Description
Presentation copy of The Present State of the Fine Arts in France, from Queen Victoria to her daughter, Princess Louise.
Folio, xii, 90pp, [2pp catalogue]. Maroon cloth, title in gilt on spine, illustration and title stamped on cover. Complete with 11 full-page illustrated plates, all with tissue covers. All gilt edges. Brown endpapers, front hinge starting, but stable. Some shelf wear, mostly to spine and lower edge of front board. Scattered light foxing. A presentation copy, inscribed by Queen Victoria on verso of half title: “To dearest Louise from her devoted mama. V.R.I. Christmas 1891.” An exceptional association copy.
Provenance: The Property of H.R.H. the late Duke of Kent, K.G. (sold by order of H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent) at Sotheby & Co., London, in February of 1948. This was Lot #172. Princess Louise, the Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939) was the sixth child of Queen Victoria. She was an advocate of the arts and a supporter of the feminist movement. She was in frequent contact with suffragists Josephine Butler and Elizabeth Garrett. When the Queen inscribed this book, she was 72 years old and had been the reigning monarch for 54 years.
