen Victoria from stones taken from a garter badge and sword. The detachable diamond drop was once part of the setting for the great Timur ruby.
The photographers Hughes and Mullins, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, were granted the Royal Warrant in 1885. This image is reproduced in Elizabeth Longford's Victoria RI, where it is wrongly captioned 'Diamond Jubilee, 1897'; it does indeed strongly resemble the Diamond Jubilee photograph by Gunn & Stuart.
This is perhaps the finest signed portrait photograph of Queen Victoria we have ever been able to offer.
The original photographer's mount has been cut down at the bottom, evidently to fit an early frame, affecting the lower portion of the Hughes & Mullins imprint in gilt. The very fine fresh image and signature are not at all affected, as can be seen from the illustration.
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