Monarch of Queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901. Her more than sixty-three years on the throne remains unmatched in the history of Great Britain and places her among the longest-reigning monarchs of any nation in modern times. The unprecedented growth and prosperity of the British Empire under her rule—as well as a strangely prescient public fascination with the queen and her family—made her one of the most celebrated public figures of her day, and her name would become synonymous with an entire age. Rare and marvelous 17.5 x 13 photo of the celebration of Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee on June 22, 1897, contained in its original mat and wooden liner with hand-painted caption, signed in ink on the mat by fourteen: “Victoria R. I. June 22, 1897,” [by Victoria’s son and the future King Edward VII] “Albert Edward, June 22/97,” [Albert Edward’s wife] “Alexandra,” [their son and the future King George V] “George,” [George’s wife] “Victoria Mary,” [Victoria’s son] “Arthur,” [Victoria’s daughter] “Helena,” [Victoria’s grandson] “Charles,” [Victoria’s cousin and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army] “George, Duke of Cambridge,” [Dean of St. Paul’s] “Rob. Gregory, [Archbishop of Canterbury] “F. Cantuar,” [Dean of Windsor and future Archbishop of Canterbury] “Randall Winton,” [Archbishop of York] “William Ebor,” and [Archbishop] “M. London.” The image depicts Victoria and the immediate members of her family in her state carriage in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral on the occasion of celebrations for her sixtieth anniversary on the throne on June 22, 1897. As Victoria, then seventy-eight, was unable to climb the steps of the cathedral, the “Service of Thanksgiving” in her honor was held outside as the queen remained in her carriage. The carriage is surrounded by an enormous throng of participants and admirers, including clergy, musicians, military officers, and other dignitaries; Victoria, no stranger to grand public occasions, noted in her diary that the scene “was like a triumphal entry.” The original presentation has been archivally matted and framed to an overall size of 31.25 x 28. In very good condition, with light scattered soiling and spotting to mat. The photo itself is clean and bright, the signatures are dark and clear, and the overall visual impact is singularly impressive. The ardent Anglophile’s ultimate indulgence! LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA. Oversized.
