Royalty
ENGAGEMENT PHOTO OF THE DUKE OF CLARENCE AND MARY OF TECK
[ALBERT VICTOR
(Christian Edward, Duke of Clarence, 1864-1892, Eldest Son of Edward VII) & his fiancée MARY (of Teck, 1867-1953, later Queen of George V)]
Extraordinarily rare unsigned engagement Imperial platinum print photo by Frederick & Hubert Thurston
showing the young couple together in the garden at Luton Hoo, she is standing wearing a black dress and hat and he is perched beside her on a stool, 11 x 7, in a superb period gilt frame which has been cased and protected in a secondary case, 16½ x 12¼, no place but Luton Hoo, no date but 4th December
Item Date: 1891
Background
The wedding was fixed for 27th Feb. 1892, but on 14th January 1892 the duke died of pneumonia following influenza at Sandringham.Frederick & Hubert Thurston were photographers active in the 1900s. Frederick (1854-1933) worked with his son Hubert in their studio in Luton. In December 1891 he took the engagement picture of Princess Mary of Teck (later consort of George V) and the Duke of Clarence, Queen Victoria's eldest grandson, in the garden at Luton Hoo. May is wearing black which upset Queen Victoria and so another official photo had to be taken so this is a very rare image - only fifty copies were produced. She is holding her gloves so that her engagement ring is visible.
Stock No. 43124