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Victoria was the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 to 1901 and Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. Queen Victoria is associated with an extensive period of British industrial expansion, economic progress and artistic success; this period is known as the Victorian Era. In her later years, Queen Victoria became a symbol of the British Empire and celebrated two momentous anniversaries, the Golden Jubilee (1887) and the Diamond Jubilee (1897). Both milestones were marked with great public ceremonies. Victoria died on January 22, 1901 after a reign which lasted almost 64 years, the longest in British history.
Collecting Victorian royal memorabilia has been an enthusiastic pursuit of collectors for over a hundred years. The sheer length of Queen Victoria's reign means that there is an eclectic range of commemorative items sought for by collectors, especially those marking her marriage and two jubilees. Due to her overwhelming popularity as a monarch, her subjects found abundant approaches to commemorate her, and of course, to make money. These collectibles include plates, cups and saucers, teapots, medals and coins, handkerchiefs and textiles, as well as prints and photographs.
Unusual and difficult to find royal souvenirs of this remarkable British monarch are clothing items. At Queen Victoria's death in 1901, there was a distribution of her huge wardrobe, including her underwear, to members of the Royal Household. These personal garments are now dispersed in both private and public collections. The Queen's royal undergarments, supplied by the Pryce Jones company, are easily identified by her royal cypher, which was always worked on each piece. Shown are stockings, petticoat and a nightdress available from Meg Andrews, British dealer of antique costumes and textiles.
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