A Victorian memorial photographic card commemorating Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819–1861), husband and Prince Consort of Queen Victoria. The card features an albumen photographic portrait of Prince Albert, surrounded by a broad black mourning border. Beneath the photograph appears a printed facsimile of Prince Albert's signature – followed by his dates: “Born, Aug. 26. 1819. — Died, Dec. 14. 1861.” The combination of Albert's death date and the prominent black mourning border indicates that the card was produced as a commemorative piece following Prince Albert's premature death on 14 December 1861, aged 42, probably around 1861–1862. Albert's death plunged Queen Victoria into prolonged mourning and became one of the defining personal and cultural events of the later Victorian era. Photographic memorial material of this type formed part of the extensive culture of public commemoration that followed his death. An appealing piece of Victorian royal photographic memorabilia combining a period albumen portrait, black mourning border, Prince Albert's life dates and a facsimile signature.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art