Every day Sophie Dupre presents two items from her large stock of signed photographs, autograph letters, autographs for sale, royal memoralbilia and antiquarian manuscripts.
The photographs are presented with the catalogue descriptions.
On this day... see what happened on your special day
May 17
ON THIS DAY
On this day in 1886 Alfonso XIII of Spain was born. Alfonso was monarch from birth, as his father Alfonso XII had died the previous year. Until his 16th birthday his mother, Maria Christina of Austria, served as his regent, in a period which saw Spain lose its Caribbean and Pacific colonies during the Spanish–American War. In 1891 Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife was born. Alexandra and her sister were unique among British princesses in that they were descended from both William IV (through his mistress, Dorothea Jordan), and William IV's niece, Queen Victoria, who succeeded him because he had no legitimate issue. THE KING IN A SUPERB PRESENTATION FRAME ALFONSO XIII (1886-1941, Last King of Spain) Exceptional photo by Franzen, Madrid, signed and dated, showing him full length in uniform, with his hand on the hilt of his sword and holding his plumed hat, 12” x 9” in a gilded mount and a fabulous silver frame, topped with swags, 16” x 11” max, Madrid 1905 38393 PRINCESS ARTHUR OF CONNAUGHT IN A PRESENTATION FRAME ALEXANDRA (Victoria Alberta, Princess, 2nd Duchess of Fife, 1891-1959, elder daughter of Princess Royal Louise and granddaughter of Edward VII, wife, 1913, of Prince Arthur, 1883-1938, son of the 1st Duke of Connaught) Fine photo by Alex Corbett signed on the mount, showing her three quarters length, seated on the edge of a table and turning round, wearing a fur trimmed top and resting her hand on a book, 5” x 3¼” in mount 7¼” x 5”, in original silver frame with gilt crown, inscribed ‘XMAS 1916’, 7¾” x 5¼”, no place, December 1916 37852
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