The June 2-5, 2002, Pre-Long Beach Sale, Sale 14
Lot 1689
Edward VIII
(1894-1972) King of Great Britain and Ireland from January 1936 until
December 11, 1936, when he abdicated in order to someday marry an American
divorcee, Wallis Simpson (they married June 3, 1937). A beloved Prince of
Wales, his choice to abandon the throne for personal happiness was a blow to
many of his subjects.
The suddeness of Edward's abdication meant that many
of the preparations for his Coronation had begun, as had the production of
souvenirs for the event.
A lot of three items, reminders of the
difficulties of the abdication.
The first item is a two album recording
(78 rpm) of the "Farewell Message of King Edward VIII" issued by the
Sherman Recording Service of New York. Probably produced for use by radio
stations and for a few collectors. There are a few scratches and Part 1 is
somewhat warped, but the records appear usable. Our second piece is a wall
calendar for the year 1937, featuring a color portrait of Edward VIII in
uniform. Complete with the ribbon to be used as a hanger and the cover page for
the calendar, this is a remarkable artifact of the time in near fine condition.
One small dent at the top left corner and one minor smudge near the bottom
right corner are the only flaws on the piece. Considering the fragility of the
medium and the fact that the condition is so wonderful, this is a highly
desirable collectible. Edward VIII His Life and Reign by Hector
Bolitho, London, March 1937, is the final item in this lot. Published a
mere three months after Edward's abdication, Bolitho's book went through five
printings in one month as the people of Great Britain and the world devoured
information about the former monarch. No dust jacket, minor foxing throughout,
minor shelf wear and some spine fading.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 1690
Edward VIII Commemorative
Items. Interesting lot of four items representing important phases of
Edward VIII's life.
Our first item is a mug commemorating the 1911
coronation of Edward's father, George V, on June 22, 1911. The mug features
portraits of the King and Queen, with a small portrait of Edward as HRH Prince
of Wales centered between the two parents, and the British flag and aspects of
the Royal coat of arms on either side and above the portraits. Manufactured by
Grafton and Sons China, it bears the makers mark and a painter's initial "L" on
the bottom. Minor production flaws, otherwise very good condition. The second
item is a highly desirable Royal Winton beaker commemorating the Investiture
of Edward as Prince of Wales on July 13, 1911. A color portrait of Edward
in Naval dress is framed by symbols of Wales surmounted by the Prince of Wales'
feathers insignia. Banners across the bottom celebrate the occasion. These
beakers were not made in vast quantities and many were personalized. This
beaker bears a red cross on the reverse with a phrase in Welsh. There is minor
wear to the decoration, but otherwise this piece is in very good condition. The
third item, a mug from Parrott & Company celebrating Edward's
coronation, features a sepia portrait of the King with flags and wreath's
surrounding him. Hand-painted accents adorn the rim and handle. Adhesive
residue on the bottom, else very good condition. Also celebrating Edward's
coronation, our fourth item is a cup and saucer set with a sepia portrait
set between flags and a lion and unicorn (also featured in the center of the
saucer). Ribbons celebrating the coronation, also decorate the saucer and cup.
No makers mark. Minor soil and very minor loss at the decorations. Overall,
very good condition.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 1691
Edward VIII Commemorative
Patten, in Silver Plate. The shallow dish of octagonal form with stepped
walls. Centrally encased in the dish's base, a white metal (silver?) medallion
showing Edward in profile right, crowned, and draped in the coronation robes.
The reverse with wreath bearing national, and civic, coat of arms enclosing the
vital statistics of his birth, accession, and coronation. Dish with London
hallmarks, and maker's stamp: TB & S. Dish beautifully preserved. The small
dish perhaps meant to hold mints or candies, would have intimated "how sweet it
was to be..."
Estimated Value $100-150.
Lot 1692
Edward VIII Coronation
Beaker. Stunning, 4½" limited edition beaker produced for Edward
VIII's Coronation. A beautiful portrait of Edward in the robes of state is
surmounted by a crown in gold. The reverse also features a gold crown, set
above "May 12th 1937". A raised gold decoration around the inside of the rim
alternates "1937" with the crown. Created by Minton's, the mark on the bottom
reads "This Beaker is limited to an issue of 2000 of which this is No. 810".
Fine condition.
Modern technology means many commemoratives for Edward's
planned coronation were produced in large numbers and finding a scarce piece
like this one is a feat in itself. The rarity of this piece, along with the
beauty of its decoration, makes it a very attractive collectible.
Estimated
Value $150-200.
Lot 1693
Edward VIII Coronation
Commemoratives I. Prestige China of England created an elaborate and
sought-after pattern to commemorate Edward VIII's planned coronation. Here, we
offer a 9" plate and a cup and saucer set in that lovely pattern, dubbed "A
Perpetual Souvenir".
With a beautifully rendered Royal Arms and lovely
decoration to the rim ("Edward VIII King and Emperor CR Crowned May 12th
1937"), the 9" plate offered here is a fine example of Prestige's quality. In
addition to the standard backmark, the reverse bears the handpainted caption
"93865 p", indicating the identity of the finishing painter. There is a small
remnant of an old yellow price tag verso, but it does not interfere with the
markings. Except for minor scuffing to the base, this piece is in fine
condition.
The cup and saucer are also in fine condition and complement the
plate very nicely. The cup, with its gilded lion handle, bears the Royal Arms
on one side and the flags of the British Empire on the other, with the legend
"Crowned in Westminster Abbey" on the side opposite the handle. The saucers
bears the ID numbers "93818" and remnants from an old yellow price tag. A
lovely set.
Estimated Value $250-300.
Lot 1694
Edward VIII Coronation
Commemoratives II. Prestige China commemorative 10" plate bearing the same
design featured above. "A Perpetual Souvenir in Paragon China", this plate
shows minor uniform fading, which only serves to lend weight to the piece. The
verso ID number "93865 2" and small yellow price tag remnants are all that mar
the beauty of the piece. Slight wear to the bottom as if on a shelf for quite
some time. Overall, very good condition.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 1695
Edward VIII Coronation
Commemoratives III. An great lot of coronation commemoratives from the
planned, but never held, coronation of Edward VIII.
Our first item is a
5" tall glass tankard by T. Goode and Company of London (Copyright
Herbert Goode), number 2044 (indicated by makers mark on bottom of mug). The
royal initials are etched in the glass and surmounted by a crown front and
back, a center rib bears the engraving: "Accession January 20th 1936 Coronation
May 12 1937" and the rib at the base bears "The friend of His People". In fine
condition, we have not seen this commemorative before. The second item in the
lot is a small china globe, 3½" tall, by Melba Bone China. The
globe features the countries of the British Empire painted in red (the rest of
the world is green) and the caption "The Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets".
The base bears the legend: "To Commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King
Edward VIII May 12, 1937". Scuffing under the base, else fine condition. Our
third item, a mug, bears part of the design created by Dame Laura
Knight, but the bottom bears only a makers mark (Burleigh Ware from Burgess
& Leigh), leading one to believe this is either a knock-off or a low-rent
version of Dame Knight's production. Crazing throughout, adhesive residue on
the bottom. Overall, very good condition. Color photo.
Estimated Value
$150-200.
Lot 1696
Edward VIII Coronation
Mugs I. Two highly desirable Edward VIII Coronation mugs.
The first mug
bears a sepia toned portrait of Edward within a device combining the Royal Arms
and the flags of Great Britain. The reverse of the mug features a "Coronation
of King Edward VIII 12th May 1937" banner. The most unique feature of the mug
is the "ER" handle finished in orange and blue. The bottom bears the C.W.S.
Windsor mark and "Regd No. 811377". Additional marks in blue likely indicate
finishing painter: "G" at one end of the base and "7." at the other. Remnants
of an old yellow price tag. Fine condition. The second mug, by Thomas Goode &
Co. Ltd and Copeland, features Edward standing in royal purple with the crown
jewels in hand in front of various scenes honoring different aspect of his
life. Two ships commemorate Edward's time in the Royal Navy, a factory and a
mass of working-class folk honor his concern for all parts of English society
and a depiction of Windsor Castle obviously honors his royal line. The reverse
bears "ER" in a laurel wreath. The banner across the top edge reads: "To
Commemorate the Coronation of Edward VII King Emperor May 12th 1937". Great
lion handle with applied laurel wreath design. Crazing throughout, very minor
(thread-thin) paint loss in banner.
Estimated Value $125-150.
Lot 1697
Edward VIII Coronation
Mugs II. Lot of four mugs honoring the planned coronation of Edward VIII,
three with delicate floral accents.
The first mug, by Hammersley and
Company, is a tankard-style mug, 3¾" diameter and 3½" tall. The
Royal standard, the British flag, the shamrock of Ireland, the thistle of
Scotland and the Tudor rose grace the front of the mug, with a banner reading:
"Crowned May 12, 1937 Edward VIII King of All the Britons Emperor of India".
The royal orb and scepter, surrounded by Tudor roses, grace the reverse. Gilded
accents. Painter's mark on bottom "2599 K". Some wear on bottom and remains of
an old price tag, else fine. Shelley of England issued our second mug, which
bears two Shelley marks on the bottom. A sepia toned portrait of Edward is
framed by the crown, a laurel wreath and the British flag; a banner with the
Royal family motto,"Dieu et Mon Droit" flows across the bottom of the device
above a Tudor rose. The verso, handle and inside rim bear additional decorative
touches with Tudor rose accents. Fine condition. Our third mug, bone china by
Aynsley of England, also bears floral accents, particularly roses, daffodils
and thistles below a sepia portrait of Edward on the front and along the
handle. The reverse features the shields of Australia, Canada, New Zealand,
South Africa, India and the West Indies below the caption "Empire on Which the
Sun Never Sets". Very minor wear to the verso decoration, price tag residue on
the bottom of the mug, else fine. The fourth mug has no maker's marks.
Featuring an elaborate frame to Edwards's portrait: A banner bearing "Dieu Et
Mon Droit" and the crown flies above flags of the British Empire and the lion
and unicorn from the royal coat of arms which are rampant on either side of the
portrait; a banner commemorating the occasion flies at the bottom of the
design. An "ER 1937" device graces the reverse. Gold accents. Crazing and
minor discoloration throughout, but both designs are in very good condition.
Good condition overall.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Lot 1698
Edward VIII Coronation
Mugs III. A lot of three commemorative mugs, each one a sought-after and
popular memento of the coronation that never was.
Dame Laura Knight
created one of the most delightful coronation motifs available, one that was
later modified for George VI's coronation (held the same day as the one
scheduled for Edward -- May 12, 1937), and we are delighted to offer a mug
featuring the design with a printed signature and makers mark on the bottom.
With it's lion handle and "circus" motif, this is a striking mug and, with the
exception of a few areas of minor wear, is in very good condition. The
centerpiece on Royal Doulton's mug is a color portrait of Edward framed
by emblems from the Royal Standard, a laurel wreath and a banner: "Coronation
HM King Edward VIII". A very 1930s-style design on the reverse of the mug
features a king on a horse above "ER 1937". The Royal Doulton mark on the
bottom of the mug appears with the coronation's date. Fine condition. The
"Official Design of the British Pottery Manufacturers Federation"
appears on a lovely mug, possibly from Wood's Ivory Ware. "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y
Pense", the motto of the Order of the Garter appears on a blue band surrounding
the King's portrait which is framed by oak leaves and acorns and sets above a
banner bearing the royal motto "Dieu Et Mon Droit". A royal device on the
reverse and decoration at the rim with the date of the coronation. The bottom
bears the symbol for the British Pottery Manufacturer's Federation.
Estimated Value $150-200.