Beschreibung:

Victoria (1819-1901). Queen of Great Britain & Ireland, 1837-1901. A pair of albumen print cabinet cards, c. 1888, the first by G.P. Cartland, Windsor, showing Saiyad Ahmad Hussain and Hafiz Abdul Karim, standing side by side with turbans and royal household dress with royal insignia, the other by Byrne & Co., Richmond, of Muhammed Buksh and the infant Prince Alexander of Battenburg held on his left arm, the latter with original tissue-guard, both loosely contained in an original royal envelope with mourning border and monogram to verso, inscribed in Victoria's hand for Viscount Cross and signed 'The Queen' in abbreviated form lower left Richard Assheton Cross, 1st Viscount Cross (1823-1914), British statesman and Conservative politician who served as Home Secretary 1874-1880 & 1885-1886. The subjects of both photographs are very neatly identified in blue ink by Queen Victoria to lower imprint area of mount and dated 1888. 'Ahmed Husin' was engaged as one of the Queen's Indian attendants in 1888 and accompanied her to Balmoral that June. 'Hafiz Abdul Karim' was recruited as an Indian servant for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Queen became interested in learning Hindustani in order to converse with Abdul and as a loyal friendship ensued, Abdul was promoted to 'munshi' in August 1888. 'Muhamed Bukksh' was engaged as one of the Queen's attendants in 1887 and left her service in 1895. He is pictured with 'little Alexander Battenburg'. Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquis of Carisbrooke (1886-1960), the last surviving grandson of Queen Victoria.