Beschreibung:

Royalty - Queen Mary of Teck (1867-1953), Annotated By and Later Presented By George V's Consort, Cust (Sir Lionel, KCVO, FSA), Windsor Castle: Portrait Miniatures, "for confidential reference only", first and only edition, London: Harrison and Sons, 1910, 119pp, verso with 6pp of tipped-in dialogue between Queen Mary and her maternal aunt Princess Augusta, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Sterlitz (1822-1916) viz. the identity of the sitters in the Duke of Cumberland's portrait miniatures, now in the Royal Collection, (presumably accompanied by photographs when sent, now absent), each question and accompanying answer is inscribed in ink manuscript on Buckingham Palace writing-paper, and later annotated in pencil by a separate hand, original silk over boards, the upper-cover stamped and lettered in gilt, all-edges gilt, 4to, (1); un-associated and un-inscribed volume, Bunt (Cyril G.E.), Windsor Castle: The Fairhaven Collection, copy number 78 from a limited edition of 500, Leigh-on-Sea: F. Lewis, 1949, blue cloth, 4to, (1), [2] Provenance: 1st: Presented by Queen Mary of Teck (1867-1953), via Lady Mary Trefusis (née Lygon; 1869-1927), one of the queen's Ladies-In-Waiting, to George Charles Williamson (1858-1942), of Burgh House, Hampstead, London, the art historian and portrait miniature expert; the recto pastedown with his book label, the flyleaf inscribed in MS pencil: "Given to me by Her Majesty The Queen/July 28. 1912" and with a tipped-in 5pp ink MS letter from Lady Mary, on Buckingham Palace writing-paper, inscribed and dated July 28 1912. Commanded to write on the Queen's behalf, Lady Mary thanks Williamson for his assistance (& photographs) in Queen Mary's efforts to codify the Royal Collection's portrait miniatures, and asks for another copy of a photograph so she can ask the Grand Duke of Hesse or Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse; she presents this book, "The Queen is sending you (to keep) a copy of the list of the portrait miniatures at Windsor Castle - it is of course for Confidential reference only." The letter goes on to say that "[t]he Queen would be deeply interested to have a set of photographs of the miniatures belonging to the Duchess of ?Northumberland", presumably for kleptomaniacal purposes.